SKIPPING STONES AWARD☮️

AUTHOR - CAROLE BOSTON WEATHERFORD 

GRADES - 3 - 6

😪WARNING! THIS BOOK HAS BEEN BANNED!😪

MAIKA PENN AWARD FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHILDREN'S LITERATURE -

    HONOR BOOK☮️

This award is given annually to the author of an outstanding children's book addressing human rights issues or themes such as discrimination, equality, poverty, justice, war, peace, slavery, or freedom.

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.

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.

SKIPPING STONES HONOR AWARD ☮️

promote an understanding of cultures, cultivate cooperation and/or encourage a deeper awareness of nature, ecology and diversity. Award winning books foster respect for multiple viewpoints and closer relationships within human societies.

CYBILS - Finalist☮️

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

NOTABLE BOOKS FOR A GLOBAL SOCIETY - WINNER☮️

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

NCSS/CBC NOTABLE SOCIAL STUDIES TRADE BOOKS FOR YOUNG  

       PEOPLE - WINNER 👍🏿

CALDECOTT MEDAL - HONOR

NEW YORK TIMES/NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST ILLUSTRATED 

   CHILDREN'S BOOK - WINNER

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

CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST OF THE BEST BOOKS - WINNER👍🏿

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL BEST BOOK OF 2021 - WINNER👍🏿

HORN BOOK BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR - WINNER👍🏿

This multi-award winning book was written by a superstar in the world of civil rights literature for children.
In 1921, a black community in Tulsa, Oklahoma was burned to the ground by an angry mob of white people who resented the fact that the residents were mostly prosperous and enjoyed a high standard of living. Hundreds of people were killed and thousands became homeless. The police failed to respond. This massacre was covered up for almost one hundred years before investigators brought the story to the attention of our nation and the world. 

1. Why do you think it took 100 years for this story to be told? 

2. If your house was on fire and you could take only one thing, what would that

   be?      

AUTHOR - PETER H. REYNOLDS 

GRADES - GRADES 3-6

CHRISTOPHER AWARD - ☮️

given to authors that affirm the values of the human
 spirit by making a positive difference in the world. 

CHAPMAN AWARD - for best classroom read alouds 

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW

If I were a school superintendent, I would ask my librarians to share this story with their children. The author challenges the creativity in all of us by focusing on a young girl who tells her art teacher that she cannot draw. The teacher responds by telling her to make a mark on a piece of paper. Then he asks her to sign it. The next time the girl enters the art room, she sees her art framed and hanging on the wall. She thinks she could do better, and her creative talents explode. The girl passes on this lesson to another child. This story of self-discovery has no age limit. While the book appears to be geared to primary readers, I would definitely share it with upper elementary students.

1. Why do you think the teacher framed Vashti’s dot?
     

    He wanted to give her credit for trying. He also hoped she would build on her 

    success. 

2. What do you think Vashti will do after she asks the boy to sign the paper? 

3. Can a person be very creative and not know it? Explain.

AUTHOR - MARLA FRAZEE 

GRADES - PRE-2

HORN BOOK - STARRED REVIEW 

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW 

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

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - BEST CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR - 2014

BOSTON GLOBE - BEST PICTURE BOOK - 2014👍🏿

HUFFINGTON POST - BEST FRIENDSHIP BOOK 2014

BANK STREET BEST PICTURE BOOK - 2015

This wordless story features a farmer, who appears to lead a lonely, unhappy life. He sees a circus train pass by and notices a small clown fall or jump out of the last car. The farmer rescues the boy and takes him home. While the boy dances and jumps around, the farmer looks glum. However, at bedtime, the roles seem to change. The boy washes his face and loses his makeup, as well as his ability to play the clown. The farmer becomes revitalized and begins to enjoy his life. When the train comes back, the farmer is waiting by the track to return the boy. What will happen to the farmer? It is a secret to be revealed on the last page.

1. When the clown meets the farmer, he begins to run around.  What is the farmer

    thinking about?   

    He does not look too happy. He is probably wondering what to do  with

    the clown. 

2. After the boy gets washed, he looks sad. Why?  His makeup was washed off. 3. Why does the farmer make faces and dance around?    

    He wants to cheer the boy up.

AUTHOR - LAURA VACCARO SEEGER 

GRADES - PRE-2

HORN BOOK MAGAZINE FANFARE LIST 

CALDECOTT HONOR BOOK
 - FOR BEST ILLUSTRATIONS 

THEODOR SEUSS GEISEL HONOR BOOK - FOR BEST ILLUSTRATIONS NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW - BEST ILLUSTRATED BOOK OF THE YEAR

You never know what to expect when you read a Seeger book. In this excellent read-aloud, children will experience a surprise on every page. The theme focuses on how things begin as readers/listeners will find themselves guessing what will come next. On the opening page, you see the word First. Opposite, you see the words the EGG. Under the egg is a cutout oval which looks like an egg. When you turn the page, the oval becomes the body of a baby chick, which then becomes an adult chicken. The rest of the book follows this pattern of cutouts that have dual purposes.This irresistible book should be a favorite not only as a read aloud, but for independent reading as well. 

 There are none for this book as each “first” page requires a critical thinking 

  response.

AUTHOR - LANE SMITH 

GRADES - K-3

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK 

CALDECOTT - HONOR BOOK - BEST ILLUSTRATED BOOK CAPITOL CHOICES  - NOTEWORTHY TITLES FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS 

VERMONT RED CLOVER CHILDREN'S CHOICE AWARD MASTER LIST

 Listeners are taken on a wonderful journey through a magical garden where they relive the life of Grandpa Green. He lived on a farm, had the chickenpox, went to war, and created the most magnificent garden. At the end of the story we see how he passed on his love for greenery to his great-grandson.

1. What do you think the young boy will do when he grows up? Explain. 

2. How does the young boy feel about his great-grandfather? 

3. Is his great-grandfather still alive?

AUTHORS - JANE YOLEN AND ANDREW FUSEK PETERS 

GRADES - PRE AND UP

CYBILS  AWARD -☮️ 

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

OPRAH'S 2012 READING LIST 

CLAUDIA LEWIS POETRY AWARD 

BANK STREET FINALIST 

E. B. WHITE PICTURE BOOK LIST

When you take over sixty poems from famous poets and combine them with great illustrations, you have a winner. While the content is aimed at preschool and low primary grades, it is a joy for anyone to read. The book is divided into four sections - children, family, outside experiences, and going to bed. The selections are filled with fun, love and just an overall feeling of comfort. Here is a small sample.

                                                      RAIN

                                    There are holes in the sky                        

                                       Where the rain gets in,                        

                                     But they are ever so small                         

                                        That’s why rain is thin. 

his short poem is on a two page spread featuring hundreds of thin raindrops falling. There is a girl with an umbrella who is happily skipping along, enjoying the experience. This is the book you need to have when introducing children to poetry. 

Each poem lends itself to a variety of critical thinking questions.

AUTHOR -ANTOINETTE PORTIS 

GRADES - PRE  - 1

HORN BOOK -  STARRED REVIEW

A ROBERT F. SIBERT - HONOR BOOK 👍🏿

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

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW 

NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST BOOKS FOR KIDS 2019👍🏿

The author presents water in every possible form - from tears to lakes to rivers to oceans and much more. Children will be introduced to the water cycle and water conservation. Ask your listener (s) to name the water source that is displayed on the page. It is not easy to find great science books at this level. The author knows her audience.

1. Discuss the water cycle shown at the end of the book.
 

2. Discuss the importance of water conservation. 
     

3. What can we do to save water?

AUTHOR - DENISE FLEMING 

GRADES - PRE-1  

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - BEST BOOK 

CALDECOTT AWARD - HONOR - BEST ILLUSTRATED BOOK 

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK 

NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY'S ONE HUNDRED TITLES FOR READING    AND SHARING

Mix alliteration, rhymes, vocabulary, award winning illustrations, along with the movements of pond animals, and you have a wonderful introduction to nature.      

There are no follow-up questions as discussing the new vocabulary and identifying the animals allow listeners to develop their critical thinking skills.

AUTHOR - LAURA VACCARO SEEGER

GRADES - PRE-1

KIRKUS REVIEWS - STARRED REVIEW 

BOOKLIST -STARRED REVIEW 

SHELF AWARENESS - STARRED REVIEW

Rabbit has so many questions to ask his friend the bear. The best part of this book is the author’s decision not to print the question. The reader/listener must figure it out by looking at the picture and hearing the bear’s response. In addition to the critical thinking aspect, the illustrations are wonderful.

Just about every page poses a critical thinking question.                                                          

AUTHOR - WINSOME BINGHAM

GRADES - 1-3

JANE ADDAMS CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD - FINALIST☮️

A national committee of members with passion for and expertise in children’s literature and social justice is responsible for making the choices each year.

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.

KIRKUS REVIEWS - STARRED

Granny is taking her granddaughter on a walk to the voting booth. At first, the girl is curious because she does not know where she is going. After awhile she gets tired and asks when they will get there. “The walk wasn’t always this long,” Granny says. “But folks keep making it longer. They don’t want us to say what we have to say. That’s why we have to show up, show out, and show them.” As they walk from block to block, others join until there is a crowd of marchers. The granddaughter learns that the process of voting allow you to hope for better things to come.

1. Do you think the girl will go with Granny during the next election? Explain.

    Answers will vary.

2. Why do you think Granny took her granddaughter to the voting booth?

    She wanted her to learn the importance of voting.

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