VOICE OF YOUTH ADVOCATES - (VOYA) - A PERFECT TEN👍

AUTHOR - KATE DICAMILLO

GRADES - 2-4

CHRISTOPHER AWARD -☮️

 (Given to authors that affirm the value of the human 
spirit by making a positive difference in the world.)


READ FOR EMPATHY COLLECTION - EMPATHY LAB ☮️

Recognizing literature recommended by children, teachers, and librarians to help build children’s empathy

BOSTON GLOBE HORN BOOK AWARD 👍🏿

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL -STARRED REVIEW

BOOKLIST - STARRED REVIEW

PACIFIC NORTHWEST LIBRARY ASSN. YOUNG READERS' CHOICE AWARD

KIRKUS - STARRED REVIEW

SUNSHINE STATE YOUNG READER AWARD

SOUTH CAROLINA BOOK AWARD

This story begs to be read aloud as indicated by the numerous awards it has received. Edward Tulane is a rabbit doll who experiences love, love lost, and love found again. He is part of a loving family when he gets tossed overboard on an ocean liner. He is saved by a fisherman, gets thrown into a garbage dump, rescued by a hobo, tossed off a train, and eventually finds his way into the hands of a sick child. While the ending is somewhat predictable, it takes nothing away from this tale that celebrates the human spirit. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is a book that you will read to your classes repeatedly. It is that good.  

1. What place do you think Edward enjoyed being the most? Explain.
 

    Answers will vary. 

2. What do you think was Edward’s worst experience?
 Answers will vary. 

3. What character do you think showed the most love in this story?  

    Answers will vary. 

    Possible answers - The hobo used his clothes to dress Edward. Abilene

    loved Edward so much that she took him to bed with her and was 

    constantly talking to him. Bryce gave Edward to his ailing sister to make 

    her feel better.


4. Why did Bryce run away from home?
    

    He couldn’t deal with his drunken, uncaring father anymore.

AUTHOR - CHRIS CROWE

GRADES - 6-9

NOTABLE BOOKS FOR A GLOBAL SOCIETY AWARD☮️

This is an annual list of 25 books created by the International Literacy Association which enhance student understanding of people and cultures.

YOUNG ADULT LIBRARY SERVICES ASSN. (YALSA) 

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK

The author uses fiction to retell the story of Emmett Till and bring awareness to America’s racist past. A strong picture of life in the South during the fifties is presented as sixteen-year old Hiram Hillburn, a white boy, travels from Arizona to visit his grandfather in Mississippi. Hiram used to live there, before his family suddenly moved. During the summer of 1955, he meets Emmett and discovers that his beloved grandfather is a racist. He now realizes why his father wanted to be far away from Mississippi. Readers will learn the facts that led to the bogus trial, and hopefully will come away with the idea that it is best to practice understanding and love when faced with the forces of hate and prejudice.

1. What would you have done when R.C. tormented Emmett Till while he was 

    fishing? 

2. What might have happened if Hiram said something?  Answers will vary. 

3. In chapter one, why did Grandpa get so angry when Hiram picked up the hoe?


    He  believed that Negroes should do manual labor. 

4. Why do you think Grandpa was so nervous during the trial?


    He was afraid what would happen to him if Hiram testified. 

5. Would this story be different if Hiram never moved to Arizona?       

    He might have had different feelings about black-white 
relationships. 

AUTHOR - AMANDA GORMAN

GRADES - 1-4

NOTABLE BOOKS FOR A GLOBAL SOCIETY AWARD ☮️

This is an annual list of 25 books created by the International Literacy Association which enhance student understanding of people and cultures.

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

CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF MULTICULTURAL CHILDREN’S LITERATURE

      BEST BOOKS☮️ 

a committee of the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature (CSMCL) identifies the best in multicultural books.

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR👍🏿

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - STARRED REVIEW

KIRKUS REVIEWS -STARRED REVIEW

A young Black girl with a guitar is on a mission to make the world a better place. As she walks past a mural of Martin Luther King Jr., she meets a Jewish boy carrying a tuba. Together, they clean up a park, bring food to the hungry, build a ramp for a girl in a wheelchair,  and  deliver groceries to an elderly woman. This poetic gem offers hope to a world that sure needs it, as the author encourages young people to do whatever they can to make a difference. 

1.The girls says that she doesn’t fear change. How about you? 
Do you fear 

   change? 

2.The author says it takes courage to show tolerance. What does that mean? 

3. What can you do to make your neighborhood a better place?
 Make a plan to do

    it.

AUTHOR - KIMBERLY WILLIS HOLT

GRADES - 4-6

JOSETTE FRANK AWARD☮️ 

This award for fiction honors a book or books of outstanding literary merit in which children or young people deal in a positive and realistic way with difficulties in their world and grow emotionally and morally.

VOICE OF YOUTH ADVOCATES (VOYA) - OUTSTANDING TITLE OF THE 

    YEAR 👍🏿

BOOKLIST - EDITORS' CHOICE

PARENTING MAGAZINE - BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR👍🏿

BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK AWARD - HONOR FOR FICTION 👍🏿

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK

YALSA - BEST BOOK FOR YOUNG ADULTS

INTERNATIONAL READING ASSN.  - YOUNG ADULTS' CHOICE

The author describes what it is like for a twelve-year-old girl growing up in a home with a mentally disabled mother and a mentally challenged father. She is constantly being embarrassed by the behavior of her parents, which have 
damaged her social life to the point where she has only one friend. When she has the opportunity to live with her aunt in Baton Rouge, the prospect of starting a new life appeals to her. Leaving one’s parents is a tough decision. Eventually she discovers that intelligence is not the ingredient that makes for a loving family, and she decides to stay. Great read-aloud. Numerous situations for discussion and debate.

    Tiger had the opportunity to live with her aunt in the city. She decided to
 stay 

    with her parents. Would you have made the same decision?
  Explain.
     

     Living with the aunt vs. living with the parents
     

     Living with her aunt was very appealing. When Tiger went to the
 city

     for a visit, her aunt bought her new clothes. She also had
  running

     water and a room of her own. She had access to a
 swimming pool, 

     as well as all the excitement of city life.

     Living at
  home meant endless chores and no friends. In addition, she 

     had
  to deal with a mother who acted like a baby and a mentally
 

     challenged father. Yet, she chose to stay with her parents because
 she 

     realized the importance of a loving family.   

AUTHOR - KAREN HESSE

GRADES - 5 AND UP

NEWBERY MEDAL - 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”.


PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - BOOK OF THE YEAR

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR👍🏿

BOOKLIST - EDITORS' CHOICE

SCOTT O'DELL AWARD - HISTORICAL FICTION👍🏿

NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY “100 TITLES FOR READING AND SHARING” 

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - BEST BOOK FOR YOUNG ADULTS

This is the story of The Dust Bowl as seen through the eyes of a fourteen year old girl.

During W.W.1, the farmers of Oklahoma made much money selling wheat to Europe. They continued to break up the sod and plant more seed without realizing that sod held moisture. When the drought came, the land turned to dust, and the wind blew it away. The dust became so thick, that people had to place rags by their doors and windows. However, the dust still got into their homes. Dust was on and in everything. Dust was in their food and in their beds. When people sneezed, they blew out mud. Many people died of dust pneumonia. A fourteen-year-old girl named Billie Jo tells what happened to her family during this terrible time. You can taste the dust and feel the grime as you read this outstanding piece of historical fiction. 

1. Compare and contrast Billie Jo with yourself. Use personality and 
examples of 

    behavior. 

    She is not a very happy person. 


    She is very lonely. Her after her best friend moves away.
    

    She has a crush on a local singer.
  

    She loves music and playing the piano.
    

    She is strong willed and determined. After she badly burns her 
 hands, 

    she enters  an amateur contest playing the piano.
    

    She is a forgiving person. She forgives her dad for causing the fire
 which 

    injured her mother.
    

    She is an accepting person. When her dad brings home a woman, 
 Billie 

   Jo likes her and she stays with them. 

2. When Billie Jo ran away, why did she return? Do you think that was a 
 good 

    idea? What  would you have done?


3. Some people have bad luck. What do you think were the three worst  things

    that happened to Billie Jo? 
    Possible Answers.
    

    She accidentally burned her mother.
    Her hands got burned during the 

    accident.
 

    Her best friend moved away.
  Her mother died.
  Her father stopped talking

    to her. 

TOLD BY ISABELLA HATKOFF, CRAIG HATKOFF, AND DR. PAULA KAHUMBU

GRADES - 3 AND UP

CHRISTOPHER AWARD - WINNER☮️ 

Winner This award is presented to authors who "affirm the highest values of the human spirit by making a positive difference in the world."

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - STARRED REVIEW

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. 
- NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK

NEW YORK TIMES  - BESTSELLER

A JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION

This is the sequel to the best selling book – Owen & Mzee – The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship. In book one, we learned how Owen was rescued and how he met, and was accepted by Mzee. Book two continues describing their relationship as both animals, a turtle and a hippopotamus, mysteriously learn to communicate with each other. This amazing experience sends a message to all readers that outside appearances do not define friendship.  

1. What evidence do the storytellers give that Owen and Mzee are really good 

    friends? 
  

    Owen is very protective of Mzee. 
They developed their own way of 

    communicating 
 with each other. 
They eat the same foods and they eat 

    together.  Workers have often seen Owen licking Mzee's face. Mzee likes 

    to rest his head on Owen's belly. 

2. Should Owen be placed in a pen with the other lonely hippo? 
   

    Debatable - If he stays with Mzee, he could 
accidentally hurt her. If he 

    stays with Mzee, he will 
not learn to live like a hippo.


3. The storytellers say that Owen is deeply suspicious of people. Why do you 

     suppose he feels that way?


4. No one has ever seen a reptile and a mammal develop
 a friendship. How do 

    you explain why Owen and Mzee 
 became friends?


5. What lesson can be learned from these two animals?  

AUTHOR - JANET SHULMAN

GRADES - 3 - 6 

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL -  STARRED REVIEW

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY  - STARRED REVIEW

BOOKLIST
 - STARRED REVIEW

HORN BOOK  - STARRED REVIEW

NEW YORK TIMES - BEST ILLUSTRATED BOOK

RHODE ISLAND CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD 

What happens when a red-tailed hawk decides to build a nest  on the edge of an exclusive apartment building in New York City? This true story documents the difficulties experienced by Pale Male, the hawk who won the hearts of thousands of New Yorkers. After many years of occupying his home on 5th Avenue, the owners of the building removed the nest. A huge public outcry ensued and and with the urging of The Audubon Society and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the hawk and his mate were allowed to return. After nine years and 23 chicks, a CBS newsman named him Father of the Year. 

1. Were the residents justified in complaining about the hawks?    

    Answers will vary. No one wants to step in bird droppings or have animal 

    remains fall on them.


2. Red-tail hawks do not normally build their homes in the city. Why do you 
think

    Pale Male did that?    

    Answers will vary. Perhaps he got lost and flew into the city  by mistake. 

    Once he saw all the good food, he decided to stay.  Maybe he was forced 

    to live in the city because he had no other place to build a nest. 

3. Suppose you joined the crowd to protest the moving of the nest. What would

    your sign say?     Answers will vary.


AUTHOR - MARGARET PETERSON HADDIX

GRADES - 5 -7

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - TOP TEN BOOKS FOR YOUNG ADULTS

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN.- QUICK PICK FOR RELUCTANT YOUNG ADULT

     READERS

BANK STREET COLLEGE'S CHILDREN'S BOOK COMMITTEE'S "BEST 

   CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR" LIST

CALIFORNIA YOUNG READERS' MEDAL 

MAUD HART LOVELACE AWARD  

NEVADA YOUNG READERS' AWARD 

GREAT STONE FACE AWARD (New Hampshire)  

NUTMEG CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD ( (Connecticut)  

SUNSHINE STATE YOUNG READERS' AWARD(Florida)  

PENNSYLVANIA YOUNG READERS' CHOICE AWARD  

YOUNG HOOSIER BOOK AWARD (Indiana)  

INDIAN PAINTBRUSH BOOK AWARD (Wyoming) 

IOWA CHILDREN'S CHOICE AWARD 

This futuristic novel revolves around a twelve-year-old boy named Luke, who is a third child in a country where families are only allowed to have two children. If third children are caught, they face execution. Luke spends his life in hiding until he finds another third child. Together they try to defy the Population Police in their attempt to be free. Note: This is the first book of the series called The Shadow Children. For those who wish to read further, there are six more books - 
2. Among the Impostors   3. Among the Betrayed   4. Among the Barons   5. Among the Brave    6. Among the Enemy   7. Among the Free 

1. Compare and contrast yourself with Luke. Use personality traits and specific 

    examples of behavior in your answer.     

    Luke’s personality - He doesn’t like his life. He wants to go to 
school like 

    the other children. 

    He is curious. He peeks through the cracks in the attic and spies on the 

    other families.  

    He is brave. He goes outside during the day to find out who is living 
 next 

    door. H leaves his family to start a new life with a new 
identity. 

    He is smart. He gives his father the idea of growing food indoors. 
He

    studies the other houses and learns that a third child must be 
living next 

    door.     

    He is caring. He wants to go to school and learn how to grow more 
food 

    to save the third children. He is against revolutionary tactics.     

    He is determined. He wants to learn how to save the third children. 
To do 

    this, he must lead a secret life.  

2. Jen and Luke want to save the third children, but they have different ideas. 

    Explain their ideas and choose the method you would use. Give reasons for 

    your choice.     

    Jen wants to start a revolution to force the government to change its 

    policy toward third children. Luke wants to solve the food 
shortage so 

    there will not be aneed to curtail the population.  

3. Everyday people take risks. Describe the risks people take in this story. 

    
How do they compare to the ones you have taken in your life?                                                   

AUTHOR - LAURIE HALSE ANDERSON

GRADES - 3-5

ONCE UPON A WORLD BOOK AWARD☮️

This award was established by Sonia Levitin and her family to “support and perpetuate the values and mandate of the Simon Wiesenthal Center & Museum of Tolerance by honoring children’s books … which deal with issues of tolerance, diversity, human understanding and social justice, thus inspiring a young reader to promote positive change in the world.”

OPPENHEIM TOY PORTFOLIO GOLD AWARD

Share this book just before the Thanksgiving holiday. It is a most informative and interesting account of Sarah Hale and her quest to make Thanksgiving a national holiday. This determined woman persisted for over thirty years to accomplish her goal. She also supported schools for girls and argued against slavery.

1.  If you could create a national holiday, what would it be?

 2. There is a saying that "the pen is mightier than the sword. How is that true in 

     this story                                    

AUTHOR - RUSSELL FREEDMAN

GRADES -4-8

ONCE UPON A WORLD BOOK AWARD☮️

This award was established by Sonia Levitin and her family to “support and perpetuate the values and mandate of the Simon Wiesenthal Center & Museum of Tolerance by honoring children’s books … which deal with issues of tolerance, diversity, human understanding and social justice, thus inspiring a young reader to promote positive change in the world.”

JANE ADDAMS PEACE AWARD - HONOR☮️

The Jane Addams Children’s Book Award annually recognizes children’s books of literary and aesthetic excellence that effectively engage children in thinking about peace, social justice, global community, and equity for all people. A national committee of members with passion for and expertise in children’s literature and social justice is responsible for making the choices each year.

NOTABLE BOOKS FOR A GLOBAL SOCIETY AWARD☮️

This is an annual list of 25 books created by the International Literacy Association which enhance student understanding of people and cultures.


ORBIS PICTUS - HONOR👍🏿

The Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children recognizes books which demonstrate excellence in the "writing of nonfiction for children.”

BOOKLIST - STARRED REVIEW

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW

KIRKUS - STARRED REVIEW

THE HORN BOOK - STARRED REVIEW

Russell Freedman is an award winning writer and photojournalist. He combines the two in his easy to read, detailed account of the Montgomery bus boycott. Readers will learn about the participants, the events that led up to the boycott, and the sacrifices people made to override local laws regarding busing rules and regulations which demeaned African Americans. Victory was achieved through the non-violent tactics that were introduced by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. .

1. Why do you think there was so much resistance to treating African Americans 

     fairly?

2. Many black people were angry at the way they were treated. However, they

    chose not to become violent. Why do you think this tactic worked?

3. Dr. Martin Luther King helped organize the boycott. Would they have 

    succeeded without him?

                                                  PAGE 14