REQUIRED BOOKS
1
Stevens, J. & Stevens-Crummel, S. (2008). Help me Mr. Mutt: Expert
answers for dogs with people problems. Illus. by Janet Stevens. Orlando:
Harcourt, Inc.
Mr. Mutt gives advice to fellow dogs who are having people
problems. Some of these problems consist of having to take baths, being
put on a diet, and being kicked out of the people bed. He writes his reply
letters in the company of a spoiled cat who is annoyed and fed up by his
replies. When Mr. Mutt comes up missing, all of his doggie fans rush in
to rescue him, while, at the same time, running off the cat.
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): 6 years- 8 years old
Awards: Texas Bluebonnet Award 2009-2010 Master List; Texas Bluebonnet
Award winner, 2010
2
Zelinsky, P.O. (2008). Rapunzel. Illus. by David Small. New York: Athen
Bppks for Young Readers.
An expecting mother sent her husband to fetch an herb that is
growing in her neighbor’s, the sorceress's, garden. Thinking it would
save her life, he granted his wife her wish and went to steal the
rapunzel. When he is captured, the sorceress threatened to kill them
unless he promised to give her their child when it is born. The sorceress
took the child and raised her. The child is named Rapunzel and as she
grew, she is imprisoned in a tower. One day, a young prince hears her
singing. He calls out to her, “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair”.
He climbs to her, they fall in love, and get married. When the sorceress
finds out, she cuts off Rapunzel's hair and sends her away into the
forest. When the prince returned to the tower, sorceress tricked him and
took away his vision. In the wilderness, Rapunzel gives birth to twins.
Rapunzel and the prince are reunited when he hears her singing. Her
tears restored his sight. The prince returns with Rapunzel and their
children to the kingdom.
Genre: Folklore
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): 6 to 9
Awards: Caldecott Medal
3
Appelt, Kathi. (2008). The underneath. Illus. by David Small. New York:
Athens Books for Young Readers.
The Underneath is a story with many characters, all who call the
swampy forest their home. Ranger is a hound dog whose cruel owner,
Gar Face, has chained up indefinitely. A calico cat and her kittens,
Sabine and Puck, take refuge from the forest and the hound’s mean
owner in the underneath (under the porch of the house) with Ranger.
When the cats are discovered by Gar Face, Ranger attacks his owner
and is led to a creek and set up as bait for a 100 foot alligator. This story
also follows mystical Grandmother Moccasin who, at the beginning of
the story, is revengeful about her daughter’s decision the be human and
marry, but later redeems herself by helping free Ranger and the kittens
from Gar Face who is eaten by the Alligator King he so fiercely hunted.
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): 10 years and up
Awards: Newbery Honor Book; National Book Award for Young People's
Literature Finalist, 2008; ALA Notable Children's Books, 2009
4
Hale, Shannon and Dean. (2008). Rapunzel’s revenge. Illus. by Nathan Hale.
New York: Bloomsbury.
This book is called Rapunzel’s “Revenge” because this Rapunzel gets
back at her evil mother who turns out not to be her real mother after all.
Rapunzel was kidnapped as a child and when she learned the truth that
her real mother was enslaved and working for the queen, she was locked
away. While locked away in a tree that the queen had grown with
growth magic, Rapunzel’s hair grew very long; long enough to help her
escape. Once free, she met a young man who would help her save her
real mother and get revenge against the queen. The couple endured
having to fight villain, fight a giant serpent, and fight starvation before
arriving at the castle where the queen lived. They came up with a magic
bean plan that freed Rapunzel’s real mother and took the evil growth
powers from the queen...and the goose laid a golden egg.
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Graphic Novel
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): Young Adult
Awards: ALA Notable Children's Books, 2009; A Junior Library Guild
selection; TLA Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List, 2010
5
Lord, Cynthia (2006). Rules. New York: Scholastic Press.
Catherine is a twelve year old who is not only learning how to deal
with her eight year old brother who has autism, David, but also teaching
him as well. To help them both have a more normal life, she comes up
with a set of rules for him to follow and to help him so that he will not
embarrass her or himself. Some rules include sometimes people laugh
when they like you...But sometimes they laugh to hurt you and if you
don’t have the words you need, borrow someone else’s. In the process of
helping her brother, she meets Jason who helps Catherine understand
that differences can be a good thing.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): 4th -7th Grade
Awards: Newbery Medal Honor Book, 2007; Schneider Family Book Award,
2007; ALA Notable Children's Books, 2007
6
Thomas, J. C. (2008). The blacker the berry. Illus. by F. Cooper. New York:
Amistad.
The author of this book uses descriptive poems to parallel the beauty
of nature and the black race to describe the many different shades of
African American people; “shades” not only meaning cultures and races
but also personalities, character traits, and spirit. The illustrations,
together with a collection of works by several poets, give an imaginative
and somewhat of a realistic explanation of why African Americans are
different shades.
Genre: Poetry
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): 2nd- 4th grade
Awards: ALA 2009 Illustrator Award Winner; Coretta Scott King Illustrator
Award winner, 2009
7
BOOKS FOR
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR
REPORT–
GARY SOTO
8
Soto, Gary. (2006). My Little Car. Illus. by Pam Paparone. New York:
Penguin Young Readers Group.
First grader Teresa thought she was too old for her tricycle so her
grandfather bought her a little car. She was proud and showed it off to
everyone in the neighborhood. For a while, she took good care of her car
but then she started to neglect it and it became damaged. When her
Grandpa Benny came to visit her, she was embarrassed by the condition
of her car. Her grandpa was nice enough to help repair the car and also
gave her a gift of chili pepper headlights.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): K- 2nd Grade
9
Soto, Gary. (2003). The Afterlife. Orlando: Harcourt, Inc.
Seventeen year old Chuy is stabbed in a club by a stranger. In
Chuy’s “after-life”, he meets new friends one of which is a new love
interest. Chuy not only learns the ropes of being a ghost but he also
helps others who are new to death. In the afterlife, he visits and watches
his friends and family he left behind, accomplishes some goals, and
performs a few acts of kindness. He comes to find that his family truly
loved him. He also watches his killer.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): 6th- 12th Grade
10
Soto, Gary. (2006). Jesse. New York: Harcourt, Inc.
Jesse is a teenage boy who was raised with his older brother Abel for
most of his life by his mother and stepfather. His father died when he
was about two years old. His stepfather was an alcoholic. To avoid their
step father alcoholic tendencies, Jesse drops out of high school in his
senior year and he and his brother moved out. Facing adulthood and the
pressures that come with it, Jessie and his brother now have to worry
about what they were going to eat how they will pay rent. He and his
brother enroll in community college in hopes of finding a better jobs than
picking cotton and fruit. While in college a friend of his convinces him to
join a united farm workers movement for better jobs. As his brother, his
friend is drafted into the military, Jesse stills struggles with the thought
of not achieving his dreams and still becoming an unappreciated farm
worker.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s):
Awards:
11
BOOK FOR READ-ALOUD
PRESENTATION—
THE CIRCUS SHIP
12
Dusen, C. V. (2009). The circus ship. Illus. by author. Massachusetts:
Candlewick Press.
A ship carrying a mistreated bunch of animals shipwrecks on coastal
Maine. Lost, frightened, and separated from their owner, the animals
take refuge in a small town. The people of the town were terrified until,
one day, a brave circus tiger saved a little girl from a burning shed.
After that, the people of the town welcomed the animals with open arms.
When the pitiless ringleader comes in search of his circus animals to
bring them back, the animals have all disappeared. The people of the
town hid them. Unable to find his animals, the circus owner leaves
without them. The animals are saved by the people
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): 4-8 years old
Awards: Texas 2x2 Reading List Selection; Borders Best Kids Books of the
Year
13
CALDECOTT AWARD OR
HONOR BOOKS
14
Stead, P. C. (2010). A sick day for Amos McGee. Illus. by Erin Stead. New
York: Roaring Brook Press.
Amos McGee was a kind zookeeper who cared about the animals he
tended. He played chess with the elephant, ran races with a turtle, and
even sat quietly with the shy turtle. One day Amos became ill and
couldn’t make it to his zoo keeping job. When the animals started to
miss him, they decided to pay him a visit to check on him. They all
caught the bus and rode to Amos’ house. Once there, they comforted him
by doing all of the things that Amos did for them; played chess with him,
sat quietly, and even wiped his nose.
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): K- 2nd grade
Awards: Best Illustrated Children’s Book Award: New York Times; ALA
Notable Children's Books, 2011; Caldecott Medal, 2011
15
Zelinsky, P. O. (1986). Rumpelstiltskin. Illus. by author. New York: E. P.
Dutton.
A poor miller, in order to make himself look good in the king’s eyes,
told the king that his daughter could spin straw into gold. The king
ordered that the daughter be brought to the castle to spin gold. Once
there, she wept because she knew she couldn’t perform the task. In
comes a little man who tells her that he would spin the gold in exchange
for something—her first born child. She had to agree or the king would
kill her. Seeing the gold that he thought she’d spun for him, the greedy
king decided to marry the miller’s daughter. After some time, she bore a
child and the little man came back as promised. She begged him not to
take her child and he agreed but on one condition—that she figure out
his name within three days. Now the queen, she sent her men out to
figure out the little man’s name. One man did. He saw the little man
dancing around, singing a song, and saying his own name. Upon his
return on the third day, the little man asked the young queen, “What is
my name?” and when she told him, Rumpelstiltskin, he disappeared into
the ground never to be seen again.
Genre: Folklore
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): 4 years- 8 years old
Awards: Caldecott Medal Honor Book, 1987; ALA Notable Children's Books,
1987
16
NEWBERY AWARD OR
HONOR BOOKS
17
Murphy, Jim. (2008). An American plague: The true and terrifying story of the
Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793. New York: Clarion Books.
1776 is the year America gained their independence but less than
twenty years later Philadelphia experienced an epidemic that hit fast
and hard. With the help of the hot summer heat, little rain, deadly
insects, and unsanitary conditions, Yellow Fever swept through the city
killing as many as 5,000 people in four months time. The story details
symptoms such as vomiting black blood, yellowish skin pigment, and
fever. The illness led to a violent and painful death only days after
symptoms were shown. Businesses closed down and the crime rate rose
dramatically. While many city leaders fled the city, others, common
people, stayed to care for the sick and orphaned, risking illness
themselves and emerging as heroes. After the epidemic ran its course,
new local, state, and national changes were made regarding how to
handle issues concerning such crisis. Some scientists speculate that this
type of epidemic could happen again.
Genre: Non-fiction
Format: Chapter Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): Young Adult
Awards: Newbery Award
18
Hale, Shannon. (2005). Princess Academy. New York: Bloomsbury
Publishing.
The main character, Miri, is a 14 year-old girl who lives in a small
village and is being trained, along with every other girl, to possibly
become the next princess. The people of her village never expected that
anyone would ever be chosen to be princess—not where she is from.
They are a simple sort of people who mined for linder, a precious stone.
They valued their hard work in the mines. Miri‘s father did not think
she could handle the work in the mines. She has a strong desire to prove
to her father that she is more valuable than she seems. Once in the
academy, in the year that the girls prepared themselves to be chosen,
Miri has to learn things that she never knew, she must overcome
obstacles of home sickness and confinement, and compete with all the
other girls from her village. Despite her miserable time at the academy,
Miri was the one who shone. She was a heroine when she saved her
classmates from bandits who tried to kidnap the new princess. She did
this by using quarry speak, the ability to communicate silently, a talent
she learned from the miners of her village. Miri does not become
princess but she is happy to be home with family, good friends, and the
one she loves.
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): 5th-9 th Grade
Awards: Newbery award
19
NOTABLE CHILDREN’S
BOOKS
20
Kerley, B. (2008). What to do about Alice?: How Alice Roosevelt broke the
rules, charmed the world, and drove her father Teddy crazy! Illus. by
Edwin Fotheringham. New York: Scholastic Press.
Alice Roosevelt was the daughter of President Theodore Roosevelt.
Two days after Alice was born, her mother died. When her father
remarried, Alice felt out-of-place. Alice was a girl ahead of her time. She
caused many scandals in her day by not adhering to the rules of society
for young ladies. Alice stayed out all night dancing, traveled the world,
and wore pants! Although her father loved her very much and was proud
of her, he could not help but to be embarrassed by some of Alice’s actions
and activities.
Genre: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): 4th- 6th
Awards: ALA Notable Children's Books, 2009; Texas Bluebonnet Award
2009-2010 Master List; Robert F. Sibert Medal Honor Book, 2009;
Boston Globe-Horn Book Award-Nonfiction Honor Book-2008; School
Library Journal Best Books of 2008; Parents' Choice Award (Approved),
2008
21
Martin Jr, B. & Kellogg, S. (1999). A beasty story. Illus. by Steve Kellogg.
New York: Harcourt Brace & Company.
Four mice, Silly, Lily, Willy, and Nilly are frightened by what they
think is a ghostly, beasty creature. They follow it through the creepy
woods, into a dark house, and down some creaky, dark stairs only to find
out that it was just their friends Nick and Hank playing a prank. This
book uses repetition of commonly used words and sounds that children
at this age should know and re-reads would give them practice on these
sight words; numbers and colors in particular.
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): 6 years – 8 years
Awards: Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts, 2000
22
Lin, Grace (2010). Ling and Ting: Not exactly the same. Illus. by author.
New York: Little, Brown and Company.
Ling and Ting were twins who always heard how much alike they
were but through their daily activities, they discovered how different
they actually were from one another. For example, Ling cannot eat with
chopsticks but Ting can. They make their dumplings different and they
have different preferences in books. Even though they have differences,
they will always be together.
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): K- 2nd Grade
Awards: Notable Children’s Books
23
Jenkins, S. & Page, R. (2010). How to Clean a Hippopotamus: A Look at
Unusual Animal Partnerships. Illus. by authors. Boston: Houghton
Mifflin Books for Children.
This book describes symbiotic relationships between different
animals. A symbiotic relationship is when two animals help each other
in their natural habitat. For example, A turtle can help a hippopotamus
by eating the algae from the hippo’s skin thereby keeping its skin clean
and the hippo helps the turtle by allowing it to rest on the hippo’s back
and bask in the sun to keep warm. Another example is when a moray
eel’s teeth are cleaned by the small cleaner wrasse who, in turn, gets a
meal. This book is illustrated with torn, colored paper.
Genre: Non-fiction
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): 3rd- 6th Grade
Awards: Notable Children’s Book
24
Stein, David E. (2010). Interpreting chicken. Illus. by author. Somerville,
Massachusetts: Candlewick Press.
Little Red Chicken had a bad habit of interrupting her father’s
bedtime stories. In the middle of every story, Little Red Chicken would
jump in and save the good characters from harm and dangerous villains.
When her father had tried to read his last story, Little Red Chicken
suggested that she read her father a book that she had written called
Bedtime for papa. As soon as she started, her dad was fast asleep.
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): K- 2nd Grade
Awards: Notable Children’s Books
25
Carrick Hill, Laban. (2010). Dave the potter, artist, poet, slave. Illus. by
Bryan Collier. New York: Little, Brown and Company.
The title of this book says that Dave was a potter, an artist, a poet,
and a slave. In the days of slavery, blacks were usually none of the
words that described Dave. It was unusual that a Black could write or
even have a trade such as pottery making. They were normally in the
fields working unskilled laborious lobs. Dave was an extraordinary
person: His skill was among the best anywhere and he wrote poetry on
his works of art that he created. The book illustrates exactly how he
made his pots, from the dirt of the earth to the finishing touches of
hand-made glazing.
Genre: Biography
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): 4th- 8th grade
Awards: Notable Children’s Books
26
TEXAS LONE STAR
READING BOOKS
27
Deuker, Carl. (2010). Payback Time. Illus. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Mitch was a reporter for his high school newspaper who had big
dreams of having a career in the field. It was his desire to be an
investigative reporter but he was bumped to reporting sports. When he
senses that there is something wrong with the new guy on the football
team, Angel, and feels that the football coach, Coach McNulty, is up to
no good, he and the newspaper photographer team up to find out what
they are hiding. Their strange behavior sparked a deep desire for Mitch
to have some questions answered: For example, why did the coach keep
Angel on the bench when he was clearly the best player on the team and
why was Mitch only allowed to spotlight the quarterback Horst? During
the course of the investigation, Mitch learns that Angel was actually a
witness in hiding from a violent gang member. Angel had witnessed a
murder and was able to identify the killer in a lineup. Mitch had
jeopardized the lives of other people with his greediness and selfish
desire to make himself look good. In the end, Mitch protected Angel by
taking a beating and refusing to tell the thugs where Angel lived.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): 7th- 10th Grade
Awards: Texas Lone Star Reading
28
Sonnenblick, Jordan. (2010). After ever after. Scholastic Press: New York.
Jeffrey is an 8th grader who is in remission from cancer– a survivor.
He is struggling to make it through last year of junior high school with
his friend Tad who also has cancer. Some of Jeffrey’s struggles are
passing the state standard exam in math, overcoming family problems
concerning his father and brother, and holding on to his relationship
with his new girlfriend Lindsey. As he completes his final year in junior
high, he learns important lessons about the relationships in his life and
by the book’s end, he bravely deals with the death of his best friend.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): Young Adult
Awards: Texas Lone Star Reading
29
BOOKS OF MY CHOICE
30
Evans, S. W. (2011). Underground. Illus. by author. New York: Roaring
Book Press.
This is a story of the Underground Railroad and how slaves escaped
to freedom. They story starts from the time a plan was hatched, shows
slaves hiding to avoid being recaptured, shows how kind strangers
risked their lives to hide them from the hunters, and how they finally
found freedom.
Genre: Non-fiction
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): 4 years- 8 years
31
Sampson, M. & Martain, Jr., B. (2008). Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, are you waking
up? Illus. by Laura J. Bryant. New York: Marshall Cavendish
Corporation.
This little kitten is just waking up and trying to get ready for school
but she has trouble getting organized. Her mother calls for her
repeatedly to hurry but the little kitten stumbles and searches for the
things she needs in order to leave for school. This book has common
rhyming sight words that will help children with phonics and spelling
words that should be familiar at this age (3-8).
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): 3 years- 8 years
32
Taylor, G. (2006). George Crum and the Saratoga Chip. Illus. by Frank
Morrison. New York: Lee & Low Books, INC.
George Crum was an up and coming chef in 1860's in Saratoga
Springs. He loved to cook but the attitudes of some of the people in the
south at that time were unbearable to him so George decided to venture
off and start his own restaurant. His restaurant was a success but one
day, a customer ordered food and complained about it for no good reason.
Angry when reminded of the similar problems he’d faced in the past, and
trying to intentionally over-compensate for a “mistake” the customer
said he made, he unknowingly created the potato chip!
Genre: Biography
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): Grade 1-5; Ages 6 - 8
Awards: Texas Bluebonnet Award 2007-2008 Master List
33
REQUIRED BOOKS
34
Pinkney, J. (2009). The lion and the mouse. Illus. by author. New York:
Little, Brown, and Company Books for Young Readers.
A lion catches a tiny mouse in the jungle but instead of eating him,
the lion lets the mouse go free. Later, hunters laid a large hidden trap
and the unsuspecting lion is captured by the hunters’ net. As a little
mouse forages though the jungle, he comes upon the lion trapped in the
net and hanging from a tree. It is the same lion who had recently
decided not to eat him and freed him from certain death. The little
mouse chews through the ropes of the net until he freed the lion,
therefore, returning the favor.
Genre: Folklore
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): Pre-K- 2nd Grade
Awards: Caldecott Medal winner, 2010; New York Times Best Illustrated
Children's Books of 2009; Texas Library Association 2X2 Reading List
2010; ALA Notable Children's Books, 2010
35
Kelly, J. (2009). The evolution of Calpurnia Tate. New York: Henry Holt and
Company.
Calpurnia Tate was a 12 year old girl who lived in Texas in 1899.
Young girls were expected to be just like all the other girls of that time;
prim, proper, a fine cook, darner of socks, wife, and mother. Calpurnia, a
lover of nature like her grandfather, struggled with learning lessons
that her mother was teaching her and her true desire which was to be a
scientist. She did not want to conform to what society expected. She
wanted to be free to make her own choices. Her grandfather taught her
science which she thoroughly enjoyed. She collected animals and plant
species and studied them with her granddaddy almost daily. Her mother
taught her how a “proper” lady should behave. Born the middle child
and the only girl of 8 children, Calpurnia found that she was often the
center of her mother’s attention. She journals her experiences from the
summer of that year to the end of that year--the turn of the century,
1900. During that time, she gained her grandfather’s complete attention
(where no one else did), she performed in a musical (which she hated),
followed the romantic relations of her eldest brother, helped to discover
a new species of plant with her grandfather (an exciting event for her),
and saw snow for the fist time. It was an adventurous end-of-the-century
for Calpurnia Tate.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): 4th- 8th Grade
Awards: Newbery Medal Honor Book, 2010 ; IRA Teachers' Choices Reading
List, 2010; School Library Journal Best Books of 2009; YALSA Best
Books for Young Adults, 2010; IRA Children's Book Award, 2010; ALA
Notable Children's Books, 2010; Bank Street - Josette Frank Award,
2010; TLA Lone Star Reading List 2010; and others
36
Hayes, G. (2009). Benny and Penny in the big no-no! Illus. by author. New
York: Toon Books.
Benny the mouse can’t find his pail in the back yard. After accusing
his sister of taking it and finding out that she didn’t have it, he suggests
that maybe the new “monster” neighbors had come over the fence and
stolen it. After climbing the fence, which, according to their mother is
the “big no-no”, and with Penny following, Benny discovers that the
neighbor isn’t a monster. She’s a little badger girl named Melina and she
actually didn’t have the pail. It was in the back yard where Benny last
had it. Benny and Penny learned that they shouldn’t accuse people of
things without knowing the facts and they shouldn’t assume that new
neighbors are bad monsters.
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Graphic Novel
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): K- 2nd grade
Awards: ALA Notable Children's Books, 2010; Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal,
2010
37
Freedman, R. (2004). The voice that challenged a nation: Marian Anderson
and the struggle for equal rights. New York: Clarion Books.
Singer, Marion Anderson, had sang for the President of the United
States and many leaders in Europe but when she was several times
denied the right to sing at the Constitution Hall, the largest auditorium
in Washington and home to the National Symphony Orchestra, because
of its rule that no Blacks would be permitted, it caused serious
controversy. She had always loved to sing. She sang at church and social
events and became very accomplished, singing songs in several
European languages but in her travels in the U.S., she, like many other
Blacks in the early 1900’s experienced the troubles of segregation and
discrimination. She lived and performed overseas (escaping racism in
the U.S.) and got rave reviews. After she was denied access to sing at the
Constitution Hall, her close friends and people with influence such as
Eleanor Roosevelt, protested, making it front page news in Washington.
Even as she prepared to sign at the Lincoln Memorial in front of an
audience of 75,000 people, she still had trouble finding a hotel that
would take her. After her historic appearance, which was recognized as
a milestone in the struggle or equal rights, barriers were broken and it
opened doors for Blacks. Eleanor Roosevelt even announced her
resignation from the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).
During World War II, the DAR finally asked Marion Anderson to
perform to an integrated audience. She also sang at the Civil Rights
March on Washington where Dr. King gave his “I Have a Dream”
speech.
Genre: Biography
Format: Chapter Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s):
4th
Grade and up
Awards: Robert F. Sibert Award, 2005; Newbery Medal Honor Book, 2005;
NCTE Orbis Pictus Award Honor Book, 2005; ALA Notable Children's
Books, 2005; IRA Notable Books for a Global Society, 2005; among
others
38
Nelson, K. (2008). We are the ship: The story of Negro League baseball. Illus.
by author. New York: Jump at the Sun/Hyperion.
Written by a fictional character, this chapter book (which is divided
into 9 innings) details some of the events that occurred during the time
of the National Negro League in the 1930’s. There are stories of how the
teams traveled from city to city, by bus, car-pooling, and even
hitchhiking. Many of the teams’ owners, managers, and players did not
have much money but they enjoyed baseball so much that it did not
matter how much money they made. The book chronicles major players
like Rube Foster who were very talented but could not seem to catch a
break. Their biggest dream was to play for the major leagues but those
teams, like most of America, were segregated and it was nearly
impossible for Blacks to join major league teams. Many of the hardships
like having to sleep in their cars or the local community centers, being
heckled during the games, not being able to get a good meal at the only
available restaurants (even though they had money), and being
intentionally injured during the games by whites were results of
discrimination and prejudice. In 1947, Jackie Robinson began playing
for the major leagues. That opened the door for Blacks to start playing in
the majors. Despite cruel treatment, poor living and traveling
conditions, and not making as much money as the players in the major
league, the players of the Negro League had passion and enjoyed playing
the game.
Genre: Non-fiction
Format: Chapter Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): 3rd - 8th Grade
Awards: Coretta Scott King Author Award, 2009; ALA Notable Children's
Books, 2009; Texas Bluebonnet Award 2009-2010 Master List; New York
Times Best Illustrated Books of 2008; Coretta Scott King Illustrator
Award Honor Book, 2009; NCTE Orbis Pictus Award Honor Book, 2009;
Robert F. Sibert Medal, 2009; among others
39
Mora, P. (2009). Book Fiesta!: Celebrate children’s day/book day; Celebremos
el dia de los ninos/el dia de los libros. Illus. by Rafael Lopez. New York,
NY: Rayo.
Book Fiesta, written is both English and Spanish. The book tells
about Mexico's annual Children’s Day celebration/El dia del ninoand
Book Day on April 30th. It tells what kind of books they read (English,
Spanish, Chinese, etc), with whom they read them (puppies or parents),
and where they read books (at the library, sailing with a whale, or
finally in their beds).
Genre: Non-fiction
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): K- 2nd Grade
Awards: Pura Belpre Medal (Illustrator), 2010; ALA Notable Children's
Books, 2010; Americas Book Award Commended Book, 2010
40
SIBERT AWARD/HONOR
AND/OR
ORBIS PICTUS
AWARD/HONOR
41
Guiberson, B. (2009). Life in the Boreal Forest. Illus. by Gennady Spirin.
New York: Henry Holt and Co.
The northern Boreal Forest covers one-third of the earth’s total
forest area but it is in danger of diminishing due to the human
population. In the winter, the forest area is frozen but many animals can
still be seen. In the warmer months, there are streams, many types of
plant life, and birds returning form migration. The Boreal Forest is
home animals such as beavers, bears, lynx, rabbits, moose, wolves, and
lots of species of birds like the Tennessee warble, pelicans, and loons and
many other types of animals.
Genre: Non-fiction
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): K- 4th Grade
Awards: Parents' Choice Award: Recommended, 2009; A Junior Library
Guild selection; Booklist "Top Ten Environmental Books for Youth“ :
Selected, 2010; Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for
Children : Honor Book, 2010; Booklist "Top Ten Sci-Tech Books for
Youth“: Selected, 2009
42
Keenan, S. (2007). Animals in the house: A history of pets and people . New
York: Scholastic Nonfiction.
Many little known facts about animals can be found in this book by
Keenan. Dogs, cats, mice, rabbits, birds, and fish are common house pets
in the United States and may number to as many as 377,800,000. The
author mentions famous pets (Lassie), and famous pet owners
(Cleopatra, Bill Clinton, etc.), domestication of some animals, breeds
(and the histories of some breeds), myths, and superstitions about pets.
Some people keep exotic animals like lions, tigers, and monkeys as pets.
People also form strong attachments to their pets. People will spend lots
of money dress them up, give them presents, and bury them in special
plots. They will even call them on the phone.
Genre: Non-fiction
Format: Chapter Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): 2nd- 5th Grade
Awards: NCTE Orbis Pictus Award Recommended Book, 2008; IRA
Children's Choices Reading List, 2008
43
Siy, A. & Kunkel, D. (2005). Mosquito bite. Illus. by Dennis Kunkel.
Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge.
As children play a game of hide-and-seek, a female mosquito tries to
stay alive by feeding on the children. This book describes the life cycle of
the mosquito from birth (hatching from an egg), to how she feeds, to
laying her own eggs. As she tries to avoid being eaten by other prey, she
seeks her meals (blood) in order to stay alive. This book shows
microscopic pictures of the mosquito’s different body parts and explains
the purpose of each one.
Genre: Non-fiction
Format: Chapter Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): 3rd -6th Grade
Awards: A Junior Library Guild selection; Texas Bluebonnet Award 20062007 Master List; Orbis Pictus Award Honor Book, 2006
44
Freedman, R. (2005). Children of the Great Depression. New York: Clarion
Books.
Author Russell Freedman wrote this book that tells how children
suffered through the Great Depression as banks and businesses closed
and unemployment rose. Families could not afford the necessities such
as food, heat, or clothing. Many of the stories are taken from actual
letters by school-age children that were written to Eleanor Roosevelt.
Some stories depict the hardships of farmers during the dusts storms in
the Mid-West, children who rode freight trains across the country to
survive and escape shortages of food and work in their hometowns, and
even children from middle-class families who had to drastically cut back.
Freedman also noted that Black children were hit even harder because
they and their parents were the last to get hired and the first to be fired.
Education, for millions of young people became less of a priority. Many
had to stop going to school all together in order to find work. President
Roosevelt’s New Deal programs and World War II helped bring jobs and
hope to the United Sates which helped bring the country out of the
economic depression.
Genre: Non-fiction
Format: Chapter Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): 3rd- 8th Grade
Awards: Orbis Pictus Award, 2006; ALA Notable Children's Books, 2006;
Golden Kite Award (Nonfiction), 2005; IRA Teachers' Choices Reading
List, 2006
45
PURA BELPRE AWARD
BOOKS
46
Tafolla, C. (2010). Fiesta babies. Illus. by Amy Cordova. Berkley, CA:
Tricycle Press.
Fiesta babies takes readers into the party of Hispanic culture. It is a
colorful depiction of babies participating in a parade with people dressed
in customary attire and playing traditional music. A party that lasts
from morning until night, leaves the babies ready for a siesta. This book
celebrates the beauty of Latin culture and family.
Genre: Non-fiction
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): 2- 5 years old
Awards: Pura Belpre’ 2011 Honor Book; ALA Notable Children's Books,
2011
47
Novesky, A. (2010). Me, Frida. Illus. by David Diaz. New York: Abrams
Books for Young Readers.
In 1930, artist Frida Kahlo, takes a trip to San Francisco, California
with her husband, Diego Rivera, who is also an artist and who has been
hired to paint a mural. Feeling out of place in San Francisco, Frida
decides to explore the city. She finds that she does not like it as much as
her home town in Mexico but she does her best to fit in. As she explores,
she finds the inspiration to paint. The portrait that she painted was of
her husband and herself and was a big success. After her experience in
the new place, Frida became a very successful and well known artist,
just like her husband.
Genre: Biography
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): 2nd- 4th Grade
Awards: Caldecott Winner, 2011; Pura Belpre’ Honor Book; Americas Award
Commended Title, 2011; ALA Notable Children's Books, 2011
48
TEXAS BLUEBONNET
MASTER NOMINEE
BOOKS
49
Javaherbin, M. (2010). Goal!. Illus. by A. G. Ford. Somerville, Mass.:
Candlewick Press.
This story is about a young boy, Ajani and a group of his friends in
South Africa, who, like most of the world, loves football [soccer]. It is his
most favorite thing to do with his friends. They love it so much that they
play in the alleys where they know the streets of their town are unsafe-but it does not matter. Ajani and his friends were playing with the new,
real soccer ball that Ajani won for being the best reader in his class.
They are soon approached by a gang of bullies who hassle them
regularly. Ajani and his friends take a risk, outwit the bullies, and avoid
having their new ball stolen-- for the love of the game.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): 2nd- 5th Grade
Awards: Texas Bluebonnet Masters
50
Lewin, T. & B. (2009). Balarama: A royal elephant. Illus. by authors. New
York: Lee and Low Books Inc.
Balarama is an Ambari (special royal) elephant who leads parades
through the streets of India during the annual festival. He has taken the
place of the beloved Drona who died when he was electrocuted.
Balarama is a special elephant because only one elephant has the honor
of carrying the golden howdah in the celebration in Mysore. The book
tells the story of Balarama’s first parade march. Everyone is nervous
about how he will perform; if will he will be on his best behavior.
Balarama is dressed in the traditional, fancy attire made of silk and he
is brightly painted all over. He does an excellent job in the parade. The
book also gives a brief history of some of the other royal elephants who
marched in the years prior to Balarama’s lead and gives a comparison
between the African elephant and the Indian elephant.
Genre: Non-fiction
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): 3rd- 6th Grade
Awards: Texas Bluebonnet Award, 2011-2012 Master List; Parents Choice
Award (Silver), 2009
51
TEXAS BLUEBONNET
AWARD BOOKS-PREVIOUS WINNERS
52
Frank, J. (2004). The toughest cowboy. Illus. by Zachary Pullen. New York:
Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers.
Grizz Brickbottom was absolutely the roughest, toughest cowboy in
the West. Although he had some of the biggest, baddest friends with him
on the prairie, he longed for a different type of companion—a dog. While
riding through town, he noticed a sign offering a free dog. When he got
back to the prairie to introduce the dog to his friends, they laughed
because instead of bringing a rough and tough cattle herding dog, he’d
brought back a fluffy poodle. This very prissy pup was even afraid of a
little mouse. Grizz’s friends teased the poodle until one day the dog
impressed them with a trick. Foofy was then finally pampered by the
tough cowboys the way a poodle should be.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): K- 4th Grade
Awards: Texas Bluebonnet Award 2006-2007 Master List
53
Raven, R. T. (2004). Circle unbroken: The story of a basket and its people.
Illus. by E. B. Lewis. New York: Melanie Kroupa Books.
An African American grandmother tells the story of a special kind of
sweet grass basket weaving technique that was done by people in Africa
and the story of the Gullah people behind the weaving technique. She
tells how the traditional weaving technique traveled across the ocean
where they still practice the art today. Behind the weaving story is also
a story of slavery and freedom.
Genre: Non-fiction
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): Grades K- 4th Grade
Awards: Texas Bluebonnet Award 2005-2006 Master List; IRA Notable
Books for a Global Society, 2005
54
TEXAS 2X2 BOOKS
55
Adler, V. (2009). All of baby, nose to toes. Illus. by Hiroe Nakata. New York:
Dial Books for Young Readers Group.
All of baby, nose to toes depicts a mother playing with her young
infant by using parts of the body to communicate with her baby. The
baby, in return, gets lessons on where her eyes, nose, etc. are and how
much her mother and her whole family loves her.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): up to 2 years old
Awards: Texas Library Association 2X2 Reading List, 2010
56
Bloom, S. (2009). A mighty fine time machine. Illus. by author. Honesdale,
PA: Boyds Mills Press.
Grant the aardvark and Antoine the armadillo have traded lots of
candies and goodies for a time machine. Anteater Samantha did not see
a time machine. She did not see any of the neat things a time machine
should have. She only saw a cardboard box full of junk. Grant told them
it was a do-it-yourself time. Determined to travel back in time, the crew
works and re-works the cardboard box using the available hooziedoozies. It looked ready to launch. They set the timer and counted off
but nothing happened. After several attempts, Grant and Antoine give
up and started reading some of the books that Samantha brought.
Samantha, who had continued to work on the time machine, found a doit-yourself book on how to make a bookmobile. After a few adjustments,
the bookmobile was ready and some of their friends stopped by to check
it out. Through reading some great books, Grant, Antoine, Samantha,
and all of their friends were finally traveling through time-- using their
imaginations.
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): Grades: K – 3rd Grade
Awards: Texas Library Association 2X2 Reading List, 2010
57
CORETTA SCOTT KING
AWARD/HONOR
BOOKS
58
Golio, G. (2010). Jimi : Sounds like a rainbow : A story of the young Jimi
Hendrix . Illus. by Javaka Steptoe. New York: Clarion Books.
This book tells of a young artist who saw music differently from the
way other people did; he saw it. Young Jimi saw the colors, the beauty,
and the emotions that music created. He got inspiration from the sights
and sounds around his neighborhood. He was an innovative, an inspired,
and a one of a kind young child who endured through some rough times
but managed to inspire the world with unique and creative art—the art
of music.
Genre: Biography
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): 3rd - 5th grade
Awards: Coretta Scott King Award; NAPPA (National Parenting
Publications Award ); ALA award winning books for children and teens
59
Hughes, L. (2009). The negro speaks of rivers. Illus. by E. B. Lewis. New
York: Disney-Jump at the Sun Books.
This entire book is one poem written by Langston Hughes and is set
with water-colored art of Black people illustrated by E. B. Lewis as the
backdrop. This short poem gives a brief history of how AfricanAmericans were connected to rivers in different parts of the world and at
different points of time in history. From the River Nile [in Africa] to the
mighty Mississippi of the South [of the U. S.], being traded and serving
as slaves, this poem serves as an brief account of African Americans’
long connections to rivers; linked to life, death, bad and good.
Genre: Poetry
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): 3rd- 6th Grade
Awards: Coretta Scott King Illustrator’s Honor, 2010; ALA Notable
Children's Books, 2010; Pura Belpré Medal (Illustrator) Honor Book,
2011
60
ALA BEST BOOKS FOR
YOUNG ADULTS (BBYA)
61
Gaiman, N. (2008). The graveyard book. New York: Harper Collins
Publishing.
A baby wonders into a graveyard and 2 ghosts, a husband and wife,
raise him as their own. The toddler’s real parents and older sister were
murdered. In the graveyard, the child, who has been named Nobody
“Bod” Owens, is looked after by as many as 300 hundred ghosts. His
main guardian, warns him of the dangers that lurk on the outside.
There are also dangers inside the graveyard. There are ghouls and there
is the Sleer. Although he loved his ghostly family and friends, Bod has a
difficult time adhering to the rules because he has a desire to be like a
normal, living kid. He ventures outside of the graveyard and tries going
to school but the plan failed and threatened to draw attention from
living outsiders to his home which is the graveyard. Not only that, but
his family’s murderer is still on the loose and still looking to kill Bod.
When Bod was young he met a living girl who visited the graveyard to
explore. When they were both older, she helped find the man Jack who
killed his family. Bod led the killer and the goons that were a part of the
murder plot [all who were also named Jack] to the graveyard. Some of
the goons were tricked by Bod into falling into the Ghoul’s Gate. One
goon was trapped inside of a 20 foot deep grave. The man Jack who
killed Bod’s family was pulled into the Sleer’s tomb wall never to be seen
again. By this time, Bod was older and it was time for him to leave the
graveyard. His ghost family and friends slowly disappeared from him,
making it easier, perhaps, for him to leave and go out on his own.
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): 4th- 9th Grade
Awards: Newbery Medal winner, 2009; Boston Globe-Horn Book AwardFiction and Poetry Honor Book-2009; YALSA Best Books for Young
Adults, 2009; ALA Notable Children's Books, 2009; CILIP Carnegie
Medal, 2010
62
Almond, D. (2008). The savage. Illus. by Dave McKean. Cambridge, Mass. :
Candlewick Press.
Blue Baker’s father died and he has a difficult time dealing with the
death. To add to his problems, he is being bullied by a big kid named
Hooper. To help him escape, Blue starts writing and illustrating a story.
His story was about a savage boy who lived in an abandoned church.
The savage does not speak or communicate with anyone. He was so
savage that he would kill and eat small animals and even people. While
Blue is writing, over time, he can not distinguish reality from the
fantasy he has created. His nemesis, Hooper, makes him so angry that
Blue thinks about really being vengeful and getting back at Hooper.
Blue knows he would never actually hurt or kill anyone– but the savage
would. Blue begins to make the savage stalk Hooper. One night, the
savage sneaks into Hooper’s room while he was sleeping and beats
Hooper up. The following day, Hooper went to school all beat up and
Blue wondered if he actually did it or if it was the savage. Either way,
Blue felt a sense of satisfaction because Hooper did not bother him any
more. Blue shared parts of his story with his mother and little sister and
it help all three cope with the loss.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Format: Graphic Novel
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): 5th- 9th Grade
Awards: ALA Best Books For Young Adults (BBYA), 2009
63
BOOKS OF MY CHOICE
64
Byars, B. (1996). Tornado. Illus. by Doron Ben-Ami. New York: Harper
Collins Publisher.
A family and their farmhand named Pete are taking shelter in a
storm cellar from a tornado. They are worried because their father is
still outside because his was working in the field. Seeing how upset the
boys are, the farmhand begins to tell stories of a dog he use to own. The
dog, Tornado, was dropped in Pete’s yard by a tornado when Pete was a
kid and that is how the dog got his name. Tornado was Pete’s best
friend. They played cards together and everything. As the boys in the
cellar pressed to hear more stories, Pete tells them of the day he lost
Tornado. One day, while Pete and his father were in town with Tornado,
a man and his daughter recognized the dog as their family dog that
came up missing during the tornado. Pete had no choice but to give the
dog back. One day, Tornado finds his way back to Pete’s home. His
father suggested that they take the dog back and Pete was upset. Then
they came up with the idea that the two families could share the dog.
Pete’s dad told him that half a dog was better than no dog at all.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): 2nd - 5th Grade
Awards: Texas Bluebonnet Award winner, 1998; Texas Bluebonnet Award
1997-1998 Master List
65
Asch, F. (2011). Happy birthday, Big Bad Wolf. Illus. by author. Toronto:
Kids Can Press.
Taken from the children’s fable “The three little pigs”, Happy
birthday, Big Bad Wolf throws a twist. When the big bad wolf shows up
at the door of the three little pigs (Mama, Papa, and Baby Pig), the
family hides. The parent pigs are frightened to death. Like any naive
youngster, Baby Pig thinks they having a surprise party. Baby Pig
jumps out and happily greets Big Bad Wolf. The parents are stunned!
The family proceeds with the “party” but try to escape. When the wolf
starts crying, Baby Pig goes back and the parent pigs follow. They all
finish the party and Wolf stays for a sleepover.
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): K- 2nd Grade
Awards: N.A.
66
Scieszka, J. (1989). The true story of the 3 little pigs. Illus. by Lane Smith.
New York: Penguin Young Readers Group.
This book tells the side of A. Wolf who says that every story has
two sides. He says that the whole story of “The Three Little Pigs” was
just a big misunderstanding. While sitting in jail for a crime he says he
did NOT commit, he tells his version of how he was just caught in
situations where he was left with no choice but to have a piggy snack
(because he did not want to let a perfectly good pigs go to waste). One of
the pigs, for example, died when his house fell on him. A. Wolf says he
went to borrow sugar so he could bake a cake for his poor old granny. He
had a bad clod. When he knocked, no one answered. He sneezed and the
house fell. The pig was dead. What else was he to do?
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade Level(s): K- 2nd Grade
Awards: and ALA Notable Children’s Books ; Parent’s Magazine “Best Book
of the Year; The New York Times Best Books of the Year citation
67
EXTRA BOOKS READ
68