SHOWME READER’S AWARD
Students in grades one through three select the winner.
Compiled by Gilles’ Saturday Morning Book Group
Note: ** indicates that the book is a finalist nominee
**Birtha, B. (2010). Lucky beans. Ill. N. Tadgell. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman. ISBN 978-0-8075-4782-3, unpaged.
Set during the Great Depression, times were hard for Marshall’s family. His dad lost his job, and his aunt and uncle came to live with his family. When Marshall saw a sign in Kaplan’s furniture store announcing a new sewing machine as the prize for guessing the number of beans in a jar, he really wanted to win it for his mom, but he wondered if the contest was open to everyone. After being assured that it was, he used what he had learned in school to estimate the number of beans and came very close to the actual number. At the end of the book, Birtha has included a 1-page description of life in the 1930s, noting that the story is based on her grandmother’s memories of life in an African American community during that time. Tadgell’s expressive watercolor illustrations add warmth and humor to this tale of family cooperation and love. (NK)
**Blumenthal, D. (2010). The blue house dog. Ill. Adam Gustavson. Atlanta: Peachtree Publishing. ISBN-13: 978-1-56145-537-9, 32 pgs.
It takes a long time to trust again – as both Cody and the neighborhood stray dog find out. Cody has lost his own pet, and Blue has lost his owner and his home. With patience, understanding, and a dog biscuit here and there, Blue finally comes to trust Cody and Cody is able to take out his lost pet’s dog dish and share it with Blue. This story, inspired by a newspaper article in the New York Times, tenderly deals with loss and trust and patience. Written somewhat poetically, it moves softly, just like the developing relationship. The luminous illustrations support the text and the mood beautifully. (LW)
Castellucci, C. (2010). Grandma’s gloves. Ill. J. Denos. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN 978-0-7636-3168-0, unpaged.
Grandma has a way with flowers and with her granddaughter. She tells the young girl, “You are my most special flower of all.” And on hot days, she waters her with the garden hose. After gardening, Grandma and the child enjoy long talks over tea and sweets. The story’s carefully chosen details portray the child’s close relationship with her grandmother, and when her grandmother dies, details convey the support she and her family give to each other. The girl takes her grandma’s gloves as a keepsake and promises to teach her mother all she has learned from her grandmother about gardening. Charming watercolor, pencil and digital collage illustrations perfectly depict the emotions of the characters. Castellucci and Denos sensitively handle themes of love, loss and solace. (NK)
**Ernst, L. (2010). Sylvia Jean, scout supreme. New York, NY: Dutton Children’s Books. ISBN-978-0-525-47873-7, unpaged.
Sylvia Jean is a winsome little pig scout who competes with her fellow troop members to earn the “Good Deed” badge. She sets out to amaze everyone by taking care of her neighbor, Mrs. Van Hooven, who has a twisted ankle. Unfortunately Sylvia Jean’s zeal outweighs her helpfulness ability, and soon she is banned from Mrs. Van Hooven’s house. She doesn’t let this deter her, and continues to work toward her badge in imaginative ways that end up amusing the patient and reader. Lively language and detailed illustrations contribute to this funny read-aloud story sure to be enjoyed by ages 4-8. (Karen Ernst is a MO author.) (LA)
Gore, L. (2010). The wonderful book. New York, NY: Scholastic Press. ISBN 978-0-545-08598-4, unpaged.
A lost book is found by a rabbit, a bear, some mice, a fox, and a worm, and used happily for different purposes by each finder. When a curious boy finds it, he immediately sits down and begins to read the book. The animals gather around him to listen to the story about a rabbit, a bear, some mice, a fox, a worm, a boy and much more. All agreed it was a wonderful book. Gores’ simple, bright watercolor and ink illustrations should appeal to preschoolers and early primary-aged children. All children will feel much smarter than the animals for already knowing the purpose of books, and their imaginations may be piqued to consider other nontraditional ways objects can be used. (NK)
Hill, S. (2010). Can’t sleep without sheep. Ill. M. Wehnoutka. New York, NY: Walker Publishing Company. ISBN: 978-0-8027-2066-5, unpaged.
Ava is a little girl trying to get to sleep. She begins talking to the sheep, which come alive in her imagination. The large soft pastel colorful illustrations also come alive in the reader’s mind, as the sheep critique a variety of other animal antics. It seems the chickens and pigs and buffaloes all cause too much chaos for helping Ava get to sleep, and she ends up appreciating the sheep and their jumping skills. This sweet, rollicking story makes a good bedtime story or just fun read-aloud for ages 3 to 7. (LA)
**Hills, T. (2010). How Rocket learned to read. New York, NY: Random House. ISBN: 978-0-375-85899-4, unpaged.
Rocket the dog loved to play and take naps. One day, a little yellow bird shows up and declares Rocket as her first student. Rocket is reluctant, but is soon captivated by a wonderful story about a dog that had lost his favorite bone. Rocket is hooked! Every day he joins Bird in learning the sounds of the “wonderful, glorious alphabet” and learns how to spell words. When Bird flies south for the winter, Rocket continues his learning and practices every day. When Bird returns in the spring, she is delighted to find that Rocket learned to read. This is a great read aloud for emerging readers and preservice teachers. (MM)
**King, M.G. (2010). Librarian on the roof!: A true story. Ill. S. Gilpin. Chicago, IL: Albert Whitman & Co. ISBN-10: 0807545120, 32 pgs.
This book is based on the true story of RoseAleta Laurell who took to the roof of the Dr. Eugene Clark Library in Lockhart, TX, on Oct 16, 2000, in order to raise money for the children’s section. The illustrations complement the bigger than life Texas-sized story. As you would expect, the whole town pulled together to make the fund-raising campaign for the oldest library in Texas a great success. (SS)
**Klise, K. (2010). Stand straight, Ella Kate: The true story of a real giant. New York, NY: The Penguin Group. ISBN-10: 0803734042, 32 pgs.
Now and then, all of us need a reminder to treat people respectfully, no matter what our differences may be. This story is a fictionalized biography of Ella Kate, who was born in 1872 and grew to be eight feet tall by the age of seventeen. When boys, girls and passer-byers teased Ella of her height, her mom always said, “Stand straight, Ella Kate.” This mantra encouraged Ella to be proud of her differences, despite the bitter remarks. In the story (and her real life), Ella travels the country for almost twenty years to appear in circus shows and museums. Not only does this allow Ella to become financially independent, but she also gets to travel the world, a rarity in her day and age. (TG)
**Marzollo, J. (2010), Pierre the penguin: A true story. New York: Scholastic. ISBN: 978-0-545-38788-0. 32 pgs.
Pierre, the Peguin, lives at the California Academy of Sciences. This narrative told in prose, illustrated by Laura Regan, captures the conservation of an African Penguin who has no feathers. Thanks to the biologist, Pierre stays warm, while wearing a wet suit designed especially for him. The last page of the book lists answers to questions that children have asked of the biologist. (GP)
McCarthy, M. (2010). Pop! The invention of bubble gum. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster. ISBN: 978-1-4169-7970-8, unpaged.
Meghan McCarthy brings to the reader the history of bubble gum and how it came to be. McCarthy uses simple text and simple illustrations to explain how Walter Diemer experimented for the Fleer Candy Company until he got the right formula. The end pages include more background information about Diemer and facts about bubble gum. McCarthy’s simple illustrations remind the reviewer of Tedd Arnold’s style with the large bug-eyes on all the characters. (MM)
Miller, P. (2010). Squirrel’s New Year’s resolution. Ill. K. Ember. Maple Grove, IL: Albert Whitman. ISBN 978-0807575918, unpaged.
Squirrel hears on the radio that New Year’s Day is a good day to make a resolution, but she doesn’t know what a resolution is. Bear, the librarian, explains the idea to her. As Squirrel walks through the woods, she helps other animals get started on their resolutions, but she can’t think of one of her own. Later in the day, her friends explain to her that she is already well on her way with the resolution “to help someone every day.” Bright, colorful acrylic illustrations support the story. Based on Amazon reviews. (NK)
Pallotta, J. (2010). Who will plant a tree? Chelsea, MI: Sleeping Bear Press. ISBN: 1585365025, unpaged.
This beautifully illustrated book by Tom Leonard, reminds the reader of the wonders of nature and the interdependence of species. “Who will plant a tree?” A bear, a moose, a dolphin or a child? Each carries the seed in his/her own way. Even a camel plays a part by chewing a date and spitting out the seed. A wonderful science lesson! (GP)
Plourde, L. (2010). Field trip day. New York: Dutton Children’s Books. ISBN: 978-0-525-47994-9. 32pgs.
Mrs. Shepherd’s class takes a fieldtrip to the farm. Juan Dore-Nomad continues to get lost, uncovering more farm discoveries like wind turbines and dyed wool. It’s a whimsical story with rhythm and numbers as children are counted at each turn of their steps. The comical and childlike illustrations by Thor Wickstrom, captures the fieldtrip as a learning adventure. (GP)
Ramsey, C A & Strauss. G. (2010). Ruth and the green book. Ill. F. Cooper. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books. ISBN-10: 0761352554, 32 pgs.
This book is a combination of fact and fiction. Ruth’s story about taking a motor trip from Chicago to Alabama with her parents to visit her grandparents is fiction. But, the Green Book and its role in helping a generation of African American travelers avoid some of the indignities of the Jim Crow laws are historical fact. Cooper's soft, stippled illustrations capture both the pathos of the bigotry and the warmth of the support the family encounters. A substantial closing note on the Green Book invites readers to further explore it. This book will be a fascinating addition to any civil rights picture-book collection. (SS)
Ransome, J. (2010). Gunner, football hero. New York: Holiday House. ISBN: 0823420531. 32pgs.
You don’t have to be a sports fan to fall in love with Gunner and to cheer him on as he saves the day and wins the game! Being the third string quarterback, Gunner had slim hopes of playing football, but by the stroke of bad luck that turned to good fortune, Gunner hits the field bringing hope to all the boys and girls who usually sit on the sidelines. The humorous illustrations help celebrate the joy of the game. (GP)
Roberton, F. (2010). Wanted: The perfect pet. New York, NY: Putnam. ISBN 978-0-399-25461-1, unpaged.
Henry wants a dog, and he writes an advertisement for the newspaper specifying that he wants a pet with a waggy tail, floppy ears, a soft wet nose and a warm furry tongue. Duck, who is lonely and would love to be a pet, reads the ad, creates a doggy disguise, and arrives on Henry’s doorstep. Henry is delighted with his new pet until the disguise falls off as he plays with Duck. Disappointed at first to find out that his pet is a duck, Henry decides to research the skills ducks have. Delighted with what he finds out, Henry declares Duck to be the perfect pet for him, and names him “Spot.” Robertson’s line drawings, with just a splash of color, delightfully complement this amusing text. It is a wonderful reminder to be open to something different than what you thought you wanted. (NK)
Rosenstock, B. (2010). Fearless: The story of racing legend Louise Smith. Ill. Scott Dawson. New York, NY: Penguin Group, ISBN: 978-0-525-42173-3, unpaged.
Racing! Fast cars! NASCAR! If you know a child who loves racing, this is the book! Louise Smith was the first woman allowed to race with men back in the 1930’s. This picture book biography describes Louise as not being the typical girl: she wasn’t quiet, obedient or shy. She loved fast cars, and her first driving experience as a child landed her in the chicken coop! The first graders (all boys) who heard this story were mesmerized by the paintings created by Scott Dawson. They contain all the excitement that’s in the text and give the feeling of a fast race. (MM)
**Scillian, D. (2010). Memoirs of a goldfish. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc. ISBN-10: 1585365076, 32 pgs.
Memoirs of a Goldfish is a simple story that allows readers to take on the perspective of a fish, while possibly learning a life lesson too. This book gives a personal account of the fish’s experience swimming around his bowl. Overtime it is filled with accessories and many other fish. At first, this makes the goldfish feel cramped and unhappy. He wants his bow back. However, when he is relocated for a cleaning, he realizes that he misses the other fish, that have become his friends. (TG)
Slade, S. (2010). Climbing Lincoln’s steps: The African American journey. Ill. C. Bootman. Chicago, IL: Albert Whitman & Co. ISBN: 978-0-8075-1204-3, unpaged
The water color illustrations in this book help to tell the story of the Lincoln Memorial starting with slavery and progressing to the election of Barak Obama. The emphasis throughout the book is that positive change occurs when people continually take steps to make the change happen. The illustrator, Colin Bootman, sums it up in these words, “To the spirit of change and the belief that we who know struggle, will, ultimately, see better days.”(JH)
**Thong, R. (2010). Fly free!. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills Press. ISBN-10: 1590785509, 32 pgs.
Each morning on her way to a Buddhist temple in Vietnam, Mai stopped to feed the caged sparrows. She longed to see them set free, which was considered a good deed. However, Mai did not have the money to buy the birds and set them free. One day, Mai gives her friend seed to feed the birds. This act of kindness starts a chain of events that eventually makes it way back to the caged sparrows. At the end of the book, there is an author’s note explaining the Buddhist ideas of karma and samsara. (TG)
Van Patter, B. (2010). Tucker took it! Honesdale, Pennsylvania: Boyds Mills Press, Inc. ISBN-13: 978-1-59078-698-7, unpaged.
Rascally Tucker! That hungry goat can’t wait for his favorite food, corn, to ripen so he keeps taking things from Mrs. Zook’s farm. He runs off with the horse’s straw hat and the pigs’ watermelon, the cows’ hay, and even Mrs. Zook’s pies. Finally, she goes after him, only to find… Well, you’ll just have to read the book to find out why Tucker took it! Themes of jumping too soon to conclusions and resourcefulness are possible discussion points. Brightly colored illustrations accompany and support the simple text, a repeated line will have young readers chiming in, and I imagine this fun and humorous story will have them chanting, “Read it again!” at the end. (LW)
Watson, J. (2010). Hope for Haiti. New York, NY: Putnam. ISBN: 978-0-399-25547-2, unpaged.
Jesse Joshua Watson, the author and illustrator of this book, is the son of a foreign aid worker. His father worked for World Vision, so Watson knows about the poverty of developing nations. The plight of the people of Haiti after the recent earthquake hit him especially hard. He created this book because he saw a strength in Haiti’s children that needed to be celebrated. The simple story about children playing soccer with a ball made of rags and a man who gives them a soccer ball is a sign of hope for this devastated country. (JH)
Wilbur, Helen. (2010). Lily’s victory garden. Ill. R. Steele. Ann Arbor, MI: Sleeping Bear Press. Tales of Young Americans Series. ISBN: 978-1-58536-450-3, unpaged.
Lily is a young girl who wants to do her share for the United States during World War II. She decides to have her own Victory Garden even though she lives in an apartment. She persuades the owner of the largest house in her town to let her start a small garden in his yard. He is against it at first since he’s lost his own son in the war, and his wife no longer comes outside. Lily perseveres though and manages to help the couple deal with their own loss. The book is simple and engaging, with full-page watercolor illustrations depicting the historical setting. A nonfiction section is included with photographs and interesting explanations of rationing and other World War II practices on the home front. This is an excellent social studies resource to help elementary students understand how recycling and healthy eating programs from the 1940’s can relate to today’s practices. (LA)
**Williams, L. (2010). The can man. New York, NY: Lee & Low Books Inc. ISBN: 1600602665, 40 pgs.
Outside of his apartment Tim sees the Can Man, but his parents are quick to remember him as Mr. Peters, a homeless man, who use to live in their building. Tim sees him collecting cans and recycling them for money each day. So when Tim is short on money and wants a new skateboard, he decides to collect cans as well. Following Mr. Peter’s same route, Tim earns enough money to buy a skateboard. However, he comes to realize that his wishes may not be as relevant as Mr. Peter’s need for a new winter coat. Amongst other ideas, this book proves to be a reminder about compassion. (TG)
Students in grades one through three select the winner.
Compiled by Gilles’ Saturday Morning Book Group
Note: ** indicates that the book is a finalist nominee
**Birtha, B. (2010). Lucky beans. Ill. N. Tadgell. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman. ISBN 978-0-8075-4782-3, unpaged.
Set during the Great Depression, times were hard for Marshall’s family. His dad lost his job, and his aunt and uncle came to live with his family. When Marshall saw a sign in Kaplan’s furniture store announcing a new sewing machine as the prize for guessing the number of beans in a jar, he really wanted to win it for his mom, but he wondered if the contest was open to everyone. After being assured that it was, he used what he had learned in school to estimate the number of beans and came very close to the actual number. At the end of the book, Birtha has included a 1-page description of life in the 1930s, noting that the story is based on her grandmother’s memories of life in an African American community during that time. Tadgell’s expressive watercolor illustrations add warmth and humor to this tale of family cooperation and love. (NK)
**Blumenthal, D. (2010). The blue house dog. Ill. Adam Gustavson. Atlanta: Peachtree Publishing. ISBN-13: 978-1-56145-537-9, 32 pgs.
It takes a long time to trust again – as both Cody and the neighborhood stray dog find out. Cody has lost his own pet, and Blue has lost his owner and his home. With patience, understanding, and a dog biscuit here and there, Blue finally comes to trust Cody and Cody is able to take out his lost pet’s dog dish and share it with Blue. This story, inspired by a newspaper article in the New York Times, tenderly deals with loss and trust and patience. Written somewhat poetically, it moves softly, just like the developing relationship. The luminous illustrations support the text and the mood beautifully. (LW)
Castellucci, C. (2010). Grandma’s gloves. Ill. J. Denos. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN 978-0-7636-3168-0, unpaged.
Grandma has a way with flowers and with her granddaughter. She tells the young girl, “You are my most special flower of all.” And on hot days, she waters her with the garden hose. After gardening, Grandma and the child enjoy long talks over tea and sweets. The story’s carefully chosen details portray the child’s close relationship with her grandmother, and when her grandmother dies, details convey the support she and her family give to each other. The girl takes her grandma’s gloves as a keepsake and promises to teach her mother all she has learned from her grandmother about gardening. Charming watercolor, pencil and digital collage illustrations perfectly depict the emotions of the characters. Castellucci and Denos sensitively handle themes of love, loss and solace. (NK)
**Ernst, L. (2010). Sylvia Jean, scout supreme. New York, NY: Dutton Children’s Books. ISBN-978-0-525-47873-7, unpaged.
Sylvia Jean is a winsome little pig scout who competes with her fellow troop members to earn the “Good Deed” badge. She sets out to amaze everyone by taking care of her neighbor, Mrs. Van Hooven, who has a twisted ankle. Unfortunately Sylvia Jean’s zeal outweighs her helpfulness ability, and soon she is banned from Mrs. Van Hooven’s house. She doesn’t let this deter her, and continues to work toward her badge in imaginative ways that end up amusing the patient and reader. Lively language and detailed illustrations contribute to this funny read-aloud story sure to be enjoyed by ages 4-8. (Karen Ernst is a MO author.) (LA)
Gore, L. (2010). The wonderful book. New York, NY: Scholastic Press. ISBN 978-0-545-08598-4, unpaged.
A lost book is found by a rabbit, a bear, some mice, a fox, and a worm, and used happily for different purposes by each finder. When a curious boy finds it, he immediately sits down and begins to read the book. The animals gather around him to listen to the story about a rabbit, a bear, some mice, a fox, a worm, a boy and much more. All agreed it was a wonderful book. Gores’ simple, bright watercolor and ink illustrations should appeal to preschoolers and early primary-aged children. All children will feel much smarter than the animals for already knowing the purpose of books, and their imaginations may be piqued to consider other nontraditional ways objects can be used. (NK)
Hill, S. (2010). Can’t sleep without sheep. Ill. M. Wehnoutka. New York, NY: Walker Publishing Company. ISBN: 978-0-8027-2066-5, unpaged.
Ava is a little girl trying to get to sleep. She begins talking to the sheep, which come alive in her imagination. The large soft pastel colorful illustrations also come alive in the reader’s mind, as the sheep critique a variety of other animal antics. It seems the chickens and pigs and buffaloes all cause too much chaos for helping Ava get to sleep, and she ends up appreciating the sheep and their jumping skills. This sweet, rollicking story makes a good bedtime story or just fun read-aloud for ages 3 to 7. (LA)
**Hills, T. (2010). How Rocket learned to read. New York, NY: Random House. ISBN: 978-0-375-85899-4, unpaged.
Rocket the dog loved to play and take naps. One day, a little yellow bird shows up and declares Rocket as her first student. Rocket is reluctant, but is soon captivated by a wonderful story about a dog that had lost his favorite bone. Rocket is hooked! Every day he joins Bird in learning the sounds of the “wonderful, glorious alphabet” and learns how to spell words. When Bird flies south for the winter, Rocket continues his learning and practices every day. When Bird returns in the spring, she is delighted to find that Rocket learned to read. This is a great read aloud for emerging readers and preservice teachers. (MM)
**King, M.G. (2010). Librarian on the roof!: A true story. Ill. S. Gilpin. Chicago, IL: Albert Whitman & Co. ISBN-10: 0807545120, 32 pgs.
This book is based on the true story of RoseAleta Laurell who took to the roof of the Dr. Eugene Clark Library in Lockhart, TX, on Oct 16, 2000, in order to raise money for the children’s section. The illustrations complement the bigger than life Texas-sized story. As you would expect, the whole town pulled together to make the fund-raising campaign for the oldest library in Texas a great success. (SS)
**Klise, K. (2010). Stand straight, Ella Kate: The true story of a real giant. New York, NY: The Penguin Group. ISBN-10: 0803734042, 32 pgs.
Now and then, all of us need a reminder to treat people respectfully, no matter what our differences may be. This story is a fictionalized biography of Ella Kate, who was born in 1872 and grew to be eight feet tall by the age of seventeen. When boys, girls and passer-byers teased Ella of her height, her mom always said, “Stand straight, Ella Kate.” This mantra encouraged Ella to be proud of her differences, despite the bitter remarks. In the story (and her real life), Ella travels the country for almost twenty years to appear in circus shows and museums. Not only does this allow Ella to become financially independent, but she also gets to travel the world, a rarity in her day and age. (TG)
**Marzollo, J. (2010), Pierre the penguin: A true story. New York: Scholastic. ISBN: 978-0-545-38788-0. 32 pgs.
Pierre, the Peguin, lives at the California Academy of Sciences. This narrative told in prose, illustrated by Laura Regan, captures the conservation of an African Penguin who has no feathers. Thanks to the biologist, Pierre stays warm, while wearing a wet suit designed especially for him. The last page of the book lists answers to questions that children have asked of the biologist. (GP)
McCarthy, M. (2010). Pop! The invention of bubble gum. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster. ISBN: 978-1-4169-7970-8, unpaged.
Meghan McCarthy brings to the reader the history of bubble gum and how it came to be. McCarthy uses simple text and simple illustrations to explain how Walter Diemer experimented for the Fleer Candy Company until he got the right formula. The end pages include more background information about Diemer and facts about bubble gum. McCarthy’s simple illustrations remind the reviewer of Tedd Arnold’s style with the large bug-eyes on all the characters. (MM)
Miller, P. (2010). Squirrel’s New Year’s resolution. Ill. K. Ember. Maple Grove, IL: Albert Whitman. ISBN 978-0807575918, unpaged.
Squirrel hears on the radio that New Year’s Day is a good day to make a resolution, but she doesn’t know what a resolution is. Bear, the librarian, explains the idea to her. As Squirrel walks through the woods, she helps other animals get started on their resolutions, but she can’t think of one of her own. Later in the day, her friends explain to her that she is already well on her way with the resolution “to help someone every day.” Bright, colorful acrylic illustrations support the story. Based on Amazon reviews. (NK)
Pallotta, J. (2010). Who will plant a tree? Chelsea, MI: Sleeping Bear Press. ISBN: 1585365025, unpaged.
This beautifully illustrated book by Tom Leonard, reminds the reader of the wonders of nature and the interdependence of species. “Who will plant a tree?” A bear, a moose, a dolphin or a child? Each carries the seed in his/her own way. Even a camel plays a part by chewing a date and spitting out the seed. A wonderful science lesson! (GP)
Plourde, L. (2010). Field trip day. New York: Dutton Children’s Books. ISBN: 978-0-525-47994-9. 32pgs.
Mrs. Shepherd’s class takes a fieldtrip to the farm. Juan Dore-Nomad continues to get lost, uncovering more farm discoveries like wind turbines and dyed wool. It’s a whimsical story with rhythm and numbers as children are counted at each turn of their steps. The comical and childlike illustrations by Thor Wickstrom, captures the fieldtrip as a learning adventure. (GP)
Ramsey, C A & Strauss. G. (2010). Ruth and the green book. Ill. F. Cooper. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books. ISBN-10: 0761352554, 32 pgs.
This book is a combination of fact and fiction. Ruth’s story about taking a motor trip from Chicago to Alabama with her parents to visit her grandparents is fiction. But, the Green Book and its role in helping a generation of African American travelers avoid some of the indignities of the Jim Crow laws are historical fact. Cooper's soft, stippled illustrations capture both the pathos of the bigotry and the warmth of the support the family encounters. A substantial closing note on the Green Book invites readers to further explore it. This book will be a fascinating addition to any civil rights picture-book collection. (SS)
Ransome, J. (2010). Gunner, football hero. New York: Holiday House. ISBN: 0823420531. 32pgs.
You don’t have to be a sports fan to fall in love with Gunner and to cheer him on as he saves the day and wins the game! Being the third string quarterback, Gunner had slim hopes of playing football, but by the stroke of bad luck that turned to good fortune, Gunner hits the field bringing hope to all the boys and girls who usually sit on the sidelines. The humorous illustrations help celebrate the joy of the game. (GP)
Roberton, F. (2010). Wanted: The perfect pet. New York, NY: Putnam. ISBN 978-0-399-25461-1, unpaged.
Henry wants a dog, and he writes an advertisement for the newspaper specifying that he wants a pet with a waggy tail, floppy ears, a soft wet nose and a warm furry tongue. Duck, who is lonely and would love to be a pet, reads the ad, creates a doggy disguise, and arrives on Henry’s doorstep. Henry is delighted with his new pet until the disguise falls off as he plays with Duck. Disappointed at first to find out that his pet is a duck, Henry decides to research the skills ducks have. Delighted with what he finds out, Henry declares Duck to be the perfect pet for him, and names him “Spot.” Robertson’s line drawings, with just a splash of color, delightfully complement this amusing text. It is a wonderful reminder to be open to something different than what you thought you wanted. (NK)
Rosenstock, B. (2010). Fearless: The story of racing legend Louise Smith. Ill. Scott Dawson. New York, NY: Penguin Group, ISBN: 978-0-525-42173-3, unpaged.
Racing! Fast cars! NASCAR! If you know a child who loves racing, this is the book! Louise Smith was the first woman allowed to race with men back in the 1930’s. This picture book biography describes Louise as not being the typical girl: she wasn’t quiet, obedient or shy. She loved fast cars, and her first driving experience as a child landed her in the chicken coop! The first graders (all boys) who heard this story were mesmerized by the paintings created by Scott Dawson. They contain all the excitement that’s in the text and give the feeling of a fast race. (MM)
**Scillian, D. (2010). Memoirs of a goldfish. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc. ISBN-10: 1585365076, 32 pgs.
Memoirs of a Goldfish is a simple story that allows readers to take on the perspective of a fish, while possibly learning a life lesson too. This book gives a personal account of the fish’s experience swimming around his bowl. Overtime it is filled with accessories and many other fish. At first, this makes the goldfish feel cramped and unhappy. He wants his bow back. However, when he is relocated for a cleaning, he realizes that he misses the other fish, that have become his friends. (TG)
Slade, S. (2010). Climbing Lincoln’s steps: The African American journey. Ill. C. Bootman. Chicago, IL: Albert Whitman & Co. ISBN: 978-0-8075-1204-3, unpaged
The water color illustrations in this book help to tell the story of the Lincoln Memorial starting with slavery and progressing to the election of Barak Obama. The emphasis throughout the book is that positive change occurs when people continually take steps to make the change happen. The illustrator, Colin Bootman, sums it up in these words, “To the spirit of change and the belief that we who know struggle, will, ultimately, see better days.”(JH)
**Thong, R. (2010). Fly free!. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills Press. ISBN-10: 1590785509, 32 pgs.
Each morning on her way to a Buddhist temple in Vietnam, Mai stopped to feed the caged sparrows. She longed to see them set free, which was considered a good deed. However, Mai did not have the money to buy the birds and set them free. One day, Mai gives her friend seed to feed the birds. This act of kindness starts a chain of events that eventually makes it way back to the caged sparrows. At the end of the book, there is an author’s note explaining the Buddhist ideas of karma and samsara. (TG)
Van Patter, B. (2010). Tucker took it! Honesdale, Pennsylvania: Boyds Mills Press, Inc. ISBN-13: 978-1-59078-698-7, unpaged.
Rascally Tucker! That hungry goat can’t wait for his favorite food, corn, to ripen so he keeps taking things from Mrs. Zook’s farm. He runs off with the horse’s straw hat and the pigs’ watermelon, the cows’ hay, and even Mrs. Zook’s pies. Finally, she goes after him, only to find… Well, you’ll just have to read the book to find out why Tucker took it! Themes of jumping too soon to conclusions and resourcefulness are possible discussion points. Brightly colored illustrations accompany and support the simple text, a repeated line will have young readers chiming in, and I imagine this fun and humorous story will have them chanting, “Read it again!” at the end. (LW)
Watson, J. (2010). Hope for Haiti. New York, NY: Putnam. ISBN: 978-0-399-25547-2, unpaged.
Jesse Joshua Watson, the author and illustrator of this book, is the son of a foreign aid worker. His father worked for World Vision, so Watson knows about the poverty of developing nations. The plight of the people of Haiti after the recent earthquake hit him especially hard. He created this book because he saw a strength in Haiti’s children that needed to be celebrated. The simple story about children playing soccer with a ball made of rags and a man who gives them a soccer ball is a sign of hope for this devastated country. (JH)
Wilbur, Helen. (2010). Lily’s victory garden. Ill. R. Steele. Ann Arbor, MI: Sleeping Bear Press. Tales of Young Americans Series. ISBN: 978-1-58536-450-3, unpaged.
Lily is a young girl who wants to do her share for the United States during World War II. She decides to have her own Victory Garden even though she lives in an apartment. She persuades the owner of the largest house in her town to let her start a small garden in his yard. He is against it at first since he’s lost his own son in the war, and his wife no longer comes outside. Lily perseveres though and manages to help the couple deal with their own loss. The book is simple and engaging, with full-page watercolor illustrations depicting the historical setting. A nonfiction section is included with photographs and interesting explanations of rationing and other World War II practices on the home front. This is an excellent social studies resource to help elementary students understand how recycling and healthy eating programs from the 1940’s can relate to today’s practices. (LA)
**Williams, L. (2010). The can man. New York, NY: Lee & Low Books Inc. ISBN: 1600602665, 40 pgs.
Outside of his apartment Tim sees the Can Man, but his parents are quick to remember him as Mr. Peters, a homeless man, who use to live in their building. Tim sees him collecting cans and recycling them for money each day. So when Tim is short on money and wants a new skateboard, he decides to collect cans as well. Following Mr. Peter’s same route, Tim earns enough money to buy a skateboard. However, he comes to realize that his wishes may not be as relevant as Mr. Peter’s need for a new winter coat. Amongst other ideas, this book proves to be a reminder about compassion. (TG)