The time has come for your students to vote for their favorite book! This will be the 20th year for the Rhode Island Children’s Book Award, and we continue to be excited by the widespread enthusiasm it generates. Kudos to the almost 100 schools in Rhode Island that participate!
In an effort to go green, this will be the last year that we will send ballot sheets, tally sheets and evaluation forms through the mail. Starting next year all of this information will only be available on line. This year ballots can either be entered through the mail or online at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RICBA2010Ballot, however it is very important that you only vote once. It is also very important that all votes are IN by February 19th.
The Rhode Island Children’s Book Award aims to encourage reading and to allow students to make critical choices about their reading. While we speak of the author as the “winner,” we consider all books that engage students’ interest to be winners. We encourage you to communicate this to your students. Please let your students know your school’s selection for “best-loved” book, and then share with them the statewide results when they are announced in March.
A different school hosts the award presentation each year. Be sure to fill in the information on the tally sheet if you would like your school’s name entered in the drawing to host this year’s award.
Meagan Lenihan
2010 Rhode Island Children's Book Award Committe
(Paper ballots and tally sheet can be downloaded from the RICBA web site: http://www.ri.net/RIEMA/bookaward.html)
Monday, January 11, 2010
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Along came Spider by James Preller
Grades: 4-6
Committee Annotation:
Spider, trying to fit in with the "in-crowd," struggles with loyalty to his life-long friend and neighbor, Trey, whose quirky personality is seen as uncool. Can the librarian and new student Ava help them through this rough time?
Subjects: Friendship, Boy-Girl Friendship, Popularity, Cliques, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Moral Dilemma, Loyalty, Peer Pressure, Growing Up, Librarians, Point of View, Acceptance
Author web site: http://www.jamespreller.com/
(*Note*: This site is a BLOG and may be blocked by school filters)
Committee Annotation:
Spider, trying to fit in with the "in-crowd," struggles with loyalty to his life-long friend and neighbor, Trey, whose quirky personality is seen as uncool. Can the librarian and new student Ava help them through this rough time?
Subjects: Friendship, Boy-Girl Friendship, Popularity, Cliques, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Moral Dilemma, Loyalty, Peer Pressure, Growing Up, Librarians, Point of View, Acceptance
Author web site: http://www.jamespreller.com/
(*Note*: This site is a BLOG and may be blocked by school filters)
Alvin Ho allergic to girls, school and other scary things by Lenore Look
Grades: 3-5
Committee Annotation:
In a series of laugh-out-loud vignettes, Alvin, a boy who is afraid of everything, tells us about his inability to talk at school, his quirky, but supportive family, and his search for a friend.
Subjects: Fear, Anxiety, Self-Confidence, Friendship, Selective Mutism, Humorous Stories, Boy-Girl Friendship, Chinese Americans, Concord, MA, Therapists, Middle Children, Handicapped Children, First Person Narrative
Author web site: none
Committee Annotation:
In a series of laugh-out-loud vignettes, Alvin, a boy who is afraid of everything, tells us about his inability to talk at school, his quirky, but supportive family, and his search for a friend.
Subjects: Fear, Anxiety, Self-Confidence, Friendship, Selective Mutism, Humorous Stories, Boy-Girl Friendship, Chinese Americans, Concord, MA, Therapists, Middle Children, Handicapped Children, First Person Narrative
Author web site: none
Boys of steel: the creators of Superman by Marc Tyler Nobleman
Grades: 3-6
Committee Annotation:
Jerry Seigel and Joe Shuster, two super- nerdy teens bonded over their love of science fiction. Together they created a new superhero, Superman, in a new format, the comic book, but it took years of trial and tribulations to get it published.
Subjects: Jerry Siegal, Joe Shuster, Biography, Cartoonists, Superman, Comic Books, Superheroes
Author web site: http://noblemania.blogspot.com/
(*Note*: this is a BLOG and may be blocked by school filters)
Committee Annotation:
Jerry Seigel and Joe Shuster, two super- nerdy teens bonded over their love of science fiction. Together they created a new superhero, Superman, in a new format, the comic book, but it took years of trial and tribulations to get it published.
Subjects: Jerry Siegal, Joe Shuster, Biography, Cartoonists, Superman, Comic Books, Superheroes
Author web site: http://noblemania.blogspot.com/
(*Note*: this is a BLOG and may be blocked by school filters)
Brendan Buckley’s universe and everything in it by Sundee Frazier
Grades: 4-6
Committee Annotation:
Brendan's love of rocks and minerals leads him to his grandfather, whom he has never met. Will their common interest bring them close together, or will family differences keep them apart?
Subjects: Grandfathers, Bi-racial Families, Minerals, Rock Collecting, Tae Kwon Do, Family, Bullies, Racism
Author web site: http://www.sundeefrazier.com/bb.php
Committee Annotation:
Brendan's love of rocks and minerals leads him to his grandfather, whom he has never met. Will their common interest bring them close together, or will family differences keep them apart?
Subjects: Grandfathers, Bi-racial Families, Minerals, Rock Collecting, Tae Kwon Do, Family, Bullies, Racism
Author web site: http://www.sundeefrazier.com/bb.php
Dexter the tough by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Grades: 3-5
Committee Annotation:
Just how tough is he? At his new school, Dexter's journal entry claims that he beat up a student but what really happened?
Subjects: Friendship, Authorship, Schools, Bullies, New Students, Writing, Truth, Illness of a Parent, Grandparents, Moving
Author web site: Margaret Peterson Haddix
Committee Annotation:
Just how tough is he? At his new school, Dexter's journal entry claims that he beat up a student but what really happened?
Subjects: Friendship, Authorship, Schools, Bullies, New Students, Writing, Truth, Illness of a Parent, Grandparents, Moving
Author web site: Margaret Peterson Haddix
Eleven by Patricia Reilly Giff
Grades: 4-6
Committee Annotation:
Sam, a non-reader, sees his picture in an old newspaper clipping but what does it say? When he asks the new girl at school to help him, what he learns, and the questions that arise, may change the everything he knows about himself and his family.
Subjects: Grandfathers, Woodworking, Reading, Orphans, Family, Memories, Friendship
Author web site: http://www.randomhouse.com/features/patriciareillygiff/index.htm
Committee Annotation:
Sam, a non-reader, sees his picture in an old newspaper clipping but what does it say? When he asks the new girl at school to help him, what he learns, and the questions that arise, may change the everything he knows about himself and his family.
Subjects: Grandfathers, Woodworking, Reading, Orphans, Family, Memories, Friendship
Author web site: http://www.randomhouse.com/features/patriciareillygiff/index.htm
Knucklehead by Jon Scieszka
Grades: 4-6
Committee Annotation:
How much trouble can one boy and his five brothers get into? A lot! These memories of Halloween, sword fighting, brother sitting, school, and sports will make you laugh out loud.
Subjects: Autobiography, Humor, Family Life, Brothers, Memoir, Growing Up
Author web site: http://www.jsworldwide.com/
Committee Annotation:
How much trouble can one boy and his five brothers get into? A lot! These memories of Halloween, sword fighting, brother sitting, school, and sports will make you laugh out loud.
Subjects: Autobiography, Humor, Family Life, Brothers, Memoir, Growing Up
Author web site: http://www.jsworldwide.com/
The leanin' dog by KA Nuzum
Grades: 4-6
Committee Annotation:
Dessa Dean hasn't left her family's cabin since her mother died. Left alone while her father hunts she hears the whimpering of a injured animal. Can she overcome her fears and save "the leanin' dog?"
Subjects: Survival, Wilderness, Winter, Single Parent Families, Dogs, Trust, Friendship, Grief, Animal Rescue, Colorado, Loss of a Parent,
Author web site: http://www.kanuzum.com/
Committee Annotation:
Dessa Dean hasn't left her family's cabin since her mother died. Left alone while her father hunts she hears the whimpering of a injured animal. Can she overcome her fears and save "the leanin' dog?"
Subjects: Survival, Wilderness, Winter, Single Parent Families, Dogs, Trust, Friendship, Grief, Animal Rescue, Colorado, Loss of a Parent,
Author web site: http://www.kanuzum.com/
Saturday, March 7, 2009
The magic half by Annie Barrows
Grades 4-6
Committee Annotation:
Look through the lens and travel back in time to 1935. Could a daring rescue of a girl named Molly bring Miri the twin sister she's always longed to have?
Subjects: Twins, Time Travel, Brothers and Sisters, Friendship
Author web site: http://www.anniebarrows.com/magichalf/
Committee Annotation:
Look through the lens and travel back in time to 1935. Could a daring rescue of a girl named Molly bring Miri the twin sister she's always longed to have?
Subjects: Twins, Time Travel, Brothers and Sisters, Friendship
Author web site: http://www.anniebarrows.com/magichalf/
Pale male: citizen hawk of New York City by Janet Schulman
Puppy power by Judy Cox
Grades: 3-4
Committee Annotation:
Boisterous Fran has trouble controlling herself, but learning how to train her gigantic Newfoundland puppy helps her gain enough self-control to win the part of the princess in the school play.
Subjects: Self-Control, Newfoundland Dogs, Dog Training, Schools, Friendship, Bullies
Author web site: http://www.judycox.net/
Committee Annotation:
Boisterous Fran has trouble controlling herself, but learning how to train her gigantic Newfoundland puppy helps her gain enough self-control to win the part of the princess in the school play.
Subjects: Self-Control, Newfoundland Dogs, Dog Training, Schools, Friendship, Bullies
Author web site: http://www.judycox.net/
Rickshaw girl by Mitali Perkins
Grades: 3-5
Committee Annotation:
When Naima damages her father's new rickshaw, she knows she could use her artistic ability to earn the money to have it repaired, but in Bangladesh girls are not allowed to work so she must disguise herself as a boy.
Subjects: Painting, Artists, Family Life, Roles of Girls and Boys, Bangladesh, Earning Money
Author web site: http://www.mitaliperkins.com/
Committee Annotation:
When Naima damages her father's new rickshaw, she knows she could use her artistic ability to earn the money to have it repaired, but in Bangladesh girls are not allowed to work so she must disguise herself as a boy.
Subjects: Painting, Artists, Family Life, Roles of Girls and Boys, Bangladesh, Earning Money
Author web site: http://www.mitaliperkins.com/
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Savvy by Ingrid Law
Grades: 4-6
Committee Annotation:
Mibs must use not only her magical gift, but also her wits to get to the hospital to see her injured father. When she and her companions sneak onto a bible salesman's bus, they have no idea what unusual and life changing adventures they will encounter on their journey.
Subjects: Magic, Brothers and Sisters, Friendship, Adolescence, Courage, Determination, Illness of a Parent
Author web site: http://www.ingridlaw.com/
Committee Annotation:
Mibs must use not only her magical gift, but also her wits to get to the hospital to see her injured father. When she and her companions sneak onto a bible salesman's bus, they have no idea what unusual and life changing adventures they will encounter on their journey.
Subjects: Magic, Brothers and Sisters, Friendship, Adolescence, Courage, Determination, Illness of a Parent
Author web site: http://www.ingridlaw.com/
The seer of shadows by Avi
Grades: 5-6
Committee Annotations:
Horace Carpetine, an apprentice to an unscrupulous photographer, is forced to deceive a client by planting a ghostly image in a photograph. He finds that he has the ability to bring a ghost to life through his images, with dangerous consequences.
Subjects: Photography, Ghosts, Swindlers, Revenge, New York City, Friendship
Author web site: http://www.avi-writer.com/
Shooting the moon by Frances O'Roark Dowell
Grades: 5-6
Committee Annotation:
Jamie's father is the commander of an army base and her life is the army but when her brother is reported missing in Vietnam, she starts questioning her idealism about war.
Subjects: Vietnam War, Military Bases, Children of Military Personnel, Separation, Soldiers, United States Army, Photography, Friendship
Author web site: http://www.francesdowell.com/
Someone named Eva by Joan M. Wolf
Grades: 5-6
Committee Annotation:
Eleven-year-old Milada is not Jewish, so why did German soldiers take her from her family in Czechoslovakia in 1942, and will she ever see them again?
Subjects: Historical Fiction, World War II, Boarding Schools, Brainwashing, Nazis, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Germany, Separation
Author web site: http://www.jmwolf.com/
Committee Annotation:
Eleven-year-old Milada is not Jewish, so why did German soldiers take her from her family in Czechoslovakia in 1942, and will she ever see them again?
Subjects: Historical Fiction, World War II, Boarding Schools, Brainwashing, Nazis, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Germany, Separation
Author web site: http://www.jmwolf.com/
Squirrel world by Johanna Hurwitz
Grades: 3-4
Committee Annotations:
Two curious squirrels living in Central Park embark on an exciting, though sometimes dangerous, adventure into the heart of New York City. Will they make it safely back on their own, or will they rely on the bravery of relatives to rescue them?
Subjects: Adventure and Adventurers, Squirrels, City and Town Life, New York City, Central Park, Family
Author web site: none
Amulet. Book 1, The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibushi
Grades: 4-6
Committee Annotation:
Emily and her brother Navin are lost in an alternative world of Alledia as they chase the tentacled beast that kidnapped their mother. The key to their survival lies in Emily's amulet and her ability to control its powers.
Subjects: Alternate Worlds, Kidnapping, Monsters, Inventions, Single Parent Families, Comic Books, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Robots, Survival, Adventure, Rescue, Special Powers
Author web site: none
Committee Annotation:
Emily and her brother Navin are lost in an alternative world of Alledia as they chase the tentacled beast that kidnapped their mother. The key to their survival lies in Emily's amulet and her ability to control its powers.
Subjects: Alternate Worlds, Kidnapping, Monsters, Inventions, Single Parent Families, Comic Books, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Robots, Survival, Adventure, Rescue, Special Powers
Author web site: none
Swindle by Gordon Korman
Grades: 4-6
Committee Annotation:
How far would you go to get back what is rightfully yours? When Griffin Bing is cheated out of a priceless baseball card he makes a plan. With an unlikely group of sixth graders, Griffin will need to be daring and resourceful in order to outsmart the swindler.
Subjects: Baseball Cards, Adventure, Crime, Swindlers, Babe Ruth, Friendship
Author web site: http://www.gordonkorman.com/
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