ALA Children’s Notable Books

Fleischman, P (1988). Joyful noise: poems for two voices. Illus. by Eric Beddows. New York: Harper Collins Inc.

            This is a book of poems about various insects which was written to be read aloud with two voices.  The test is written in two columns to show when the voices should in unison and when only a single voice is to be heard.  All of the poems highlight where the insect lives or what it does or the sounds it makes.  This book is an interesting read but it is really brought to life if performed the way it is written –with two voices aloud.

Genre: Poetry/Fiction

Format:  Chapter book

Suggested Age or Grade level (s):  Ages 6-12

Awards:    1988 ALA Notable Children's Books

                 1988 ALA Best Books for Young Adults
                 1988 Boston Globe Horn Book Award Honor Book for Fiction/Poetry
                 1989 Horn Book Fanfare Honor
                 1989 Newbery Medal

                 1988 Notable Trade Books in the Language Arts (NCTE)
                 1988 Children's Books (Library of Congress)
                 1988 Books for the Teen Age (NY Public Library)
                 100 Books for Reading and Sharing (NY Public Library)

 

 

Fox, M. (1985). Wilfrid gordon mcdonald partridge. Illus. by Julie Vivas. La Jolla:             Kane/Miller Book Pulishers.

             Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge is a young boy living next to an old people’s home.  He has lots of friends in that home but his favorite person in the home is Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper because she has four names just like he does.  One day Wilfrid Gordon overhears his parents discussing Miss Nancy’s memory loss.  This set Wilfrid Gordon on a quest to find out first what is a memory and that to help Miss Nancy find hers.

            This is a sweet story that shows that no matter how small you are you can make a difference in someone else’s life.  The book contains wonderfully colorful illustrations that move the story along and give a clear picture of what the author wants the audience to see. The cover shows Wilfrid Gordon looking under a chair for something.

Genre: Fiction

Format:   Picture book

Suggested Age or Grade level (s): Ages 3-7

Awards:  1986 ALA Notable Books for Children

 

 

Wiesner, D. (2001). The three pigs. New York: Clarion Books

             This is a takeoff on the traditional story of The Three Little Pigs.  The story begins like the traditional story but as the wolf huffs and puffs he blows the pigs into other stories where there met other fictional characters like the cat, the fiddle and the cow from “Hey Diddle Diddle” and a dragon that was guarding a golden rose.  The pigs embark on a new adventure with each new character they meet.

             The way the story is told gives the freedom to use their imagination to rewrite familiar stories and make them their own.  The illustrations are excellent and show the words flying off the page and the pigs sailing into a new story and crumbling pages as they go.  My only concern about the story is that it may be difficult to follow for younger children.

 Genre:   Fiction

Format:  Picture book 

Suggested Age or Grade level (s):   Ages 4-8

Awards:  2002 ALA Notable Books for Children

                2002 Notable Books of the English Language Arts

               2002 Caldecott Medal

 

Wiesner, D. (1991). Tuesday. New York: Clarion.

             This almost wordless book depicts frogs on their lily pads off on and adventure. The reader along with some to the other animals at the lake watch as one frog becomes a swarm of frogs sailing though the air and make mischief at different peoples houses.  The action in the story is marked by the time of day given by the author.

            The story is told completely by the detailed illustrations.  The authors work is done so well that the audience does not even notice that they are reading pictures not words.

Genre:  Modern Fantasy

Format:  Picture Book

Suggested Age or Grade level (s):  Ages 4 - 8

Awards:  1992 ALA Notable

               1992 Caldecott Award

Zelinsky, P. (1997). Rapunzel. New York: Dutton Children’s Books.

             Couple who as long awaited a child steals some enticing rapunzel herb form an enchanted garden.  The sorceress to whom the garden belongs requires the unborn child as payment for stealing the herb.  She takes the child at birth, names her Rapunzel after the herb and raises her.  When Rapunzel turns twelve she takes her to a high tower and locks her up there.  The sorceress is the only one who can visit her and when she comes she calls Rapunzel, Rapunzel let down your hair for Rapunzel has beautiful long red hair.  When Rapunzel let down her hair the sorceress climbs the hair to the top of the tower.  This continues until one day a Prince hears Rapunzel’s sweet voice in the tower and will do anything to meet her.  

            Beautiful photograph like illustrations show the lovely scenery in the story.  The illustrations follow the story.  Children can see that actions have consequences and that not everything that begins badly has to end that way.  The cover shows the sad eyes of Rapunzel looking out of her tower and end pages show a scene of the village.

 Genre:  Traditional Fantasy

Format:  Picture book

Suggested Age or Grade level (s):  Ages 4-8

Awards:   1998 ALA Notable Books for Children

                1998 Caldecott Medal

                 1998 Horn Book Fanfare Honor

Theodore Seuss Geisel Award or Honor Books

Beaumont, K. (2006).Move over rover. Illus. by Jane Dyer. New York: Harcourt Inc.

        This is the story of a Rover who is alone in his doghouse chewing on a bone until it begins to rain.  As the rain pours more animals pile into Rover’s dog house for shelter until one special guest has everyone running from the doghouse.

            This is a cumulative, rhyming story that will allow young children to anticipate what will happen next as a new animal enters the dog house and says “move over rover” and list all the other animals that entered before them and their rhyming word.  Contains beautiful pictures that allow children to look for and find the new animal in the house and lovely end papers with doggy bones all over it.

Genre: Fiction

Format:  Picture book
Suggested Age or Grade level (s):  Ages 3-7
Awards:   2007 ALA Notable Books for Children
                2007 Theodore Seuss Geisel Award

Litwin, E., & Dean, J. (2012). Pete the cat and his four groovy buttons. New York, NY: Harper.

             Pete the Cat is back to help illustrate to young readers again that when bad things happen you must keep going. This time Pete is wearing his favorite shirt which keeps loosing buttons.  Does Pete cry? He hasn't before. Will he this time?

Genre:   Fiction

Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade level (s):  Ages  4 - 7
Awards:   2013 Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal Honor Book  
                2013 ALA Notable Children's Books
 

Willems, M., & Hyperion Books for Children. (2011). I broke my trunk!. New York: Hyperion      Books for Children.

 
            Mo Willems creates another hilarious installment of the Elephant and Piggie series in which Gerald attempts to explain the long and crazy story of how he broke his trunk to Piggie.  Look out for the hippos, rhinos and pianos.  As always the art of the illustrations is the emotion conveyed in the character's expressions.  This book can be used to introduce speech and thought bubbles and the difference between the two.

Genre:   Fiction

Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade level (s):  Ages  4 - 8
Awards:   2012 Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal Honor Book  
                2012 ALA Notable Children's Books

 

Willems, M. (2007). There is a bird on your head!. New York: Hyperion.

           
            Gerald has a problem.  He is shocked to discover that there is something on his head.  Piggie confirms that the something is a bird.  Can she help him get the bird off his head?   Willems doesn't crowd the pages with illustrations instead he focuses on the expressions of his characters to create the mood and allows the details of the surroundings to be built in the readers mind. This can be used to aid in teaching characterization.

Genre:   Fiction

Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade level (s):  Ages  4 - 8
Awards:   2008 Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal Honor Book  
                2008 ALA Notable Children's Books
                2007 School Library Journal Best Books  

 

Willems, M., & Hyperion Books for Children. (2010). We are in a book!. New York, N.Y:            Hyperion

            Mo Willems presents another chapter in the adventures of the perpetual optimist Piggie and her realist best friend Gerald.  In this book Gerald realizes that they are being watched by a reader because they are (wait for it)...in a book!  The friend find joy in what they can make the reader do but what happens when the story ends?  Another interactive tale by Willems which grabs the reader's attention and  doesn't let go.  He uses simple illustrations which can easily be copied by a young reader. It is  a wonderful book to help teach inference.

Genre:   Fiction

Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade level (s):  Ages  4 - 8
Awards:   2011 Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal Honor Book  
                2011 ALA Notable Children's Books   

Charlotte Zolotow Award or Honor Books

Henkes, K (2004) Kitten’s first full moon.  New York: HarperCollins.

            Kitten is outside on the porch when she notices what she thinks is a bowl of milk in the sky but is really a full moon.  Intrigued by that far away bowl she decides she wants that milk and sets out to get it any way she can.  Do you think she will get it?

            Henkes black and white illustrations make the reader feel like it is really night time.  It is fun to see what Kitten will do next to reach that bowl of milk.  The end papers are great and really look like bowls up of milk.

Genre:   Fiction

Format:  Picture book

Suggested Age or Grade level (s): Ages 3-6

Awards:   2005 Charlotte Zolotow Award
                 2005 ALA Notable Books for Children

                 2005 Caldecott Medal            

                 2004 New York Times Best Illustrated  

Fleming, C. (2012). Oh, on!. New York: Schwartz & Wade.

             This is a rhyming tale of how frog falls into a deep hole and some other forest animals follow in valiant attempts to free him.  One forest predator lurks about will he help them or does he have a more sinister plan.  Eric Rohman's beautiful art work provides a lush forest background for the text.  This repetitive text is great for an interactive read-aloud.

Genre:   Fiction

Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade level (s):  Ages  2 - 5
Awards:   2013 Charlotte Zolotow Award

 

McDonnell, P., Schulz, J., Little, Brown and Company., & Command-Z Design. (2011). Me... Jane. New York: Little, Brown.

Jane received a stuffed chimpanzee named Jubilee.  Jubilee was her constant companion as she explored the outdoors which she loved.  Together Jane and Jubilee embark on adventures to learn more about the world around them.  Time passes and Jane grows up to be world renowned scientist Dr. Jane Goodall.  The antique looking illustrations lend a dream like feel to the book and Jubilee is portrayed so that she appears to be real not stuffed.

Genre:   Fiction

Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade level (s):  Ages  5 - 8
Awards:   2012 Charlotte Zolotow Award Winner
                 2012  ALA Notable Children's Books  
                 2012 Caldecott Medal Honor Book  
                 2012 NCTE Orbis Pictus Award Recommended Book
                 2012Texas Library Association 2X2 Reading List
                 2011 Bank Street College Children's Book Committee Outstanding Book
                 2011 New York Times Best Illustrated Books  
                 2011 Parents' Choice Award (Silver)   
                 2011 Kids' Indie Next List Book

Texas 2x2 Reading List

Aston, D. (2006). An egg is quiet. Illus. by Sylvia Long. San Francisco: Chronicle Books LLC.

         

            The Egg is Quiet is an information book about all different kinds of eggs.  It shows the different animals and insects.  It shows that eggs come in all shapes, sizes, colors and textures. It shows how some eggs are sheltered by its parent while other are alone and have the colors of its surrounding to protect it from predators  This book also shows the different life stages of different eggs and how the egg grows silently until it surrenders the animal that grows within it.

            The pages of this book have a shiny photo finish that clearly shows all the vibrant colors of the different eggs.  This has intriguing end papers that show the different eggs in the front cover and there product in the back.

Genre:   Non-fiction

Format:  Picture book
Suggested Age or Grade level (s):  Ages 5-10
Awards:  2007 Texas 2*2 Award
               2006 Children’s and YA Bloggers’ Literary Award
               

Beaumont, K., & Urbanovic, J. (2011). No sleep for the sheep!. Boston: Houghton Children Books.

           

 Ah sleep, sheep is asleep in the big red barn on the farm.  Unfortunately for sheep, her fellow farm animals continuously interrupt her rest with noisy attempts to talk.  Will she ever get uninterrupted sleep? This is a great read-aloud.

Genre:   Fiction

Format: Picture Book

Suggested Age or Grade level (s):  Ages  4 - 8

Awards:    2012 Texas Library Association 2X2 Reading List  

Fox, M (2004). Where is green sheep? Illus. by Judy Horacek. Florida: Harcourt Books.

             This story uses a repetitious pattern as it involves the audience in looking for green sheep.  The author uses places and things that should be familiar to the reader as locations to look for the missing sheep such colors, weather, and things in which we travel. Well we haven’t found green sheep yet so let us keep looking.

            The illustrator uses simple clean lines to highlight the straight forwardness of the text.  The colors used in the illustrations are soothing like the text which is to lull little ones to sleep.

Genre:  Fiction

Format:  Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade level (s):  Ages 4 - 8
Awards:    2004 Texas 2*2

Klassen, J., & Candlewick Press. (2011). I want my hat back. Somerville, Mass: Candlewick Press.

            Bear has lost his hat and wonders the forest in search of it.  As he wonders, he asks the other animals he encounters if they have seen the longed for hat.  Everyone says they haven't seen it but are they all telling the truth?  The illustrations are very simple and the background is sparse which allow the reader to focus on what is important the bear and his lost hat.  This book is a spectacular way to introduce dialogue and inference.

 Genre:   Fiction

Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade level (s):  Ages  4 - 8
Awards:     2012 Texas Library Association 2X2 Reading List  
                  2011 New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books  
                  2012 Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal Honor Book  
                  2012 ALA Notable Children's Books  

Klassen, J., & Candlewick Press. (2012). This is not my hat. Somerville, Mass: Candlewick Press.

           

            Jon Klassen is back and this time the characters are underwater.  A little fish as stolen a hat from a sleeping big fish.  He believes his theft will go unnoticed long enough for him to get away.  Will he? What is the crabs role in the book? In this book Klassen uses the illustrations to move the story along and play mind games with the reader. 

Genre:   Fiction

Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade level (s):  Ages  4 - 8
Awards:    2013 Texas Library Association 2X2 Reading List  
                2013 ALA Notable Children's Books  
                2013 Caldecott Medal
                2012 School Library Journal Best Books     

Pura Belpre Illustrator Award or Honor Books

Andrews-Goebel, N. (2002). The pot that Juan built. Illus by David Diaz. New York: Lee and      Low Books

             This book is a cumulative rhyme that tells the story of Juan Quezada of Mata Ortiz, Mexico.  This rhyme takes us on the journey with Juan as he makes new discoveries that enhance his pottery art and has made both he and his town famous.  On the page opposite the poem is a biography of Juan and the history of his art.

            Pictures are beautifully illustrated using the orange-gold hue that is synonymous with much of the artistry and houses in Mexico.

 Genre:  Poetry

Format:  Picture Book

Suggested Age or Grade level (s):  Grades 2 - 6

Awards:  2003 ALA Notable

               2003 Best Books of English Language Arts

               2004 Pure’ Belpre Honor

 

Jaffe, N. (1996) The golden flower: a Taino a myth from Puerto Rico. Illus by Enrique O. Sanchez. Texas: Pinata Books.

            This is the story of how Puerto Rico was formed.  The tale is of land with no trees or water only a mountain.  A little boy who was looking food found a seed instead and over many days collected a pouch full of seeds which he decided to plant on the mountain.  From the seeds came a forest and special golden flower which grew into a pumpkin and glowed like the sun and gave the dry land something very special.

            Illustrations accurately show the barrenness of the land with use of varying colors of brown and orange.  The pictures given an impression like a quilt showing the lines where thinks have been sewn together.    

Genre:  Traditional Fantasy

Format:  Picture Book

Suggested Age or Grade level (s):  Grades K - 3

Awards:      1998 Pure’ Belpre Honor

 

Soto, G. (1995). Chato’s Kitchen. Illus. by Susan Guevara. New York: Putman and Grosset Group.

 
            As Chato the low riding cat stalks and sparrow on the road he hears the sound of feet which scares away his prey.  He looks over the fence to see a family of five plump mice on the move.  They see him and are frightened but he tells them not to fear for he only wants to invite them a tasty, I mean lovely, surprise dinner.  The mouse family agrees but asks if they can bring a friend, Chorizo, along.  The one more mouse for dinner is not a problem for Chato and his invited guest the more the merrier he thinks.  Wait until you see who is on the guest list.

            Well crafted story with vivid pictures that allow the audience to see what will happen before the characters realize what is in store.

 

Genre:  Fiction

Format:  Picture book

Suggested Age or Grade level (s):  Ages 4-7

Awards:   1996 ALA Notable Books for Children

                1996 Pura Belpre Award

                1995 Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children’s Award

Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award or Illustrator Honor book

Collier, B. (2000). Uptown. New York: Henry Holt and Company

             A young boy describes the sights and sound of is native city of Harlem.  He takes the reader on a tour of all the places that define his environment.  We will learn of the Metro-north train and chicken and waffles.  We will also learn of things that are an integral part of the black community like Jazz and Showtime at the Apollo. 

            The illustrations used to depict the city are beautiful. The Illustrator uses rich brown tones as a background to enhance the deep rich red, gold, pale blues and blacks of his photograph quality illustrations.

Genre:  Realistic Fiction

Format:  Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade level (s):  Ages 6 - 9
Awards:   2001 Best Books of English Language Arts
                  2001 Coretta Scott King Award
                  2001 Notable Social Studies Trade Books

 

 

Myers, W. (2006). Jazz. Illus by Christopher Myers. New York: Holiday House.

            This book celebrates the musical phenomena called Jazz.  In lyrical poetry form the story tells of the origins of Jazz and the different styles of Jazz like Stride, swing and fusion.  It celebrates to contributions of greats like Louie Armstrong.  The rhythm of the poem gives a feeling and sound of the type off Jazz being talked about.

            The rich vibrant illustrations echo the vibrancy of the music and people about which the text talks.

Genre:  Poetry

Format:  Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade level (s):  Grades 7 - up
Awards:  2007 ALA Notable
                2007 Best Books of English Language Arts
                2007 Coretta Scott King Award
                2006 Golden Kite Award

Rappaport, D., & Collier, B. (2001). Martin's big words: The life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.     New York: Hyperion Books for Children.

              All over town Martin saw signs that said "whites only" which made he feel bad.  This is how Doreen Rappaport begins this book which takes the reader on the journey through Martin Luther King Jr. We learn of the influences in his life like his parents, the bible and Ghandi.  The reader joins the struggle for civil rights in a peace manner.  Again, Rappaport paints a picture of her subject using his own words in boldface print on most of the pages.  The book contains the most beautiful portraits and paintings of stain glass windows. 

                       
Genre:   Fiction
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade level (s):  Ages  5 - 8
Awards:  2002 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Honor Book
                 2002 Caldecott Medal Honor Book  
                 2002 ALA Notable Children's Books
                 2002 NCTE Orbis Pictus Award Honor Book
                 2002  IRA Teachers' Choices Reading List  
                 2002  IRA Children's Choices Reading List  
                 2001 School Library Journal Best Books of
                 2001 New York Times Best Illustrated Books  
                 2002 Jane Addams Children's Book Award, Picture Book