Robert H. Sibert Award or Honor Books (picture books)

Kerley, B., & Fotheringham, E. (2008). What to do about Alice?: How Alice Roosevelt broke the  rules, charmed the world, and drove her father Teddy crazy!. New York: Scholastic Press.

        
            Theodore Roosevelt was one of America's finest leaders and a Nobel Peace Prize winner.  He faced, solved and overcame many challenges in his life except the taming the antics of his beloved daughter Alice.  This book sheds light on the undaunted spirit of Alice Roosevelt, the struggles she faced and her zeal for life.

            This well-written story engages young audiences through humorous anecdotes that depict the relationship between Alice and her president father which can easily be related to current experiences. The retro-style illustrations give life to the seemly animated text which moves up, stair-step, down or straight depending on the topic being discussed.  This is an engaging way to introduce biographies to young children.  My Kindergarten students loved it and it led to discussions of topics like inaugurations, leg braces and life in the White house.

Genre:   Non Fiction-  Biography

Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade level (s):  Ages 7-10
Awards:   2009 Robert F. Sibert Medal Honor Book
               2008 Boston Globe- Horn Book Award-Nonfiction Honor Book  
               2008 School Library Journal Best Books of
               2008 Parents' Choice Award    
               2009 ALA Notable Children's Books  
               2009-2010 Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List

    

Sweet, M., Newborn, R., Paquette, C., Houghton Mifflin Books for Children., & Houghton         Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. (2011). Balloons over Broadway: The true story of the puppeteer of Macy's Parade. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children..

               Anthony "Tony" Frederick Sarg was an innovator from childhood.  From designing a way to feed the chickens to the upside down marionette, he found ways to redesign systems to create more efficiency.  His puppets have been used from store fronts to Broadway to one of the world's largest parade, The Macy Thanksgiving Day Parade.

            Melissa Sweet uses a combination of design, collage and illustrations to depict the life of Tony Sarg.  The book consists of some pages resembling a scrapbook page, others the text is a collage of newspaper clipped letters and others a painting hanging on the wall.  This is another great way to introduce biographies and research.

    

Genre:   Non Fiction-  Biography
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade level (s):  Ages 4-8
Awards:   2012 Robert F. Sibert Medal
                2012 ALA Notable Children's Books
                2012 NCTE Orbis Pictus Award
                2013-2014 Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List
                2012 Golden Kite Award (Picture Book Illustration)
                2012 IRA Teachers' Choices Reading List

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