BOOKS THAT MATTER

AUTHOR -JACK PRELUTSKY

GRADES - K-6

BOOKLIST - BOOKS FOR YOUTH EDITORS' CHOICE - WINNER 

HORN BOOK -  CHILDREN'S CLASSICS -  WINNER 

KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS MASTER LIST - WINNER 

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS - CHILDREN'S BOOKS OF THE YEAR  - WINNER 

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

The author refers to this collection as a “treasury of 572 poems for today’s child.” He is absolutely correct, as there is something for everyone in this beautifully illustrated book. There are fourteen sections which include - nature, animals, nonsense, and children. Just about every well-known poet from Shakespeare to Seuss is presented. Put it on your holiday shopping list. An enjoyable read for everyone. If you already have Where the Sidewalk Ends, you will now have two of the best poetry books for children ever written. Here is a sample - THE TOASTER (I suggest reading the poem before revealing the title. Before reading ask class to identify the silver-scaled dragon.)

 “A silver scaled dragon with jaws flaming red

  sits at my elbow and toasts my bread. 

  I hand him fat slices, and then, one by one,

  He hands them back when he sees they are done.” William Jay Smith

Each poem is an exercise in critical thinking.

AUTHOR - INGRID LAW

GRADES - 4-7

NEWBERY AWARD - HONOR BOOK 

BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK AWARD - HONOR BOOK 

OPRAH READING LIST PICK

NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY - “100 BEST BOOKS FOR READING AND 

     SHARING” 

CYBILS AWARD - Nominee -👍🏿

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

MYTHOPOEIC FANTASY AWARD - FINALIST

Honoring a fantasy book or books in the traditions of The Hobbit of the Chronicles of Narnia

LAMPLIGHTER AWARD 

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - BEST BOOK OF 2008

MIDWEST BOOKSELLERS ASSN. - HONOR AWARD

CHICAGO TRIBUNE - "BOOK NOT TO MISS"

BANK STREET COLLEGE OF EDUCATION - BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR

If you are a member of the Beaumont family, you will acquire a special power or savvy on your thirteenth birthday. One family member can control the weather. Another does everything perfectly. As Mibs turns thirteen, her father gets seriously injured in an automobile accident. In her attempt to use her new power to save his life, she sets a number of wheels in motion that lead to unexpected results. The author challenges readers to examine their own lives and use their strengths to make themselves better people. This is a powerful story as indicated by the praise listed above. Don't pass this one up! 

1. What do you think is the main message of this story?  

    Possible answers - We all have a “savvy” and we need to find it to 

    become better people. Sometimes bad things lead to happy endings - a 

    blessing in disguise. 

2. If you could have a special power what would it be? How would you use it to 

    make the world a better place?     Answers will vary. 

3. What do you think would have happened if Lester decided not to take the 

    children to the hospital?     Answers will vary. 

4. Mibs believed that everyone has their own special “savvy.” Do you have one? If

    yes, can you describe it? 

5. Whose life changed the most in this story? Explain. Possible answers     

    Lester and Lill. They led boring, unhappy lives until fate brought them 

    together. 

    Mibs. She was confused about her life and as time passed she began to 

    understand who she was and how everyone had their own version of a 

    savvy. 

AUTHOR - PHYLISS NAYLOR

GRADES - 4-6

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

SEQUOYAH CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD 

BOOKLIST - STARRED REVIEW

TEXAS BLUEBONNET AWARD - WINNER

PACIFIC NORTHWEST LIBRARY ASSN. YOUNG READERS' CHOICE AWARD

After 25 years, there is a reason this book is still found on bookstore shelves. It is a classic story of a boy and a dog he loves. He finds the dog walking alone on a road. It looks scared and it follows him home. The boy learns that the dog belongs to a man named Judd who has a reputation for abusing dogs. The boy plans to keep the dog without telling his parents. This leads to a major conflict between the boy and the owner of the dog. Shiloh has three sequels - Shiloh Season, Saving Shiloh, and A Shiloh Christmas.

1. Throughout the story, Shiloh causes Marty to have many worries.
What do you 

     think concerned Marty the most?    

     Marty secretly keeps the dog. He is constantly afraid that someone
 will 

     find out.  

     Marty is afraid that his sister will find the dog and tell his parents.     

     Marty is worried that Judd will find out that he has his dog, 
especially 

     after it was attacked by the German shepherd.     

     He is worried that Judd will not sell him the dog.     

     After working for Judd, he is worried that Judd will not keep his 
 part of 

     the bargain. 

2. At the end of the story, Judd gives Marty the dog and a collar. Why do
 you think

    he acted so kind to Marty when he was so mean during most of 
 the story?    

    Judd had other dogs, and he was tired of chasing after Shiloh.    

    Judd killed a deer out of season and Marty saw him do it. Judd was
 afraid

    Marty would tell the authorities.     

    Marty worked for Judd to earn enough money to buy the dog. Judd may 

    have realized that Shiloh and Marty became good friends and that Shiloh 

    would probably run away again.     

   Judd wanted hunting dogs, and Shiloh didn’t act like his other 
dogs. 

AUTHOR - SONYA SONES

GRADES - 6 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." 

GRADIVA AWARD -👍🏿

Awarded by the National Association for the Advancement of Psychoanalysis (NAAP), the Gradiva awards honor writers and creators of other media whose work advances psychoanalysis.  

MYRA COHN LIVINGSTON POETRY AWARD - WINNER

CLAUDIA LEWIS POETRY AWARD - WINNER

NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY - BOOK FOR THE TEENAGE

AMAZON -  TOP TEN TEEN - EDITORS' PICK

SCHOLASTIC TEEN AGE BOOK CLUB SELECTION

LOS ANGELES TIMES BOOK  PRIZE - FINALIST

INTERNATIONAL READING ASSN. - YOUNG PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD

This book of poetry represents an autobiographical slice of the author’s life when her sister was placed in a psychiatric ward. Ms. Sones was thirteen at the time and the event had a devastating effect on her. Fortunately, she kept a journal and the result is a beautiful book of feelings, compassion, and insights that come from the heart. The author reveals how her normal, fun loving life was turned into a nightmare by her sister’s nervous breakdown. Her parents began to fight with each other and her friends deserted her. Most of all, she missed her sister. Holidays, school activities, social activities, and daily routines had all changed as little sister chose to live in a world of gloom and doom. Gradually, with some assistance from her parents, a guidance counselor, and a very understanding boyfriend, she made her way back into the world. Her experiences are so gut wrenching, that once you start reading, you are absolutely hooked.

1. Would you want your friends to know if you had a family member in
a mental 

    institution?  Explain. 

2. Who do you think was the most important person in the author’s life while her 

    sister was in the hospital? Explain.


    Answers will vary. Most likely her new boyfriend, John or her 
art teacher.

3. On the last page of the story, father does not put down a real word. Why?


    He wants to bond with his daughter who just made up a word. 

AUTHOR - AVI

GRADES - 5-8

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”.

HORN BOOK - STARRED REVIEW

NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY - BEST BOOK FOR TEENS

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

BOOKLIST - STARRED REVIEW

HORN BOOK - BOSTON GLOBE AWARD 

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS - 100 BOOKS FOR CHILDREN

ENGLISH JOURNAL - HONOR LIST

KIRKUS REVIEWS - STARRED REVIEW

NCTE NOTABLE CHILDREN'S TRADE BOOK IN THE LANGUAGE ARTS

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK

FLORIDA'S YOUNG READERS' AWARD

MASSACHUSETTS CHILDREN'S CHOICE AWARD 

The year is 1832. Charlotte Doyle, a thirteen-year-old, plans to sail across the Atlantic Ocean from England to the United States. As she boards the ship, she learns that her traveling companions will not be making the trip, leaving Charlotte the only female on board. She writes a journal describing what was to become quite an ordeal as the crew mutinies and she gets caught in the middle. Upon arriving in America, she must deal with her authoritarian father which leaves the reader with a totally unexpected ending. The author is a superstar and he delivers big time in this thrilling adventure. 

1. Charlotte had several terrible experiences as she
 traveled across the ocean. 

    What do you think was the worst thing that happened to her? Explain your 

    answer.
   

     Possible answers
   

 a) She learns that the crew is preparing a mutiny. 
She tells the captain and 

     informs the crew. The
 captain asks Charlotte to decide who should take

     
the punishment. She can’t decide, so the captain 
chooses Mr. Zachariah. 

     Charlotte grabs the whip from Mr. Hollybrass and accidentally scratches

     the
 captain’s face. He becomes angry and gives Mr.
 Zachariah a terrible 

     beating.
    

b) Charlotte wants to become part of the crew. The 
men refuse to accept her

     unless she climbs to the 
top of the sails. It is a torturous climb.
    

c) The captain charges Charlotte with the murder of
 Mr. Hollybrass. She is 

    put in the brig. She is told 
 that she will be dead by hanging in twenty four

    
hours.
   

d) Charlotte sneaks into the captain’s cabin to steal 
a key. He catches her 

    and tries to kill her. He fires 
his pistol several times. Fortunately for her, 

    he slips
 and falls overboard. 

2. Sometimes an experience changes our lives. In this story, Charlotte’s trip 

    
across the ocean had a tremendous effect on her. How did she change?
    

    At the beginning of her trip, she was very lady-like, and she was 

    concerned about making a good impression on the captain. She 
was 

    looking forward to returning home to live with her parents. She 
was 

    raised as a member of the upper class. She was concerned 
about her

    appearance. Her hair was nicely combed, and her hands 
were soft and

    clean. 
The experiences she had on the ship caused her to rebel against

    
the captain. She lost her respect for authority due to the unfair way 
the 

    captain treated the crew. 

    When she arrived home, she brought 
her new independence with her and 

    eventually ran away. Working  as a crew member, her hands became

    hardened and were often 
dirty. Her hair was unkempt. She made friends 

    with crew members 
as she won their respect, causing her to become less

    class 
conscious.


3. Did Charlotte make the right decision by returning to the crew? Explain. 
What

    would you have done?
    Answers will vary.


AUTHOR - CHRISTOPHER PAUL CURTIS

GRADES - 5,6

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”.


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.

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR  - WINNER 

SCHOLASTIC PARENT AND CHILD - 100 GREATEST BOOKS FOR KIDS  NEW MEXICO LAND OF ENCHANTMENT BOOK AWARD - WINNER

ARIZONA'S YOUNG READERS' AWARD (2002)  WINNER 

HAWAII NENE AWARD -  WINNER 

MASSACHUSETTS CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD (2002)  WINNER - 

PACIFIC NORTHWEST YOUNG READERS' CHOICE AWARD(2002)  WINNER KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS MASTER LIST - WINNER

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN.-  BEST BOOK FOR YOUNG ADULTS 

This Newbery Award winner features a ten-year-old boy named Bud, who is searching for his father. His mother died when he was six. After four years in an orphanage, and a terrible experience in a foster home, Bud decides to hit the road. Readers will not only share his adventures, but they will experience life during The Depression.

1. Bud’s mother told him that there are many doors in life. When you close one door, you open another one. When does Bud think he is opening a new door to his life? What does he hope to find as he walks through this door? Do you think he will find it? Explain. 

He thinks he is opening a new door to his life when he meets Herman Calloway. He thinks that the man is his father and that he will be part of a family again. He probably will find happiness because he used the stones to prove that he is the son of Herman’s daughter. Herman is really his grandfather. The band members buy him a saxophone and he loves it. He hopes to join the band someday.

2. Think of the doors that opened in your life. Which one brought you the most happiness? Explain. 

3. Compare and contrast Bud with yourself. Use personality and examples of behavior in your answer. 

Independent - He was able to take care of himself without any supervision.

Brave - He fought an older boy. He walked along a highway in the middle of the night. Smart - He hid behind the bushes so the driver would not see him. He told Lefty to wait outside in case Herman was not his father. He used a map to figure out the mileage to Grand Rapids. 

Polite - He was polite and friendly to everyone he met. 

Adventurous - He stole a car when he thought the owner was a vampire. He traveled alone to search for his father. 

Sensitive - He cried when Miss Thomas took care of him. He felt sorry for his grandmother. 

4. Bud, Not Buddy won numerous awards. What do you think? Was it a great book? Explain. 

AUTHOR - E.B. WHITE

GRADES - 2-4

😪WARNING! THIS BOOK HAS BEEN BANNED!😪

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”.


SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL- TOP 100 BOOKS FOR CHILDREN

NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSN. - TOP 100 BOOKS FOR CHILDREN #1 

SCHOLASTIC - 100 GREATEST BOOKS FOR KIDS #1  

TIME Magazine - 100 GREATEST BOOKS FOR CHILDREN #5 

AMAZON  TOP 100 BOOKS FOR CHILDREN

GOODREADS - 100 CHILDREN'S BOOKS TO READ IN A LIFETIME #2 

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

This tale of friendship and loyalty would be especially enjoyed by mature second graders and up. It is hard to find a better read aloud. If I were a school superintendent, I would require my third grade teachers to read this story to their classes. It is  that good! 

1. What is the theme of this story? What is the author trying to tell you?


    A good friend should be loyal and be there for you in difficult times. 

2. Does this story change the way you feel about spiders
 and/or pigs? Explain.

3. Which would you rather have - a great friend or a million dollars? Explain.

4. Do you think E.B. White would have written Charlotte’s Web if he didn’t grow 

    up on a farm?


AUTHORS -HAROLD COURLANDER AND GEORGE HERZOG

GRADES - 3-6

NEWBERY MEDAL - 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”.


Over a half century old, this classic provides some great read-alouds such as Younde Goes to Town and The Cow-Tail Switch. Each story lends itself to class discussion. Just perfect for developing critical thinking skills. 

1. Did the father give the cow-tail switch to the right son? What do you think?

2. In the story YOUNDE GOES TO TOWN, why did Younde bring home the 

    wrong message to his family?.