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