Prepared by the Grand Canyon Reader Award Committee.
Shirley Berow and Kerrlita Westrick Co-chairs
Pam Gavina- chair, Picture Book Committee
Tanya Molina- chair, Non-fiction Book Committee
Kathy Husser- chair, Intermediate Book Committee
Marney Welmers- chair, Tween Book Committee
Jean Kilker- chair, Teen Book Committee
June, 2013
Purpose of the Grand Canyon Reader Award
The purpose of these awards is to stimulate the interest of young readers in
outstanding literature written primarily for them. An additional aim of the award is
to encourage cooperation among administrators, library media specialists, and
teachers in broadening the reading programs at all levels. Since 1977, these awards
have had a place among the national children's literature awards.
Eligibility
To be eligible for nomination, a book must:
 Be a title most often read or requested by children.
 Have a strong appeal for the age group for which the nomination is made.
 Have been published in English within the previous five years and still in print
Lesson Ideas
Picture
Boot & Shoe by Marla Frazee (2012)
Websites:
Authors Website
http://www.marlafrazee.com/
Margo Dill’s Read These Books and Use Them
http://www.margodill.com/blog/2013/03/04/boot-shoe-by-marla-frazee/
The Cazuela That The Farm Maiden Stirred by Samantha Vamos (2011)
Websites:
Discussion Questions
http://www.islma.org/pdf/monarch/The%20Cazuela%20That%20the%20Farm%2
0Maiden%20Stirred%20web.pdf
Lesson Ideas from the author and publisher
http://www.charlesbridge.com/client/client_pdfs/downloadables/Cazuela.pdf
Recipe for Arroz con Leche
http://www.charlesbridge.com/client/client_pdfs/downloadables/ARROZCONLEC
HERECIPE.PDF
Book Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJUBPMXmfso
Illustrators website
http://rafaellopezbooks.blogspot.com/2010/11/stirring-pot-of-color.html
Word Match Game
http://www.samanthavamos.com/pdf/Cazuela-WordMatch.pdf
City Dog, Country Frog by Mo WIllems (2010)
Websites:
RIF Guide for Parents and Families
http://www.rif.org/documents/us/City-Dog-Country-Frog-RIF-Activities.pdf
RIF Extension Activities for Educators
http://www.rif.org/documents/us/City-Dog-Country-Frog_RIF-Extension-Activitiesfor-Educators.pdf
Extension ideas for the classroom
http://ksbillmartinaward.wikispaces.com/City+Dog+Country+Frog
North Carolina’s Children’s Book Award (see page 18)
http://www.cmlibrary.org/bookhive/nccba/NCCBABooklet2012.pdf
Teaching Children Philosophy
http://www.teachingchildrenphilosophy.org/wiki/City_Dog,_Country_Frog
Reading to Kids Discussion Questions
http://readingtokids.org/Books/BookView.php?pag=1&bookID=00000877
Indiana Library Association Discussion Packet
http://www.ilfonline.org/yhba/2012-2013-yhba-picture-book-resources/
Book Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5co8FZXz0o
Music Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VyOwCNr3mM
Creepy Carrots! By Aaron Reynolds (2012)
Websites:
Washington Children’s Choice Award (see page 8)
http://childrenschoiceaward.wikispaces.com/file/view/2014+WCCPBA+Packet.pd
f
Lesson Ideas from Polka Dot Kinders
http://polkadotkinders.blogspot.com/2013/04/creepy-carrots-and-lets-getaquainted.html
Illustrators website with video
http://www.peterbrownstudio.com/books/#.Ua0F1etAvgx
Drawing of rabbit characters
http://g-ec2.imagesamazon.com/images/G/01/SIMON/EMS/Creepy_Carrots_1_Large._V384049524
_.jpg
Drawing of carrot characters
http://g-ec2.imagesamazon.com/images/G/01/SIMON/EMS/Creepy_Carrots_2_Large._V384050837
_.jpg
Drawing of Scenes in book
http://g-ec2.imagesamazon.com/images/G/01/SIMON/EMS/Creepy_Carrots_4_Large._V384050839
_.jpg
Melissa Sweet discussion questions
http://sweetonbooks.com/all-titles/909-creepy-carrots.html
Picture-book-a-day ideas
http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2012/10/book-291-creepy-carrots-byaaron.html
Speak well, read well ideas
http://speakwellreadwell.blogspot.com/2012/09/creepy-carrots-and-cleverkids.html
Suzy Red activities
http://suzyred.com/pbks2013_Creepy_Carrots.html
The Day Dirk Yeller Came To Town by Mary Casanova (2011)
Websites:
Literacy Packet from Teachers-pay-teachers ($3.99)
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Day-Dirk-Yeller-Came-toTown-Common-Core-Literacy-Pack-375547
Authors website
http://www.marycasanova.com/
Illustrators website
http://www.ardhoytbooks.com/
Bill Martin Award ideas
http://ksbillmartinaward.wikispaces.com/The+Day+Dirk+Yeller+Came+to+Town+activities
Kansas Reading Association ideas
http://www.kansasread.org/bmjdirk.html
Show Me Reader Award Ideas (this pdf takes a long time to load)
http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.maslonline.org/resource/resmgr/reading_incentive
_awards/2013-2014_show_me_reader_pac.pdf
Other ideas: Write a Reader's Theater Skit. Act out "itchin for somethin', jumping
jelly beans", etc.
I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen (2011)
Websites:
Lesson ideas from the publisher.
http://www.candlewick.com/book_files/0763655988.kit.1.pdf
Story-Hour kit from publisher
http://www.candlewick.com/book_files/0763636177.kit.1.pdf
Sweet on books Lesson ideas, including video
http://www.sweetonbooks.com/all-titles/710-i-want-my-hat-back.html
Book review with teaching invitation
http://classroombookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/11/i-want-my-hat-back.html
Book Trailer (Vimeo)
http://vimeo.com/32627519
Book Trailer (YouTube)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYYQW_uCdzM
Virginia Readers’ Choice Extension Activities (see page 13-16)
http://www.vaasl.org/pdfs/Conference_Handouts/2012/Raspen_VRCExtensionAc
tivities.pdf
Teaching ideas
http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/library/books/iwantmyhatback.htm
Suzy Red Activities
http://suzyred.com/pbks2013_I_Want_My_Hat_Back.html
Other Ideas:
Pair up with books on hats--Hats, Hats, Hats by Ann Morris, A Three Hat Day by
Laura Geringer, The Magic Hat by Mem Fox or Jennie's Hat by Ezra Jack Keats.
Other Questions: What if one of the other animals had the hat? What would the
bear do?
Write a Reader's Theater Script and act out the story.
Neville by Norton Juster (2011)
Websites:
Video from publisher
http://www.randomhouse.com/book/204555/neville-by-norton-juster
Ideas from Kansas Bill Martin Award
http://ksbillmartinaward.wikispaces.com/Neville+activities
Other Ideas:
Other ideas: Write a Reader's Theater script. Use with the following titles, How to
be a Friend: A Guide to Making Friends and Keeping Them by Laurene Brown (nonfiction), Feelings by Aliki, The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister and Jessica by Kevin
Henkes. Questions: Have you ever moved and been the new kid? How did you
make friends? How do you help new kids at school? (create a chart with answers)
One Cool Friend by Toni Buzzeo (2012)
Websites:
Activity Packet from publisher
http://www.us.penguingroup.com/static/images/yr/pdf/one-cool-friend.pdf
Curriculum guide from author
http://www.tonibuzzeo.com/onecoolfriendcurriculumguide.pdf
Reader’s Theater from author
http://www.tonibuzzeo.com/onecoolfriendreaderstheater.pdf
Suzy Red links and ideas
http://suzyred.com/pbks2013_One_Cool_Friend.html
Craft Caravan paper bag penguin
http://www.craftcaravan.com/penguin-puppet-craft-for-kids
Friends Drawing activity to go with book
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/childrens-book-characters/printable/72310.html
Penguin theme lesson ideas
http://pinterest.com/terriaashby/penguin-theme/
Other Ideas:
Other ideas: Pull out your favorite penguin picture books and have a penguin
themed storytime. Shirley's favorites: Tacky The Penguin, Lost and Found and
Turtle's Penguin Day. Questions to ask: What animal would you like to have as a
friend? Write about bringing your animal home, What would it eat? Where would it
sleep? Bring in photographs of and facts about real Magellanic penguins. Good
online resources include websites for the Wildlife Conservation Society, the Penguin
Project and the Aquarium of the Pacific. This book will be funnier to kids who have
some knowledge of Frederick Magellan and Captain Cook, so this could be a fun
snappy wrap-up to a unit about explorers. Other pictures about exploring include
The Adventures of Polo, the non-fiction So You Want to be an Explorer? and the
imaginative Crazy Hair. You can also pair with any non-fiction books about
penguins.
Rocket Writes a Story by Tad Hills (2012)
Website:
Questions for book
http://wcmu.org/radio/childrens_bookshelf/cb_bookshelf_questions_2012.html#R
WAS
Teachers Guide from publisher
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/teachers_guides/9780375870866.pdf
Suzy Red Ideas
http://suzyred.com/pbks2013_Rocket_Writes_A_Story.html
Writing activities from Pinterest
http://pinterest.com/melissata/writing/
Story starters
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/story-starters/
Other ideas:
Have class "sniff" up new words. Create a word tree.
Won-Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku by Lee Wardlaw (2011)
Websites:
Activity packet from author
http://leewardlaw.com/won-ton-images/wontonteacherguide.pdf
Recipe for kitty litter cake from author
http://leewardlaw.com/PDF/kitlitcake.pdf
Interview with author
http://vimeo.com/24290196
Video of author reading story
http://www.nowaterriver.com/poetry-month-2012-lee-wardlaw/
Lesson Plan from Wild Geese Guides
http://wildgeeseguides.blogspot.com/2011/01/won-ton-cat-tale-told-in-haiku.html
More lesson plans from Peach’s Pick with CCSS
http://lspechin.blogspot.com/2011/08/lesson-plan-kick-in-head-by-paul-b.html
Chickadee Award ideas
http://chickadeeaward.org/2012-2013/WonTon.html
Suzy Red Activities
http://suzyred.com/pbks2013_Won_Ton.html
Teach Mentor Texts
http://www.teachmentortexts.com/2012/02/won-ton-cat-tale-told-inhaiku.html#axzz2UqoEr6Jf
Children’s Reading Celebration, with links to sites on animal adoption,
poetry/haiku and cat crafts.
http://alacarte.library.csuci.edu/srg/print/68-2012-Children-s-ReadingCelebration-Young-Authors-Fair
Round Rock Independent School District ideas and activities
http://www.roundrockisd.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=39626
Other Ideas:
Write a haiku about your pet.
Non-Fiction
Hanging Off Jefferson’s Nose: Growing up on Mount Rushmore by Tina
Nichols Coury (2012)
Websites:
Curriculum Guide from the author
http://www.tinanicholscoury.com/assets/image/pdf/Hanging%20Off%20Jefferson
%27s%20Nose%20curriculum%20guide.pdf
PBS American Experience on Lincoln Borglum
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/rushmore/peopleevents/p_lborglum.html
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
http://www.mtrushmorenationalmemorial.com/
Historical photos of Mount Rushmore from the National Park Service
http://www.nps.gov/moru/photosmultimedia/index.htm
Author video about the book
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJLE7c8Jdoo
National Park Info on Lincoln Borglum
http://www.nps.gov/moru/historyculture/upload/Lincoln%20Borglum%20B.pdf
Book Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqyDAUi9Q5Y
Video on the construction of Mount Rushmore
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx4wu8gzTaM
Other ideas:
If you were making a monument, whose four faces would you put on the
monument and why?
I Feel Better With a Frog In My Throat: History’s Strangest Cures by Carlyn
Beccia (2010)
Websites:
Authors website
http://www.carlynbeccia.com/bio.htm
Science Museum, exploring history through cures
http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/broughttolife/themes/treatments.aspx
Book Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCL2M7Uf3m8
Other Ideas:
Research the history of Native American Indian cures. Interview your grandparent
or an older neighbor or relative and see what strange cures they suggest for the
different ailments in the book. Then, write your own book of historical cures. Make
a list of what today's cures are for the diseases in the book.
Jean Laffite: The Pirate Who Saved America by Susan Goldman Rubin
(2012)
Websites:
Jean Laffite National Park and Preserve
http://www.nps.gov/jela/index.htm
Lafitte: The Pirate of the Gulf (primary source book you can read online.
http://archive.org/details/lafittepirateofg00ingr
Teaching and discussion guide
http://nonfictionbookblast.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/jeanlaffiteteacherguide.pd
f
Other Ideas:
Make a KWL chart about pirates. Study the vocabulary in the book. Pair with other
books (fiction and non-fiction) about pirates. Do a compare and contrast chart on
what was good and bad about Jean Laffite.
Just a Second: A Different Way to Look at Time by Steve Jenkins (2011)
Websites:
The Classroom Blog teaching invitations
http://classroombookshelf.blogspot.com/2012/01/just-second.html
Book Trailer by author
http://www.stevejenkinsbooks.com/trailers/time_trailer.html
Lesson ideas from The Six Traits Gurus
http://sixtraitgurus.wordpress.com/2011/11/02/how-many-things-can-take-placein-just-one-second/
Teaching Guide from RIF
http://www.rif.org/documents/us/Just-a-Second_A-RIF-Guide-for-Educators.pdf
Extension Activiites from RIF
http://www.rif.org/documents/us/Just-a-Second_RIF-Extension-Activities-forEducators.pdf
Authors website
http://www.stevejenkinsbooks.com/
Evolution of time through the ages
http://www.nist.gov/pml/general/time/index.cfm
Other Ideas:
Before reading Just A Second, make some predictions with your students, like how
many breaths do you think an adult takes in one hour? (900!) After reading the book
and checking your predictions, make and test some new predictions about time.
How many jumping jacks can you do in one minute? How long will it take you to
flap your arms 50 times like a hummingbird? Can you sit perfectly still and quiet for
a full minute? You can compare students' results on charts or a graph. You can even
make a pictograph of your classroom results, and let students make cool
representations for themselves with cut-paper art. It may take a bit longer than
"just a second", but it will be time well spent. (from Kristen Remenar blog).
Life-Size Zoo: From Tiny Rodents to Gigantic Elephants, an Actual-Sized
Encyclopedia published by Seven Footer Kids (2009)
Websites:
Zoo Lesson plan
http://attentionfutureeducators.wordpress.com/2012/07/10/lesson-idea-lionszebras-giraffes-11-2/
Anticipation Guide from Teachers-pay-teacher ($5.00)
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Life-Size-Zoo-Anticipation-Guide633393
Book Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTZgZXX1qeo
Science Activities
http://simplyscience.wordpress.com/2010/02/24/life-size-zoo/
Zoo activities from Pinterest
http://pinterest.com/lamamac/zoo/
How to make Life Size zoo animals
http://heidisongs.blogspot.com/2012/05/making-life-size-zoo-animals-and.html
Other Ideas:
Use with Actual Size by Steve Jenkins.
Me-Jane by Patrick McDonnell (2011)
Websites:
Lesson Plan from The Classroom Bookshelf
http://classroombookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/05/me-jane-watcher.html
Activity sheets from the author
http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/features/patrickmcdonnell/activities.html
Discussion Questions
http://www.wcmu.org/radio/childrens_bookshelf/cb_bookshelf_questions_2011.ht
ml#jane
Short summary and video
http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/features/patrickmcdonnell/book-me-jane.html
Jane Goodall Institute
http://www.janegoodall.org/
Suzy Red Activities
http://suzyred.com/pbks2012_Me_Jane.html
Teaching units and other biographies about Jane Goodall
http://tabstart.com/directory/parenting/jane-goodall-biography-for-kids-1786
Graphic organizer for summarizing a biography (there are a ton of biography
graphic organizers online, this is just one).
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bz_lKYUlDu4TMzE4MTY0MGYtMmJmNC00OD
QzLTliMjMtN2NiZTRjMzVkZGI4/edit?pli=1
Other ideas:
There are many videos on YouTube about Jane Goodall that can also be tied to a
lesson.
Tie to any other non-fiction book about Jane Goodall.
Nic Bishop Snakes by Nic Bishop (2012)
Websites:
Authors website
http://www.nicbishop.com/nic_bishop_021.htm
PBS Lesson Plan on snakes and turtles
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/lesson_plans/reptiles2.html
Non-fiction book graphic organizers
http://www.thecurriculumcorner.com/2013/03/04/nonfiction-reading-graphicorganizers/
Other ideas:
In the classroom: Fourth-grade students working in pairs can read an assigned
section of the book and then write questions for each of the "Question-Answer
Relationships" categories, created by Taffy Raphael: "Right There" questions
(answers can be found in one place in the text); "Think and Search" questions
(answers are formed by gathering information from multiple places in the text);
"Author and You" questions (answers are formed when the students relate the
information in the text to their own knowledge and experience): and "On Your Own"
questions (answers rely on students' experiences rather than on the text). Students
then exchange questions with another group, read the designated section of the
book, answer the questions, and decide if the questions were categorized correctly.
Common Core Connection
RI.4.1. Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says
explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text. (from Booklist online)
Peter Kent’s City Across Time by Peter Kent (2010)
Websites:
The Castle Library literature activities
http://castlereads.blogspot.com/search/label/A%20City%20Across%20Time
Photos for bunkers from the former USSR
http://englishrussia.com/2011/11/18/declassified-bunker-of-the-ussr/
City Changes over time activity
http://www.skyscraper.org/EDUCATION/lesson_plans/L4_CityChanges.pdf
Other ideas:
Other ideas: Pick a time period and imagine and research items that could be
buried. What would be buried in your backyard? Find primary source photos of
digs.
A Rock Is Lively by Dianna Hutts Aston (2012)
Websites:
Rock Lesson Plans from Discovery Education
http://www.discoveryeducation.com/teachers/free-lesson-plans/rocks.cfm
Lesson Plans from the Geological Society
http://www.geosociety.org/educate/LessonPlans/i_rocks.htm
Authors website
http://diannahaston.com/
Non-fiction Monday fun ideas
http://laurasalas.wordpress.com/2013/01/21/rock-is-lively/
Rocks and Minerals lesson plan
http://www.rocksandminerals4u.com/lesson_plans.html
Other ideas:
Other ideas: Look at real rocks and discuss how they are "lively" and why. In art
class create paints made from rocks.
Common Core Connection (from Classroom Connections website)
RI.1.7. Use the illustrations and details in a text to describe its key ideas.
In the Classroom: Discuss with students the purpose of informational text and then
make an anchor chart listing the facts that students learned about rocks from A Rock
Is Lively. Then reread the book and see what more they can add to the chart.
Where Else in the Wild?: More Camouflaged Creatures Concealed- and
Revealed: Ear-Tickling Poems by David M. Schwartz (2009)
Websites:
Discussion Questions and activities
http://www.ilfonline.org/clientuploads/YHBA/0910YHBAResources/WhereintheWild.pdf
Brain Pop Jr. camouflage information
http://www.brainpopjr.com/science/animals/camouflage/grownups.weml
Hide in Plain Site lesson ideas
http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/ntti/resources/lessons/s_hide/
Lesson Plan for the book
http://www.lesliepreddy.com/yhba/09-10/PictureBook/Where-Cain.pdf
Science Net Links lesson plan
http://sciencenetlinks.com/lessons/where-in-the-wild/
Nature Works Deceptive Coloration
http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/nwep2a.htm
Discovery TV Animal Camouflage pictures
http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/curiosity/topics/animal-camouflagepictures.htm
How Stuff Works: How Animal Camouflage works
http://science.howstuffworks.com/zoology/all-about-animals/animalcamouflage1.htm
Other ideas:
Other ideas: Create a research project about camouflaged animals. Pick one animal
and draw it in a picture.
Promotional Ideas
GENERAL PROMOTIONAL IDEAS
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Book displays
Display cover of book jackets
Use attached template for GCRA spine labels (See form; can change year)
Bulletin board displays
Readers’ Wall – laminate book covers from each book, placing covers on a
large empty wall in the library or a wall just outside the library, and create
lists under each cover for students who have read the books to sign –
students might like to compare the books they have read, and it could be a
quick reference for teachers
Campaign ad – student created to persuade others to read book/vote for it
Commercials – students write commercials on nominated books
Use a created continuous slide show (Power Point or Admodo) of nominated
books using book covers and a brief one line summary
Librarian, teacher or student booktalks (Nancy Keene Booktalks); teacher
could also use this booktalk as a book report for a grade
Student book reviews – oral or on websites; students could also write a brief
review of a book in any of the categories (hand-written or word document)
and illustrate the page which would then be put in a loose-leaf notebook for
other students to check
Voter registration card; Grand Canyon Reader Award Passport that could be
stamped for every title read (see form)
Book reports – have classroom teachers use one or more of the nominated
titles for book reports
Brochure – students create a brochure on one of the nominated titles (tri-fold
with information on student, cover page, information and picture of the book,
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information and picture of the author/illustrator, list of other books written
by author)
Students create an illustrated page of a nominated book they read, describing
the book and telling why they thought others would like to read the book;
pages are placed in notebook so other students can check what their peers
recommend
Webquests
Crossword puzzles, word searches
Take a blank map of Arizona and divide it into 10 sections and students can
color in a section when they have read a book (see form)
Continuous slide show on a computer in the library of all the nominated titles
Curriculum guides (Linda’s Links to Literature)
Encourage classroom teachers to use books in the classroom – literature
circles, trade book
See GCRA internet site for attached activities
Jigsaw puzzles – copy cover of book, glue on poster board, laminate, and cut
it up as puzzle
Partner with the public libraries in the area to publicize the titles and
encourage them to purchase additional copies of the book
Encourage book fairs to carry the nominated titles for student purchase
After the student votes for his/her favorite book, student writes a letter to
the author/illustrator explaining why he/she voted for the book, hoping that
author/illustrator wins
Take a group grade level photo of all the voters; enlarge the picture to poster
size and they could be displayed in the library
If students read the designated number of books in one or more categories
by a given date, they come to the library for a treat, bringing in their
completed passport (see Voting Passport below). The treat could be a Jolly
Rancher, a small candy bar, or your choice.
Place ballot boxes around the school; one in the library, rooms used for
reading, cafeteria, language arts classes
Online voting – go to http://www.grandcanyonreaderaward.org/
Voting Passport – each student who wants to vote would receive a GCRA
Passport (see form). Designate one or more days to vote. Students who
have read or listened to the correct number of books in one or more category
would bring in their passport which shows the date read (or finished) and
initialed by a teacher or parent.
Thank you note to students who vote
Announce winning titles via school broadcast
Those students who voted would get a button (see form). After winners are
announced, those students who received a button could come to an afterschool celebration party with pizza or ice cream sundaes.
Create a nomination or suggestion box for possible selections for the
following year (create a form or use form)
Funding Ideas
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Ask PTSO for funds to purchase at least one copy of each title in each
category you want to promote
If your school is Title 1, work with Title 1 teacher for funding to purchase
books
Ask parents and PTSO for assistance in purchasing items to be used as prizes
and rewards
If you or your PTSO has a book fair, check with the provider to make sure the
nominated titles are available for student purchase and for the library to
purchase with any profits
Create a “wish list” for parent or student donations
Write grants, for example the Westside Reading Council has a small grant
that could be used to purchase the books.
Lowe’s Toolbox for Education. http://www.toolboxforeducation.com/
Wells Fargo https://www.wellsfargo.com/about/charitable/az_guidelines
Donorschoose.org- set up a request for books here.