OFFICIAL CHILDREN’S BOOK OF MASSACHUSETTS
MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS
AUTHOR - ROBERT MCCLOSKEY
GRADES - 2-4
HONORS/AWARDS
INDIES CHOICE BOOK AWARDS - PICTURE BOOK HALL OF
FAME
CALDECOTT MEDAL - WINNER
OFFICIAL CHILDREN’S BOOK OF MASSACHUSETTS
OVER 5 MILLION BOOKS SOLD
THEMES - CARING FOR ANIMALS, APPRECIATING NATURE
I read this book to my fourth grade class in 1962 and it has been on the top of my list ever since. The plot is simple. Two mallards decide that country living was too dangerous a place to raise a family, so they decide to move to Boston where they encounter a whole series of new obstacles. Thanks to an understanding police force, they are able to survive the various city hazards. The illustrations are outstanding which allow for large group presentations. You absolutely cannot go wrong with this book. Kids love it!
GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. How can you help wild animals?
2. Do you think the ducks will continue to live in the city? Why?
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?
PICTURE BOOK HALL OF FAME
CORDUROY
AUTHOR - DON FREEMAN
GRADES - PRESCHOOL - 1
HONORS/AWARDS
CORDUROY WAS ONE OF THE FIRST BOOKS INDUCTED INTO THE INDIES CHOICE BOOK AWARDS PICTURE BOOK HALL OF FAME.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY NAMED CORDUROY ONE OF THE 100 GREAT CHILDREN'S BOOKS FROM THE LAST 100 YEARS
THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSN. NAMED CORDUROY ONE OF THE TEACHERS' TOP 100 BOOKS FOR CHILDREN
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL NAMED CORDUROY ONE OF THE TOP 100 PICTURE BOOKS OF THE 21ST CENTURY
CLOSE TO 20 MILLION COPIES OF THE CORDUROY BOOKS HAVE SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD
THEMES - CARING, RELATIONSHIPS
Corduroy is a stuffed bear who lives in a department store. He is not happy because he wants to live in a home. A young girl buys him and they both become very happy together.
GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. Compare how Corduroy felt at the beginning and at the end of the story?
2. Do you think the girl will always love Corduroy?
3. What have you fixed to make it better?
KIRKUS REVIEWS - STARRED REVIEW
SHELTER
AUTHOR - CELINE CLAIRE
GRADES - K-2
HONORS/AWARDS
KIRKUS REVIEWS - STARRED REVIEW
THEME - ACT OF KINDNESS
The woodland animals are preparing for an oncoming blizzard. While they are all safely tucked away in their homes, two bears approach them seeking shelter. No one wants to help the strangers. Then, a small act of kindness changes everything. Children need to be exposed to more stories like this one.
GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. What do you think was the most important event that happened in this story?
The little fox gives the lantern to the bears.
2. What would have happened if the fox did not give them the lantern?
Answers will vary.
3. Why did the bears invite the fox family in their shelter after the forest animals
left them in the storm?
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
SMOKY NIGHT
AUTHOR - EVE BUNTING
GRADES - 1-3
HONORS/AWARDS
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
CALDECOTT MEDAL - BEST ILLUSTRATED BOOK
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK
AN AMERICAN BOOKSELLER - "PICK OF THE LISTS"
HUNGRY MIND REVIEW -BOOK OF DISTINCTION
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - CHILDREN'S BESTSELLER
PARENTS' CHOICE - AWARD WINNER
THEME - ACCEPTANCE THROUGH FRIENDSHIPS
The Los Angeles riots are seen through the eyes of a young boy who is forced out of his home by fire. The destruction of his neighborhood brought Koreans and blacks together during a time when there was great animosity between the two groups. The boy was worried about his missing cat until a fireman brought it to the shelter along with Mrs. Kim’s cat. The felines, who were enemies before the riots, were now getting along with each other. The young boy concludes that they used to be enemies because they didn’t know each other. “Out of the mouths of babes… .”
GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. What lesson did the cats teach the adults?
If they can get along, why can't humans be friends?
2. Why reason does the author give for the African-Americans and the Asians not
getting along very well?
They never got to know one another. They didn't do what the cats did.
3. During the story, Daniel's mama said that she didn't shop at Mrs. Kim's market,
because it was better to buy from her own people. What did she mean by that?
Do you think that was a good idea?
She meant that African-Americans should only shop from stores that
were owned by African-Americans. This was not a good idea. People
should shop at stores that give them the best service, or have the best
prices. Race should not be a factor in this decision.
4. After the riots end, will Mrs. Kim and Mama treat each other differently?
Explain.
Yes, they will treat each other differently. Near the end of the story, Mrs.
Kim accepts Mama's invitation to come visit her.
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL #63 TOP 100 PICTURE BOOKS
SNEETCHES, THE
AUTHOR - DR. SEUSS
GRADES - 1-6
HONORS/AWARDS
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - #63 TOP 100 PICTURE BOOKS
NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSN. - TOP 100 PICTURE BOOKS FOR
CHILDREN #51
THEMES - SOCIAL BEHAVIOR, ACCEPTANCE, RELATIONSHIPS
I had great success with this book at the third, fourth, fifth and sixth grade levels. The Sneetches encourage children not to pass judgment on the way people look. The Zax shows the value of compromise, and What Was I Scared of illustrates the fear of the unknown. All of the stories can be used as read alouds in grades 1-6.
GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1.What was the message that Dr. Seuss was trying to send to children when he
wrote this story?
ENDORSED BY AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL ☮️
SWIMMY
AUTHOR -LEO LIONNI
GRADES - PRE-2
HONORS/AWARDS 👍🏿
ENDORSED BY AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL 👍🏿
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK
NEW YORK TIMES - BEST ILLUSTRATED BOOK OF THE YEAR
CALDECOTT MEDAL HONOR BOOK - BEST ILLUSTRATIONS
THEMES - COOPERATION, SELF ESTEEM
Almost a half of a century old, this classic tale demonstrates how creativity and cooperation allows a group of fish to survive in the ocean. Swimmy is lonely and sad after a tuna eats his brothers and sisters. He tells the red fish to swim close together in the shape of a giant fish. Swimmy, who is black, becomes the eye. The group looks like one big fish, which scares their enemies.
GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. What does cooperation mean?
2. How does cooperation work in this story?
3. What caused Swimmy to become excited?
He became excited when he helped the other fish.
4. How can cooperation help you at school and at home?
PARENTS' CHOICE AWARD - WINNER
TERRIFIC
AUTHOR - JON AGEE
GRADES - K-3
HONORS/AWARDS
PARENTS' CHOICE AWARD - WINNER FOR PICTURE BOOK
THE HORN BOOK FANFARE 2005
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK
NEW YORK TIMES - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - BEST CHILDREN'S BOOKS OF 2005
BANK STREET COLLEGE OF EDUCATION -BEST CHILDREN'S BOOKS OF
2005
CHILD MAGAZINE - BEST CHILDREN'S BOOKS OF 2005
CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY - BEST OF THE BEST - 2005
BOOK SENSE TOP TEN BEST CHILDREN'S BOOKS OF 2005
THEMES - FRIENDSHIP, BONDING
A grouchy, pessimistic man wins a vacation to Bermuda. His ship gets wrecked and he finds himself stranded on a deserted island, where he bonds with a parrot who saves his life.
GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. Why do you think the parrot would not talk when Eugene asked him to say
something to the captain?
The parrot probably did not like the captain. Maybe the captain was
responsible for hurting the parrot’s wing.
2. Most people are happy when they win a big prize like a vacation to Bermuda.
Why do you think Eugene was unhappy when he learned he was a winner?
3. Getting stranded on an island was bad luck. Meeting the parrot was good luck.
Did anything bad ever happen to that turned out to be good?
CYBILS AWARD - FINALIST
THEY ALL SAW A CAT
AUTHOR - BRENDAN WENZEL
GRADES - PRE-1
HONORS/AWARDS 👍🏿
CYBILS AWARD 👍🏿
seeks out and recognizes books that represent diversity, inclusion, and appropriate representation for children and teens .
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL'S - BEST BOOKS OF 2016, PICTURE BOOKS
THE NEW YORK TIMES - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOKS
NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY - BEST BOOKS FOR KIDS, PICTURE BOOKS
GOODREADS - CHOICE AWARDS 2016, PICTURE BOOKS
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOKS
PARENTS' CHOICE - AWARD WINNER
SHELF AWARENESS -STARRED REVIEW
THEMES - WE ALL SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY, PERSPECTIVE
The story focuses on a cat and how it is seen through the eyes of a child and eleven animals. One of the best picture books I have seen, as the facial expressions are quite revealing.
GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. Would you rather have a dog or a cat for a pet? Explain.
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