Coretta Scott King Award Winners (3)

Curtis, C. (1999). Bud, not Buddy. New York, NY: Delacorte Press. Ten-year-old Buddy Caldwell is an orphan and runaway from foster homes and Hoovervilles of the Great Depression. He's on a quest to find his real father, who he believes is a bass player for the Dusky Devastators of the Depression. The novel addresses poverty, racism and cruelty and, therefore, is for upper level readers. Won Coretta Scott King Award for 2000. Would be great for fifth graders when they study Civil Rights Movement.





Grimes, N. (2002). Talkin' about Bessie. New York, NY: Orchard Books. A fictionalized biography of Bessie Coleman's life takes us to her funeral where 20 of her mourners speak of her life. Brilliant illustrations by E.B. Lewis and B. Moser are watercolors with sepia-toned outlines bring the character to life. Readers from middle and upper grades will enjoy this interesting biography about the first registered African-American pilot. This book won a Coretta Scott King Author Honor Award as well as the Illustrator Award for 2003. Would be a good choice when students select African-Americans for their research projects.




Johnson, A. (1998). Heaven. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. What makes a family? Is it the people you grow up with? What happens if the people you believe are your parents turn out not to be. This is the problem Marley must face when she finds out that the beautiful letters her uncle write to her are really letters from her father. This book is for upper level readers as it deals with more mature subject matter. A Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner from 1999. Great choice for a novel study in upper grades.




To learn more about the Coretta Scott King Awards, click here:
http://www.ala.org/ala/emiert/corettascottkingbookaward/corettascott.cfm

Caldecott Medal Winners - (5)

Gerstein, M. (2003). The man who walked between the towers. New York, NY: Roaring Brook Press. This is the story of Philippe Petit's tight rope walk between the World Trade Center towers in 1974. The inventive foldout tracking Philippe's progress across the wire offers a view of the city below; the next page shows the aerialist from the street below. The artist's paintings give a breathtaking view of the memory of the towers on the final page. This book is great for all ages to show the towers before and after the 2001 disaster. It won the Caldecott Medal in 2004.

Martin, J. (1998). Snowflake Bentley. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company. Illustrated by Mary Azarian. Readers will be very interested in the life of Wilson Bentley who perfected the art of snowflake photography through amazing trial and error. They will marvel at his determination and hard work while hardly making enough money to continue his art--good lessons for today's children. A wonderful choice to study snowflakes in any grade.



Van Allsburg, C. (1985). The polar express. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company. A classic for the ages, Polar Express tells the story of a young boy losing the enchantment of Christmas. One Christmas Eve he hears the hissing steam of a train right outside his window and he begins his adventure to find the magic of Christmas again. All ages know the story and love it. The luminous illustrations create the drama and it's still fun to try to find the white dog in his paintings. Caldecott winner in 1986. A "can't miss" choice to use during the holidays.

Yolen, J. (1987). Owl moon. New York, NY: Philomel Books. This is a charming tale of a girl and her father who go owling one night in the woods to locate the Great Horned Owl. It's a simple story of a simple activity, but it has been a favorite for many years. Children will enjoy the idea of a special time spent with a parent, and the illustrations by John Schoenherr, which won the Caldecott Medal in 1988, convey the cool, crisp feeling of the winter night. Read this book to study seasons and animal habitats.




To learn more about the Caldecott Medal, click here:
http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/caldecottmedal/caldecottmedal.cfm

Newbery Medal Award Winners - (6)

Avi. (2002). Crispin: The cross of lead. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children. Crispin is a 13-year-old peasant in 14th century England, whose mother has just died. He finds himself blamed for a theft he didn't commit and is labeled a "wolf's head" allowing anyone to kill him on sight. This entertaining novel has twists and turns and a thrilling plot that will keep the upper level readers enthralled. Great for a novel study.

Curtis, C. (1999). Bud, not Buddy. New York, NY: Delacorte Press. Ten-year-old Buddy Caldwell is an orphan and runaway from foster homes and Hoovervilles of the Great Depression. He's on a quest to find his real father, who he believes is a bass player for the Dusky Devastators of the Depression. The novel addresses poverty, racism and cruelty and, therefore, is for upper level readers. Great for upper grades to study the Depression.

L'Engle, M. (1962). A wrinkle in time. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. This book literally begins with, "It was a dark and stormy night." Meg is a girl whose father disappeared over a year ago. She and her brother embark on an adventure to rescue him. They are transported to the planet Camazotz, where they must defeat the evil power IT to save the universe. Great to read when studying fantasy genre.

Lowry, L. (1989). Number the stars. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin. The story of the evacuation of Jews from Denmark is told through the eyes of 10-year-old Annemarie Johannesen. Her best friend, Ellen Rosen, is in danger, and this story highlights the untold story of the rescue of 7,000 Jews in a flotilla to Sweden in 1943. Its emotional story of courage and loyalty should not be missed by middle to upper level readers. Can be used in upper grades to study the Holocaust.

Peck, R. (2000). A year down yonder. New York, NY: Dial Books for Young Readers. It's 1937 and poor Mary Alice has to go and spend time with Granny Dowdel out in the country. That means sleeping in the attic and wearing old, worn out clothes, but still being called "the rich girl from Chicago" at school. She soon becomes Granny's sidekick in her crazy schemes as she comes to love her irascible, old granny. For upper elementary students. Just a great, fun read and can be used to study the Depression.

Sachar, L. (1998). Holes. New York, NY: Francis Foster Books. That "no good, dirty rotten, pig-stealing great-great-grandfather" of Stanley Yealnats was to blame for his rotten luck. It was his fault Stanley had to go the Camp Green Lake (no camp, no lake!). And all they do at this juvenile detention facility is dig holes and then fill them in. There's a mystery going on out there, too. This funny and strange story also tells a story of friendship and hope for the underdog. Great for a novel study.

To learn more about the Newbery Medal, click here:
http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/newberymedal/newberymedal.cfm

Favorite Science Fiction (5)

Farmer, N. (2002). The house of scorpion. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. This book takes place in the future in the country known as Opium, which lies between the United States and Mexico and is where poppies are grown and drugs produced. The 140-year-old leader of the country, El Patron, has been kept alive by using the body parts of clones. Matt Alacran, an El Patron clone, comes to the realization that he is to be the next clone sacrificed for El Patron, and he teams up with new friends to escape his fate. A great choice when studying science fiction genre.

Haddix, M. (1998). Among the hidden. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. In a futuristic society in which families are limited to two children, Luke is child number three. He must stay hidden in the attic to avoid being seen by the authorities. He sees another "shadow child" living in a nearby home and together, they form a bond to rebel against the government. I loved this book and couldn't wait to read the sequels. For middle and upper level readers. A good book to use to study science fiction genre.

Horowitz, A. (2006). Ark angel. New York, NY: Philomel Books. Another in the Alex Rider series. This time, Alex wakes up in the hospital after being shot. He's ready to give up the life being a teenage spy for M16, the British Secret Service. He and his father go on vacation to a tropical island that turns out to be the launch site for the first hotel in space, Ark Angel. This book is for upper level readers only. A good choice to study science fiction genre.

L'Engle, M. (1962). A wrinkle in time. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. This book literally begins with, "It was a dark and stormy night." Meg is a girl whose father disappeared over a year ago. She and her brother embark on an adventure to rescue him. They are transported to the planet Camazotz, where they must defeat the evil power IT to save the universe. **Newbery Medal Winner** A must for science fiction genre study.

Patterson, J. (2007). Maximum ride: The angel experiment. New York, NY: Little, Brown Young Readers. 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. This is the first young adult book written by well-known author, James Patterson. It's the first of four in the Maximum Ride series. A fun book to read for science fiction genre study.

Favorite Fantasy - (7)

Babbitt, N. (1975). Tuck everlasting. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus, Giroux. When Winnie becomes friends with the Tuck family, her life is changed forever. The Tuck family has discovered a spring that gives eternal youth. They will never grow old or die. Their desire to keep the spring a secret leads to a murder and a trial. It leads to a discussion about whether or not immortality is a good thing. This book is for upper level readers and can be used to study fantasy genre.



Cooper, S. (1973). The dark is rising. New York, NY: Margaret K. McElderry Books. Middle and upper level readers love a scary book, and this one is a favorite. Will Stanton finds out on his eleventh birthday that he is not an ordinary boy but the Sign Seeker, who must guard the six great Signs of the Light against the forces of evil. This Newbery Honor Book is thrilling and the first in a series of five suspenseful novels about Will Stanton. Would be a good book to use to illustrate the fantasy genre.

Dahl, R. (1961). James and the giant peach. New York, NY: Puffin Books. This comical book introduces us to James Henry Trotter, a young boy who is forced to move in with his nasty Aunts Sponge and Spiker when his parents are eaten by a rhinoceros on the streets of London. He meets six giant insects and embarks on an adventure which demonstrates the concepts of teamwork and friendship. A great, fun book to study genre of fantasy. A natural for a read-aloud.

DuPrau, J. (2003). City of Ember. New York, NY: Random House. Ember, a 241-year-old, ruined domed city surrounded by a dark unknown, was built to ensure that humans would continue to exist on Earth, and the instructions for getting out have been lost and forgotten. Two 12-year-olds, Doon and Lina, work together to find the key to leaving the city so they can find supplies to rescue a city short on power and food. This book was a 2007 Georgia Book Award Winner. It's a good read for middle and upper level readers. A good choice for the study of fantasy genre.

Lewis, C.S. (1950). The lion, the witch, and the wardrobe. New York, NY: HarperCollins. Four English children go to the country to escape the bombing of London and find an old wardrobe during a game of hide-and-seek. The make their way through the back of the wardrobe into the magical land of Narnia where they help the messiah-lion, Aslan, to defeat the White Witch. A classic for middle and upper level readers. A classic that would be a good novel study or selection for fantasy genre.

Nimmo, J. (2003). Charlie Bone and the time twister. New York, NY: Orchard Books. The Time Twister is a ball with the power to transport people through time, and it brings Henry Yewbeam from 1916 to present day Bloor's, an academy much like Hogwart's. His evil, scheming cousin Ezekiel, who sent him to the future, is still alive, and Charlie Bone must protect Henry and find a way to send him back into the past. Although the book is 400+ pages long, it's a suspenseful, thiller for fantasy lovers. For upper level readers. Can be used to compare to Harry Potter in a fantasy genre study.

Norton, M. (1981). The borrowers. New York, NY: Harcourt Brace. One of my favorites from my childhood, The Borrowers is a story about the Clock family who are tiny people who live in the floorboards under the clock. They live on things they "borrow" from the family that lives in the big house. They live there undetected until a boy and his ferret arrive at the house. Amity, one of the borrowers commits the biggest sin that a borrower can--she allows herself to be seen. This is a classic. Don't miss it. For upper level readers. A classic for the study of fantasy genre.

Favorite - Biographies - (7)

Abraham, P. (2002). Amelia Earhart. New York, NY: Rosen Book Works, Inc. A super simple biography for beginners. This series is a great introduction to early readers to the genre of biographies. Amelia Earhart's life is briefly highlighted without mentioning her untimely death. K-2nd readers. Good for introducing the concept of biographies to early readers.


Farris, C. (2003). My brother Martin: A sister remembers growing up with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. Illustrations by Chris Soentpiet. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s sister Christine pays tribute to her brother in this remembrance from their childhood. One specific, pivotal moment is shared when two neighbor boys announce that they can't play with Martin and Christine anymore because they are "Negroes." Dramatic, luminous illustrations enhance the story that is recommended for all ages. Good to read during Black History Month or for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebrations.

Gerstein, M. (2003). The Man Who Walked Between the Towers. New York, NY: Roaring Brook Press. This is the story of Philippe Petit's tight rope walk between the World Trade Center towers in 1974. The inventive foldout tracking Philippe's progress across the wire offers a view of the city below; the next page shows the aerialist from the street below. The artist's paintings give a breathtaking view of the memory of the towers on the final page. This book is great for all ages to show the towers before and after the 2001 disaster. It won the Caldecott Medal in 2004.
Good to read on the anniversary of the World Trade Center disaster.

Grimes, N. (2002). Talkin' bbout Bessie. New York, NY: Orchard Books. A fictionalized biography of Bessie Coleman's life takes us to her funeral where 20 of her mourners speak of her life. Brilliant illustrations by E.B. Lewis and B. Moser are watercolors with sepia-toned outlines bring the character to life. This book won a Coretta Scott King Author Honor Award as well as the Illustrator Award for 2003. Good choice for biography study.

Levine, K. 2002). Hana's suitcase. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman & Company. This book tells the story of Hana Brady, a girl killed at Auschwitz, and how her suitcase came to be a part of the Tokyo Holocaust Education Resource Center. While a sad story, it ends on a positive note with the Japanese children learning about the Holocaust. The book goes back and forth between Hana's life in Czechoslovakia and to the teacher in Japan teaching her class about Hana. Photographs of Hana and her family and of the teacher and children in Japan make this a great way to teach the topic of the Holocaust. Upper level readers. A wonderful choice for fifth graders studying the Holocaust.

Martin, J. (1998). Snowflake Bentley. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company. Illustrated by Mary Azarian. Readers will be very interested in the life of Wilson Bentley who perfected the art of snowflake photography through amazing trial and error. They will marvel at his determination and hard work while hardly making enough money to continue his art--good lessons for today's children. **Caldecott Medal Winner** Great to use to extend study of snowflakes in science unit. To take a quiz about Snowflake Bentley, click here: Snowflake Bentley Test.
To make snowflakes online, click here: Snowflakes Online


Ryan, P. (2002). When Marian sang. New York, NY: Scholastic Press. Illustrations by Brian Selznick. Singer Marian Anderson was a huge success in Europe while hardly known here in America because of racism. Unable to appear at the Metropolitan Opera until she was 57, this book tells of her frustration and confusion at America's treatment of her and her amazing talent. The illustrations are striking, especially the two-page spread of her appearance at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939. Middle readers. A good choice for a middle grade biography study. To hear an audio clip of Marian Anderson, click here:
Marian Anderson at Lincoln Memorial

Favorite Poetry (6)

Crossley-Holland, K. (2004). Once Upon a Poem. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc. Find some classic poems all in one place in this collection. Paul Revere's Ride, Jabberwocky, and The Cremation of Sam McGee can all be found here. Four different artists (Peter and Sian Bailey, Carol Lawson and Chris McEwan) illustrate the book, and the art fits the feel of the individual poems beautifully in every case. There's something in this book for every K-5 level. Great way to introduce some of the classics in poetry to each level student.


Florian, D. (1999). Laugh-eteria. Orlando, FL: Harcourt Brace & Company. I feel students need a fun introduction to poetry. This book is fun and easy to understand for even the youngest reader. Florian's black and white illustrations are simple and child-like. These short, easy poems are a good way to motivate students to write their own poetry. Just let their imaginations fly.



Gutman, D. (2007). Casey Back at Bat. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers. Want to make boys into poetry fans? Bring sports into the picture. This sequel to Casey at the Bat takes us back to Mudville for Casey's turn at bat. This fanciful story gives Casey another try at the plate and we watch as Casey smashes that ball out of the park, out of the state and out of this world. The artwork by Steve Johnson and Louis Fancher uses an unusual technique of blending newspapers and paintings and is a very effective medium. A fun, revisit of a favorite poem. Great to engage those students who aren't that familiar or aren't interested in poetry.

Prelutsky, J. (1997). It's Raining Pigs and Noodles. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers. Jack Prelutsky is a master of making poetry a delight for readers. This collection is hilarious and every age group can enjoy it. The illustrations by James Stevenson lend another humorous aspect to the funny poems, and they add to the pieces without overwhelming them. A great way to engage students into poetry. Fun to read aloud and share.



Shore, D. (2006). This is the Dream. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers. This book is a celebration of the power of change. It traces civil rights challenges and the people who broke the barriers. The artwork by James Ransome is a blend of photography and painting combined into striking collages with vibrant color and drama. The artwork is as powerful than the words and this is a great book to share with all students of every age.


Silverstein, S. 1974). Where the Sidewalk Ends. New York, NY: HarperCollins Children's Books. No poetry collection is complete without Shel Silverstein. His offbeat style and sens of humor strikes a chord with every school child. His line art is the perfect accompaniment for his ridiculous subject matter, and the readers will love it all. It's great for all ages.

Favorite Realistic Fiction - (14)

Cleary, B. (1951). Ellen Tebbits. Toronto, Canada: George J. McLeod Limited. Yes, this book was around when I was a little girl. It was always one of my favorites because I could relate to Ellen--not quite dainty enough to be a ballerina and having daily issues with a best friend and annoying neighbor boy. Perfect for third grade and up. Would be a good novel study in middle grades.
Learn more about Beverly Cleary at: www.beverlycleary.com

Clements, A. (1996). Frindle. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. When Nick gets into a battle of wills with his fifth grade teacher over a made-up word, frindle, he certainly doesn't expect the trouble it causes. Middle grades love this book, and it's a great read-aloud.
Learn more about Andrew Clements at: www.andrewclements.com


Creech, S. (2002). Ruby Holler. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers. Thirteen-year-old twins, Dallas and his sister, Florida, have just about given up on ever being adopted. There were all those miserable foster homes, like Mr. Dreep who kept them locked in the cellar. Then, out of the blue, an old couple takes a chance on them to accompany them on separate vacations. This is a wonderful character-rich novel that will warm the hearts of upper elementary students...one of my favorites. Great read-aloud.

DiCamillo, K. (2006). The miraculous journey of Edward Tulane. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press. OK, folks, this is the one--my very favorite work of fiction. But, beware, it's the saddest book I've ever failed to be able to read aloud without crying! It's a beautiful story of Edward Tulane, a vain china rabbit who learns the heartache of love. The incredible, muted illustrations by Bagram Ibatoulline, are the perfect compliment to the story. A word of warning, the story contains more mature subject matter and is for upper elementary students. Great middle and upper grade read-aloud.
For some writing tips from Kate DiCamillo, click here: Writing Tips

Gantos, J. (1998). Joey Pigza swallowed the key. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. This book is a first-person look at what it's like to had Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Told from Joey's point of view, we see what it's like to be out of control at school. He ruins the field trip, sticks his finger in the pencil sharpener, and even swallows a key. It's funny, but painful as we suffer with Joey while he's struggling with this disorder. A great book for ADD kids who are looking for a hero. A good read-aloud for upper elementary students.
To go to an entertaining site to learn more about the Joey Pigza books and others by Jack Gantos, click here: Jack Gantos

Holt, K. (1998). My Louisiana sky. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company. Tiger Parker doesn't have many friends. Her parents are different than anyone else's in Saitter, Louisiana. Her father quit school when he was 12 and her mother never even went to school. Tiger lives with her parents and her grandmother, but she is often put in the position of taking care of everyone. But when her Aunt Dora comes from Baton Rouge offering her a more glamorous life, what will she choose? It's a wonderful story of overcoming hardship and making big decisions. Upper elementary students will love it. A good read-aloud.
To visit Kimberly Willis Holt's website, click here: www.kimberlywillisholt.com

Johnson, A. (1998). Heaven. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. What makes a family? Is it the people you grow up with? What happens if the people you believe are your parents turn out not to be. This is the problem Marley must face when she finds out that the beautiful letters her uncle write to her are really letters from her father. This book is for upper level readers as it deals with more mature subject matter. A Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner from 1999.

Klise, K. (2005). Deliver us from Normal. New York, NY: Scholastic Press. Charles Harrisong lists his family as one of the most embarrassing things in life, and they are. They may live in Normal, Illinois, but they're anything but normal. When his sister's campaign for class president takes an ugly turn, the family pulls up stakes and moves to a houseboat in Alabama. It's a great psychological novel, but it's for upper elementary students only due to more mature subject matter.

McCloskey, R. (1943). Homer Price. New York, NY: Viking Press. It's an oldy but a goody. This classic, homespun collection of six stories about Centerburg will delight all middle grade elementary students. My favorite story is about the donut machine gone wild while all the residents of Centerburg eat through the donuts to find a diamond bracelet. A great read-aloud.


Robinson, B (1972). The best Christmas pageant ever. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers. A classic that tells the story of a rag-tag bunch of kids who teach a church congregation the true meaning of Christmas. Those Herdman kids are wild, cigar-smoking trouble-makers, but they want to be in the Christmas pageant. Middle and upper elementary students will howl at the crazy antics of the Herdmans. Fun to use during the holidays as a read-aloud.

Sachar, L. (1998). Holes. New York, NY: Francis Foster Books. That "no good, dirty rotten, pig-stealing great-great-grandfather" of Stanley Yealnats was to blame for his rotten luck. It was his fault Stanley had to go the Camp Green Lake (no camp, no lake!). And all they do at this juvenile detention facility is dig holes and then fill them in. There's a mystery going on out there, too. This funny and strange story also tells a story of friendship and hope for the underdog. **Newbery Medal Winner**
A good read-aloud.

Cooper, S. (1993). The boggart. New York, NY: Margaret K. McElderry Books. The Vulnick family returns home from looking at the Scottish castle they just inherited to find some strange things happening. They soon realize that a mischievous boggart has stowed away in a piece of furniture they brought home with them. From things flying through the air at Halloween to communicating with the children through the television, this fun book will be a great read for middle to upper elementary students. Fun to use near Halloween as a read-aloud.

Peck, R. (2000). A year down yonder. New York, NY: Dial Books for Young Readers. It's 1937 and poor Mary Alice has to go and spend time with Granny Dowdel out in the country. That means sleeping in the attic and wearing old, worn out clothes, but still being called "the rich girl from Chicago" at school. She soon becomes Granny's sidekick in her crazy schemes as she comes to love her irascible, old granny. For upper elementary students. **Newbery Medal Winner** Just a great book for a read-aloud.

Wallace, B. (1980). A dog called Kitty. New York, NY: Holiday House. Ricky was mauled by a dog when he was little, and he's terrified of dogs now. But he puts his fear aside to rescue a puppy. This is a classic boy and dog story that kids love. Bill Wallace knows how to entertain an audience and middle and upper readers will love this touching, hopeful book. A great read-aloud.