NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSN. - TOP 100 BOOKS FOR CHILDREN👍

AUTHOR - ANN GRIFALCONI

GRADES - 2-4

JANE ADDAMS 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.


PARENTS' CHOICE AWARD👍🏿

NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY -100 TITLES FOR READING AND SHARING

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF SOCIAL STUDIES - CHILDREN'S BOOK COUNCIL - 

     NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK

People of an African village work together to avoid slave traders who are trying to capture them. When the villagers come to an impassable river, a young girl is the only one who sees a way to cross. She leads her people to safety and out of harms way. 

1. Who was most responsible for saving the village - the girl, the mother, or 
the 

    grandmother? Explain.
    

    A case can be made for each person. The girl found a way to 
cross the 

    river. The mother thought of the idea to make the village
 vanish. The 

    grandmother convinced the slave traders that she was 
the only one living

    there. 

2. What did grandmother mean when she said,"The crocodile will not
  eat old 

    wrinkled adder snake."
?   

    The slave traders will not be interested in her because she is too 
old.


3. Is there anything in this story that could not have really happened?
 Explain.
   

    All of the events in this story could have happened. However, 
one may

    question the spirits showing the girl the stones which allowed her to 

    cross the river.  

AUTHOR -KADIR NELSON

GRADES - 4- AND UP

CORETTA SCOTT KING AWARD -HONOR - BEST ILLUSTRATED BOOK

CORETTA SCOTT KING AWARD - WINNER - ☮️ BEST WRITTEN 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.

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.


ROBERT F. SIBERT MEDAL - 👍🏿

This award is presented annually to the writer and illustrator of the most distinguished informational book published in English during the preceding year.

ORBIS PICTIS - 👍🏿

The Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children recognizes books which demonstrate excellence in the "writing of nonfiction for children." It is awarded annually by the National Council of Teachers of English to one American book published the previous year. 

BOOKLIST - STARRED REVIEW

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - STARRED REVIEW

We Are the Ship is must reading for baseball fans of all ages. The award-winning illustrations take readers on a time machine through the first half of the twentieth century when black ballplayers had to fend for themselves as they played under terrible conditions. Fields were often cow pastures and spectators were often hostile. Segregation made traveling a nightmare. Yet, in spite of these obstacles, the Negro Leagues endured. Who were these players? The author/illustrator answers this question and many more in this book which is more like a work of art than a story. 

1.What do you think was the most difficult part of playing in the Negro 
Leagues? 

   Answers may include - unable to get lodging or food, name calling
 

   from the fans, traveling and playing four games in a day.    

2. Why do you think Major League baseball finally allowed blacks to play in their 

    leagues?

    Answers will vary.              

3. What was the most interesting or important piece of information that you 

    learned from reading this book? 

AUTHORS - STEVE JENKINS AND ROBIN PAGE

GRADES - 2 AND UP

CALDECOTT AWARD - HONOR BOOK - BEST ILLUSTRATIONS

SCHOLASTIC - TOP 100 GREATEST BOOKS FOR KIDS👍🏿

BOOKLIST - STARRED REVIEW

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK

CHARLOTTE ZOLOTOW - COMMENDATION 👍🏿

This unusual book focuses on specific animal features. On one page you see five animal noses. Listeners are asked to decide the name of the animal each nose belongs to. On the next page, you see the five animals and a sentence describing how they use their noses. This is repeated with ears, feet, eyes, tails, and mouths. At the end of the book is a detailed description of all the animals shown earlier. Since I had difficulty naming most of the animals, I found it impossible to attach a grade level to it. It looks like a preschool-first grade book, but the content should interest anyone. In any event, it is a fun, informational book to share.

This entire book engages the mind of the reader.

AUTHOR - KIMBERLY WILLIS HOLT

GRADES - 5-7

NATIONAL BOOK AWARD - WINNER 👍🏿

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - BEST BOOKS FOR YOUNG ADULTS 

BOOKLIST - EDITORS' CHOICE

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR👍🏿

BOSTON GLOBE - HORN BOOK  - STARRED REVIEW

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - STARRED REVIEW

This National Book Award winner centers on Toby Wilson who is experiencing the toughest summer of his life. His mother left home to become a country singer, his dad can’t cook, his best friend’s older brother is fighting in Vietnam, and the girl of his dreams is interested in someone else. However, his life is about to change, as Zachary Beaver, the fattest boy in the world, has just come to town. This is a tale of love, death, and acceptance. 

1. What is your opinion of Toby? Would he make a good friend?
 Give three 

    reasons to support your answer.
   

    It is hard to imagine anyone not liking Toby because he is so

    considerate.  When Zachary is left alone, he brings him food.
 He is 

    also responsible for getting Zachary baptized. 
When Scarlett asks

    him to babysit for her sister, he does so even though he knows

    Scarlett likes Juan. 
When Juan comes to Toby for advice on how to

    make Scarlett 
happy, he decides to play matchmaker.
 Toby realizes

    that Juan couldn’t go to the party in honor of 
 Scarlett’s grandfather, 

    because he didn’t own any nice clothes.
 

    He rides his bike to Scarlett’s house and blindfolds her. 

    Then he
 takes her to Juan’s house and drops her off. He rides away, 

    forcing them to work out their differences.
 When Toby doesn’t go to 

    Wayne’s funeral, he realizes that he hurt 
 Cal’s feelings. Toby 

    apologizes and the boys become good friends 
again. 

2. Do you think Toby’s mom will come back? Explain. 

3. What do you think will happen to Zachary? 

AUTHOR - WILSON RAWLS

GRADES - 5 AND UP

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - A TOP TEN CHILDREN'S NOVEL👍🏿

OVER 7 MILLION COPIES IN PRINT

MASSACHUSETTS CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD

GREAT STONE FACE AWARD

NORTH DAKOTA CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD 

MICHIGAN YOUNG READERS' AWARD

NOTE: This book was published in the early 60's as an adult novel, which accounts for the fact that it did not win any children's awards at that time. In addition, there was no category for young adult literature.

There are a handful of classics in children’s literature and WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS certainly belongs on that list. Set in The Ozarks during The Depression, a ten-year-old boy named Billy Coleman desperately wanted two coon hound pups. However, his family was poor, so Billy had to work and save his money to buy the pups. Throughout this story, Billy faced adversity as he had to overcome bullies, mountain lions, blizzards, and death.
The author used his life experiences which he incorporated into his novel. This is the best young adult book I have ever read. If I were a school superintendent, I would require all students to read this book as the author sends a powerful message of love, loyalty, hard work, fairness, acceptance, and responsibility. It is one amazing story that will never be forgotten.

1. Did you ever want something so badly that you couldn’t eat or sleep
 properly?

    If yes,describe the experience. Is there anything you want 
now that compares 

    to Billy and his dogs? If yes, write about it.


2. This story contains many adventures. Describe your favorite part.
    

    Answers will vary.


3. Billy’s mother wants to move so that he could get a good education. Did she 

    make the right decision? Explain.


4. If the dogs didn’t die, what would have happened to them when the 
family 

    moved to town? How would that have affected Billy?


5. Little Ann died of a broken heart? Is that possible? Explain. 

AUTHOR - DEBORAH RUDDELL

GRADES  - K - 6

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOKS

BANK STREET COLLEGE - BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR👍🏿

BEEHIVE AWARD - MASTER LIST

KIRKUS REVIEWS - STARRED REVIEW

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR👍🏿

JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD - SELECTION

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

NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR TEACHERS OF ENGLISH - NOTABLE 

       CHILDREN'S BOOKS IN THE LANGUAGE ARTS

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 -COLIN MELOY 

GRADES  - 5-7

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

VOYA Founded in 1978, Voice of Youth Advocates, or (VOYA),This magazine is the leading library journal dedicated to the needs of young adult librarians, the advocacy of young adults, and the promotion of young adult literature and reading. Its most prestigious award is a Perfect Ten. This is given to a book that gets a five star rating for quality and a five star rating for popularity. 

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW

NEW YORK TIMES - BESTSELLER

INDIE - BESTSELLER

E.B. WHITE -  READ-ALOUD MIDDLE READER AWARD

While a twelve-year-old girl is baby-sitting her brother, he is kidnapped by a group of crows who take him into a place called the Impassable Wilderness, which borders Portland, Oregon. This area is so thick with vegetation, that no one ever goes there. The girl and her friend Curtis decide to rescue her brother and find themselves in a world filled with animal bandits, warring coyotes, military birds and a power struggle for control of this secret world. This is book one of The Wildwood Chronicles. It is followed by Under Wildwood and Wildwood Imperium. 

1. After Prue’s brother was taken, she waited a day before deciding to go into the 

    Wilderness alone without consulting her parents. What would you have done?
 

    Answers will vary. 


2. Why do you think Curtis decided to stay in the Wilderness, 

    rather than 
return to his home?
 

    Curtis felt important here. The other bandits respected him.

    He 
made many friends. In Portland, he was a loner.


3. Why would Prue and Curtis be good people to have as friends?
    

    They were very loyal. Prue was loyal to her brother and Curtis
 was loyal 

    to the bandits. They were caring. They cared about each other and the 

    animals in the woods. They were likable. The woodland creatures became

    good friends 
with both of them.


4. Do you think Prue will return to the Wilderness? Explain.
   

    Probably. At the end of the story, Curtis‘ parents told her to say 
hello

    to him the next time she saw him.
    

5. Do you think Curtis will leave the Wilderness? Explain.
    Answers will vary. 

6. How did Curtis’ parents feel at the end of the story?
   

    They seemed to be happy because they knew their son was happy.

    They told Prue to say hello to him. 

AUTHOR - R.J. PALACIO

GRADES  - 4-6

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

TIME MAGAZINE - 100 BEST YOUNG ADULT BOOKS OF ALL TIME👍🏿

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL -BEST OF CHILDREN'S BOOKS - 2012👍🏿

PARENTS MAGAZINE -TOP TEN BOOKS OF THE YEAR👍🏿

E.B WHITE - READ-ALOUD AWARD  - WINNER

INTERNATIONAL READING ASSN. - TEACHERS' CHOICE

BOOKLIST - EDITORS' CHOICE

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - BEST OF CHILDREN'S BOOKS - 2012

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY - 10 GREAT KIDS' BOOK SELECTION

MARK TWAIN AWARD👍🏿

USA TODAY -  TOP 100 BESTSELLER

August Pullman never went to school because of a facial deformity. Now, that he is ten years old, his parents decide to enroll him in a private middle school. In spite of the best efforts of the school administrator, August suffers from bullying, name calling, and intolerance. The story is told by August, his sister, and a few of his friends. As he experiences his fifth grade year, the other students gradually learn that they have more in common with August than they originally thought. 

1. Suppose August had Julian’s parents. How would his 
life been different?


2. Why do you think Julian does not like August? 

3. Who do you think August likes the most? Explain. 

4. At the end of the story, August gets an award for being 
great. Do you think he

    deserve it?
 Why?

5. Did August’s parents wait too long to send him to 
school? Explain. 

AUTHOR - MADELEINE L'ENGLE

GRADES  - MATURE 4TH,5,6

😪WARNING! THIS BOOK HAS BEEN BANNED!😪

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”.


NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY -  TOP 100 CHILDREN'S BOOK OF LAST 100 

    YEARS👍🏿

NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSN. - TOP 20 BOOKS FOR CHILDREN👍🏿

SCHOLASTIC  - 100 GREATEST BOOKS FOR KIDS- #3 👍🏿

AMAZON - TOP 100 BOOKS FOR CHILDREN👍🏿

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - TOP 100 NOVELS FOR CHILDREN #2 👍🏿

GOODREADS  -100 CHILDREN'S BOOKS TO READ IN A LIFETIME- #10 👍🏿

SEQUOYAH BOOK AWARD👍🏿

HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON AWARD - RUNNER-UP👍🏿

LEWIS CARROLL SHELF AWARD - 👍🏿

Given to books that belong on the same shelf as Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland 

Meg’s father is being held prisoner on another planet. Three creatures come to earth disguised as women. They need Meg, her younger brother, and a boy from Meg’s high school, to rescue her dad. To do this quickly, they need to travel through several dimensions. It is called tesseract, or a wrinkle in time.  Meg learns that an evil force it trying to take over the universe called the Dark Thing. When she arrives on the planet where her father is being held captive, she is told everyone is under the power of something called IT, which uses a giant brain to control everyone. Meg needs to use one of her human powers to defeat IT and save her dad. This action packed novel featuring a female protagonist, should appeal to your sci-fi adventure readers.

1. What do you think is the most important lesson Meg learned?
  

    Answers will vary. She learns that uniqueness and individuality are 
things

    to be admired. At the beginning of the story, she wonders
 why she is 

    such an oddball. She wishes she could be like everyone 
 else. When she 

    experiences total conformity on another planet, she  realizes the 

    importance of being your own self.

    She also learns that 
you cannot know everything.


2. If you could speak with the author, what would she say is wrong with the 
 way 

    children are educated?    

    She would tell you that schools are too structured and lack creativity.  In 

    the novel, the teachers and the principal do not recognize the 
 creativity 

    in the Murry children. For example, when Meg gets the 
 right answers in 

    math, but uses a different formula, she is 
 admonished by her teacher. 

3. How do the three women in this story prove that you cannot tell about a 
book 

    by its cover.
   

    One woman is described as looking like a tramp. The do not appear
 to be 

    beautiful or trustworthy. Yet the children soon learn that  appearances 

    can be deceptive. 

    One woman was a hero as she once  battled The Dark Thing and lost. 

    She was also able to morph into a 
beautiful winged creature. 

    The other two ladies helped Meg find her father. All three proved to be 

    forces of good as they battled The Dark 
Thing. 

AUTHOR - ANGELA JOY

GRADES - 4 - 6

JANE ADDAMS CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD - WINNER☮️

aesthetic excellence that effectively engage children in thinking about peace, social justice, global community, and equity for all people.

WALTER DEAN MYER AWARD - WINNER☮️

The Walter Dean Myers Awards for Outstanding Children's Literature recognize diverse authors whose works feature diverse main characters and address diversity in a meaningful way.

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

CYBILS- ☮️

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

ORBIS PICTUS - HONOR BOOK -👍🏿

The Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children recognizes books which demonstrate excellence in the "writing of nonfiction for children." It is awarded annually by the National Council of Teachers of English to one American book published the previous year.

CALDECOTT HONOR BOOK

Caldecott Honor Book The Randolph Caldecott Medal, frequently shortened to just the Caldecott, annually recognizes the preceding year's "most distinguished American picture book for children". It is awarded to the illustrator by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA). The Caldecott and Newbery Medals are considered the most prestigious American children's book awards.

ROBERT F. SIBERT INFORMATIONAL BOOK - HONOR 👍🏿

This award is presented annually to the writer and illustrator of the most distinguished informational book published in English during the preceding year.

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW

CORETTA SCOTT KING - JOHN STEPTOE AWARD FOR ILLUSTRATIONS

KIRKUS REVIEWS - BEST OF THE YEAR LIST

HORN BOOK FANFARE BEST OF 2022 LIST

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BEST BOOKS OF 2022

SHELF AWARENESS BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR

NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST BOOKS OF 2022👍🏿

CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR👍🏿

In 1955, I was fourteen years old, the same age as Emmett when he was brutally murdered. I remember looking at his body in the casket and wondering why anyone would do such a thing. This biography of Emmett’s mom tells of the strong relationship she and Emmett had together. Readers will also learn about her accomplishments after the death of her son as she worked tirelessly to keep his memory alive during the civil rights movement. I do not know what a perfect book looks like, but this is about as close as one could get. Not only is the story of Emmett and his mom well written, but the excellent illustrations resulted in winning the Caldecott Award - Honor. (See above.) In addition, there are notes from the author and illustrator at the end of the book, as well as a timeline of historical data regarding the crime. Do not miss this one!

1. Why was it brave for Emmett’s mom to show the world his body in an open 

    casket?

2. Some people say that Emmett did not die in vain? What do you think that 

    means?                                                     

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