HORN BOOK - STARRED REVIEW
BUTTERFLY EYES AND OTHER SECRETS OF THE MEADOW
AUTHOR - JOYCE SIDMAN
GRADES - 3-6
HONORS/AWARDS 👍🏿 👍🏿
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW
HORN BOOK - STARRED REVIEW
NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY - 100 TITLES FOR READING AND SHARING
KIRKUS REVIEWS - STARRED REVIEW
HENRY BERGH CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD -👍🏿
For a person or organization who has made a unique , significant, and measurable impact on animal welfare.
CYBILS AWARD FOR POETRY - 👍🏿
seeks out and recognizes books that represent diversity, inclusion, and appropriate representation for children and teens .
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK
NSTA OUTSTANDING SCIENCE TRADE BOOK
JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION
THEME - APPRECIATING NATURE
How do you get children to appreciate nature? One way is to share Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow. Outstanding illustrations and beautiful poetry produce the most vivid scenes nature has to offer. What makes this book so exceptional are the questions that appear following the poems, as listeners are asked to name the subject being described. Sometimes the answer is hidden in the picture; sometimes it is obvious. The pages after each two poems contain text which provides additional information about the subjects. You just couldn’t ask for a better read-aloud.
GENRES - POETRY, LIFE SCIENCE
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. What is your favorite poem? Why did you choose it?
2. What did you learn from these poems?
3. Would you rather be a deer or a tree? Explain.
PHYLISS WHEATLEY BOOK AWARD - WINNER
BORN ON THE WATER
AUTHOR - NIKOLE HANNAH JONES AND RENEE WATSON
GRADES 2-5
😪WARNING! THIS BOOK HAS BEEN BANNED!😪
HONORS/AWARDS👍👍👍
PHYLISS WHEATLEY BOOK AWARD - NONFICTION WINNER👍
given to the best book written about slavery in the past five years
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.
CYBILS- 👍
seeks out and recognizes books that represent diversity, inclusion, and appropriate representation for children and teens
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
AN AMAZON BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR 0 2021
A TIME MAGAZINE BEST CHILDREN'S BOOKS OF 2021
A SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL BEST BOOKS OF 2021
NW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY - BEST BOOKS 2021
BARNES AND NOBLE BEST PICTURE BOOK - 2021
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BEST BOOK OF 2021
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW
THEMES - HOPE, SURVIVAL, UNDERSTANDING
A young black girl is asked to trace her roots as part of a school assignment. She doesn’t know anything about her family tree. She seeks help from her grandmother and learns about the lives her ancestors led before they were kidnapped and taken to America. Young readers will discover the hardships endured by slaves and how they kept the faith over many years in their struggle to be free. If you are searching for a way to explain “Why Black Lives Matter,” this book is a good way to begin your presentation.
GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK, AMERICAN HISTORY
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. If you were kidnapped and taken to another country, what would be your
biggest concern?
2. What do you think Black Lives Matter means?
JANE ADDAMS PEACE AWARD - WINNER ☮️
IDA B. WELLS, VOICE OF TRUTH
AUTHOR - MICHELLE DUSTER
GRADES - MATURE 3-6
HONORS/AWARDS 👍🏿 👍🏿 👍🏿
JANE ADDAMS PEACE 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.
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 BOOKS OF THE YEAR
CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF MULTICULTURAL CHILDREN’S
LITERATURE AWARD👍🏿
THEME - FIGHTING INJUSTICE
Although this biography is a picture book, the vocabulary and the concepts are best suited for upper graders. Readers will learn that Ida B. Wells was born into slavery during the Civil War. She became a teacher and realized that separate but equal was not really equal. When her African American friends were lynched because they operated a successful business, Ida became a civil rights activist. She later became one of the founders of the NAACP. The book’s format is perfect for those children who have reading issues. It was written by Well’s great granddaughter.
GENRE - CHILDREN'S BIOGRAPHY
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. The author said that Ida refused to make herself small. What did she mean?
2. What word would best describe Ida? Explain.
E.B. WHITE READ ALOUD - HONOR BOOK
ONE
AUTHOR - KATHRYN OTOSHI
GRADES - PRE - 1
HONORS/AWARDS
E.B. WHITE READ ALOUD - HONOR BOOK
BOOKLIST - STARRED REVIEW
THEME - ANTI-BULLYING
Here is a color and counting book that offers a lesson on how to deal with a bully, who is portrayed by Red. When Red meets Blue, he says “Red is HOT. Blue is NOT.” Red also intimidates the other colors who are too afraid to say anything. Then One comes along and he says, “If someone is mean and picks on me, I, for One, stand up and say, No." His bravery encourages the other colors to change into numbers and stand up to Red. This causes Red to become smaller. At the end, Blue offers him an opportunity to be counted and to join the group as an equal. Strength in numbers is the theme represented here and it works very well. I like the way the author allowed Red the opportunity to be part of the group.
GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. What lesson did you learn from the story?
2. Why was Red called a hot color?
3. In the story, Red was called a hot head. What does that mean?
4. At first, the other colors did not tell Red to stop picking on Blue.Why?
5. At the end of the story, the numbers all shouted, “Everyone Counts!" What
does that mean?
6. If you could be a color, which one would you be? Explain.
CHRISTOPHER AWARD
MIRACULOUS JOURNEY OF EDWARD TULANE, THE
AUTHOR - KATE DECAMILLO
GRADES - 2-4
HONORS/AWARDS 👍🏿
CHRISTOPHER AWARD 👍🏿
presented to authors who "affirm the highest values of the human spirit by making a positive difference in the world."
BOSTON GLOBE HORN BOOK AWARD
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW
REBECCA CAUDILL YOUNG READERS BOOK AWARD
THEMES - LOVE, LOSS, ACCEPTANCE, OVERCOMING ADVERSITY
This story begs to be read aloud as indicated by the numerous awards it has received. Edward Tulane is a rabbit doll who experiences love, love lost, and love found again. He is part of a loving family when he gets tossed overboard on an ocean liner. He is saved by a fisherman, gets thrown into a garbage dump, rescued by a hobo, tossed off a train, and eventually finds his way into the hands of a sick child. While the ending is somewhat predictable, it takes nothing away from this tale that celebrates the human spirit. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is a book that you will read to your classes repeatedly. It is that good.
GENRE - CHILDREN'S FANTASY
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. What place do you think Edward enjoyed being the most? Explain.
Answers will vary.
2. What do you think was Edward’s worst experience? Answers will vary.
3. What character do you think showed the most love in this story?
Answers will vary. Possible answers - The hobo used his clothes to dress
Edward. Abilene loved Edward so much that she took him to bed with her
and was constantly talking to him. Bryce gave Edward to his ailing sister
to make her feel better.
NEWBERY MEDAL - WINNER
MRS . FRISBY AND THE RATS OF NIMH
AUTHOR - ROBERT C. O'BRIEN
GRADES - 3-5
HONORS/AWARDS
NEWBERY AWARD - 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”.
SCHOLASTIC - 100 GREATEST BOOKS FOR KIDS #78
AMAZON'S TOP 100 BOOKS FOR CHILDREN
TIME Magazine - 100 GREATEST BOOKS FOR CHILDREN #88
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL TOP 100 NOVELS FOR CHILDREN #33
GOODREADS -100 CHILDREN'S BOOKS TO READ IN A LIFETIME - #66
NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY TOP 100 CHILDREN'S BOOKS IN LAST 100 YEARS
THEMES -LOVE OF FAMILY, LOYALTY, PERSISTENCE
The author portrays rats as lovable, intelligent creatures in this story of survival. Scientists, who have been working at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), have been experimenting on rats to increase their intelligence. These rats learned to read and write and think like humans. They became so smart, that they eventually figured out a way to escape.The rats are constantly in danger from a farmer, the farmer’s cat, and exterminators. They are also needed to help Mrs. Frisby, a mouse, who is trying to save her son who is dying. Great read-aloud. It is number two on my all time favorite books for children in grades 3-5.
GENRES - CHILDREN'S LIT - SCI-FI, FANTASY
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. Is it a good idea to increase the intelligence of animals?
2. Who was the bravest character in this story? Explain.
Answers will vary. Mrs. Frisby would be a good choice. She sat on a bird
who flew her to see an owl. She visited the rats and went on a mission to
put powder in the cat’s bowl. This was the same cat that killed he
husband.
3. Do you think Mrs. Frisby will ever see the rats again? Explain.
At the end of the story, one of her children thinks it is a good idea. Mrs.
Frisby wants to think about it.
CANADIAN CHILDREN'S BOOK CENTRE - WINNER
OCEAN ANIMALS FROM HEAD TO TAIL
AUTHOR - STACEY RODERICK
GRADES - PRE-2
HONORS/AWARDS
TEXAS 2X2 READING LIST, TEXAS LIBRARY ASSOCIATION BEST BOOKS FOR KIDS AND TEEN - STARRED SELECTION
CANADIAN CHILDREN'S BOOK CENTRE - WINNER 2017
DELAWARE DIAMONDS AWARD, DIAMOND STATE READING ASSOCIATION
THEME -HOW TO USE CRITICAL THINKING TO IDENTIFY ANIMALS
Eight sea animals are presented in the form of a guessing game. Each animal is given a four page spread. On the first two pages, you see a part of the animal. Readers are asked to identify the creature. The following pages show the animal in its habitat along with an informative paragraph.
GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. (For second graders) Create a class game. Have children work in pairs. They
must find six animals on the computer and make two copies of each one. They
cut out a body part for each one and paste it on one side of a 5x8 card. The
other copy is pasted on the back of the card. To make the game more
interesting, assign each pair of students a specific body part such as eyes.
2. Have students create new animals by mixing body parts. They must name
their new animal and describe its behavior based on the parts selected.
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW
OLD DOG , BABY BABY
AUTHOR -JULIE FOGLIANO
GRADES - PRE-K
HONORS/AWARDS
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK
KIRKUS - STARRED REVIEW
BOOKLIST - STARRED REVIEW
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY -STARRED REVIEW
BULLETIN FOR THE CENTER OF CHILDREN'S BOOKS - STARRED REVIEW
GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK
THEMES - BONDING, RELATIONSHIPS
Written in verse, the author describes what happens when a curious baby meets a patient dog. The great illustrations make this a perfect read for those in the pre-k group.
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. Why is this dog good-natured?
It doesn’t mind when baby wakes him up. It doesn’t mind when baby
plays with his paws knees, and ears. It doesn’t mind when baby rests his
head on dog’s chest.
2. How do you think the dog feels about the baby? Explain.
He likes the baby. He licks him and allows the baby to touch him.
3. Who do you think is friendlier - the baby or the dog?
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW
MOON LIGHT
AUTHOR - STEPHEN SAVAGE
GRADES - PRE-2
HONORS/AWARDS
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - STARRED REVIEW
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW
THEME - A CELEBRATION OF THE MOON
When the moon is full, take out this book and share it with your child. The mysterious illustrations and text create a quiet mood and a sense of wonder as listeners will go on a journey around the world and end up in their bedrooms.
This is the perfect bedtime story.
GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. After reading the first page ask, “What do you think is on the move?”
As you read each page ask what the author is referring to until you get the
correct answer.
GREEN EARTH BOOK AWARD - HONOR
ONE PLASTIC BAG
AUTHOR - MIRANDA PAUL
GRADES - 1-4
HONORS/AWARDS👍 👍 👍
GREEN EARTH BOOK AWARD - HONOR👍
is the nation’s first environmental stewardship book award for children and young adult books.
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
WE ARE KID LIT COLLECTIVE SUMMER READING LISTS👍
recognizing the humanity of Indigenous and People of Color (IPOC) in youth literature, people with disabilities, and people from the LGBTQIA+ communities
CHILDREN’S AFRIKANA BOOK AWARD - COMMENDED
THEME - PROTECT THE PLANET
When goats die after eating plastic bags, a young woman decides to do something about plastic bag pollution. She collects the bags and washes them. Then she makes plastic threads which she crochets into purses. Other women also follow suit and donate part of their earnings to improve the health of their community. This is a wonderful story that promotes ecological awareness and illustrates how one person can make a difference. The author provides added information about this project along with a short bibliography of similar books.
This picture story written in verse, illustrates the unfairness of the separate but equal doctrine. The last few pages contrast the old order with conditions after more humane laws were passed.
GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
What can you do to make your community a better place?
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