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KIDS' LIT - MUST READS

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SKIPPING STONES AWARD☮️

DIFFERENT POND, A

AUTHOR - BAO PHI 

GRADES 2-4

HONORS/AWARDS ☮️ ☮️ 👍

CALDECOTT MEDAL - HONOR - AWARD GIVEN FOR BEST ILLUSTRATED     BOOK 

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. 

ASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICAN AWARD FOR LITERATURE -☮️

is awarded by the Asian/American Library Assn. and focuses on works about Asian/Pacific Americans and their heritage. 

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.

THEMES - BONDING, FATHER AND SON, IMMIGRANT STRUGGLES

A Vietnamese father and his son bond during a fishing trip to the pond, as this struggling family needs the fish for dinner. During the experience, the father tells his son of another pond in Vietnam where he once fished with his brother. This beautifully illustrated tale of a one to one experience should resonate with all listeners.

GENRE - REALISTIC FICTION

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

1. Did the boy’s feelings change from the beginning of the story 
to the end? 


2. What do you think the boy enjoyed the most?
   Answers will vary. 

    Possibilities -
 listening to his father tell about Vietnam
 /     building the

    fire
  / watching his father catch the fish
 

3. Could this story be true?
  Share the author’s note at the back of the book.      

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

UNSPEAKABLE - THE TULSA RACE MASSACRE

AUTHOR - CAROLE BOSTON WEATHERFORD 

GRADES - 3 - 6

😪WARNING! THIS BOOK HAS BEEN BANNED!😪

HONORS/AWARDS ☮️ ☮️ ☮️ ☮️ ☮️ ☮️ 👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿

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👍🏿

THEMES - RACE HATRED

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. 

GENRES - HISTORY, NONFICTION, CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

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?      

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL STARRED REVIEW

DOOR

AUTHOR - JIHYEON LEE 

GRADES -PRE-1

HONORS/AWARDS

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW

NEW YORK TIMES - EDITORS' CHOICE 

NEW YORK TIMES - NOTABLE BOOK OF THE YEAR

THEMES - FRIENDSHIP, ACCEPTANCE

A boy wants to get away from what appears to be boring surroundings. He follows a fly which takes him to a door. Curiosity prevails and he finds himself in a magic land where he is more than welcomed by a diverse group of people. Each page offers many questions for discussion. This wordless picture book should be used with individuals or small groups due to the size of the illustrations.

GENRES - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK, FANTASY

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

1. Would you like to live in the world behind the door?  Explain.
 

2. How is the world behind the door different from your
 neighborhood? 

3. What is the best thing about the world behind the 
door?

CHRISTOPHER AWARD ☮️

DOT, THE

AUTHOR - PETER H. REYNOLDS 

GRADES - GRADES 3-6



BUY NOW - $10.00 - HARDCOVER - NEW 😊 INCLUDES POSTAGE

HONORS/AWARDS ☮️

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

THEMES - SELF DISCOVERY, ENCOURAGING OTHERS, KINDNESS

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.

GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

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.

PARENTS' CHOICE AWARD - SILVER HONOR

EXCLAMATION MARK!

AUTHORS - AMY KROUSE ROSENTHAL, TOM LICHTENHELD 

GRADES - GRADES 1-3

HONORS/AWARDS

PARENTS' CHOICE AWARD - SILVER HONOR 

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW 

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK

THEMES - SELF UNDERSTANDING, SELF ACCEPTANCE

 An exclamation mark found happiness as he discovered his own identity. At first he tried to be like everyone else. When that failed, he became depressed. Then he met a question mark who asked questions nonstop causing a loud STOP! from exclamation mark. He suddenly realized his own talent and began shouting to everyone. He learned to live with the idea that being different had its own rewards.

GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

1. Turn to the page where the question mark is asking all the questions and 

    ask, “Why is the question mark smiling and the exclamation mark 
sad?”    

    The question mark is doing what he likes to do, while the exclamation

    mark is annoyed. 

2. What did the authors mean when they said that question mark broke free

    from a life sentence? 

3. At the end of the story, exclamation mark went off “to make his mark.” What

    does that mean?

HORN BOOK - STARRED REVIEW

FARMER AND THE CLOWN, THE

AUTHOR - MARLA FRAZEE 

GRADES - PRE-2

HONORS/AWARDS👍🏿

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

THEME - FRIENDSHIP

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.

GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

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.

HORN BOOK - STARRED REVIEW

FIELD TRIP TO THE MOON

AUTHOR - JOHN HARE 

GRADES - K-2

HONORS/AWARDS

CHILDREN’S FAVORITES AWARD

Recognizing books evaluated and voted on by children as books they really enjoy reading

HORN BOOK - STARRED REVIEW  

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW 

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. NOTABLE BOOK FOR CHILDREN 

A GOLDEN DUCK NOTABLE PICTURE BOOK

THEME - FRIENDSHIP

 On a field trip to the moon, a child gets left behind and has a remarkable adventure. This wordless story forces the reader to interpret the illustrations and draw conclusions.

GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

1. Do you think the girl will tell anyone about the moon creatures?  Will they 

    believe her? 

2. Why didn’t the moon creatures show themselves to the others?

3. How do you think the girl is feeling as she returns home? 

NYT BOOK REVIEW - BEST ILLUSTRATED BOOK OF THE YEAR

FIRST THE EGG

AUTHOR - LAURA VACCARO SEEGER 

GRADES - PRE-2

HONORS/AWARDS

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

THEME - LIVING THINGS CHANGE

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. 

GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK - NATURE

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

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

  response.

ENDORSED BY AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL ☮️

JOURNEY, THE

AUTHOR - FRANCESCA SANNA 

GRADES - PRE-2

HONORS/AWARDS ☮️ ☮️ 👍

ENDORSED BY AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL ☮️

READ FOR EMPATHY COLLECTION - EMPATHY LAB☮️

Recognizing literature recommended by children, teachers, and librarians to help build children’s empathy

A WALL STREET JOURNAL'S BEST CHILDREN'S BOOKS OF 2016 PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BEST BOOKS OF 2016  

KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST PICTURE BOOKS OF 2016 

A NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY'S BEST BOOKS FOR KIDS 2016  👍

BOOKLIST - STARRED REVIEW 

KIRKUS REVIEW - STARRED REVIEW 

SHELF AWARENESS - STARRED REVIEW 

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW 

THE HORN BOOK - STARRED REVIEW

THEME - THE HUMAN COST OF WAR

What happens to a family when war disrupts their lives? After the death of the father, a family travels from place to place searching for safety. A perfect way to introduce young children to the realities of becoming a refugee. 

GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

1. What was the scariest part of their escape? 

2. Discuss the meaning of the last line in the story. 

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK

GRANDPA GREEN

AUTHOR - LANE SMITH 

GRADES - K-3

HONORS/AWARDS

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

THEMES - AGING, LOVE, FAMILY HISTORY

 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.

GENRES - REALISTIC FICTION, NATURE

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

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?

MOM'S CHOICE AWARDS - DIY BOOK FESTIVAL

HAVE YOU FILLED A BUCKET TODAY?

AUTHOR - CAROL MCCLOUD 

GRADES - PRE-3  

HONORS/AWARDS

MOM'S CHOICE AWARDS - DIY BOOK FESTIVAL 

BEST CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK BEST YOU CAN BE FOUNDATION -  

TOP 10 CHILDREN'S BOOKS LONDON BOOK FESTIVAL - HONORABLE     MENTION    

NAUTILUS BOOK AWARDS - SILVER MEDAL 

THEMES - ACTS OF KINDNESS, SOCIAL BEHAVIOR

This is one of the best read-aloud books I have seen in a long time. The

author explains how helping others fills buckets with happiness, while

hurting others causes buckets to become lighter, resulting in unhappiness.

The illustrations and text are just perfect for young children, who will have

no problem understanding the message. This simple, well designed book is

a must for all parents and teachers who have children under the age of

eight.

GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

1. What kinds of things can you do to keep your bucket full?
    

2. If you hurt someone's feelings, what happens to your bucket? 
 

    What happens to the other person's bucket?
     


3. Whose bucket would you like to fill? How would you do that? 

OPRAH'S 2012 READING LIST

HERE'S A LITTLE POEM

AUTHORS - JANE YOLEN AND ANDREW FUSEK PETERS 

GRADES - PRE AND UP

HONORS/AWARDS ☮️

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

THEMES - CELEBRATION OF POETRY, LIFE EXPERIENCES

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. 

GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

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

BOSTON GLOBE HORN BOOK AWARD

HERMAN THE HELPER

AUTHOR - ROBERT KRAUS 

GRADES - PRE  - 1

HONORS/AWARDS👍

BOSTON GLOBE HORN BOOK AWARD - HONOR👍

ILA/CBC - CHILDREN'S CHOICES

THEME - KINDNESS WORKS

After forty plus years, Herman the Helper has stood the test of time. In case you missed it, Herman is a child octopus who spends his time helping other ocean inhabitants. He even helps his enemies. When a monster is chasing some sharks, Herman unleashes his inky fluids, which serve to camouflage the fish. This well illustrated, creative book makes a wonderful read-aloud for preschoolers and first graders.

GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

1. Why do you think Herman helped his enemies? 
        

    Maybe he wanted to become friends with them. He didn't care
 who he 

    helped. He just liked doing it. 

2. Why do you think Herman loved to help others? 
     

    It made him feel good. He felt useful. He enjoyed their reactions to
 his 

    assistance. 

3. What can you do today that you never did before to help someone in your

 
   family or neighborhood? Do it, and tell us about it tomorrow.

ROBERT F. SIBERT - HONOR

HEY, WATER!

AUTHOR -ANTOINETTE PORTIS 

GRADES - PRE  - 1

HONORS/AWARDS 👍🏿👍🏿

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👍🏿

THEMES - APPRECIATING AND CONSERVING WATER

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.

GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

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?

E.B. WHITE READ-ALOUD HONOR BOOK

HOW TO BE A LION

AUTHOR -ED VERE 

GRADES - PRE  - 1  

HONORS/AWARDS☮️ 👍👍👍

READ FOR EMPATHY COLLECTION - EMPATHY LAB☮️

Recognizing literature recommended by children, teachers, and librarians to help build children’s empathy

E.B. WHITE READ-ALOUD HONOR BOOK

KATE GREENAWAY MEDAL and THE CARNEGIE MEDAL - NOMINATED 

A BANK STREET COLLEGE OF EDUCATION - BEST CHILDREN'S BOOK OF     THE YEAR 👍

A NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST BOOKS OF 2018 👍

AMAZON - BEST CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR 👍

THEME - ACCEPTING YOURSELF

A lion decides that he does not have to be fierce as he befriends a duck. This upsets his peers. However, the lion does not believe in herd mentality and decides that he must do what he feels is right.

GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

1. How are people different? 

2. How are people the same? 

3. What does it mean when someone says, “You have to be yourself?”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - BEST BOOK

IN THE SMALL, SMALL POND

AUTHOR - DENISE FLEMING 

GRADES - PRE-1  

HONORS/AWARDS

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

THEME - APPRECIATING LIFE IN A POND

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

GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

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

BOSTON GLOBE HORN BOOK AWARD - HONOR

IN THE TALL, TALL GRASS

AUTHOR - DENISE FLEMING 

GRADES - PRE-2  

HONORS/AWARDS 👍

THE HORN BOOK - STARRED REVIEW 

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW 


BOSTON GLOBE HORN BOOK AWARD - HONOR BOOK👍

THEME - APPRECIATING LIFE IN THE GRASS

The author takes listeners on a nature adventure as they follow a caterpillar through the tall, tall grass.                

GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

1. What other living things could you see in the grass?
 

2. Finish this rhyme with something you might find in the 
grass.
 Twist, squirm 

   goes the ….    (worm) 

3. In the story, we followed a caterpillar as it went through the tall, tall grass.

    What  animal would you like to follow? 
Why? What do you think it would see?

KIRKUS REVIEWS - STARRED REVIEW

WHY?

AUTHOR - LAURA VACCARO SEEGER

GRADES - PRE-1

HONORS/AWARDS

KIRKUS REVIEWS - STARRED REVIEW 

BOOKLIST -STARRED REVIEW 

SHELF AWARENESS - STARRED REVIEW

THEMES - LOVE, FRIENDSHIP

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.

GENRE - REALISTIC FICTION

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

Just about every page poses a critical thinking question.                                                          

CORETTA SCOTT KING BOOK AWARD - HONOR☮️

HOW DO YOU SPELL UNFAIR? MacNolia and the National Spelling Bee

AUTHOR - CAROLE BOSTON WEATHERFORD

GRADES - 3 - 6

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.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.

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.

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR👍

The School Library Journal is an American monthly magazine with articles and reviews for school librarians, media specialists, and public librarians who work with young people.

BOOKLIST - STARRED REVIEW

THEMES - RACISM, DISCRIMINATION

In 1936, eight grader MacNolia Cox became the first black contestant to win the state spelling bee in Ohio. When she left to compete in the National Spelling Bee in Washington, thousands of people gathered at the train station to wish her luck. However, her happiness began to fade when the train entered Maryland and she and her mother were forced to sit in the back of the train because of their race. During the spelling bee, MacNolia sat at a separate table from all of the white contestants. When she advanced to the final round of five, officials began to get nervous at the prospect of a black girl becoming the winner, so they broke the rule which caused her to misspell a word. The title is most appropriate.

GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK - BLACK HISTORY

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

1.     Why did the judges want MacNolia to lose?

       They didn’t want her to win because that would mean that blacks are 

       just as smart as white people.

2.    Do you think MacNolia would have gone to Washington if she knew what was

       going to happen to her?

       Probably. She enjoyed the sightseeing and the welcome home parade.

       She also won $75.00.                                                         

JANE ADDAMS CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD - FINALIST☮️

THE WALK

AUTHOR - WINSOME BINGHAM

GRADES - 1-3

HONORS/AWARDS ☮️☮️

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

THEMES - THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING, VOTER SUPPRESSION

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.

GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK

FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS

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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