Gaiman, Neil. (2008). The graveyard book. (D. McKean, Illus.). New York: Harper Collins Publisher.
Summary:
Neil Gaiman has created a dark, but entertaining book about a young boy who barely escapes the grasp of a murderer and ends up in the most unlikely place – a graveyard. Mr. and Mrs. Owens take the young boy into their care, but there is one problem they are ghosts. They name the young boy Nobody Owens, Nob for short, and he is granted ‘Freedom of the Graveyard.’ Nob encounters many adventures as he is brought up by the Owens, Silas, and the many dead of the graveyard. Neil Gaiman starts each chapter with the dark and graphic illustrations of Dave McKean which leads readers to believe that the book is very dark. However, he has included enough humor and adventure to make The Graveyard Book a very entertaining book.
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book
Suggested Grade Level(s): 5th – 8th
Awards:
2009 Newbery Award Winner
2009 ALA Notable/Best Book
Wiesner, David. (1999). Sector 7. New York: Clarion Books.
Summary:
Through interesting illustrations, David Wiesner creates a wordless story about a normal field trip to the Empire State Building that turns into an unusual trip for one little boy. As the little boy is trying to see the sites on this foggy day, his red scarf, hat, and gloves magically disappear – a cloud has taken them. The cloud then takes the little boy to Sector 7 – a cloud making factory. While there the little boy finds out that the clouds are tired of their usual shapes and want to create new shapes. As the boy draws different shapes, the clouds begin to change into these shapes. The Sector 7 workers notice the change in the clouds, find the boy, and send him back to the Empire State Building. Even though the Sector 7 workers tried to stop the clouds from changing, the clouds had other plans.
Genre: Science Fiction
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Grade Level(s): K – 3rd
Awards:
2000 ALA Notable/Best Book
2000 Caldecott Award Honor Book
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
ALA Children's Notable Recording
Gantos, Jack (Author & Narrator). (1999). Jack Pigza swallowed the key (Book on Tape). New York: Listening Library.
Summary:
The author, Jack Gantos narrates his own book Jack Pigza Swallowed the Key. In this first person narrative, Jack Gantos becomes the main character Jack Pigza. Jack Pigza has ADHD and his morning medication seems to wear off by lunch time. When not on his medication, Jack gets into a lot of trouble and his school puts up with it until he injures another student. Jack is then sent to a special school where he learns to get control of himself and his medication. With hints of big issues – abuse & alcoholism – Jack Gantos creates an environment where readers can relate and sympathize with Jack Pigza.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Format: Book on Tape
Suggested Grade Level(s): 5th – 8th
Awards:
2000 Notable Children’s Recording
Summary:
The author, Jack Gantos narrates his own book Jack Pigza Swallowed the Key. In this first person narrative, Jack Gantos becomes the main character Jack Pigza. Jack Pigza has ADHD and his morning medication seems to wear off by lunch time. When not on his medication, Jack gets into a lot of trouble and his school puts up with it until he injures another student. Jack is then sent to a special school where he learns to get control of himself and his medication. With hints of big issues – abuse & alcoholism – Jack Gantos creates an environment where readers can relate and sympathize with Jack Pigza.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Format: Book on Tape
Suggested Grade Level(s): 5th – 8th
Awards:
2000 Notable Children’s Recording
Sunday, November 22, 2009
ALA Children's Notable Video
Gagne, Paul R. (Producer) & Wilkos, V. (Director & Animator). (2006). James Marshall’s Cinderella [Videorecording]. United States: Weston Woods Studios, Inc.
Summary:
Originally retold by Barbara Karlin and illustrated by James Marshall, the book James Marshall’s Cinderella has been turned into an animated video for children. Narrated by Stephanie J. Block the classic story of Cinderella is retold with animated illustrations and background music that will appeal to all children.
Genre: Traditional Literature/Fairy Tale
Format: DVD
Suggested Grade Level(s): K – 3rd
Awards:
2007 ALA Notable Children’s Video
Summary:
Originally retold by Barbara Karlin and illustrated by James Marshall, the book James Marshall’s Cinderella has been turned into an animated video for children. Narrated by Stephanie J. Block the classic story of Cinderella is retold with animated illustrations and background music that will appeal to all children.
Genre: Traditional Literature/Fairy Tale
Format: DVD
Suggested Grade Level(s): K – 3rd
Awards:
2007 ALA Notable Children’s Video
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Hispanic Awards
Krull, Kathleen. (2003). Harvesting hope: the story of Cesar Chavez. (Y. Morales, Illus.). New York: Harcourt, Inc.
Summary:
Harvesting Hope is the story of the life of Cesar Chavez. Cesar Chavez grew up on a family farm in Arizona, but when he was ten his family lost everything to a drought and had to become migrant workers in California. After years of being embarrassed in school and treated badly by farmers, Cesar created La Causa – a movement that led to better working conditions for migrant workers. Kathleen Krull focuses on his 340 mile march through California to help migrant farm workers. This event leads to the recognition of the National Farm Workers Association and better working conditions for grape workers. The author’s note at the end allows readers to learn more about Cesar Chavez. Not only will the story inspire readers, but Yuyi Morales’s illustrations will. Her use of two-page spreads help to tell the story of Cesar Chavez.
Genre: Biography
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Grade Level(s): K – 3rd
Awards:
2004 Pura Belpre Award Honor Book – Illustrations
2004-2005 Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee
Montes, Marisa. (2000). Juan BoBo goes to work: a Puerto Rican folktale. (J. Cepeda, Illus.). New York: Harper Collins Publishers.
Summary:
Marisa Montes tells the story of Juan BoBo, a boy who cannot get anything right. Juan BoBo’s mother sends him to find work and gives him specific instructions on how to carry home his pay. Of course, Juan BoBo gets confused and ends of losing his pay. Every day he goes to find work and his mother instructs him on how to carry home his pay and every day he comes home empty handed. One day his confusion leads to a fruitful surprise – a free ham every Sunday.
Genre: Folktale
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Grade Level(s): K – 3rd
Awards:
2002 Pura Belpre Award Honor Book - Illustrations
Summary:
Harvesting Hope is the story of the life of Cesar Chavez. Cesar Chavez grew up on a family farm in Arizona, but when he was ten his family lost everything to a drought and had to become migrant workers in California. After years of being embarrassed in school and treated badly by farmers, Cesar created La Causa – a movement that led to better working conditions for migrant workers. Kathleen Krull focuses on his 340 mile march through California to help migrant farm workers. This event leads to the recognition of the National Farm Workers Association and better working conditions for grape workers. The author’s note at the end allows readers to learn more about Cesar Chavez. Not only will the story inspire readers, but Yuyi Morales’s illustrations will. Her use of two-page spreads help to tell the story of Cesar Chavez.
Genre: Biography
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Grade Level(s): K – 3rd
Awards:
2004 Pura Belpre Award Honor Book – Illustrations
2004-2005 Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee
Montes, Marisa. (2000). Juan BoBo goes to work: a Puerto Rican folktale. (J. Cepeda, Illus.). New York: Harper Collins Publishers.
Summary:
Marisa Montes tells the story of Juan BoBo, a boy who cannot get anything right. Juan BoBo’s mother sends him to find work and gives him specific instructions on how to carry home his pay. Of course, Juan BoBo gets confused and ends of losing his pay. Every day he goes to find work and his mother instructs him on how to carry home his pay and every day he comes home empty handed. One day his confusion leads to a fruitful surprise – a free ham every Sunday.
Genre: Folktale
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Grade Level(s): K – 3rd
Awards:
2002 Pura Belpre Award Honor Book - Illustrations
Historical Fiction
Curtis, Christopher Paul. (2007). Elijah of Buxton. New York: Scholastic Press.
Summary:
Christopher Paul Curtis transports readers back to Buxton, Canada – a safe haven for runaway slaves during the late 1800s – through an eleven year old boy named Elijah. The first free child born in Buxton, Elijah is known for vomiting all over Frederick Douglas. Elijah takes a journey into the United States, where slavery is still prominent. Christopher Paul Curtis’s use of descriptive words helps readers become one with the book; readers will feel as though they are with Elijah on his journey. Book includes an author’s note that provides background information about Buxton.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book
Suggested Grade Level(s): 3rd – 6th
Awards:
2008 Newbery Award Honor Book
2008 ALA Notable/Best Book
2008 Coretta Scott King Award Winner – Author
2008 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction Winner
Peck, Richard. (2001). Fair weather. New York: Dial Books.
Summary:
Richard Peck transports readers back to the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in the book Fair Weather. Thirteen year old Rosie Beckett and her family live on a small farm in Illinois and had never been farther than Decatur, but now they have been invited to Chicago. Traveling with their granddad, Lottie, Rosie, and Buster take the train to Chicago. The story follows their experiences at the World’s Columbian Exposition where they met people like Buffalo Bill and Lillian Russell, ride the first ferris wheel, and eat food they have never heard of before (i.e. hamburgers). Spending a week at the Exposition changed Rosie – she not only grew up a little, she realized there is more to the world than what was on her family’s small farm and what she experienced at the Exposition.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book
Suggested Grade Level(s): 5th – 8th
Awards:
2002 ALA Notable/Best Book
2003-2004 Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee
Summary:
Christopher Paul Curtis transports readers back to Buxton, Canada – a safe haven for runaway slaves during the late 1800s – through an eleven year old boy named Elijah. The first free child born in Buxton, Elijah is known for vomiting all over Frederick Douglas. Elijah takes a journey into the United States, where slavery is still prominent. Christopher Paul Curtis’s use of descriptive words helps readers become one with the book; readers will feel as though they are with Elijah on his journey. Book includes an author’s note that provides background information about Buxton.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book
Suggested Grade Level(s): 3rd – 6th
Awards:
2008 Newbery Award Honor Book
2008 ALA Notable/Best Book
2008 Coretta Scott King Award Winner – Author
2008 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction Winner
Peck, Richard. (2001). Fair weather. New York: Dial Books.
Summary:
Richard Peck transports readers back to the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in the book Fair Weather. Thirteen year old Rosie Beckett and her family live on a small farm in Illinois and had never been farther than Decatur, but now they have been invited to Chicago. Traveling with their granddad, Lottie, Rosie, and Buster take the train to Chicago. The story follows their experiences at the World’s Columbian Exposition where they met people like Buffalo Bill and Lillian Russell, ride the first ferris wheel, and eat food they have never heard of before (i.e. hamburgers). Spending a week at the Exposition changed Rosie – she not only grew up a little, she realized there is more to the world than what was on her family’s small farm and what she experienced at the Exposition.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book
Suggested Grade Level(s): 5th – 8th
Awards:
2002 ALA Notable/Best Book
2003-2004 Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee
Poetry
Cullinan, Bernice E. (Ed.). (1996). A jar of tiny stars: poems by NCTE award-winning poets. (A. MacLeod, Illus. & M. Nadel, portraits). Pennsylvannia: Wordsong.
Summary:
Bernice Cullinan collected poetry from NCTE award winning poets and has created a collection with simple black and white sketches by Andi MacLeod. Poems are organized by poet and each section begins with a simple black and white portrait of the poet and a quote. Most poems focus on topics that will engage children. The book also includes short biographies and bibliographies for each poet and an index.
Genre: Poetry
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Grade Level(s): 3rd – 6th
Awards:
NCTE's Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children (Various Years)
David McCord – 1977
Aileen Fisher – 1978
Karla Kuskin – 1979
Myra Cohn Livingston – 1980
Eve Merriam – 1981
John Ciardi – 1982
Lilian Moore – 1985
Arnold Adoff – 1988
Valerie Worth – 1991
Barbara Esbensen – 1994
Gottfried, Maya. (2005). Good dog. (R. Zakanitch, Illus.). New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
Summary:
Maya Gottfried presents sixteen poems about man’s best friend – dogs. Each poem describes a certain type of dog including a Corgi, a Bulldog, and even a mutt. All sixteen poems are accompanied by a simple oil painting of the breed represented plus simple pencil drawings created by Robert Rahway Zakanitch.
Genre: Poetry
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Grade Level(s): K-3rd
Awards:
2006-2007 Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee
Summary:
Bernice Cullinan collected poetry from NCTE award winning poets and has created a collection with simple black and white sketches by Andi MacLeod. Poems are organized by poet and each section begins with a simple black and white portrait of the poet and a quote. Most poems focus on topics that will engage children. The book also includes short biographies and bibliographies for each poet and an index.
Genre: Poetry
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Grade Level(s): 3rd – 6th
Awards:
NCTE's Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children (Various Years)
David McCord – 1977
Aileen Fisher – 1978
Karla Kuskin – 1979
Myra Cohn Livingston – 1980
Eve Merriam – 1981
John Ciardi – 1982
Lilian Moore – 1985
Arnold Adoff – 1988
Valerie Worth – 1991
Barbara Esbensen – 1994
Gottfried, Maya. (2005). Good dog. (R. Zakanitch, Illus.). New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
Summary:
Maya Gottfried presents sixteen poems about man’s best friend – dogs. Each poem describes a certain type of dog including a Corgi, a Bulldog, and even a mutt. All sixteen poems are accompanied by a simple oil painting of the breed represented plus simple pencil drawings created by Robert Rahway Zakanitch.
Genre: Poetry
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Grade Level(s): K-3rd
Awards:
2006-2007 Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee
3 Pigs, 2 Versions
Scieszka, Jon. (1989). The true story of the three little pigs. (L. Smith, Illus.). New York: Viking.
Summary:
Everyone has heard the story of the 3 Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf, but have you heard the true story? According to Alexander T. Wolf, the story everyone has heard is not true and he has decided to share the truth – his version. The wolf’s story revolves around a sneeze and a cup of sugar. Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith come together and create a great story that the Big Bad Wolf would be proud of.
Genre: Traditional Literature/Fairy Tale
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Grade Level(s): K – 3rd
Awards:
Wiesner, David. (2001). The three pigs. New York: Clarion Books.
Summary:
David Wiesner recreates the story of the 3 little pigs and lets them take control of their fate. Using different types of media, the illustrations tell this story more than the words. When the reader begins this story, they will believe they are reading the normal story of the 3 little pigs, but when the wolf blows the first pig out of the page and he becomes a real pig, the reader will realize there is nothing normal about this story. As the pigs travel through this new world, their bodies change to become part of the stories they are entering. In the end, the 3 pigs befriend a dragon and the cat from Hey Diddle, Diddle. Both help the pigs change the end of their story.
Genre: Traditional Literature/Fairy Tale
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Grade Level(s): K – 3rd
Awards:
2002 Caldecott Award Honor Book
2002 ALA Notable/Best Book
Summary:
Everyone has heard the story of the 3 Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf, but have you heard the true story? According to Alexander T. Wolf, the story everyone has heard is not true and he has decided to share the truth – his version. The wolf’s story revolves around a sneeze and a cup of sugar. Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith come together and create a great story that the Big Bad Wolf would be proud of.
Genre: Traditional Literature/Fairy Tale
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Grade Level(s): K – 3rd
Awards:
Wiesner, David. (2001). The three pigs. New York: Clarion Books.
Summary:
David Wiesner recreates the story of the 3 little pigs and lets them take control of their fate. Using different types of media, the illustrations tell this story more than the words. When the reader begins this story, they will believe they are reading the normal story of the 3 little pigs, but when the wolf blows the first pig out of the page and he becomes a real pig, the reader will realize there is nothing normal about this story. As the pigs travel through this new world, their bodies change to become part of the stories they are entering. In the end, the 3 pigs befriend a dragon and the cat from Hey Diddle, Diddle. Both help the pigs change the end of their story.
Genre: Traditional Literature/Fairy Tale
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Grade Level(s): K – 3rd
Awards:
2002 Caldecott Award Honor Book
2002 ALA Notable/Best Book
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