Recommended Books
Rebecca Caudill Nominees
You can view book talks on the books nominated for this award and also view a short description of the book. Past Caudill award winning books are listed and numerous facts about this award. More information including the current Caudill list is located at http://www.rebeccacaudill.org/
Monarch Nominees
The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. The current winner is pictured as well as former winners of this prestigious award. For more information, visit
http://www.islma.org/grants_awards.htm#monarch
The Newbery Awards
The Newbery Medal was named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery. The Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, awards it annually to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The present Newbery winner is listed as well as past winners. For more information, visit
http://www.ala.org/alsc/newbery.html
TeenReads
Reviews on the latest young adult titles. Information about your favorite authors is available. You can find tips on starting your own book club, too. For more information, visit
http://www.teenreads.com/
Coretta Scott King Book Award
The award (or awards) is given to an African American author and an African American illustrator for an outstandingly inspirational and educational contribution. The books promote understanding and appreciation of the culture of all peoples and their contribution to the realization of the American dream. The Award is further designed to commemorate the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and to honor Mrs. Coretta Scott King for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace and world brotherhood. For more information visit
http://www.ala.org/corettascott.htm
Potter’s Picks
Below are some titles that Mrs. Potter recommends!
Happy Reading!
Found / Margaret Peterson Haddix
A plane suddenly appears with 36 unattended babies. All are adopted and grow up in contemporary America. When 13-year-old adoptees Chip and Jonah receive mysterious letters, they search for clues about their origins. Together with Jonah's sister Katherine, they find ties to the FBI and unexplained characters that disappear right before their eyes. (Library Media Connection)
Granny Torrelli Makes Soup / Sharon Creech
Rosie offends her best friend Bailey, who is blind, with her tendency to "do things for Bailey because he can't see, things I think are too hard for him, like cracking the eggs" and with her jealousy of the new girl in town. What Rosie needs is a pinch of humility and a dash of consideration when interacting with others, qualities Granny Torrelli clearly believes will only develop when Rosie receives a heaping measure of love, an important ingredient often forgotten by her busy parents. And Granny Torrelli gives Rosie that love, slyly delivered under the guise of making a meal. (Hornbook)
Overboard / Elizabeth Fama
When the overcrowded ferry sinks off the coast of Sumatra, Emily, 14, must stay afloat and try to swim for shore. For more than 17 hours, she applies what she learned in her lifesaving class in the U.S., treading water, creating a makeshift float, and fighting the effects of dehydration, hunger, exposure, and exhaustion. Most moving in her terrible ordeal is the bond she develops with a desperate nine-year-old Muslim boy, Isman, who will drown if she doesn't help him. (Booklist)
Turnabout / Margaret Peterson Haddix
Melly and Anny Beth agree to participate in Project Turnabout, a scientific experiment in which they are given a shot that will make them grow younger, until they receive a second injection that will stop the aging process, but when other participants die after receiving the second shot, Melly and Anny Beth refuse to have the shot and set out to find someone to care for them when they are too young to do it themselves. (School Library Journal)
The River Between Us / Richard Peck
This historical novel set at the beginning of the Civil War. When a steamboat from New Orleans brings two mysterious young ladies, Mama offers them room and board, and the Pruitts' lives are forever changed. Fair and beautiful Delphine Duval, with her fancy dresses and high-society ways, fascinates the family. And what of Calinda, the darker-skinned young woman? Could she be Delphine's slave? On the eve of his 16th birthday, Tilly's twin brother, Noah, leaves to join the Union troops at Camp Defiance and Mama, distraught, sends Tilly and Delphine to bring him home. It is here that Tilly learns of Delphine's heritage.
(School Library Journal)
Student Rave Reviews
Write book reviews for the web page!
Ask your LA teacher or come to the Media Center for details!
11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass
Reviewed by Tina
Friends Amanda and Leo were born on the same day. Every year they had their birthday parties together.
But on their 10th birthday, they were learning that some words you say to people you just can’t take back.
So on their 11th shared birthday, they have separate parties. Amanda had a Hollywood theme party. But Leo’s party not only included a hypnotist, a giant iguana and a football star, but also a rock band. And all their friends were going there! Not fair!
Amanda couldn’t wait for the day after their birthdays to forget about the fight which led them to having individual parties in the first place. There’s one problem. The next day her birthday day starts all over again. This is a hilarious but touching story as Amanda tries to be “unstuck”, in more ways than one. |
Top 10 New Additions to the Media Center
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Change-up /John Feinstein
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Dark Water Rising / Marian Hale
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Dolphin Song /Lauren St. John
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Murder at Midnight / Avi
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Rat Life /Tedd Arnold
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Runaway / Wendelin Van Draannen
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The Eyeball Collector / F.E. Higgins
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The True Meaning of Smekday / Adam Rex
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The Unfinished Angel / Sharon Creech
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Wildwood Dancing / Juliet Marillier
Authors' Pages
Joan Bauer
http://www.joanbauer.com/
Suzanne Collins
http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/
Sharon Creech
http://www.sharoncreech.com/
Lois Duncan
http://randomhouse.com/teachers/authors/dunc.html
Margaret Peterson Haddix
http://haddixbooks.com/home.html
Gordon Korman
http://gordonkorman.com/
Lois Lowry
http://www.ala.org/alsc/lowry.html
Walter Dean Myers
http://aalbc.com/authors/walter1.htm
Rick Riordan
http://www.rickriordan.com/
Jane Yolen
http://www.janeyolen.com