Texas Bluebonnet Award

DeFelice, Cynthia. (2006). One potato, two potato. (A. U’Ren, Illus.). New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.

Summary:
Cynthia DeFelice and Andrea U’Ren worked together to retell the Chinese folktale, Two of Everything. Mr. and Mrs. O’Grady are a lonely, old couple who shared everything – 1 chair, 1 blanket, 1 potato, etc. They enjoyed their life, but each wished they had a friend. One day Mr. O’Grady finds a pot that changes their lives – the pot makes one item into two. The O’Grady’s begin putting items into the pot and turning them into two. They continue to multiply their stuff until one day Mrs. O’Grady falls into the pot and out comes another Mrs. O’Grady. This is when they realized they could now have the friends they have wished for. Mr. O’Grady goes into the pot and out comes another Mr. O’Grady. Now that they had everything they ever wanted, the O’Grady’s buried the pot so that someone else would find it.

Genre: Traditional Literature
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Grade Level(s): K – 3rd
Awards:
2008-2009 Texas Bluebonnet Award Winner

Riordan, Rick. (2005). The lightning thief. New York: Miramax Books.

Summary:
In Book One of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, Rick Riordan introduces readers to a world within a world. Percy Jackson is twelve years old and has been kicked out of boarding school yet again. But that is the least of his troubles – the characters from his mythology book are coming to life in front of his eyes. A lot of information is given in this first book. Readers learn that the Greek Gods are still alive and living above the Empire State Building, the world is made of humans and half-bloods, there is a camp for kids are part human & part God (Camp Half-Blood), and that the three main Gods – Zeus, Poseidon, & Hades – have children. The Lightning Thief is an easy read that will intrigue readers and get them more interested in Greek Mythology.

Genre: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book
Suggested Grade Level(s): 5th – 8th
Awards:
2006 ALA Notable/Best Book
2006-2007 Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee