NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSN. - TOP 100 BOOKS FOR CHILDREN👍

AUTHOR - NATALIE BABBITT

GRADES - 5 - 7

NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSN.  - TOP 100 BOOKS FOR CHILDREN

AMAZON - TOP 100 BOOKS FOR CHILDREN

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - TOP 100 NOVELS FOR CHILDREN #16

GOODREADS - 100 BOOKS TO READ IN A LIFETIME #67

CHRISTOPHER AWARD👍🏿

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

JANUSZ KORCZAK MEDAL  for Children’s Rights Advocacy👍🏿

Tuck Everlasting is young adult fiction that has immortality as one of the themes. The members of the Tuck family drank water from a stream which caused them to live forever. While eternal life may seem like a good thing at first, it does present some serious problems. How do you maintain social relationships if you remain the same age and everyone else grows older? This and other issues are raised in this thought provoking novel.

1. If you could live forever, what age would you choose to be? Why?
  

    Answers will vary.


2. Did Winnie make the right decision?
   

    Answers will vary. Winnie decided not to drink the water which  would 

    have give her immortality. Her tombstone said loving 
mother and wife 

    indicating she might have led a good life.


3. Has this story changed your mind about living forever? Explain.
    

    Answers will vary.  

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? 

AUTHOR - REBECCA STEAD

GRADES - 5-8

✽✽✽✽✽ 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”.


SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW

HORN BOOK - STARRED REVIEW

BOOKLIST - STARRED REVIEW

JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD - SELECTION

ALA-ALSC - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK

ALA-YALSA - TOP TEN BEST BOOKS FOR YOUNG ADULTS

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

KIRKUS REVIEWS - STARRED REVIEW

Set in Manhattan, twelve-year-old Miranda doesn’t understand why her best friend has stopped talking to her. She also receives strange notes from someone who knows things that no one should know about her, indicating that something horrible will happen to a friend. This novel deals with the concept of time travel which often strains the mind to understand what is happening. The story begins slow and then gets more interesting with each chapter, leading to a terrific conclusion. Recommended for mature thinkers fifth grade through eighth grade.  

1, If you could travel back in time, where would you go? Why? 

2, Why did the laughing man (Marcus) need Richard’s shoe?


    He needed a strong shoe to kick Sal out of the way of the truck. 

3. If you were Miranda, what would you have written to Marcus at the end
 of the 

    story?  

    Miranda knew that someday, Marcus would return as a time  traveler and 

    save Sal.

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 - 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 - JERRY SPINELLI

GRADES  - 3-6

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

✽✽✽✽✽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”.


NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY - "ONE HUNDRED TITLES FOR READING   

       AND SHARING"
 

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - BEST BOOK

HORN BOOK - FANFARE

AMERICAN BOOKSELLER - PICK OF THE LISTS

BOOKLIST - EDITORS' CHOICE

NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR TEACHERS OF ENGLISH - NOTABLE 

     CHILDREN'S BOOK IN THE LANGUAGE ARTS (NCTE)


This is a story about a ten-year-old boy and how he handles peer pressure and pressure from his father. When he was eight years old he dreaded his tenth birthday, because that was when the boys in his town became wringers. Every year a pigeon shooting contest was held and the wringers strangled the wounded pigeons. Most boys cannot wait until they are ten to get this opportunity. However, Palmer is different from most boys. He does not understand why pigeons have to die. He is afraid to tell anyone about his concerns, because he knows that the other boys will make fun of him. He thinks he will also lose the respect of his father who won a trophy as a wringer when he was a boy. Palmer's problems worsen when a stray pigeon pecks at his bedroom window. In a town where everyone hates pigeons, he decides to keep one as a pet. Terrible things will happen to him if anyone discovers his secret. Should he become a wringer and please his father or obey his conscience? 

1. Compare and contrast Palmer to yourself. Use
 personality and examples of 

    behavior in your answer.
    

    Palmer is smart. He goes to the library to learn more
 about pigeons.
 He 

    wears winter clothes as a disguise so Nipper 
won’t recognize him.
    

    Palmer is brave. He saves a pigeon in front of a crowd
  who want the 

    pigeons killed. He takes a pigeon as a pet
 even though he knows it could 

    get him into trouble.
    

    Palmer is kind to animals and people. He doesn’t
 like to see pigeons 

    being killed. He makes friends with
 Dorothy.


2. Palmer was afraid of his tenth birthday because he did 
 not want to kill pigeons.

    As you look into your future, is 
there anything that scares you? Explain.


3. This story contains many conflicts. Pretend you are 
Palmer. What are some of 

    the issues in your life?
   

    I am expected to become a wringer, but I do not
 want to be one.
 My father

    was an excellent wringer. How could I
 share my feelings without 

    upsetting my dad?
 

    Should I stay with the gang or quit the gang?
    

    Should I become friends with Dorothy?
    

    Should I go to the contest or stay home?
   

    Should I save the bird or let it die?
    

    Should I tell people the truth about Nipper or keep
 it a secret?


4. How do you feel about the pigeon contest? Explain.


AUTHOR - PATRICIA C. WREDE

GRADES - 5-7

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL -STARRED REVIEW

BOOKLIST  - EDITORS ' CHOICE

Princess Cimorene lives in the kingdom of Linderwall and she hates it.  She likes to fence and learn about magic, but her parents tell her that these activities are not proper for a princess. They want her to practice her sewing and dancing, which she finds very boring. To make matters worse, they want her to marry Prince Therandil. She refuses and decides to run away.  She discovers a cave which is inhabited by dragons. Most of them are rather friendly. They have to be on the lookout for wizards who are trying to steal their magic. Cimorene learns of an evil plan by the wizards which will allow them to control the dragons, however, no one believes her. She enlists the aid of the Stone Prince and a witch to help the dragons. This is the first of a series of four books called The Enchanted Forest Chronicles. It is followed by Talking to Dragons, Searching for Dragons, and Calling on Dragons. Using a female lead, the author portrays dragons as the “good guys” and wizards as the “bad guys.” 

1.  Compare and contrast Cimorene to yourself. Use
 personality and examples of 

     behavior in your answer.     

     a) Cimorene is rebellious. She runs away from 
home because she does not 

         like the life a princess is supposed to lead.     

      b) She is brave. She doesn’t mind living with fire-
breathing dragons. She kills 

          a bird that attacks her.     

      c) She is smart. She learns how to make a spell that
 will fireproof her from 

          the dragon’s breath. She 
acts stupid so she can learn why the wizards are

          in  the cave. She tricks the jinn into giving her a wish. 

      d) She is loyal. She tells Kazul everything, and risks
 her life so that the evil 

          dragon does not become 
king.      

      e) She is friendly. She makes friends with Myron 
and Kazul. The other 

          princesses enjoy her 
company. Prince Therandil and the stone prince 
also 

          like her.

 2.  Several characters in this story make terrible mistakes. Among them are 

      Prince Therandil, the Stone Prince,
Woraug, and the wizard king. Which was 

      the worst mistake and how did it affect the outcome of the story?    

        a) Prince Therandil accidentally takes a stopper out 
of a bottle and a

            giant appears. He threatens to kill 
the prince and Cimorene. This 

            affects the outcome
 of the story because the giant eventually gives 

            them
 two wishes. Cimorene is able to make a fireproof 
spell so she 

            doesn’t get burned by the dragon’s 
breath.     

       b) The Stone Prince was turned to stone because he 
wasn’t paying 

            attention. He was supposed to get 
the king a drink from the Water

            of Healing. He picked up the gold slipper instead of the tin one.
 

            This caused him to turn to stone.     

        c) Woraug works with the wizards in order to become king. Cimorene

             tells how he did it and 
Woraug gets turned into a frog. That is what


             happens to dragons who stop acting like dragons.   

        d) The wizard king doesn’t think that Cimorene and 
the others would 

             throw water on him because he is 
standing next to Morwen. 

             However, the prince does 
not throw water on both of them and the 

             wizard king
 melts. Morwen only gets wet.

AUTHOR - KATE SMITH MILWAY

GRADES - 3-6

SKIPPING STONES HONOR AWARD -👍🏿

promotes 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.  


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.

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. 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?   

AUTHOR -KATHERINE APPLEGATE

GRADES - 4-6

New York Times Bestseller

Publishers Weekly Bestseller

#1 Indie Bestseller

Publishers Weekly - Starred Review

Booklist - Starred Review

Bulletin for the Center of Children’s Books - Starred Review

Shelf Awareness - Starred Review

This free verse humorous tale was inspired by the aquatic care given by the personnel at the Monterey Bay Aquarium who  rescue injured sea animals. Readers will come to love Odder, a young otter, who loves to play and does not always listen to the warnings of others. As a result, she gets attacked by a shark, which forever changes her life. Odder is the narrator of this story and her insights are often very funny. When describing her life, she says, “I would sleep and drink, drink and sleep, sleep and drink - pups have it easy - unlike their moms. (Don’t ask where dad was. Otter fathers aren’t exactly Parent of the Year material.”)

1. If you could talk to Odder, what would you ask her?

2. If you were an otter, would you rather live in the 
aquarium or in the ocean? 

    Explain.

3. At the end of the story, if Odder was given a choice, would she live in the ocean

    or stay in the aquarium? Explain.                                                 

AUTHOR -KACEN CALLENDER

GRADES - 5-8

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.The Award is further designed to commemorate the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and to honor Mrs. Coretta Scott King for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace and world brotherhood.

RAINBOW LIST: TOP TEN LGBTQ BOOKS FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS👍🏿

LAMBDA LITERARY AWARD - WINNER👍🏿

Lambda Literary Awards, also known as the "Lammys", are awarded yearly by Lambda Literary to recognize the crucial role LGBTQ writers play in shaping the world. The Lammys celebrate the very best in LGBTQ literature.

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

WALTER AWARD - HONOR 👍🏿

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.

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.

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 FOR YOUNG PEOPLE’S LITERATURE 

     - WINNER

BOSTON GLOBE - HORN BOOK AWARD FOR FICTION AND POETRY -    

   WINNER 

BOOKLIST - STARRED REVIEW

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - STARRED REVIEW

Twelve-year old King is in a state of conflict and grief through most of this coming of age novel. While mourning the sudden death of his older brother, he recalls a conversation with him regarding his best friend Sandy who is gay. His brother told him to end the relationship because others would think he was gay too. King follows his brothers advice, however, he later regrets this decision as he thinks he may be gay.

King’s father complicates matters by imposing his homophobic views on his son.

In the meantime, Sandy runs away from his abusive father and reunites his friendship with King, who helps him find a place to hide. 

While questioning his sexual identity, King is being pursued by a girl who wants to be his girlfriend. He reluctantly agrees even though he does not have romantic feelings toward her. This story is filled with never-ending turmoil that does not get resolved until the very end. This is a fantastic read as tension continually mounts from chapter to chapter. If I were in charge, King and the Dragonflies would be in every middle school library.

1. What do you think was King’s most difficult 
decision?

2. What do you think would have happened if King went with Sandy to New York?

3. If you were King, what would you have done differently?      

                                                PAGE 18