PICTURE BOOK HALL OF FAME

AUTHOR - DON FREEMAN

GRADES - PRESCHOOL - 1

CORDUROY WAS ONE OF THE FIRST BOOKS INDUCTED INTO THE INDIES CHOICE BOOK AWARDS PICTURE BOOK HALL OF FAME. 

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY NAMED CORDUROY ONE OF THE 100 GREAT CHILDREN'S BOOKS FROM THE LAST 100 YEARS

THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSN. NAMED CORDUROY ONE OF THE TEACHERS' TOP 100 BOOKS FOR CHILDREN

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL NAMED CORDUROY ONE OF THE TOP 100 PICTURE BOOKS OF THE 21ST CENTURY

CLOSE TO 20 MILLION COPIES OF THE CORDUROY BOOKS HAVE SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD

Corduroy is a stuffed bear who lives in a department store. He is not happy because he wants to live in a home. A young girl buys him and they both become very happy together. 

1. Compare how Corduroy felt at the beginning and at the 
end of the story? 

2. Do you think the girl will always love Corduroy? 

3. What have you fixed to make it better? 

AUTHOR - EVE BUNTING

GRADES - 1-3

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

CALDECOTT MEDAL - BEST ILLUSTRATED BOOK

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK

AN AMERICAN BOOKSELLER  - "PICK OF THE LISTS"

HUNGRY MIND REVIEW -BOOK OF DISTINCTION

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - CHILDREN'S BESTSELLER

PARENTS' CHOICE - AWARD WINNER

The Los Angeles riots are seen through the eyes of a young boy who is forced out of his home by fire. The destruction of his neighborhood brought Koreans and blacks together during a time when there was great animosity between the two groups. The boy was worried about his missing cat until a fireman brought it to the shelter along with Mrs. Kim’s cat. The felines, who were enemies before the riots, were now getting along with each other. The young boy concludes that they used to be enemies because they didn’t know each other. “Out of the mouths of babes… .” 

1. What lesson did the cats teach the adults?
   

    If they can get along, why can't humans be friends?


2. Why reason does the author give for the African-Americans and
 the  Asians not

    getting along very well?
    

    They never got to know one another. They didn't do what the
 cats did. 

3. During the story, Daniel's mama said that she didn't shop at Mrs. Kim's 
market, 

    because it was better to buy from her own people. What did she mean by that? 

    Do you think that was a good idea?
    

    She meant that African-Americans should only shop from  stores that 

    were owned by African-Americans. This was not a 
good idea. People 

    should shop at stores that give them the 
best service, or have the best 

    prices. Race should not be a factor in this decision.


4. After the riots end, will Mrs. Kim and Mama treat each other differently? 


    Explain.
    

    Yes, they will treat each other differently. Near the end of the story, 
Mrs.

    Kim accepts Mama's invitation to come visit her.

AUTHOR -LEO LIONNI

GRADES - PRE-2

ENDORSED BY AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL 👍🏿

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK

NEW YORK TIMES - BEST ILLUSTRATED BOOK OF THE YEAR 

CALDECOTT MEDAL HONOR BOOK - BEST ILLUSTRATIONS

Almost a half of a century old, this classic tale demonstrates how creativity and cooperation allows a group of fish to survive in the ocean. Swimmy is lonely and sad after a tuna eats his brothers and sisters. He tells the red fish to swim close together in the shape of a giant fish. Swimmy, who is black, becomes the eye. The group looks like one big fish, which scares their enemies. 

1. What does cooperation mean? 

2. How does cooperation work in this story?

3. What caused Swimmy to become excited?

    He became excited when he helped the other fish.

4. How can cooperation help you at school and at home?

AUTHOR - BRENDAN WENZEL

GRADES - PRE-1

CYBILS AWARD 👍🏿

seeks out and recognizes books that represent diversity, inclusion, and appropriate representation for children and teens .

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL'S - BEST BOOKS OF 2016, PICTURE BOOKS 

THE NEW YORK TIMES - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOKS

NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY - BEST BOOKS FOR KIDS, PICTURE BOOKS

GOODREADS - CHOICE AWARDS 2016, PICTURE BOOKS

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN.  - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOKS

PARENTS' CHOICE - AWARD WINNER


SHELF AWARENESS -STARRED REVIEW

The story focuses on a cat and how it is seen through the eyes of a child and eleven animals. One of the best picture books I have seen, as the facial expressions are quite revealing.

1. Would you rather have a dog or a cat for a pet? Explain.

AUTHOR - SUZY LEE

GRADES - K-3

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW

NEW YORK TIMES - BEST ILLUSTRATED CHILDREN'S BOOK - 2008

KIRKUS REVIEWS - STARRED REVIEW


PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - STARRED REVIEW

SOCIETY OF ILLUSTRATORS - GOLD MEDAL FOR ORIGINAL ART

SCRIPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE - FAVORITE CHILDREN'S BOOKS OF 

   2008 

How do you tell a story without using words? In Wave, the author uses her artistic ability to create a wonderful story about a young girl and her beach adventures. Children who have been to the shore should have no difficulty relating to this little girl who is experiencing her first encounter with waves. At first, she is afraid of the waves. Then, she becomes bolder and plays in the waves. Once she gains confidence, she sticks her tongue out at the waves. After “surviving” a drenching, she finds a shell and walks away from the beach very happily. Hard to find a better story to share to your class. 

Each page is a critical thinking activity.

AUTHOR - JEANNIE BAKER

GRADES - 1-3

BOSTON GLOBE HORN BOOK - HONOR AWARD

HORN BOOK - FANFARE BOOK

AUSTRALIAN CHILDREN'S BOOK COUNCIL - PICTURE BOOK OF THE 

     YEAR

EARTHWORM BOOK AWARD -FRIENDS OF THE EARTH 👍🏿

IBBY HONOR AWARD

This beautifully illustrated read-aloud encourages children to appreciate trees. A father takes his son to a remote part of Australia, where they get “lost” in nature’s treasures. The boy takes a walk in the woods and lets his imagination take over. When it is time to go home, the boy feels sad and wonders if the trees will be there when he returns. 

1.Why does the boy in this story enjoy walking through the woods?   
  

   He likes to think about the animals and people who used to live there. He 

   likes to climb into the hollows of some trees. He thinks 
about how trees 

   grow.


2. At the end of the story the boy wonders if the trees will still be there
 when he 

    returns. What could happen to them?


3. What is your favorite thing to do in the woods? Explain.  

AUTHOR - DEBORAH RUDDELL

GRADES - K-6

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN.- NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOKS

BANK STREET COLLEGE - BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR

KIRKUS REVIEWS - STARRED REVIEW

JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION

NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR TEACHERS OF ENGLISH -NOTABLE 

  CHILDREN'S BOOKS IN THE LANGUAGE ARTS

BULLETIN FOR THE CENTER OF CHILDREN'S BOOKS - STARRED REVIEW

Walking through the woods will never be the same after listening to A Whiff of Pine, a Hint of Skunk A Forest of Poems. It is a book for all ages as the illustrations and the text combine to make this an excellent read-aloud. Ask yourself this question - Is there anyone in your class who will not enjoy listening to this poem?

  “The squirrel’s life is run, run, run - It seems her work is never done.     

  Those flying leaps, those frantic trots. Those teeny shoulders tied in knots. 

                   So I propose a squirrel spa-      Someplace very la-di-dah,               

                with all the walnuts she can eat   and pedicures for all four feet.               

           She’ll have the time to ease her mind to let her curly tail unwind.                

              A week of lounging in the grass  and possibly a yoga class.”   

 I would keep this book on my desk for instant use when celebrating animals, nature, or for the enjoyment of listening to rhyming poetry. 

1. Before reading Spring Welcome, ask the class what they think “a 
 million 

    arms in woody sleeves” means. Then read the poem and discuss the 

    phrase.
 

2. Before reading Woodpecker Feud, ask the class what they think the 
 title 

    means. Then read the poem and discuss the meaning.
 

3. Before reading October Surprise Party, ask the class what they think 
 the title 

    means. Then read the poem and discuss the meaning.
 

4. After reading Chipmunks, Inc., ask the class what the Acorn Savings 
Bank is.

AUTHOR - MONICA BROWN

GRADES - K - 3

EL DIA DE LOS NINOS/EL DIA DE LOS LIBROS SELECTION 👍🏿

Highlighting diverse children’s books to honor the culture and languages of all children. 

WE ARE KID LIT COLLECTIVE SUMMER READING LISTS👍🏿

recognizing the humanity of Indigenous and People of Color (IPOC) in youth literature, people with disabilities, and people from the LGBTQIA+ communities

SKIPPING STONES AWARD - HONOR👍🏿

promote an understanding of cultures, cultivate cooperation and/or encourage a deeper awareness of nature, ecology and diversity. Award winning books foster respect for multiple viewpoints and closer relationships within human societies.

PURA BELPRE AWARD - HONOR👍🏿

This award is named after Pura Belpre, the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. The award is presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.

Marisol is not your typical primary grade girl. She wears clothes that do not match, eats peanut butter and jelly burritos, and makes up her own games. While this creative little girl loves being different, she is criticized by her friends. When she tries to conform, her zest for life diminishes. Some kind words by her art teacher saves the day for Marisol.

1. Would you like to have Marisol as a friend? Why?

2. Do you think you are like Marisol or very different from her? Explain.                                           

AUTHOR - AMINA LUQMAN-DAWSON

GRADES - MATURE 3 - 6

NEWBERY AWARD - WINNER 

The Newbery, is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children, to the author of "the most distinguished contributions to American literature for children”.

CORETTA SCOTT KING AWARD - WINNER👍🏿

The Award is given to an African American author and illustrator for outstanding inspirational and educational contributions. The Coretta Scott King Book Award titles promote understanding and appreciation of the culture of all peoples and their contribution to the realization of the American dream of a pluralistic society.The Award is further designed to commemorate the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and to honor Mrs. Coretta Scott King for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace and world brotherhood.

CYBILS- 👍🏿

seeks out and recognizes books that represent diversity, inclusion, and appropriate representation for children and teens

HORN BOOK - STARRED REVIEW

SCHOOL LIBRARY CONNECTION - STARRED REVIEW

KIRKUS - STARRED REVIEW

BOOKLIST - STARRED REVIEW

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - STARRED REVIEW

Not all slaves escaped to go North. Some lived in the swamps that bordered the plantations. In Freewater, we meet Homer, his younger sister, Ada, and their mother, Rose. While running away, Rose gets captured, but her children are rescued by escaped slaves who live deep in the swamps. They are taken to a secret community known as Freewater. When Homer learns of a threat to destroy Freewater, he decides to not only help the town, but to find his mother. Readers will find adventure, and excitement throughout this novel, as well as learn about plantation life and the hardship of slavery.

1. Do you think Nora will run away or stay on the plantation?  Explain.

2. Which character in the story is most like you? Explain.

AUTHOR - JACQUELINE WOODSON 

GRADES - K-3

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - BEST BOOK 

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK 


NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY'S 100 TITLES FOR READING AND SHARING YOUNG READERS'  CHOICE AWARD - HONOR - OLDEST BOOK AWARD     CHOSEN BY CHILDREN

In a small, segregated town, a fence divides whites from blacks. One day a white girl sits on the fence and gradually becomes friendly with the black girls on the other side. Sometimes, children need to lead the way. 

1. At the beginning of the story, the girls did not want to play with Annie? Why do

    you think they changed their minds?
         

    Answers will vary. They saw that she made friends with Clover, and 

    perhaps they thought that if it was okay with her, then it was okay 
for 

    them, too. 


2. When the girls passed each other in town, what do you think they were

    thinking?
      

    Answers will vary. They were probably wondering why they 
couldn’t be

    friends.  

3. At the end of the story, Annie says that someday someone will knock the fence

    down. What will happen then?
     

    Since the fence separates blacks from whites, all children would able to

    play together. Families of both races would probably become friendlier.