NATIONAL BOOK AWARD - WINNER

AUTHOR - NANCY FARMER

GRADES - 6-8

NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR YOUNG PEOPLE'S LITERATURE - WINNER👍🏿

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”.


MICHAEL J. PRINTZ AWARD - Honor 

American Library Association literary award that annually recognizes the "best book written for teens, based entirely on its literary merit".  

CALIFORNIA BOOK AWARD

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - BEST BOOK FOR YOUNG ADULTS

INTERNATIONAL READING ASSN. - YOUNG ADULT CHOICES

VOLUNTEER STATE YOUNG ADULT BOOK AWARD

NEVADA YOUNG READER'S AWARD - IN THE YOUNG ADULT CATEGORY

PACIFIC NORTHWEST LIBRARY ASSN. - SENIOR YOUNG READERS 

     CHOICE AWARD

This futuristic sci-fi novel features a young boy who is a clone of El Patron, a 144 year old drug lord. While the boy leads a charmed life, he later learns that his purpose for living is to serve as an organ donor for the drug lord. Now his focus is on how to escape this well protected compound. How do you become a life long reader? This author has the recipe. Anguish, joy and many breath-taking situations are bound to grab the interest of young teens. There is a sequel called The Lord of Opium.   

1.Is cloning humans a good idea? Answers will vary. 

2. How would you compare yourself to Matt?


    Matt is a risk taker, rebellious, curious, fearless, loves to explore 

3. Did Eduardo do Matt a favor by not blunting his intelligence?        

    Answers will vary. Matt might have been happier if he didn’t know  that he

    was a clone. However, he might have died. 

AUTHOR - LESA CLINE-RANSOME

GRADES - 3-6

😪WARNING! THIS BOOK HAS BEEN BANNED!😪

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.   

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." 

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.  

NAACP IMAGE AWARD NOMINEE FOR OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK - 

     CHILDREN👍  

CENTER FOR THE  STUDY OF MULTICULTURAL CHILDREN'S LITERATURE

      BEST BOOKS👍  

SCHOOL LIBRARY  JOURNAL - BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR

This beautifully illustrated work of poetry traces Harriet Tubman’s life in reverse order.

1. What do you think was Harriet’s most dangerous job?


2. If you had the opportunity to ask her a question, what  would it be?


3. Not everyone could do what Harriet did. Can you think of three personality 

    traits that allowed her to succeed?
    

    Bravery, Intellect, Persistence, Empathy, Strength    

AUTHOR - ADAM GIDWITZ

GRADES - 5-7

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”.


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.

MYTHOPOEIC FANTASY AWARD

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

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW

HORN BOOK - STARRED REVIEW

E. B. WHITE READ-ALOUD AWARD - FINALIST

BOOKLIST 2016 TOP BOOKS FOR YOUTH, RELIGION, AND SPIRITUALITY

THE WASHINGTON POST BEST CHILDREN'S AND YOUNG ADULT BOOKS 

     OF 2016

THE NEW YORK TIMES  NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK 0F 2016

Three children with special gifts are being chased through the French countryside during the thirteenth century to escape prejudice and persecution. The big boy, William, has super strength. He is on a mission from his monastery. The peasant girl, Jeanne, can see into the future. The third child, Jacob, can heal all wounds. He is a Jewish boy who escaped his burning village. He is trying to save a Talmud from being burned. All three have been taught to distrust one another because they are of different races, religions, and classes. However, they overcome these differences in order to survive and continue their quest. Their story is told by a group of travelers who meet in a French inn. The author illustrates the dangers of zealotry and narrow-mindedness. Many of the lessons learned in this tale can be applied to the difficult times we experience today. 

1. Which child had the most valuable gift? Explain. 

2. What would be a good theme for this story?
 Possible answers - 

    Working together to achieve a goal      

    People should be judged by their behavior rather than their religion or 

    social class.       

    Good triumphs over evil 

3. Which character would you like to have for a friend? Why? 

4. If William, Jeanne and Jacob lived today, what do you think they would be 

    doing 
 when they became adults? 

AUTHOR - MILDRED D. TAYLOR

GRADES - 5 AND UP

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

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. 

CORETTA SCOTT KING - AUTHOR AWARD 👍

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.

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.

L.A. TIMES AWARD FOR YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE

SCOTT O'DELL HISTORIC FICTION AWARD

PARENTS CHOICE AWARD - GOLD

INTERNATIONAL READING ASSN. - TEACHERS' CHOICE

The Logan Family saga begins shortly after the Civil War with The Land and ends three books later with The Road to Memphis. The author, who was raised in the South, combines story telling and history to weave an engrossing tale of black life in Mississippi   during a span of about 100 years.  In this prequel to Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, Taylor explains how the feuds began between the Logans and the other families. During the post Civil War period, Paul, the son of a white father and black mother, dreams about becoming a landowner. This turns out to be more complicated and dangerous than he expected as he has to overcome betrayal and prejudice to realize his dream. This family story will give readers an accurate picture of what life in the South was like during this time period. An exceptional storyteller writes this amazing historical piece. Teachers of American history should make this set of books required reading.

1. Why do you think Paul took the blame for Mitchell when the horse was 

    
injured? 

    What would you have done?
    

    He didn’t want Mitchell to get a whipping. 

2. Do you think Paul’s father loves his older boys more than Paul? Explain. 

3. What do you think was the worst experience Paul ever had? Explain. 

4. What do you think Paul’s life will be like in ten years?   

    He will probably marry Caroline and have children. 

    He will
  sell the forty acres and buy the land that he always wanted to 

    own.

AUTHOR - LAURA PURDIE SALAS

GRADES - K - 6

BOOKLIST- STARRED REVIEW

KIRKUS REVIEW  - STARRED REVIEW

NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR TEACHERS OF ENGLISH - NOTABLE POETRY

        BOOKS - WINNER

HORN BOOK TEN TOP BOOKS FOR SUMMER READING

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK

PARENTS MAGAZINE - BEST BOOK FOR KIDS 2019

DENVER PUBLIC LIBRARY -BEST AND BRIGHTEST CHILDREN'S POETRY 

         OF 2019

This is the best children’s haiku book that I have read. The author asks listeners/readers to identify the subject of each poem as they travel through the seasons. The illustrations are icing on the cake for this remarkable read aloud. 

Have the children pair off and write their own version of this book using different topics. 

AUTHOR - JANE YOLEN

GRADES - 6 AND UP

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. 

BANK STREET COLLEGE - BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR

LOCUS AWARDS - TOP TEN FINALIST

JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION

NOTABLE SOCIAL STUDIES TRADE BOOK FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

 The author is one of the superstars of young adult literature, so it is no surprise that she penned this emotionally riveting tale of two Jewish children caught in the grips of the Holocaust. Chaim and his twin sister Gittel move with their parents to a Polish ghetto. They eventually escape to a forest where they are rescued by Polish partisans. Their journey ends in a German forced labor camp where they face the horror of horrors. This is historical fiction at its best. It richly deserves a Perfect Ten by VOYA.

1. How is this story similar to the folktale - Hansel and Gretel? 


    In both stories the children find themselves in the woods with no way of 

    returning home. They meet their enemies who treat them nicely at first. 

    The witch and Jews disintegrate in an ovens. 

2. Why do you think the twins developed a system of communication using hand

    signs?

    
They could keep secrets from their parents and others. Chaim stuttered 

    and spoke very little.

 3. If you met Chaim and asked him to name his worst memory, what would he

     say?
  

     Answers will vary. He might mention the dead girl with a bullet hole in 

     her head or the operation on Gregor.

AUTHOR - JAMES PATTERSON

GRADES - 6-8

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER

VOICE OF YOUTH ADVOCATES - ((VOYA) EDITOR'S CHOICE

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - QUICK PICK FOR YOUNG ADULTS

A NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY  - "BOOKS FOR THE TEENAGE"

A CHILDREN'S CHOICE BOOK AWARDS AUTHOR OF THE YEAR

A BOOK SENSE SUMMER 2007 CHILDREN'S PICK

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. AND VOYA -"TEENS TOP TEN PICK"

A group of genetically enhanced kids who can fly and have other unique talents are on the run from part-human, part-wolf predators called Erasers, in this SF thriller. Max, 14, and her adopted family–Fang and Iggy, both 13, Nudge, 11, Gazzy, 8, and Angel, 6–were all created as experiments in a lab called the School. Jeb, a sympathetic scientist, helped them escape and, since then, they've been living on their own. The Erasers have orders to kill them so the world will never find out they exist. Max's old childhood friend, Ari, now an Eraser leader, tracks them down, kidnaps Angel, and transports her back to the School to live like a lab rat again. The youngsters are forced to use their special talents to rescue her as they attempt to learn about their pasts and their destinies. This good vs. evil novel reinforces the belief that all living creatures should be free. Maximum Ride is the first of a trilogy which includes - School’s Out Forever and Saving the World. 

1.Compare and contrast Max to you. Use physical features, personality, and 

   examples of behavior.
  

   a.  Fourteen-year-old Max is the oldest of the six children. She has  taken 

        the responsibility to raise them care for them.  She is  intensely loyal 

        and will do anything to protect her family, especially little Angel. 
    

   b.  She is caring. On one occasion, she saved a girl from being 
attacked 

        by a group of boys. She often hugs family members and 
treats them in

        a kind manner. When Nudge wanted to go to a 
concert, Max decided to 

        give him a treat and they all attended the 
show. Another time she took 

        the kids into a huge toy store in the 
city because she knew they would

        like it. 
    

   c.  She enjoys being with her family. When they were in Central 
Park, she

        was thankful that they were all together and safe. 
    

   d.  She is a smart leader. When the Erasers were chasing them, she 

        
directed the family to join a group of school children so that they would

        not be seen. 

        Throughout the story she guides her family 
out of trouble and out of 

        harms way. When the police were 
chasing them, she guided them into 

        St. Patrick’s Cathedral 
where they blended in with the crowd. Another

        time, when they were chased by a security guard, Max jammed a pen

        into a 
revolving door, causing it to jam and allowing them to escape.
     

   e.  She is determined. During the first half of the story, she was
 

        determined to find Angel. During the second half, she was 
determined 

        to find the Institute. 
    

   f.   She is compassionate. When Gasman became depressed, 

        Max learned that he wanted to sit down and eat a big dinner 


        without being in a hurry.

       Max took everyone into a fancy 
restaurant where they ordered huge 

       amounts of food.  

  g.  She is compassionate. When  Gasman became depressed, Max learned 

2. What do you think is the theme of this novel?
    

      No one should be controlled. People should be free to live and 
make 

      their own decisions.

EDITED BY - WADE HUDSON, CHERYL WILLIS HUDSON

GRADES - 3 AND UP

😪WARNING! THIS BOOK HAS BEEN BANNED!😪

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. 

THE SOCIAL JUSTICE LITERATURE AWARD - RECOMMENDED 👍

"is presented to honor books that address social responsibility towards individuals, communities, societies, and/or the environment as well as invite reflection and socially responsible action by the reader.”

LATINO BOOK AWARD - WINNER

International Latino Book Awards. Recognizing greatness in literature. Honoring authors, translators, and illustrators for their books written either in English, Spanish y Portuguese. 

AMERICAN INDIANS IN CHILDREN'S LITERATURE: LIST OF BEST BOOKS

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW 

KIRKUS REVIEWS -BEST BOOK 2018  

HORN BOOK - STARRED REVIEW

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY -BEST BOOK 2018 

NOTABLE SOCIAL STUDIES TRADE  BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 

What happens when fifty authors and illustrators who believe in diversity and social justice, share their thoughts in one book? You strike gold! This beautifully illustrated, easy to read work of art should be in every classroom  and in every home. It is written to children with the hope that they can spread love and kindness throughout their travels. There is something for everyone in this book where each page is a “feel good” page. 

1. Which selection was your favorite? Explain. 

2. Write a poem about one of these topics:   bullying, love, kindness, racism 

3. What would you do if you saw someone being treated unfairly because of their 

    physical appearance?

AUTHOR - BAO PHI

GRADES - 2-4

SKIPPING STONES 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. 

ASIAN/PACIFIC AWARD FOR LITERATURE  👍

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

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 2018

HORN BOOK
 -FANFARE

CALDECOTT MEDAL - HONOR - BEST ILLUSTRATIONS

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. 

EZRA JACK KEATS  - NEW WRITER - HONOR

EZRA JACK KEATS  - NEW ILLUSTRATOR - HONOR

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK

CAPITOL CHOICES READING LIST 

WASHINGTON POST BEST CHILDREN'S BOOKS OF 2017

HUFFINGTON POST
 - BEST PICTURE BOOKS OF 2017
 

NATIONAL EDUCATION TODAY - BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR

NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY- 50 FAVORITE ILLUSTRATED CHILDREN'S 

     BOOKS 2017


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 readers/listeners. 

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.


4. Will the boy ever go fishing by himself? Not if he has to use live bait.


AUTHOR - ALAN RABINOWITZ

GRADES - 1-4

GREEN EARTH BOOK AWARD 👍

is the nation’s first environmental stewardship book award for children and young adult books. 

SCHNEIDER FAMILY BOOK AWARD 👍

is an award given by the American Library Association (ALA) recognizing authors and illustrators for the excellence of portrayal of the disability experience in literature for youth.  

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - STARRED REVIEW

KIRKUS REVIEWS -STARRED REVIEW

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK

In this autobiography, the author shares his experiences as a stutterer and a lover of animals. As a child, he feels broken and shares his innermost thoughts with animals, as he doesnʼt stutter when talking to them. As an adult, he becomes an advocate for the jaguar as well as a spokesperson for the Stuttering Foundation of America. 

1. At the end of the story, the author looks at the jaguar and says, “We are both

    whole.” What do you think that means? 

    The jaguar is free and the author feels that he kept his promise. 

2. On the last page, the author says, “Thank you.” Who was he thanking and why

    did he do it? 

    He might have been thanking the jaguar for listening to him, or he might 

    have been thanking the zoo jaguar for inspiring him.  

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