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Welcome to
KIDS' LIT - MUST READS

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

EVOLUTION, ME & OTHER FREAKS OF NATURE

AUTHOR - ROBIN BRANDE

GRADES - 6 - 10

HONORS/AWARDS 👍

VOICE OF YOUTH ADVOCATES - 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. 

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION - BEST BOOKS FOR YOUNG ADULTS

BOOK SENSE - CHILDREN'S PICK LIST

NCSS/CBC – NOTABLE CHILDREN'S TRADE BOOK IN THE FIELD OF 

    SOCIAL STUDIES

THEMES - BELIEVING IN YOURSELF, CENSORSHIP

This powerhouse of a story focuses on a high school freshman who finds herself ostracized from just about everyone because she apologized to a boy who had attempted suicide as a result of a church condemning him because he was gay. The protagonist, Mena Reece, tries to reconcile her belief in God, while accepting Darwin’s theory of evolution. This brings her at odds with her parents, her church, and just about all of her friends. The one bright light in her life is Casey, her lab partner. As this relationship evolves, so does Mena, as she struggles to find her identity. The author tackles the issue of whether or not intelligent design should be taught in conjunction with evolution. The result is a masterpiece and is must reading for anyone who needs to “get a handle” on this controversy.


GENRE - REALISTIC YOUNG ADULT FICTION

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

Compare and contrast Mena to yourself. Use personality and examples 
of behavior in your answer.
    

Mena is shy and and does not like to be the center of attention. 

She
 has difficulty facing her problems. When the youth group begins
  to tease her and push her around, she does not respond to them by
 fighting back. She goes to the girls’ room rather than be teased in
 the cafeteria.
    

She loves to write. She always carries a notebook with her. She
 enjoys writing as Bible GIrl on Kayla’s blog.
   

She is a good person as evidenced by her apology to Denny. She
 knew that the church and the youth group hurt him and she wanted 
to make him feel better. She also felt bad about lying to her parents
 and eventually tells them the truth.
    

Mena is very determined. When she realized that the youth group
 was spreading hate and causing problems for her science teacher,
 she decided to do whatever it took to stop them.
    

She worries a great deal. She is afraid that Casey will not like her 
once he realizes that she is not very smart. She also worries about 
 her fading relationship with her parents.
    

According to Casey, she is funny.
    

She believes in God and the bible.
    

She loves science. 

NATIONAL JEWISH BOOK AWARD - FINALIST

YELLOW STAR

AUTHOR - JENNIFER ROY

GRADES - 4 - 6

HONORS/AWARDS 👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿

SYDNEY TAYLOR BOOK AWARD - HONOR👍🏿

is presented annually to outstanding books for children and teens that authentically portray the Jewish experience.  

NATIONAL JEWISH BOOK AWARD - FINALIST👍🏿

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. 

BOSTON GLOBE HORN BOOK - HONOR 👍🏿

NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY - 100 TITLES FOR READING AND SHARING

WILLIAM ALLEN WHITE - CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD👍🏿

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - STARRED REVIEW

BOOKLIST - STARRED REVIEW

THEMES - DEATH, THE HORRORS OF WAR

This is a true story based on the information given by a survivor to her niece. Syvia, who was only five years old, spent five years in a ghetto in Poland during WW11. Of the tens of thousands who lived in the ghetto, she was only one of about 800 to survive. Her family was able to outsmart the Nazis on many occasions which kept Syvie and her family from being sent to the concentration camps. Listeners will hear about the persecution of Jews through the eyes of a child. Yellow Star is an easy read and should elicit many questions along the way.   

GENRE - BIOGRAPHICAL CHILDREN'S NOVEL

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

1. What do you think Syvia missed the most while she was living in the ghetto? 

    Explain your answer.
    

    Answers will vary. Good food, friends, or toys are 
some possibilities. 


2. What do you think was Syvia’s worst experience?  Explain your answer.
    

    Answers will vary. Losing her doll, hiding in the 
cemetery, being taken 

    from her apartment by the 
Nazis, being caught in the cellar by the Nazis, 

    
running away from the bombs, are some 
possibilities. 

3. If you met Syvia, what questions would you ask her?

NEWSWEEK - TOP 100 BOOKS OF ALL TIME

GOLDEN COMPASS, THE

AUTHOR - PHILIP PULLMAN

GRADES - 5 -12

😪WARNING! THIS BOOK HAS BEEN BANNED!😪

BUY NOW $29.00 LARGE ILLUSTRATED EDITION - HARDCOVER, NEW 😊POSTAGE INCLUDED

HONORS/AWARDS 👍👍👍👍

NEWSWEEK - TOP 100 BOOKS OF ALL TIME 👍

GUARDIAN PRIZE FOR CHILDREN'S LITERATURE - WINNER👍

BOSTON GLOBE HORN BOOK - STARRED REVIEW

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - TOP 100 CHILDREN'S NOVELS #28 👍

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY - ALL TIME GREATEST CHILDREN'S NOVEL 👍

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - BEST BOOKS FOR YOUNG ADULTS 👍

NEW YORK TIMES - BESTSELLER 

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - STARRED REVIEW 

CARNEGIE MEDAL - STARRED REVIEW

THEMES - GOOD VS. EVIL, DESTINY VS. FREE WILL

Something strange is happening to the children who are approaching adolescence. They are disappearing. A lady with a golden monkey lures them into a basement, where they are taken by people known as Gobblers to a place in the Arctic. One rumor says that doctors are using the children for experiments. Others say that the children are eaten by a warlike tribe.  The heroine of this story is a young girl named Lyra, who gets captured by Gobblers and escapes. She gets rescued by the boat people who are angry because Gobblers have taken many of their children. Lyra decides to help them. However, her journey will be filled with obstacles - killer flies, good and bad witches and ferocious armored bears.  This is a story for mature fifth and up who desire something a bit more intense than Harry Potter. It is the first of a trilogy. Interested readers should read The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass. This story is one of the best of the best, along with Where the Red Fern Grows, and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

GENRE - FICTION - ADVENTURE

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

1. Almost everyone in this story had a daemon which was related to their 

    
personality. If you had a daemon, what shape would it take? Explain.
 Would 

    you like to have a daemon? 

    Explain. 

2. Many book reviewers say that The Golden Compass is one of the best
 novels 

    ever written. What do you think? Explain.


NATIONAL BOOK AWARD - WINNER 👍🏿

CLAUDETTE COLVIN: TWICE TOWARD JUSTICE

AUTHOR - PHILLIP HOOSE

GRADES - 5 AND UP

HONORS/AWARDS ☮️ ☮️👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿

JANE ADDAMS CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD - HONOR BOOK ☮️ 

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.


NEWBERY AWARD - HONOR 👍🏿

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”.

ROBERT F. SIBERT BOOK AWARD 👍🏿

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

NATIONAL BOOK AWARD  - WINNER 👍🏿

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW

BOOKLIST - STARRED REVIEW

WASHINGTON POST - BEST BOOK OF 2009

THE HORN BOOK - STARRED REVIEW

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - STARRED REVIEW

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

THEMES - COURAGE, OVERCOMING ADVERSITY, SEGREGATION, HISTORY CAN BE UNFAIR

Most people connect Rosa Parks with the Montgomery bus boycott as a result of her refusal to give her seat to a white person. However, this incident was ignited by a teen-age girl named Claudette Colvin, who was dragged off a bus by two policemen, and taken to jail where she was fingerprinted. This rebellious act was repeated by another teen a few months later. However, these two children were not considered mature enough to be the test case. Unfortunately for Colvin, she was considered to be a pariah by some and she lost just about all of her friends who regarded her as a troublemaker. To complicate matters, she became pregnant by a white man and gave birth to a white boy. 
Although Parks is given much of the credit for ending bus segregation, it was the legal system that decided the matter. It is interesting to note that two of the plaintiffs were Colvin and the other teen. Parks was not involved in the lawsuit.                                                             



One basic message of this book is that history is often unfair. On the one hand we have Colvin, a young teen, who decided on her own to stand up to a horrible system. She had no plan or support at the time. On the other hand we have Parks, who was not only hand picked, but she worked for the NAACP and she had the confidence of knowing that once she was arrested, a support group would be waiting for her. While the author recognizes Parks for her courage, he makes it clear that Colvin should have received more credit for trying to beat the system single-handedly. Although Colvin was somewhat miffed at the time, and felt that she should have received her share of positive publicity, she later realized that Parks was better suited for the role as the barrier buster. 
As noted below, this book is a National Book Award winner and rightfully so. The compelling narrative accompanied by dozens of great pictures make this story very appealing and informative.  

GENRE - YOUNG ADULT BIOGRAPHY

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

Chapter Four - At the end of this chapter, Reverend Johnson tells Claudette 

    that she brought the revolution to Montgomery. What did he mean by that?
 

    She encouraged African Americans to take action by refusing to get out 

    of her seat.



Chapter Five - When Claudette returned to school, many of her classmates 

    made fun of her. Why didn't they respect her for what she did?


    They could have been afraid. Claudette challenged white authority, and 

    that usually meant that some African-American was going to get hurt.                                                                                                                        Chapter Six - Sometimes it takes a great deal of courage to do the right thing. 

    Explain how Claudette made her feelings known without breaking the law.


    She braided her hair and told everyone that she was proud to be

    African.



Chapter Eight - At the end of the chapter, Claudette feels as though she was 

    being thrown to the lions. What do you think that means?
 

    She was going to be a plaintiff in the lawsuit against the city of 

    Montgomery. This meant that she would face hostile lawyers and 

    resentment from the people who did not want the Jim Crow laws 

    changed.  

JANE ADDAMS PEACE AWARD ☮️

MARCHING FOR FREEDOM

AUTHOR - ELIZABETH PARTRIDGE

GRADES - 5 AND UP

BUY NOW $16.50 HARDCOVER, NEW - 😊POSTAGE INCLUDED

HONORS/AWARDS ☮️ ☮️ 👍👍👍

JANE ADDAMS CHILDREN'S BOOK 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.


BOSTON GLOBE HORN BOOK AWARD - WINNER 👍

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR👍

BOOKLIST - TOP TEN BLACK HISTORY BOOKS FOR YOUTH

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - STARRED REVIEW

LOS ANGELES TIMES BOOK PRIZE FOR YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE👍

THEMES - COURAGE, OVERCOMING ADVERSITY, STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

Readers are transported to Selma, Alabama during March of 1965 as they relive the marches from Selma to Montgomery. The author used photos to bring this event to life as thousands of marchers, mainly young adults and children put their lives on the line for freedom. You could feel the tension as you read the text. 

GENRE - YOUNG ADULT HISTORY - CIVIL RIGHTS

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

1.   Would you have volunteered for the second march? Explain.  

      Answers will vary. 

2.   Throughout the story, you read about the bravery of Lynda. If you
 could meet

       her today,

       what would you ask her? 

3.   It has often been said that “A photo is worth a thousand words.” What  do you

      think that means? Find a photo and explain why you think it is 
worth a 

      thousand words. What page is it on? 

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

TIME TO DANCE, A

AUTHOR -PADMA VENKATRAMAN

GRADES - 5 AND UP

HONORS/AWARDS☮️ ☮️👍🏿

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. 

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.


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.

BOOKLIST - STARRED REVIEW

KIRKUS - STARRED REVIEW

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW

INTERNATIONAL BOARD ON BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE -  

  OUTSTANDING BOOK FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. A NOTABLE BOOK FOR CHILDREN

NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY  - BOOK FOR THE TEEN

THEMES - COURAGE, OVERCOMING ADVERSITY, RESILIENCE OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT

A young teen’s determination to realize her dream as dancer, and the inspiration she receives from others after losing her leg, provides page turning reading regardless of your interest in dancing. Get ready for an emotional roller coaster ride - buckle up.

GENRE - YOUNG ADULT REALISTIC FICTION

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

1. Do you have a passion in your life that is similar to Veda’s?
 Can you describe 

    it?


2. At the end of the chapter called In the Eye, page 93 hardcover, Veda 
says that 

    she now understands the proverb - Beauty is in the eye of the 
 beholder. What 

    do you think it means?
    

    She is referring to the way her grandmother sees her.


3. In the chapter called Acting Anger, page 100 hardcover, Veda acts 
 differently 

    toward the lady on the bus. Do you agree with what she did? 
What would you

    have done?


4. In the chapter called Flight of Feeling, page 204 hardcover, Veda says,
 “You’d 

    prefer to be a demon like me.” What does that mean?
    

    Veda is somewhat rebellious, while Govinda tries to get along with
 

    everyone. He needs to be a bit more assertive. He needs to tell his 

    
parents that he wants to be a dancer, not an engineer. 

NATIONAL BOOK AWARD - FINALIST 👍

TOO BRIGHT TO SEE

AUTHOR -KYLE LUKOFF

GRADES - 4-7

HONORS/AWARDS ☮️☮️👍👍👍👍👍👍

NATIONAL BOOK AWARD - FINALIST 👍 

STONEWALL 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. .

RAINBOW LIST - TOP TEN LGBTQ BOOKS FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS☮️

NEWBERY AWARD - HONOR👍

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”.

KIRKUS - STARRED REVIEW 

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - STARRED REVIEW 

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW 

BOOKLIST - STARRED REVIEW 

BOSTON GLOBE - BEST BOOK OF 2021 👍

TIME - BEST CHILDREN'S BOOK 2021👍

WASHINGTON POST - BEST CHILDREN'S BOOK 2021👍

NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST BOOK FOR KIDS 2021 👍

THEME - ACCEPTING YOURSELF

Not being transgender, I cannot speak for the manner in which the main character, who is experiencing an identity crisis, deals with this issue. However, the author has been there and done that, so if my faith in him is justified, this is one helluva book. Trans kids will recognize their own inner voices, and those who have acceptance problems just might be a bit more tolerant after reading about Bugs and the journey she takes from being a girl to discovering that she is really a he. This easy, quick read delivers a powerful message - be yourself.

GENRE - YOUNG ADULT REALISTIC FICTION

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

1. Tommy was able to fit in rather easily in his new school.  How would he be  

    treated if  he came to your school?

2. Should gender be a consideration when choosing a friend?                                                 

JANE ADDAMS CHILDREN'S PEACE AWARD - ☮️

I DISSENT - RUTH BADER GINSBURG MAKES HER MARK

AUTHOR -DEBBIE LEVY

GRADES - 3-5

BUY NOW $12.00 HARDCOVER, NEW - 😊 POSTAGE INCLUDED

HONORS/AWARDS☮️☮️👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿

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.

NOTABLE BOOKS FOR A GLOBAL  SOCIETY  

 - BEST CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOKS OF 2016☮️

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


ORBIS PICTUS AWARD - HONOR - OUTSTANDING NONFICTION FOR CHILDREN - (awarded by the National Council for Teachers of English) 👍🏿

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW 

BOOKLIST - STARRED REVIEW 

NATIONAL JEWISH BOOK AWARD 👍🏿

NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY - BEST BOOKS FOR KIDS - 2016 👍🏿

HUFFINGTON POST - BEST PICTURE BOOKS - 2016 

THEMES - DISCRIMINATION, OVERCOMING ADVERSITY

This biography focuses on Ginsburg’s unyielding fight against discrimination. In her personal life, she was not accepted because she was Jewish and a woman. These experiences inspired her to become one of the best in her field.

GENRE - CHILDREN'S BIOGRAPHY

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

1. How did being a woman help her to become a Supreme Court judge? 
       

    She had to work twice as hard as a man to succeed.
 

2. What do you admire most about Ruth Bader Ginsberg?
 

3. Ruth took a stand against things that she felt were 
unfair. What do you think

    needs to be changed?
 

4. How do you go about changing things to make them 
better?                                                                                                      

CYBILS AWARD - NONFICTION PICTURE BOOK - FINALIST ☮️

CAN WE SAVE THE TIGER?

AUTHOR -MARTIN JENKINS

GRADES - 3-5

HONORS/AWARDS ☮️👍👍

CYBILS AWARD - NONFICTION PICTURE BOOK - FINALIST ☮️

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

BOSTON GLOBE - HORN BOOK - HONOR 👍

JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - BEST BOOK LIST FOR NONFICTION👍

KIRKUS REVIEWS - BEST CHILDREN'S BOOKS OF 2012

THEME - SAVE WILDLIFE

Without being too preachy, readers are encouraged to think about endangered species. While the tiger receives some attention, most of the book explains why animals became or are becoming extinct.

GENRE - CHILDREN'S NONFICTION

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

If you could save an animal from becoming extinct, which one would you
    choose? Explain.                                                                                           

SKIPPING STONES - HONOR LIST ☮️

ELEPHANT KEEPER, THE

AUTHOR -MARGARET RUURS

GRADES - 4-6

BUY NOW $12.00 HARDCOVER, NEW - 😊POSTAGE INCLUDED

HONORS/AWARDS ☮️👍🏿

SKIPPING STONES - HONOR LIST - ☮️ 

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. 

BANK STREET COLLEGE - BEST CHILDREN'S BOOKS OF THE YEAR - WINNER👍🏿

KIRKUS REVIEW - STARRED REVIEW

DIAMOND WILLOW AWARD - SASKATCHEWAN YOUNG READERS' CHOICE

AWARD - FINALIST

TEACHERS' CHOICE LIST - INTERNATIONAL LITERACY ASSN. - WINNER

THEME - PROTECTING ELEPHANTS

When a boy saves a baby elephant from drowning, he finds a purpose in life, as he bonds with the animal. The author also provides several informational pages about elephants.

GENRE - CHILDREN'S NONFICTION

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

1. Some villagers thought that Aaron should not have saved the elephant 

    because they eat the crops. What do you think? 

2. If you saw someone selling jewelry made from an elephant’s tusk, what would

    you do? 

3. Why did the elephant take milk from Aaron and not from the vet?


    He trusted Aaron because Aaron saved his life.                                                     

NEWBERY AWARD - HONOR BOOK 👍

FREEDOM OVER ME - Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to LIfe

AUTHOR -ASHLEY BRYAN

GRADES - 4-6

BUY NOW $14.00 HARDCOVER, NEW 😊POSTAGE INCLUDED

HONORS/AWARDS ☮️ ☮️ ☮️ 👍👍

NEWBERY AWARD - HONOR BOOK - 👍

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  AUTHOR AWARD  -  HONOR BOOK - ☮️

The Award is given to an African American author and illustrator for outstanding inspirational and educational contributions. The Corretta 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.

CORETTA SCOTT KING ILLUSTRATOR AWARD - HONOR BOOK

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👍

THEME - SLAVERY

This is a story of eleven slaves who worked on the Fairchild Estate. The author discovered some slave related documents and was inspired by what she read to bring to life eleven slaves who were sold at auction. In each two page section, the slaves describe their skills and their dreams. This moving account allows readers to see slaves as intelligent, caring people who  had hopes and dreams just like anyone else.  For children to understand the issues of today, this part of our history is a must read.

GENRE - CHILDREN'S HISTORICAL FICTION - SLAVERY

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

1. What do the slaves’ dreams have in common?
    

    They all dream about freedom.

2. If you could talk with Mrs. Fairchild, what would you tell 
her?                                        

JANE ADDAMS PEACE AWARD ☮️

GHOST BOYS

AUTHOR -JEWELL PARKER RHODES

GRADES - 4-7

😪WARNING! THIS BOOK HAS BEEN BANNED!😪

BUY NOW $15.OO HARDCOVER, NEW 😊POSTAGE INCLUDED

HONORS/AWARDS ☮️☮️☮️☮️

JANE ADDAMS CHILDREN'S BOOK 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.

WALTER AWARD ☮️

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.

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.


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.

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

CORETTA SCOTT KING ILLUSTRATOR AWARD - HONOR BOOK

NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSN. - READ ACROSS AMERICA SELECTION

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - QUICK PICK FOR RELUCTANT READERS

CHARLOTTE HUCK HONOR AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CHILDREN'S FICTION

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

HUFFINGTON POST - THE BEST CHILDREN'S BOOKS OF 2018

GOODREADS CHOICE AWARDS - FINALIST - BEST MIDDLE GRADE AND CHILDREN'S BOOKS

AMAZON - BEST CHILDREN'S BOOKS OF THE YEAR

THEME - RACISM

Jerome Rogers was a twelve-year-old black boy who was shot and killed by a Chicago policeman. The boy was carrying a toy gun. He was shot in the back while running away. He comes back as a ghost who tries to heal a wounded community. The only person who can see him is Sarah, the daughter of the cop who killed him.

GENRE - CHILDREN'S NONFICTION

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

1. What do you think Sarah will be doing when she grows up?
    

   The author suggests that she might be fighting for justice. 

2. What do you think should have happened to Sarah’s father? 

3. Why do you think the ghost boys were all black?                                   

ROBERT F. SIBERT AWARD 👍

GIANT SQUID

AUTHOR -CANDACE FLEMING

GRADES - 2-4

HONORS/AWARDS ☮️☮️👍👍

CYBILS AWARD - WINNER - ☮️

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

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 -  HONOR - 👍

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.

ROBERT F. SIBERT AWARD - HONOR - 👍

The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal established by the Association for Library Service to Children in 2001 with support from Bound to Stay Bound Books, Inc., This award is presented annually to the writer and illustrator of the most distinguished informational book published in English during the preceding year.  

OUTSTANDING SCIENCE TRADE BOOKS - COMMENDED

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - STARRED REVIEW 

HORN BOOK - STARRED REVIEW 

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW

THEME - APPRECIATING NATURE

The squid, a sea creature as large as a bus, with tentacles thirty to forty feet long, is depicted in this informative picture book. Combined with beautiful close up drawings of the eye, the mouth and the tentacle ends, this book makes an excellent read aloud. A more detailed description of the animal is provided at the end of the book. The author has written many children's books and she seems to know how to attract and hold interest.

GENRE - CHILDREN'S NONFICTION - SQUIDS

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

1.  What do you think was the most interesting fact about the squid?     

     Answers will vary. 

2. The squid protects itself by shooting out an inky liquid 
that allows it to escape. 

    What special power would you
 like to have to protect yourself?


3. The giant squid weighs about one ton or two thousand pounds. Is it heavier 

    than a blue whale? How much do 
you think a blue whale weighs?
    190 ton                                                      

NEWBERY MEDAL - WINNER 👍🏿

GOOD MASTERS! SWEET LADIES!

AUTHOR - LAURA AMY SCHLITZ 

GRADES - 4 AND UP  

HONORS/AWARDS 👍🏿

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”.

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. -  NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK  

NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR TEACHERS OF ENGLISH - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S TRADE BOOK IN THE LANGUAGE ARTS  

JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION

THEMES -OVERCOMING ADVERSITY, MIDDLE AGES

This gem of a book depicts life during the Middle Ages by using a series of monologues featuring members of a feudal community. The characters include a falconer’s son, a knight’s son, a blacksmith’s daughter, and about twenty others. Their experiences are thought provoking and provide an excellent understanding of this period in history. The author, a school librarian, originally wrote this book as a play, which accounts for the brilliant dialogue as readers get into the minds and feelings of the characters presented. Do not skip over this one! 

GENRE - HISTORICAL FICTION - MIDDLE AGES

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

1. Would you rather live in today’s world or in the Middle Ages? Explain.


2. If you could trade places with one of the characters, who would you choose? 

   Why?


3. Who led the happier life - Giles or Drogo? Explain.
    

    Giles was a beggar. He worked a scam with his father to fool people into 


    giving them food. Drogo was a tanner’s apprentice. He enjoyed his work, 


    however, he complained about the negative comments from the

 
   townspeople about the smell coming from the tannery. A case could be 


    made for both characters, however, I think Giles had more fun. 

4. What does Giles mean when he said, “…Look after your foxes as well as 


    your sheep.”
   

    He was referring to the way he and his father tricked the people. 
They 

    were sly as foxes.                                                      

NATIONAL CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD - FINALIST 👍

HARMONICA, THE

AUTHOR - TONY JOHNSTON

GRADES -3-6

HONORS/AWARDS 👍👍

NATIONAL CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD - FINALIST 👍

INDEPENDENT BOOK AWARD - FINALIST 

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.  

SYDNEY TAYLOR - NOTABLE BOOKS FOR OLDER CHILDREN

INTERNATIONAL READING ASSN. - CHILDREN'S BOOK COUNCIL - CHILDREN'S CHOICES

THEME -SURVIVING THE HOLOCAUST

What appears to be primary grade picture book, is actually a story for upper elementary children. Based on a true experience, a child is given a harmonica by his father, shortly before being captured by the Nazis. The family was split up and the boy was left to fend for himself. His survival was linked to how well he played his harmonica for the commandant. While he played, he thought of his parents and the other prisoners. In his mind, he played for them. This powerful, poignant book, while brief, offers an excellent choice of descriptive vocabulary and plenty of “food for thought.” 

GENRE - HISTORICAL FICTION - THE HOLOCAUST

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

1. When the boy’s parents were taken away, he said, 
“Like a length of kindling,

    in  one stroke, they split 
 our family.” What does that mean?
   

    Splitting a piece of wood happens very quickly. The
 boy was separated

    from his parents very quickly.


2. On the second page of the story, the boy says, “Singing 
 was like breathing for

    us.” What does that mean?
  

    His family enjoyed singing. They did it very often.


3. The boy made the commandant happy by playing his  harmonica. Would you 

    have done that, knowing that the 
commandant probably killed your parents? 

 
   Answers will vary.                                            

NEWBERY AWARD - WINNER 👍🏿

HELLO, UNIVERSE

AUTHOR - ERIN ESTRADA KELLY

GRADES -3-5

HONORS/AWARDS☮️👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿

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”.

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.

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👍🏿

THEMES - ANTI-BULLYING, CELEBRATING DIFFERENCES

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. 

GENRE - CHILDREN'S FICTION

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

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 to 

    pull himself up.                                                      

SKIPPING STONES - NOMINEE ☮️

LET THEM PLAY

AUTHOR - MARGOT THEIS RAVEN

GRADES -3-6

HONORS/AWARDS ☮️👍👍

SKIPPING STONES - 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.  

CARTER G. WOODSON BOOK AWARD 👍

COOPERATIVE CHILDREN'S BOOK CENTER - CHOICES 

BILL MARTIN JR. - PICTURE BOOK AWARD - NOMINEE 

INDEPENDENT PUBLISHERS TEN OUTSTANDING BOOKS OF THE YEAR WILLIAM ALLEN WHITE CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD👍

THEME - RACISM

This read-aloud presents a harsh lesson involving prejudice and bigotry as the all black Charleston baseball team was denied the opportunity to play in the Little League World Series. The all white teams in South Carolina resigned from the Little League rather than play a team with black players, causing the Charleston team to win the state championship by default. The Little League officials allowed the Charleston team to warm-up on the field, however, they could not play. It turned out to be one of the darkest days in Little League history. Forty-seven years later, the team returned to Williamsport where they were honored. 

GENRE - CHILDREN'S BOOK - HISTORY

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

1. How do you think the white baseball players felt when they were told that 


    they could not play the all black team?
    Answers will vary.


2. What do you think was the best part about going to 
Williamsport, PA?
 

    Answers will vary. Possible answers - practicing on 
the field, hearing 

    thousands of people chanting for
 them to play


3. What were the officials in South Carolina afraid of when they refused to allow 


    the white teams to play the all black team?
    Answers will vary                                                 

JANE ADDAMS PEACE AWARD - HONOR ☮️

LUBA - THE ANGEL OF BERGEN - BELSEN

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

GRADES -3-6

HONORS/AWARDS ☮️ ☮️ ☮️ 👍🏿

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.  

SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTER - ONCE UPON A WORLD AWARDS ☮️

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 

THEME - SURVIVAL

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. 

GENRE - CHILDREN'S BOOK - HISTORY - THE HOLOCAUST

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

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?                                                          

CORETTA SCOTT KING AWARD - WINNER ☮️

MOSES - WHEN HARRIET TUBMAN LED HER PEOPLE TO FREEDOM

AUTHOR - CAROLE BOSTON WEATHERFORD

GRADES - 2-5

HONORS/AWARDS ☮️☮️

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. 

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.

CALDECOTT AWARD - HONOR - BEST ILLUSTRATIONS 

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - STARRED REVIEW 

KIRKUS - STARRED REVIEW 

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW 

HORN BOOK - STARRED REVIEW

THEME - ESCAPING TO FREEDOM

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.

GENRE - CHILDREN'S BOOK - BIOGRAPHY

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

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?                                                

CORETTA SCOTT KING AWARD - HONOR ☮️

REVOLUTION IN OUR TIME -The Black Panther Party's Promise to the People

AUTHOR - KEKLA MAGOON

GRADES - Mature 6th and up

HONORS/AWARDS ☮️☮️☮️👍🏿👍🏿

CORETTA SCOTT KING AWARD - HONOR ☮️

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. 

WALTER DEAN MYERS AWARD - FINALIST☮️

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.

MICHAEL J. PRINTZ AWARD - HONOR 👍🏿

Michael L. Printz Award is an American Library Association literary award that annually recognizes the "best book written for teens, based entirely on its literary merit". 

NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR YOUNG PEOPLE’S LITERATURE - 

     FINALIST 👍🏿

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - STARRED REVIEW

HORN BOOK - STARRED REVIEW

KIRKUS - STARRED REVIEW

THEMES - SURVIVAL, INJUSTICE

During the fifties and sixties I was a follower of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his non-violent approach to civil rights. When the Black Panthers emerged, they were portrayed as a militant group, causing me to be somewhat confused as to how they were trying to accomplish their goals. I never really understood their purpose until I read this book which chronicles their history mainly from 1966-1982. I was astounded to learn how wrong I had been back in the day, as the media failed to give honest coverage to the Panthers. I was not aware of all the social services that they provided for their communities such as health care, food, clothing, shelter, education and more.


The first two chapters provide a history of racism in America which slowly caused the pot to boil over leading to the riots in the years following the King assassination. This crucial information allows readers to understand why the Black Panthers were formed. 


Revolution in our Time is not a casual read, as there are mountains of detailed information to be digested. However, for the serious reader who wants to learn about the Black Panthers, this is the book as the author left no stone unturned. It is ideal for young adults who will find captivating photos on most pages. The author deserves a ton of credit for doing the research and for allowing people like me to understand the humane side of the Black Panthers. Hopefully, readers will be influenced by this work and become contributing members to society.

GENRE - YOUNG ADULT - HISTORY - BLACK PANTHERS

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

1. Are there people in your neighborhood that are not getting the care they need. 

    What can you do about that?

2. If you were in charge of the Black Panthers, what would you have done 

    differently?

                                                          PAGE 17

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