NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

AUTHOR - JACQUELINE WOODSON

GRADES - K - 2

CORETTA SCOTT KING - HONOR BOOK 👍

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.

JANE ADDAMS PEACE AWARD 👍  - 

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.

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.

CHARLOTTE ZOLOTOW AWARD  

The Charlotte Zolotow Award is an American literary award presented annually for outstanding writing in a picture book published in the United States during the preceding year. 

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR

BOOKLIST - STARRED REVIEW

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - STARRED REVIEW

The new girl in class is shunned because of her shabby  clothes. When a classmate tries to make amends, it is too  late.

1. How does Chloe feel at the end of the story? 

2. Do you think she will ever see Maya again? 

3. If Chloe could write to Maya, what do you think she would say?                                    

AUTHOR - DEBORAH HOPKINSON

GRADES - 1-3

PARENTS' CHOICE - GOLD AWARD

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.

Girl Wonder was inspired by the life of Alta Weiss who was the first female to pitch for a male semi-pro team. Later, she went to medical school and was the only female in her 1914 graduating class. Readers will be inspired by Alta’s drive and ambition as she let the world know that being female does not mean being limited. 

1. Why do you think she was a girl wonder?
    

    She was a great baseball pitcher and she was the only female in her

 
   class to graduate medical school. 

2. Why do you think Alta became such a good pitcher?
    

    She had a strong arm and she practiced a lot when she was a child.
 She 

    was also very determined to succeed.


3. Why didn’t  Alta become a ball player when she grew up?
    

    Girls were not allowed to play in the Major Leagues.


4. Do you think girls should be allowed to play Major League baseball?                               

AUTHOR - ERIN ESTRADA KELLY

GRADES - 3 - 5

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”.
 

WASHINGTON POST BEST BOOKS FOR CHILDREN - 2017 

LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY - BEST BOOKS FOR CHILDREN - 2017 NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST BOOKS FOR KIDS - 2017 

CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST BOOKS 2017 - FICTION FOR OLDER READERS

Celebrating differences and bullying are two themes that run through this Newbery Award winner, as three tweens with issues become friends through the unintended consequence of a bully’s behavior.

1. Do you think Kaori really has special powers? Explain. 

2. Do you think the girls will succeed with their new business? 

3. Would you bring your problems and/or concerns to them? 

4. Will Chet act differently when he sees Virgil again? 
   

    Maybe. Virgil stood up to him causing him to reconsider his
 behavior.

5. How could Virgil have gotten out of the well without any assistance?
    

    He could have tied his clothes together. By throwing the 
end over the 

    bottom rung of the ladder and tying a knot, he might 
have been able t

    pull himself up.              

AUTHOR - LOIS EHLERT

PRE - 2

BOSTON GLOBE HORN BOOK - PICTURE BOOK - WINNER

BOOKLIST - STARRED REVIEW

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW

NATIONAL OUTDOOR BOOK AWARD - HONORABLE MENTION

MIDWEST BOOKSELLERS CHOICE AWARD - WINNER - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK

BOOK SENSE BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD - CHILDREN'S ILLUSTRATED 

     HONOR BOOK

In October, when the leaves start to fall, it is time to share Leaf Man with your class. What makes this book so unique are the hidden pictures that the leaves represent. For example, when the leaves are blowing along a river, with a little imagination, you can see the shapes of fish. All illustrations are made from real leaves. Listeners will find themselves following Leaf Man as he gets blown from one place to another. 

1. Would you rather be the wind or a leaf? 

2. Why does Leaf Man have to go somewhere when the wind blows? 

3. What do you think would happen if leaves were sticky? 

4. What do you think would happen if leaves were very heavy?                                                               

AS TOLD TO MICHELLE R. MCCANN BY LUBA TRYSZYNSKA-FREDERICK

GRADES - 3-6

JANE ADDAMS CHILDREN'S BOOK 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. 

ONCE UPON A WORLD CHILDREN'S 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.”

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.

NATIONAL JEWISH BOOK AWARD

Inau­gu­rat­ed in 1950, the Nation­al Jew­ish Book Awards is the longest-run­ning North Amer­i­can awards pro­gram of its kind and is rec­og­nized as the most pres­ti­gious. The Awards are intend­ed to rec­og­nize authors, and encour­age read­ing, of out­stand­ing Eng­lish-lan­guage books of Jew­ish interest. 

BOOK SENSE - CHILDREN'S 76 PICK

During her first night in the concentration camp, Luba discovered 54 abandoned children who were left in the cold to die. She decided to keep these children alive by doing whatever she could to obtain food and clothing. She took advantage of her nurse status, which allowed her freedom to roam around the camp. When liberation day arrived, 52 of the 54 children survived.  While the main message of this book is one of caring and going beyond the call of duty, it should be noted that the art work and the text do not depict the horrors of the camp very well. Nevertheless, it doesn’t disappoint as a read aloud. 

1. What do you think was the happiest moment for Luba?
    

    Possible answers - getting birthday gifts from the children, being freed 

    from the camp, (from Epilogue - being honored by the Queen of Holland,

    reuniting with her children after 50 years, meeting some 
of her relatives)


2. It is very difficult to hide fifty children. Do you think the guards knew 
about them

    and pretended that they didn’t know anything? Do you think 
that Luba and the

    children were lucky that no one found them? How do you explain the fact that

    fifty children were never discovered?                                                    

AUTHOR - CAROLE BOSTON WEATHERFORD

GRADES - 2-5

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.

CALDECOTT AWARD - HONOR - BEST ILLUSTRATIONS

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - STARRED REVIEW

KIRKUS - STARRED REVIEW

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW

HORN BOOK - STARRED REVIEW

While there are many books written about Harriet Tubman, this version is certainly the most beautiful. The illustrator is Kadir Nelson, who is one of the best, if not the best in the business. Consequently, Moses makes an excellent read-aloud. If your children are already familiar with Harriet Tubman, it is unlikely that they will learn anything new from this picture book. However, the illustrations are too good to pass up. The text is appropriate for the upper grades. 

1.Why do you think Harriet was so successful?
     

   She believed that God had sent her on a mission and that He
 protected 

   her.


2 If you escaped to freedom, would you go back to rescue others?    


3.Some people say that the slaves were treated well. They were  given a place to

   live and food to eat. They were also taken care of 
when they got sick. How

   would you respond to that?            

AUTHOR - JESSICA LOVE

GRADES - PRE - 1

😪WARNING! THIS BOOK HAS BEEN BANNED!😪

JANE ADDAMS PEACE AWARD👍

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.

STONEWALL BOOK AWARD👍

The Stonewall Book Award is a set of three literary awards that annually recognize "exceptional merit relating to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender experience" in English-language books published in the U.S.

ANNA DEWDNEY READ TOGETHER AWARD👍

recognizing picture books that are both superb read-alouds and also spark compassion, empathy, and connection.

READ FOR EMPATHY COLLECTIONS 👍

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

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW

KIRKUS - STARRED REVIEW

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

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - STARRED REVIEW

HORN BOOK - STARRED REVIEW

SHELF AWARENESS - STARRED REVIEW

A young boy loves mermaids. While riding on a train with his abuela, he sees some women dressed as mermaids and he imitates them. When he get home, he uses plants and curtains to dress like a mermaid. When his grandmother sees what he did, she takes him to a festival where he joins others in costume. The message her is clear - follow your imagination and enjoy life.

1. What would your mom do if you used her plants and curtains 
to make a 

    costume?              

AUTHORS -MOLLY BANG AND PENNY CHISHOLM

GRADES 1-6

SKIPPING STONES HONOR AWARDS👍

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.

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE AWARD

COOPERATIVE CHILDREN’S BOOK CENTER


A best of the year list of Pre-K-12 books created annually by librarians.

BOOK LINKS LASTING CONNECTIONS - SELECTION


Book Links magazine is designed for teachers, youth librarians, school library media specialists, reading specialists, curriculum coordinators, and others interested in connecting children with high-quality literature-based resources.

What appears to be a primary grade picture book, is a pleasure to read at any age. I would read and discuss it with K-2 children and offer the book for independent reading to those in grades 3-6. At the end of the book is a more detailed description of the topic for those who seek more information. The authors, a writer and an ecology professor, offer an easy to understand explanation of how humans depend on sunlight and plant growth. They combine the text with eye catching illustrations which will keep even the most reluctant readers interested. This is clearly one of the best environmental books for children that I have ever read. 

What can people do to protect plants?          

AUTHOR - KATIE SMITH MILWAY  

GRADES - 3-6  

SKIPPING STONES HONOR AWARD  👍

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.  


INTERNATIONAL READING ASSOCIATION – 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.


SOCIETY OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS, INTERNATIONAL, 

      K-6 SOCIAL STUDIES - HONOR BOOK

This multi award winner is based on a true rags-to-riches story. A young boy from Ghana buys a hen and sells the eggs. He saves his money and buys another hen. Eventually, he goes to college, where he learns how to be a chicken farmer. Through determination, he becomes a very successful adult as his farm grows to be the largest in South Africa. It all began from a small loan given to the boy's mother. A list of organizations that provide loans are provided at the end of the book. They are always looking for donations.     

1. How did determination bring success to Kojo?
        

    Kojo had to walk two hours to buy his first hen. He went to the

   
 market to  sell his eggs. 

    He found bits of fruit and grain on 
the ground, which he

    collected for food for his hen. 

    He saved his money and bought more  hens.

    Eventually, he saved enough
 money to go to school. 

    After he learned how to farm, he
 needed money to purchase hens. The 

    bank  refused to give him a loan, so he went to the president and 

    persuaded him to lend him the money. 

    Through lots of hard work, he built the largest poultry 
farm in South 

    Africa.
 

2. At the end of the story, he makes Adika promise to  loan money to 
another 

    family. Why did he ask her to do that?
       

    Without a loan, Kojo's mother would not have given him some coins to 

    buy his first hen. He also needed a loan to buy a chicken farm. He knew

    how important it was for people to help others.
 

3. In this story, Kojo only needed a few coins to make a lot of money. Suppose 

    someone gave you $100.00? How would you use this money to make a profit? 

TOLD BY ISABELLA HATKOFF, CRAIG HATKOFF, AND DR. PARUL KAHUMBU -

GRADES - 3 AND UP

CHRISTOPHER AWARD - WINNER 👍

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

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN.  - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK

NEW YORK TIMES - BESTSELLER

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?


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