Books
& Booklists
Let's READ!
Check
out the 2009 Newbery and Caldecott award winners!
John
Newbery medal
by Neil Gaiman
A delicious mix of murder, fantasy, humor and human longing, the tale of Nobody Owens is told in magical, haunting prose. A child marked for death by an ancient league of assassins escapes into an abandoned graveyard, where he is reared and protected by its spirit denizens.
Newbery Honor Books
The Underneath by Kathi Appelt, illustrated by David Small
The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom by Margarita Engle
Savvy by Ingrid Law
After Tupac and D Foster by Jacqueline Woodson
Randolph
Caldecott medal
 by Susan Marie Swanson, illustrated by Beth Krommes
Richly detailed black-and-white scratchboard illustrations expand this timeless bedtime verse, offering reassurance to young children that there is always light in the darkness. Krommes' elegant line, illuminated with touches of golden watercolor, evoke the warmth and comfort of home and family, as well as the joys of exploring the wider world.
Caldecott
Honor Books
A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever by Marla Frazee
How I Learned Geography by Uri Shulevitz
A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams
illustrated by Melissa Sweet and written by Jen Bryant
Coretta
Scott King Award
Honoring African American authors and illustrators
of outstanding books for children and young adults
Author award
by Kadir Nelson
Kadir Nelson scores a homerun with this fascinating and well-documented history of Negro League Baseball told in the voice of an "everyman" narrator. Dignified, riveting full-page illustrations capture the spirit of these larger-than-life men who loved the game, despite the prejudice they faced.
Keeping the Night Watch by Hope Anita Smith
The Blacker the Berry by Joyce Carol Thomas
Becoming Billie Holiday by Carole Boston Weatherford
Illustrator award
by Joyce Carol Thomas,
illustrated by Floyd Cooper
We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson
The Moon Over Star by Dianna Hutts Aston, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
Before John Was a Jazz Giant: A Song of John Coltrane by Carole Boston Weatherford,
illustrated by Sean Qualls
Coretta Scott
King/John Steptoe New Talent Award - Illustrator
by Zeta Elliott, illustrated by Shadra Strickland
Sibert
Medal
by Kadir Nelson
Kadir Nelson scores a homerun with this fascinating and well-documented history of Negro League Baseball told in the voice of an "everyman" narrator. Dignified, riveting full-page illustrations capture the spirit of these larger-than-life men who loved the game, despite the prejudice they faced.
Bodies from the Ice: Melting Glaciers and Rediscovery of the Past written by James M. Deem
What to Do about Alice?: How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules,
Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy!
written by Barbara Kerley, illusrated by Edwin Fotheringham
Take a look at the websites below.
Kid’s Place and the Spaghetti Book Club offer you the chance to
write a review online. Tell readers what you liked about your favorite
books. Be a critic - maybe you read something you didn’t like,
let everyone know what was bad or good about what you read.
Book Reviews by Kids for Kids.
http://www.spaghettibookclub.org/index.shtml
Book Reviews by selected young readers.
http://www.bravemonster.com/current_kidreview.htm
SurLaLune Fairy Tales features 47 annotated fairy
tales, including their histories, similar tales
across cultures, modern interpretations and over
1,500 illustrations.
http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/
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Fourth of July books
for kids.
 Fourth
of July Mice by Bethany Roberts
(Pre-K—K) This seventh
rhyming book about those sweet holiday mice--among
them, Halloween Mice (1995) and Thanksgiving Mice
(2001)--just about gushes red, white, and blue--from
the colors of the clothing the family wears to
the all-American activities that form the backbone
of the book. The family members (mother, father,
big and little brothers) first form their own
Revolutionary soldier/Betsy Ross parade. Then
they picnic and play baseball. A sack race, a
trip to the old swimming hole, and fireworks complete
the roundup. There's even a bit of suspense early
on, when the little mouse, too scared to swim,
overcomes his fear to save his toy mouse. Deeply
hued watercolor illustrations, full of humorous
details, enhance the story; especially effective
are the vibrant bursts of fireworks. A charming
way to prepare for the holiday.
(Review courtesy of Booklist)
 Happy
Birthday America by Mary Pope Osborne
(Grade K-1) Independence and patriotism
are hard concepts for the very young to grasp.
Osborne tackles this challenge through a nostalgic
recollection of a small-town Fourth of July celebration.
Food, fun, and family fill the day, with firemen;
members of the Kiwanis, American Legion, and Knights
of Columbus; and a local dance school and band
all playing their parts. "Yankee Doodle,"
"Stars and Stripes Forever," Lady Liberty,
reading from the Declaration of Independence,
and a community singing of "The Star-Spangled
Banner" lead right into the "Oooooh!"
"Ahhhh!" "Wow!" sparked by
the fireworks. Finally, a happy, tired family
drives home. Though most children would rather
be at an event than read about the nice time others
have, Osborne's text is an agreeable slice of
life. Catalanotto's illustrations capture the
festivities with selective realism and just enough
detail. The author's notes cap the work with a
few historical and personal tidbits. Libraries
that need additional materials to support holiday
collections will find this worthy of consideration
even though the ideals of independence and patriotism
remain elusive.
(Review courtesy of School Library Journal)
 Butterfly
Count by Sneed B. Collard
(Pre-K—K) This book pays tribute to a father's
unconditional love and patience. Instead of hurrying
along, scolding, or ignoring his daughter, this
daddy takes time, understands, and pays attention.
The two spend the day at the seashore, where the
father rescues his child from a slew of mishaps.
The repetition of the phrase your daddy could
say...But he doesn't, as in your daddy could say,/We've
read that old story/ over and over./But he doesn't,
reinforces the theme, and the color cartoon illustrations
echo the lighthearted mood.
(Review courtesy of School Library Journal)
 Apple
Pie 4th of July by Janet S. Wong
((Pre-K—K) This simply told story explores
a child's fears about cultural differences and
fitting in with understanding and affection. A
Chinese-American girl helps her parents open their
small neighborhood grocery store every day of
the year. However, today is the Fourth of July
and her parents just don't understand that customers
won't be ordering chow mein and sweet-and-sour
pork on this very American holiday. As she spends
the day working in the store and watching the
local parade, she can't shake her anxiety about
her parents' naivete. When evening arrives along
with hungry customers looking "for some Chinese
food to go," she is surprised but obviously
proud that her parents were right after all: Americans
do eat Chinese food on the Fourth of July. Nighttime
finds the family atop their roof enjoying fireworks
and sharing a neighbor's apple pie. Done in a
"variety of printmaking techniques,"
Chodos-Irvine's illustrations are cheerfully bright
and crisp, capturing the spirit of the day as
well as the changing emotions of the main character.
(Review courtesy of School Library Journal)
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ones! 
The Graveyard
Book
Grade
1 Reading List