Randolph Caldecott Medal - Awarded "to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children."
Tuesday by David Wiesner
The wordless and fantastic adventures of some flying frogs on a Tuesday night.
Target Readers:
- Art Lovers: Wiesner's art is absolutely stunning. It's no wonder he has several of these medals and honors on his books.
- Fantasy Lovers/Imaginative Readers: Wiesner's story literally lets imagination take flight. I haven't met a reader yet who doesn't at least smile at the antics of these frogs and the people and other animals in the town.
- Wordless Book Fans: I think this book can take full credit for making me fall in love with wordless books. It is one of the first I remember coming across, and it spurred me to go out and hunt down more. There are so many great ways they can build reading and language skills with few to no words (this does have one very short sentence to set the stage).
- Humor Fans: As alluded to, the antics of the flying frogs are great comic material.
Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say
Say tells the story of his grandfather, who left Japan and travelled the United States. His grandfather was so enthralled with the country he returned to live in California after getting married in Japan. But after a while, his grandfather longed for Japan and returned where eventually his grandson was born to whom he passed on his wanderlust.
Target Readers:
- Historical Fiction Fans: See both Japan and the US change over the 1900s.
- Immigrants/Third Culture Kids: A fantastically illustrated story of how travelers, immigrants, and third culture kids can never quite feel 100% at home. A superb choice for kids (or adults) who may wonder where home is or in which culture they belong.
- Art Lovers: Superb, realistic illustrations make you feel like you've been to the places Say's grandfather went.
Three more Caldecott winners I love:
A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead, ill. by Erin Stead
Amos McGee works at the zoo and takes good care of his animal friends meeting their unique needs each day. So when Amos is sick, his animal friends come to his house and take care of him.
Locomotive by Brian Floca
Take a ride on the Transcontinental Railroad when it was brand new. Meet the men who work the train, see how the train works both mechanically and for the passengers' needs, and take a gander at the scenery that was passed through.
Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
The classic picture book about a family of ducks in Boston.
John Newbery Medal - Awarded "to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children." (And if you don't know much about the man for whom the Newbery was named, check out the 2017 picture book biography about him, Balderdash!: John Newbery and the Boisterous Birth of Children's Books by Michelle Markel, ill. by Nancy Carpenter.)
Oh boy, there are so many good Newbery winners (which makes sense) I'm having trouble choosing. I've decided to share three that both I and the students I work with love that have come out in the past ~20 years, and then one of my favorites from when I was in the target age group.
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Jonas' idealistic world is shattered as he is trained to become the next Receiver.
Target Readers:
- Dystopia Fans/Scifi Fans: I can always tell when 6th grade starts reading this each year as there's then a rush for the rest of the series and the middle grade dystopia shelf in the library gets cleaned out. I credit this book with creating many dystopia fans.
- Building Social Awareness: I love that dystopias often get kids aware of real social issues in their world in a way that makes them eager to make a difference.
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
Joshua and JB Bell are right on track to follow in their father's pro basketball footsteps, or even blaze past them. They're currently leading their middle school basketball team on the road to the playoffs, just a few more wins and the championship is theirs. But life gets a little rocky for Josh, aka Filthy McNasty, when his twin gets a girlfriend and his father starts having health problems. Josh has to deal with these feelings of anger welling up in him before they ruin his basketball season or even worse, his family.
Target Readers:
- Sports Lovers: Basketball stories are not all that easy to come by for middle graders. This filled a needed gap when it came out.
- Reluctant Readers: A lot of the readers I see picking this up are reluctant readers, but they will eagerly devour this one and Kwame Alexander's soccer story Booked. The novel in verse format makes the pages fly by and even very good readers will feel better about themselves for getting through a book so quickly.
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
A story about a town trapped in a dark tradition, a yearly sacrifice of the newest born babe, a boy named Antain who cannot abide with these traditions, a mother whose sanity flies away, a witch, a tiny dragon, a monster, and Luna, the sacrificial baby girl who gets accidentally filled with magic. We watch as Luna grows up, and her adopted family has to figure out how to handle her magic. We watch as Antain grows into a man troubled by his town's traditions until the day it is his own child about to be sacrificed, and something must be done. Most of all, it is a story warning of the dangers of bitterness and trumpeting the power of hope and love.
Target Readers:
- Fantasy Fans: The magical world plus the tiny dragon in this fully satisfied all my desires as a dedicated fantasy fan.
- Fans of Intricate Writing: The plot line of this is rather complex for a middle grade novel, modeling some great writing.
- Those Who Need a Dose of Hope: The message in this story is so powerful and important, you cannot shut the covers unmoved.
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
The reading of a will sets off a complicated mystery/game. I don't actually remember when I first read this as a child, but I do remember loving the mind games and mystery very, very much.
Target Readers:
- Mystery Fans/Puzzle Fans: Raskin's Newbery winner is a perfect read for those who love who done its and puzzle-filled reads like Mr. Lemoncello's books.
Three more Newbery winners I love:
Moon over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
Moon over Manifest is primarily about healing wounds and finding home. It does so by following the stories of several of the people in Manifest, a mining town in Kansas that is made up of a lot of immigrants. The book is happening in 1936, following the story of Abilene Tucker, whose daddy is a drifter and sent her to Manifest for the summer. In her quest to get to know her daddy, she learns a lot about the town through the stories of Miss Sadie, old newspapers, and interactions with various townspeople. Most of the stories take the reader back to Manifest in 1918. WWI, flu epidemics, racial issues, the corrupt and oppressive mining operation and a mixture of moonshine and "elixir" all are involved in that storyline. All the stories, even those seemingly unrelated, cleverly come together at the end.
The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman, ill. by Peter Sís
A prince and a pauper tale in which a bratty prince and his whipping boy learn important lessons when held by outlaws.
The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli
A young man in Medieval times who is crippled in a fall learns that he isn't completely worthless despite his disability.
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal - Awarded "to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published in the United States in English."
This is an award I really didn't know about till recently. I'm still working on reading many of the past award and honor recipients. But so far, seeking out Sibert Medal and Honor winners has been a surefire way to find great nonfiction books. I like that it helps bring readable nonfiction to the attention of students who might otherwise just discount these books because they are "boring" nonfiction.
Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World's Strangest Parrot by Sy Montgomery, photos by Nic Bishop
Kakapo are flightless parrots that live in New Zealand. With less than 100 kakapo known in existence, they are in grave danger of extinction. Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop take readers to visit these rare birds and the scientists and volunteers trying to ensure they make a population recovery. Through a 10 day trip, readers get to know much about the birds, some individual characters Sy and Nic meet, and the joys and heartaches of the scientists working with these birds.
Target Readers:
- New Zealand Fans: Travel to a very remote part of New Zealand in this book few get to see.
- Bird Studiers/Endangered Animal Awareness: Birders and animal activists should geek out over this strange birdy.
- Science Teachers: If you cover ways to help an endangered animal population recover, this study is an interesting one to include.
- Nonfiction Fans: If you're looking for engaging nonfiction, Sy Montgomery & Nic Bishop form a team that do a fantastic job of making interesting text and amazing photos that will draw in even reluctant nonfiction readers.
The Wall: Growing up behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sís
Peter Sís has created a unique autobiography of his life growing up in Czechoslovakia during the Cold War. As he says in the afterward, "I find it difficult to explain my childhood; it's hard to put it into words, and since I have always drawn everything, I have tried to draw my life -- before America..."
Target Readers:
- Memoir Fans: The blend of drawings and words to tell his story makes it all the more powerful and poignant. An interesting glimpse into life under Communism for kids, or for that matter, people of any age.
- Art & Life under Communism Studiers: The illustrations in this are highly symbolic and could be used in art or history class to be analyzed for their subtle messages. (As Sís explains, artists under Communism had to be masters of subtle messages.)
The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus by Jen Bryant, ill. by Melissa Sweet
A picture book biography of Peter Mark Roget. The book starts with Roget's childhood and follows him through to successful publication of his thesaurus in adult life. A very nice timeline with further details of Roget's life is provided in the back of the book along with informative notes from the author and illustrator.
Target Readers:
- Picture Book Biography Fans/Nonfiction Fans: A very informational and beautifully illustrated biography of a fascinating man.
- Word Lovers/Language Arts Teachers/Science Teachers: Roget was also an accomplished scientist as well as a word lover. An interesting man to highlight in language arts or science classes, and kind of challenges that common conception that you have to be math/science OR a writer/creative person.
Schneider Family Book Award - Gives out three awards in the division of Teen, Middle School, and Children's Book to "honor an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences."
This is another award I've only known about for the past couple years. I love the way that it recognizes books that build empathy in readers! I'll share one favorite for each of the divisions.
The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen (Teen Schneider Award winner)
Jessica is a runner. She lives to feel the wind in her face and the thrill of crossing the finish line. So losing a foot in an accident feels like the end of the world. In fact, she sometimes wishes she could trade places with the girl who died in the accident and possibly had it easier. But in the midst of despair and grief, Jessica's family and best friend Kayley will NOT give up on her or let her wallow in grief. Once Jessica gets out of the hospital, Kayley practically drags her out of the house and back to high school, even though Jessica is scared of how people will look at her now. But being different turns out a great way to find out who really cares about the real her, like her track team that gives her an unexpected dose of hope by deciding to try and raise $20,000 for a special running leg so Jessica can someday live that running dream she has every night. And there's also Rosa, a math whiz and super wise friend who happens to have cerebral palsy, and who ashamedly, Jessica had always totally ignored before the accident. Beyond learning some important things about herself, Jessica realizes that people like Rosa and herself want to be known and loved for who they are, not for their conditions, and she decides to use the platform her accident has given her to raise awareness of this in her town.
Target Readers:
- Non-mushy Contemporary YA Fans: I actually get a fair amount of requests for a non-mushy realistic YA read, and this is my go-to recommendation. So far, everyone I've given this to has loved it, and that's a fair number of readers.
- Amputees & Cerebral Palsy Understanding: If you want to better understand those who have recently experienced an amputation or who have cerebral palsy, pick this one up.
Close to Famous by Joan Bauer (Middle School award winner)
Foster is going to be the first kid on Food Network. She is an artist in the kitchen. She may not have a way with written words (she only managed to pass 6th grade by the skin of her teeth), but she has a way with ingredients. She also happens to be trying to make a place for herself in Culpepper, WV after she and her mom ran away from Memphis to get clear of her mom's ex-boyfriend. He is nowhere near the stellar character her dad was, but her dad died in the Iraq war several years ago. There in Culpepper, Foster meets Macon a height challenged boy who is going to make documentaries (starting with one about how the new prison in Culpepper is not creating all the jobs it promised), Miss Charleena a Hollywood star taking a break in her hometown, Mrs Perseverance who is trying to save the church from being sold and keep open a place to help out families visiting prison inmates, and a couple other characters trying to make ends meet and find their dreams.
Target Readers:
- Contemporary Fiction Fans/Foody Fans: Let's be honest, the cupcakes on the cover are what make most people pick this one up. There is plenty in here to satisfy the foody fans. The main character and the zany but real-feeling people in the town are the fun that continues to draw readers further in.
- Reading Disabilities: Foster puts a cool and relatable face to reading disabilities.
A Boy and a Jaguar by Alan Rabinowitz, ill. by CáTia Chien (Children's book winner)
Alan is a stutterer. The only times he can speak clearly are when he is singing or when he is talking to animals. Alan loves animals, he talks to his pets every day. One day, he promises the jaguar at the zoo that he'll work to find his voice so he can help get the jaguar a better situation. Eventually, Alan does find his voice. He is still a stutterer, but he learns things to help him speak more clearly. That doesn't change his love for animals, and he goes on to become a naturalist and help create the first jaguar sanctuary in Belize.
Target Readers:
- Picture Book Autobiography Fans/Animal Fans: An inspiring true story about a boy who overcame his disability by embracing it and realizing it makes him who he needs to be. Also an inspiring book for kids who dream of working with and helping animals.
- Stuttering: This book is all the better for helping readers understand stuttering since it is true.
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