Thompson Elementary Library

Parent Education Handout

Click here for Mrs. Wells favorite books for reading aloud

Parent Education Handout

Bluebonnet Reading List

2010-2011

Applegate, Katherine. 2007. Home of the Brave. New York: Feiwel and Friends. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 9780312367657; Paperback (published by Square Fish), ISBN-13: 9780312535636; MP3 Book, ISBN-13: 9780739362204. Reviews • Advisory
Brown, Don. 2008. All Stations! Distress!: April 15, 1912: The Day the Titanic Sank. New York: Roaring Brook Press. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 978-1596432222. Reviews • Advisory
Claflin, Willy. 2008. The Uglified Ducky: A Maynard Moose Tale. Illustrated by James Stimson. Atlanta: August House. Hardcover (includes CD), ISBN-13: 978-0874838589; MP3 Book, ISBN-13: 2000003485864; Compact Disc (abridged), ISBN-13: 9780874837018. • Advisory
Crowe, Ellie. 2007. Surfer of the Century: The Life of Duke Kahanamoku. Illustrated by Richard Waldrep. New York: Lee & Low Books, Inc. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 9781584302766. Reviews • Advisory
Deedy, Carmen Agra. 2009. 14 Cows for America. In collaboration with Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah. Illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez. Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 9781561454907. Reviews • Advisory
Graff, Lisa. 2009. Umbrella Summer. New York: Laura Geringer Books, an imprint of HarperCollins. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 9780061431876; digital ebook, ISBN-13: 9780061912627. Reviews • Advisory
Harrison, David L. 2008. Pirates. Illustrated by Dan Burr. Honesdale, PA: Wordsong. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 978-1-59078-455-6. Reviews • Advisory
Henson, Heather. 2008. That Book Woman. Illustrated by David Small. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 9781416908128. Reviews • Advisory
Jenkins, Steve. 2009. Down Down Down: A Journey to the Bottom of the Sea. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 9780618966363. Reviews • Advisory
Klise, Kate. 2009. Dying to Meet You: 43 Cemetery Road, Book 1. Illustrated by M. Sarah Klise. Boston: Harcourt. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 9780152057275. Reviews • Advisory
Mass, Wendy. 2009. 11 Birthdays. New York: Scholastic Press. Hardcover: ISBN-13: 9780545052399; Paperback (available January 10, 2010), ISBN-13: 9780545052405; Audiobook available January 10, 2010. Reviews • Advisory
McDonald, Megan. 2008. The Hinky Pink: An Old Tale. Illustrated by Brian Floca. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Richard Jackson Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishers. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 9780689875885. Reviews • Advisory
Moser, Lisa. 2007. Squirrel’s World. Illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev. Cambridge: Candlewick Press. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 978-0-7636-2929-8; Paperback, ISBN-13: 9780763640880. Reviews
Park, Linda Sue. 2007. Tap Dancing on the Roof: Sijo (Poems). Illustrated by Istvan Banyai. New York: Clarion Books. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 9780618234837. Reviews
Paulsen, Gary. 2009. Mudshark. New York: Wendy Lamb Books, an Imprint of Random House Children’s Books. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 978-0385746854; Library Binding, ISBN-13: 978-0385909228; Paperback (published by Yearling, release date, June 8, 2010), ISBN-13: 978-0553494648; Digital Ebook, ISBN-13: 9780375892554. Reviews
Pennypacker, Sara. 2009. Sparrow Girl. Illustrated by Yoko Tanaka. New York: Disney-Hyperion Books. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 9781423111870. Reviews
Rollins, James. 2009. Jake Ransom and the Skull King’s Shadow. New York: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 9780061473791; Library Binding, ISBN-13: 9780061473807; Paperback, ISBN-13: 9780061473814; Compact Disc (Unabridged), ISBN-13: 9780061761034; MP3 Book (Unabridged), ISBN-13: 9780061806018; Digital Ebook, ISBN-13: 9780061858208. Reviews
Rutkoski, Marie. 2008. The Cabinet of Wonders. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 9780374310264; Hardcover-large print, ISBN-13: 9781410413208; Compact Disc (unabridged), ISBN-13: 9781427205483; Digital Ebook, ISBN-13: 9781429930000. Reviews
Salisbury, Graham. 2009. Calvin Coconut Trouble Magnet. Illustrated by Jacqueline Rogers. New York: Wendy Lamb Books, an imprint of Random House. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 9780385737012; Library Binding, ISBN-13: 9780385906395; Digital Ebook, ISBN-13: 9780375893933; Paperback (release April 27. 2010). Reviews
Yaccarino, Dan. 2009. The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 978-0375855733. Reviews

2009-2010 Nominees

Birdsall, Jeanne. 2008. The Penderwicks on Gardam Street. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. Hardcover, ISBN-10: 0375840907, ISBN-13: 978-0375840906; Library binding, ISBN-10: 0375940901, ISBN-13: 978-0375940903; Audio CD, Unabridged (Listening Library), ISBN-10: 0739364995, ISBN-13: 978-0739364994.

The Penderwick girls discover that before their mother died, she left instructions with her sister to make sure her husband, their Dad, remarries. The girls come up with a “Save Daddy Plan” so they will not have to have a stepmother. The plan: get him dates with women they know he will detest. Each girl also deals with her own situations such as Jane doing Skye’s writing assignments, and Batty spying on the new neighbors.

Birney, Betty G. 2008. Surprises According to Humphrey. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons. Hardcover, ISBN-10: 0399247300, ISBN-13: 978-0399247309; Paperback (available January 2009), ISBN-10: 0142412961, ISBN-13: 978-0142412961.

Humphrey loves being the classroom pet at Longfellow Elementary--Room 26 in Mrs. Brisbane’s classroom. All the children, including Don’t Complain-Mandy Payne, Sit-Still-Seth Stevenson, and Lower-Your-Voice-A.J. Thomas, are his friends. There are some strange happenings going on, however, and Humphrey is worried about his friends. Especially frightening is the fear that Aldo the janitor is being replaced by an alien. For Humphrey it’s SCARY, SCARY, SCARY.

Bishop, Nic. 2008. Nic Bishop Frogs. New York: Scholastic Nonfiction. Hardcover, ISBN-10: 0439877555, ISBN-13: 978-0439877558.

The reader can almost feel the slime in this photographic volume on frogs. The pictures are not only vastly informative, but the text also gives fascinating information on these amphibians. The combination of the two make for a book that increases one’s knowledge and has the reader making a multitude of verbal responses when turning the pages—“Yuk!”; “How interesting”; “I didn’t know that!”; and “WOW!”

Deedy, Carmen Agra. 2007. Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale. Illustrated by Michael Austin. Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers. Hardcover, ISBN-10: 1561454680, ISBN-13: 978-1561454686; Library Binding, ISBN-10: 1435256476, ISBN-13: 978-1435256477; Hardcover with CD, 9781561454686; Audio CD (Bilingual), ISBN-10: 1561454672, ISBN-13: 978-1561454679.

Deedy, Carmen Agra. 2007. Martina una cucarachita muy linda: Un Cuento Cubano. Illustrated by Michael Austin. Hardcover, ISBN-10: 1561454257, ISBN-13: 978-1561454259.

It is time for Martina Josefina Catalina Cucaracha, the beautiful muchacha, to find a husband. Her abuela tells her that she needs to give each suitor the “coffee on the shoes” test in order to find a good husband. Who will Martina choose? Will it be Don Gallo the rooster, Don Cerdo the pig, Don Lagarto the lizard or Perez the mouse? How does coffee help Martina? All these are questions answered in this delightfully illustrated Cuban folktale.

Feldman, Jody. 2008. The Gollywhopper Games. New York: Greenwillow Books. Hardcover, ISBN-10: 0061214507, ISBN-13: 978-0061214509; Library Binding, ISBN-10: 0061214515, ISBN-13: 978-0061214516.

Gil’s father has been falsely accused of embezzlement while working at the Golly Toy and Game Company. Gil grabs his chance to redeem his pride by getting the opportunity to compete in the Gollywhopper Games. Puzzle fans will enjoy the ride as Gil must solve puzzles with his sometimes, not so nice, team partners in this fast-paced adventure.

Flaherty, A.W. 2007. The Luck of the Loch Ness Monster: A Tale of Picky Eating. Illustrated by Scott Magoon. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. Hardcover, ISBN-10: 0618556443, ISBN-13: 978-0618556441.

“Picky eaters unite!” will become the rallying cry for kids after reading this book. Katerina-Elizabeth’s parents send her on an ocean voyage to Scotland to visit her grandparents. Every morning on the ship she has the same thing for breakfast--oatmeal. Every morning she slyly tosses the oatmeal into the ocean. A little sea worm begins following the ship to get the tasty treat each day. He grows from thumbnail size to giant size on the trip across the ocean. Upon arrival in Scotland the worm followed the water, up a river, to Loch Ness. Can you guess what happens next?

Holt, Kimberly Willis. 2007. Piper Reed: Navy Brat. New York: Henry Holt and Company. Hardcover, ISBN-10: 0805081976, ISBN-13: 978-0805081978; Paperback (Square Fish Publishers), ISBN-10: 0312380208, ISBN-13: 978-0312380205; Unabridged Audio CD (Listening Library), ISBN-10: 0739359584, ISBN-13: 978-0739359587.

Piper, a fourth grader, is the middle child of the girls in the Reed household. She loves the fact that her father is in the Navy. She gets upset with her sisters because they actually refer to him as Dad, not Chief. As in all military families, moving is a part of their life. This time they are moving from San Diego to Pensacola. Piper’s older sister Tori thinks the Navy is ruining her life, and her younger sister Sam is a genius. Piper who loves the Navy life and has dyslexia sometimes feels that she doesn’t fit. Despite all the differences there is plenty of love in this family.

Kerley, Barbara. 2008. What To Do About Alice?: How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy! Illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham. New York: Scholastic Press. Hardcover, ISBN-10: 0439922313, ISBN-13: 978-0439922319.

Teddy Roosevelt famously said, “I can be President of the United States, or I can control Alice. I can’t possibly do both.” Alice Roosevelt, his oldest child, was hard to contain. She wanted to “eat up the world.” Her idea of watching her siblings in the White House was to teach them how to slide down the stairway on trays. She had a pet snake and monkey that she showed off to visiting dignitaries, and despite her father’s admonition to stay out of the news, she did just the opposite. Her father “was not amused.” Just as Alice “ate up the world,” reader’s will eat up this book about Alice Roosevelt.

Law, Ingrid. 2008. Savvy. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. Hardcover, ISBN-10: 0803733062, ISBN-13: 978-0803733060; Audio CD, ISBN-10: 0143143484, ISBN-13: 978-0143143482.

Each member of Mib’s family gets a special gift upon turning thirteen. They learn what their Savvy is. Mib’s brother Fish has a powerful effect on water, her brother Rocket is electric, and her Great Aunt Jules steps back in time twenty minutes each time she sneezes. Now Mib is about to turn thirteen. On her big day, her father is in a serious car accident and rushed to the hospital. Now Mibs thinks her Savvy will be the ability to save lives. Since her mother is at the hospital with her dad, Mibs, her brother Fish, and the town’s preacher’s kids, hitch a ride on a bus with a traveling Bible salesman to make it to the hospital. Though Mib’s Savvy is not what she thought, she learns something on the crazy bus ride with a most unusual group of people.

Look, Lenore. 2008. Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things. New York: Swartz & Wade Books. Hardcover, ISBN-10: 0375839143; ISBN-13: 978-0-375-83914-6; Library Binding, ISBN-10: 0375939148, ISBN-13: 978-0375939143; Paperback (Yearling), ISBN-10: 0375849300, ISBN-13: 978-0375849305; Paperback available, May 2009.

For the reader who likes to LOL, Alvin Ho is here to save the day. Alvin is scared of most things, including Wasabi. He packs his PDK (Personal Disaster Kit) to take to school each day. He has never said one word at school—ever—even though he talks at home. When he gets angry, he cusses in Shakespeare since that is what his father teaches. There are many hilarious scenes, including the chapter entitled “The Best Way to Avoid School” in which the entire class sneaks in to visit their classmate with chicken pox. Reading this book will cheer up the worst of days.

Lupica, Mike. 2007. Two-Minute Drill. New York: Philomel Books. Hardcover, ISBN-10: 0399247157, ISBN-13: 978-0399247156; Paperback (available January, 2009)

Football, friendship, and faith in oneself are played out in this addition to Lupica’s Comeback Kids series. Sixth grader Scott loves football, but as he says, football doesn’t love him. Chris his classmate is the best player on the team, but he has a struggle of his own. The two boys develop a strong friendship and find that their individual talents, teamed with practice, can help both of them reach their potential. You won’t have to tackle your boys to read this one.

Mora, Pat. 2007. ¡Yum! ¡MmMm! ¡Qué Rico!: America’s Sproutings. Illustrated by Rafael L?pez. New York: Lee & Low Books Inc. Hardcover, ISBN-10: 1600602673, ISBN-13: 978-1600602672; Library Binding, ISBN-10: 1584302712, ISBN-13: 978-1584302711.

Mora, Pat. 2009. ¡Yum! ¡MmMm! ¡Qué Rico!: Brotes de Las Americas. Illustrated by Rafael L?pez. New York: Lee & Low Books, Inc. Hardcover (available February 2009), ISBN-13: 978-1-60060-430-0; Paperback (available February 2009), ISBN-13: 9781600602689.

What do haiku, information on native American foods, and bright, colorful illustrations have in common? This book—¡Yum! ¡MmMm! ¡Qué rico!: Americas’ Sproutings—that’s what. This book is the perfect recipe for information, poetry, and art, while bringing all the Americas together for the fun.

Neff, Henry H. 2007. The Hound of Rowan. New York: Random House Books For Young Readers. Hardcover, ISBN-10: 0375838945, ISBN-13: 978-0375838941; Library Binding, ISBN-10: 037593894X, ISBN-13: 978-0375938948; Paperback, ISBN-13: 978-0-375-83895-8.

Max has always had something deep within him that he didn’t understand. That “something” feels like it comes alive when he ducks into a small gallery at Chicago’s Art Institute to hide from a strange man who has been following him. In the gallery, there is an old Celtic tapestry hanging on the wall that begins to quiver and glow. Max discovers that he, along with a few other children, have an ancient Celtic magic called Potential. As Potential children are being kidnapped, he and his fellow students at Rowan, the school for Potentials, must act to save the world from the powerful Evil. This is the first installment in The Tapestry series.

Nelson, Kadir. 2008. We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball. New York: Jump At the Sun, Hyperion. Hardcover, ISBN-10: 0786808322, ISBN-13: 978-0786808328; Unabridged CD available January 2009 (Brilliance Audio), ISBN-10: 142337536X, ISBN-13: 978-1423375364.

It’s the illustrations that will first draw the reader to this book. Each page will be turned in admiration as one is introduced to the players, coaches, and teams of the Negro Baseball League. The narration is equally admirable. Nelson explains that the narrator is “a collective voice, the voice of every player, the voice of we.” Readers feel as if they are sitting in their den listening to the stories being told. The pain of segregation and the joy of playing the game will be felt by all who board this Ship.

Rappaport, Doreen. 2008. Lady Liberty: A Biography. Illustrated by Matt Tavares. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press. Hardcover, ISBN-10: 0763625302, ISBN-13: 978-0763625306.

There have been many children’s books published about the Statue of Liberty but never one like this. Through free verse and illustrations that put the reader in the events, The Lady’s biography is told. Each double page spread tells of people involved in the process of bringing her to New York Harbor—from the idea, to the creation of the statue, to the pennies sent in by children across the United States to pay for her base, to the celebration of her placement. The reader will look upon The Lady with new eyes whether in New York viewing her or bringing her to the mind’s eye.

Schulman, Janet. 2008. Pale Male: Citizen Hawk of New York City. Illustrated by Meilo So. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. Hardcover, ISBN-10: 0375845585, ISBN-13: 978-0375845581; Library Binding, ISBN-10: 037594558X, ISBN-13: 978-0375945588.

The Red Tail Hawk, known as Pale Male, does not have an easy time of it. The trials, tribulations, and final triumph of the hawk who nests on the ledge at one of New York City’s most exclusive addresses is presented with a perfect melding of words and illustrations. Details of everything from the political battles fought to keep Pale Male at his home to Pale Male’s fathering skills weave together into a story that all readers will enjoy.

Speck, Katie. 2007. Maybelle in the Soup. New York: Henry Holt and Company. Hardcover, ISBN-10: 0805080929, ISBN-13: 978-0805080926; (Paperback to be published by Square Fish, Fall 2009).

Maybelle the cockroach and Henry the flea live in the Peabody household where everything has to be just so. The two friends know the rules for survival: “When it’s light, stay out of sight; if you’re spied, better hide; and never meet with human feet.” Henry is good at following the rules, but Maybelle gives way to temptation when the Peabody’s have a dinner party. When she ends up on the spoon of one of the guests, the hilarity begins. Never has a cockroach been such a welcome diversion.

Spinelli, Eileen. 2007. Where I Live. Illustrated by Matt Phelan. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. Hardcover, ISBN-10: 0803731221, ISBN-13: 978-0803731226.

Diana is happy in her life. She loves her house, her best friend Rose, and even her pesky little sister. To top things off, she has just won a poetry contest, and the prize is enrollment in a poetry workshop. Her life couldn’t be better—until her father (who always jokes) gets serious; he and her mother talk quietly together. She is afraid her parents are getting a divorce. The good news is that they are not, but the bad news is that her father lost his job. Diana’s family will have to move. Told in simple free verse, Diana experiences the feelings of loss and acceptance. It is appropriate that the first and last poems are both entitled “Where I Live.”

Stevens, Janet and Susan Stevens Crummel. 2008. Help Me, Mr. Mutt! New York: Harcourt, Inc. Hardcover, ISBN-10: 0152046283, ISBN-13: 978-0152046286.

When humans have a problem, they write Dear Abby; but the best help for the suffering canine is Mr. Mutt. Each troubled hound is given doggone good advice—all of which ends with a P.S. suggesting that the family cat is less than a worthy pet. Of course, Mutt’s family cat The Queen comes back with her own thoughts on this. By the end of the book, Mr. Mutt and The Queen come to blows, and our canine advisor must be rescued by his fans. There are plenty of laughs for both pets and their humans.

Wolf, Joan M. 2007. Someone Named Eva. New York: Clarion. Hardcover, ISBN-10: 0618535799, ISBN-13: 978-061853579.

Milada celebrates her eleventh birthday happily with family and friends despite the hardships brought on by three years of Nazi occupation in Czechoslovakia. A few weeks later, German soldiers arrest the entire village. The men and women are separated and sent to camps, but Milada and one other village girl are not. Since both girls have the blonde hair and blue eyes of Hitler’s Aryan ideal, they are sent to Germany to be retrained and adopted by loyal Nazi families. Milada struggles to remember her grandmother’s words to her on her eleventh birthday, “Remember who you are, Milada. Remember where you are from. Always.”

Bluebonnet Reading List

2008-2009

     Auch, Mary Jane. 2006. One-Handed Catch. New York: Henry Holt and Company. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 978-0-8050-7900-5; ISBN-10: 0-8050-7900-9, $16.95. Full Cast Audio, Audio CD (May 1, 2008), ISBN-13: 978-1934180167; ISBN-10: 1934180165, $45.00. REVIEWS ADVISORY

Sixth grader Norm’s future plans are built around being either a pitcher or an artist, but when he loses his hand helping his father by grinding meat for a customer, his hopes are shattered. Norm must find the strength to not give up on his dreams.

       Carman, Patrick. 2007. Atherton: the House of Power. New York: Little, Brown and Company. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 978-0-316-16670-6; ISBN-10: 0-316-16670-7, $16.99. Hachette Audio, Unabridged Edition, ISBN-13: 978-1594839665; ISBN-10: 1594839662, $29.98. REVIEWS ADVISORY

Edgar lives in a place of three distinct worlds: The Highlands, Tabletop, and The Flatlands. He has a vague memory of a voice telling him that there is something hidden in the rock walls separating The Highlands of Atherton from Tabletop. When he finds the message, he knows that he may be the only one who can save Atherton from destruction.

         Cheaney, J. B. 2007. The Middle of Somewhere. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 978-0375837906; ISBN-10: 0375837906. Trade, ISBN-13: 978-0-375-83790-6, $15.99 Library Binding, ISBN-13: 978-0-375-93790-3; ISBN-10: 0375937900, $18.99. (Paperback to be published Fall 2008). REVIEWS ADVISORY

Twelve-year-old Ronnie wants to see the world. The opportunity for her and her brother to travel with their wind prospector grandfather in his camper comes when her mother is injured in a hilarious romp through the house chasing a squirrel. The fact that her grandfather doesn’t really want company and her brother is hyperactive just adds to the adventure.

              Day, Karen. 2007. Tall Tales. New York: Wendy Lamb Books. Trade, ISBN-13: 978-0-375-83773-9; ISBN-10: 0375837736, $15.99. Library Binding, ISBN-13: 978-0-375-93773-6 ISBN-10: 0375737730, $18.99. (Paperback to be published Fall 2008). REVIEWS ADVISORY

Sixth grade is the year Meg finally makes a friend after having to move time-after-time as her alcoholic father is constantly trying to make a fresh start. She is afraid to tell Grace her family secrets, so she makes up stories of a wished-for life. As the truth comes out, Meg discovers what friendship is about.

   DeFelice, Cynthia. 2006. One Potato, Two Potato. Illustrated by Andrea U’Ren. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Hardback, ISBN-13: 978-0-374-35640-8; ISBN-10: 0-374-35640-8, $16.00. REVIEWS ADVISORY

Mr. and Mrs. O’Grady are so poor that they have had to share one coat, one blanket, and one potato each day, but they don’t mind. When Mr. O’Grady is digging for potatoes and finds a pot with the magical power of doubling any object put into it, they have the chance to make big changes in their simple life.

    Florian, Douglas. 2007. Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars: Space Poems and Paintings. Orlando: Harcourt, Inc. Hardback, ISBN-13: 978-0-15-205372-7; ISBN-10: 0-1520-5372-7, $16.00. REVIEWS ADVISORY

Verse, paintings and scientific facts bring the marvels of the Universe to life. The changing of Pluto’s status as a planet is included.

   Graff, Lisa. 2006. The Thing About Georgie. New York: Laura Geringer Books. Trade: ISBN-13: 978-0-06-087589-3; ISBN-10: 0-06-087589-5, $15.99. Library Binding, ISBN-13: 978-0-06-087590-9; ISBN-10: 0-06-087590-9, $16.89. REVIEWS ADVISORY

Georgie is a Little Person, and for the most part he is happy with his life. However, finding out he is about to become a brother, dealing with Jeanie the Meanie, and having a major fight with his best friend all converge during his fourth-grade year. Georgie has to learn that growing up is not a height issue.

    Harper, Charise Mericle. 2007. Just Grace. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 978-0-618-64642-5; ISBN-10: 0-618-64642-6, $15.00. (paperback available Spring 2008). REVIEWS ADVISORY

There are four girls named Grace in the same third grade class. When Miss Lois asks Grace what she wants to be called, her reply is, “just Grace”– and the name stuck. Grace prides herself in empathizing with others, but her attempt at helping her neighbor feel better about her lost cat backfires.

    Hart, Alison. Gabriel’s Horses. 2007. Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers. Hardcover: ISBN-13; 978-1-56145-398-6; ISBN-10: 1-5614-5398-6, $14.95. REVIEWS ADVISORY

Though twelve-year-old Gabriel’s father is a free black man, his mother is a slave; thus he is also a slave. His father trains thoroughbred race horses, and it is Gabriel’s desire to be a jockey some day. When his father joins the Union Army to earn money to buy his family’s freedom, it becomes Gabriel’s job to protect the horses from the new trainer and a band of Confederate raiders.

    Jenkins, Emily. 2006. Toys Go Out: Being the Adventures of a Knowledgeable stingray, a Toughy Little Buffalo, and Someone Called Plastic. Illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 978-0-375-83604-6; ISBN-10: 0-375-83604-7, $16.95. Library Binding, ISBN-13: 978-0-375-93604-3; ISBN-10: 0-375-93604-1, $18.99. Recorded Books, Unabridged Audio Download, $20.05. (Paperback to be published Fall 2008). REVIEWS ADVISORY

Told in six episodic adventures, Lumpy, Stingray, and Plastic, three best friends who are toys belonging to the Little Girl, discover the dangers and adventures of life in these funny and endearing tales.

    Lauber, Patricia. 2006. What You Never Knew About Beds, Bedrooms, and Pajamas. Illustrated by John Manders. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 978-0-689-853114; ISBN-10: 0-689-85211-8, $16.95. REVIEWS ADVISORY

From The Stone Age to Modern Times the development of all that has to do with sleeping is related in an entertaining, but factual manner. No one will be able to get ready for bed in the same way again, and it might be difficult getting to sleep just thinking about beds, bedrooms, and pajamas.

    McCully, Emily Arnold. 2006. Marvelous Mattie: How Margaret E. Knight Became an Inventor. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 978-0-374-34810-6, ISBN-10: 0-374-34810-3, $16.00. REVIEWS ADVISORY

Inventor, Margaret Knight, was not the usual 19th century young woman. Her first inventions were for her brothers, and at age twelve she invented a shuttle-guard that prevented many mill injuries. She became part of history when a man stole her invention for making square bottomed paper bags, and she had to go to court to prove herself as the inventor to obtain the patent.

    O’Connor, Barbara. 2007. How to Steal a Dog. New York: Francis Foster Books, Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 978-0-374-33497-0; ISBN-10: 0-374-33497-8, $16.00. REVIEWS ADVISORY

One secret that Georgina plans to keep from everyone, including her best friend, is that her father left; now she, her mother and her little brother, Toby, are homeless. When she sees a sign offering a $500.00 reward for a lost dog, she sees a way out of her troubles. Now she just has to steal a dog.

    Patterson, Nancy Ruth. 2006. The Winner’s Walk. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux. Illustrated by Thomas Yezerski. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 978-0-374-38445-6; ISBN-10: 0-374-38445-2, $16.00. REVIEWS ADVISORY

Everyone in Case’s family has a special talent, and nine-year-old Case is determined to find his. Things are beginning to look bleak as plan after plan fails — until he finds a lost dog he names Noah. Since Noah has special abilities, he and Case find success in dog agility contests. However, Case soon discovers something else about Noah that leads him to find a special talent for caring.

    Paulsen, Gary. 2007. Lawn Boy. New York: Wendy Lamb Books. Trade, ISBN-13: 978-0-385-74686-1; ISBN-10: 0385746865, $12.99. Library Binding, ISBN-13: 978-0-385-90923-5, ISBN-10: 0385909233, $15.99. REVIEWS ADVISORY

On his twelfth birthday he is broke and bored, and his grandmother gives him an old riding lawnmower. Before long he’s working every day making $20.00 a lawn and he becomes The Lawn Boy. Then, Arnold the stockbroker comes into his life. The next thing he knows he’s got a crew working for him, he’s rich, and one of his investments is the contract of prizefighter, Joey Pow. No more boring summer.

     Selznick, Brian. 2007. The Invention of Hugo Cabret: A Novel in Words and Picturest. New York: Scholastic Press. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 978-0-439-81378-5; ISBN-10: 0-439-81378-6, $22.99. Scholastic Audio Books; Com/DVD Un edition, ISBN-13: 978-0545003872; ISBN-10: 0545003873, $29.95. REVIEWS ADVISORY

In this first of a kind book that is novel, picture book, graphic novel, and even film, the reader is introduced to Hugo, the orphaned son of a clockmaker in 1931 Paris. Hugo has managed to keep the secret of his father’s death by continuing the job of winding the huge clocks at the Paris train station each day. When his job is done, he works on the secret his father left him. Hugo becomes involved with a book-loving girl and an angry old man; thus, the fast-paced mystery begins.

     Sidman, Joyce. 2007. This is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness. Illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 978-0-618-61680-0; ISBN-10: 0-618-61680-2, $16.00. REVIEWS ADVISORY

The assignment for this fictionalized class is to write poems of apology. It’s a hit. The students ask the recipients of the apologies to reply, and the class puts them together in a book. Through a wide variety of poetry the emotion involved in “I’m sorry” and “you’re forgiven” is presented.

         Thimmesh, Catherine. 2006. Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 978-0618507573; ISBN-10: 0-618-50757-4, $19.95. REVIEWS ADVISORY

Everyone knows about the job of the astronauts in the space program, but most don’t realize the thousands of people it takes behind the scenes to have a successful mission. With photos from NASA and quotes from those involved in Team Moon, everyone is given their due as the Apollo 11 spacecraft takes off on its history-making moon landing.

          Tingle, Tim. 2006. Crossing Bok Chitto: A Choctaw Tale of Friendship and Freedom. Illustrated by Jeanne Rorex Bridges. El Paso: Cinco Puntos Press. Hardback, ISBN-13: 978-0-938317-77-7; ISBN-10: 0-938317-776, $17.95. Paperback to be published in 2008. Audio CD (included on Walking the Choctaw Road), ISBN-13: 978-0938317821; ISBN-10: 0938317822, $24.95. REVIEWS ADVISORY

On one side of Bok Chitto is the plantation and on the other the Choctaws. If a slave could get across the river to the Choctaw tribe, there was freedom. With the aide of a Choctaw secret and a bit of magic, Little Mo’s family is able to escape to freedom in this oral tradition tale from both the Choctaw and African-American traditions.

            White, Ruth. 2007. Way Down Deep. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 978-0-374-38251-3; ISBN-10: 0-374-38251-4, $16.00. Thorndike Press; Large print edition, ISBN-10: 0-7862-9867-7; ISBN-13: 978-0786-29867-9, $23.95. REVIEWS ADVISORY

The town Way Down Deep is full of delightful characters; among them, Ruby a toddler found by the townspeople in the summer of 1944. Ruby lives with Miss Arbutus, the owner of the boarding house, but is raised by the entire town. She loves her life but has always wondered about her history. When she is twelve, a new family that has clues to her past moves to Way Down Deep. The discoveries lead to even more questions for Ruby who has decisions to make about the rest of her life.

2007-2008 Bluebonnet Book Nominees

Winner: Down Girl and Sit

Abbott, Tony. 2006. Firegirl. New York: Little, Brown. Trade Edition, ISBN: 0-316-01171-1, $15.99. Reviews

When Jessica, horribly disfigured by a car fire, enters Tom Bender’s seventh grade classroom at St. Catherine’s school, she triggers a connection with Tom that changes his perception of himself and his friends.

Bauer, Marion Dane. 2005. The Blue Ghost. Illustrated by Suling Wang. New York: Random House. Library Edition, ISBN: 0-375-93179-1, $13.99. Trade Edition, ISBN: 0-375-83179-7, $11.95. Paperback Edition, Random House (2006), ISBN: 0-375-83339-0, $3.99. Reviews

While visiting her grandmother, Liz learns about her family’s history when she encounters a blue ghost and steps back in time to answer a call for help.

Borden, Louise. 2004. The Greatest Skating Race: A World War II Story from the Netherlands. Illustrated by Niki Daly. New York: Margaret McElderry. Trade Edition, ISBN: 0-689-84502-2, $18.95. Reviews

In the winter of 1941, a ten-year old Dutch boy, Piet Janssen, tests his courage and ice skating skills by outsmarting German soldiers when he leads two children over the icy canals to Belgium.

Couloumbis, Audrey. 2005. The Misadventures of Maude March. New York: Random House. Library Edition, ISBN: 0-375-93245-3, $17.99. Trade Edition, ISBN: 0-375-83245-9, $15.95. Paperback Edition, Yearling (2007), ISBN: 0-375-83247-5, $6.50. Audio CD, Listening Library (2006), ISBN: 0-739-33545-6, $45.00. Audio Cassette, Listening Library (2006), ISBN: 0-739-33609-6, $35.00. Reviews

Orphans Maude and Sallie head across the frontier to search for their uncle, and their rip-roaring exploits -- including horse theft, bank robbery, and murder -- begin to resemble the plots of the dime novels Sallie loves to read.

Dowell, Frances O’Roark. 2005. Chicken Boy. New York: Atheneum. Trade Edition, ISBN: 0-689-85816-7, $15.95. Large Print Edition, Thorndike (2006), ISBN: 0-786-28280-0, $22.95. Paperback Edition, Aladdin (2007), ISBN: 1-416-93482-0, $5.99. Audio CD, Listening Library, ISBN: 0-307-24562-4, $30.00. Reviews

Tobin, usually a loner, becomes friends with Henry and gets involved helping Henry raise chickens, which allows Tobin an escape from his disconnected father, delinquent siblings, and a troublesome grandmother.

Freeman, Martha. 2005. Who Stole Halloween? New York: Holiday House. Trade Edition, ISBN: 0-8234-1962-2, $16.95. Reviews

While trying to solve a mystery involving missing cats, Alex reluctantly lets his friend Yasmeen talk him into allowing his cat Luau become a decoy to catch the culprit.

Haddix, Margaret Peterson. 2005. Double Identity. New York: Simon & Schuster. Trade Edition, ISBN: 0-689-87374-3, $15.95. Reviews

Twelve-year-old Bethany’s parents suddenly leave her with an unknown aunt; then Bethany learns of a dead sister who looked exactly like Bethany. Now Bethany must discover the truth about herself.

Kadohata, Cynthia. 2006. Weedflower. New York: Atheneum. Trade Edition, ISBN: 0-689-86574-9, $16.95. Audio CD, Listening Library, ISBN: 0-307-28413-1, $30.00. Reviews

When the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, the American government forces twelve-year-old Sumiko and her family to leave their California flower farm and live in a Japanese internment camp in Poston, Arizona.

Kehret, Peg. 2005. The Ghost’s Grave. New York: Dutton. Trade Edition, ISBN: 0-525-46162-0, $16.99. Reviews

Josh is spending the summer at his Aunt Ethel’s house. He encounters a peacock that may be his Aunt Florence and a ghost whose body is buried with a mysterious box of cash.

Lin, Grace. 2006. The Year of the Dog. New York: Little, Brown. Trade Edition, ISBN: 0-316-06000-3, $14.95. Reviews

Grace is the only Taiwanese-American girl in her class until Melody arrives. She and Grace become friends throughout the “Year of the Dog,” as Grace grows into her cultural identity.

Markle, Sandra. 2005. Outside and Inside Mummies. New York: Walker. Trade Edition, ISBN: 0-8027-8966-8, $17.95. Reviews

Using new scientific methods, researchers are learning about mummies from the inside out. X-rays, CT scans, and computers help scientists solve the mysteries about people who lived and died in ancient times.

Montgomery, Claire and Monte. 2005. Hubert Invents the Wheel. Illustrated by Jeff Shelly. New York: Walker. Trade Edition, ISBN: 0-8027-8990-0, $16.95. Reviews

Go back five thousand years and meet Hubert, a boy with big dreams and a wild imagination. He’s constantly experimenting and inventing, while his father, Gorp, wants him to join the family hauling business.

Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds. 2006. Roxie and the Hooligans. New York: Ginee Seo/Atheneum. Trade Edition, ISBN: 1-4169-0243-0, $15.95. Reviews

"Don’t panic" is Roxie’s golden rule of survival. But, it’s not an easy task as she confronts playground bullies, is dumped with the garbage, and encounters a duo of murderous thieves.

Nolan, Lucy. 2005. Down Girl and Sit: On the Road. Illustrated by Mike Reed. Tarrytown, New York: Marshall Cavendish. Trade Edition, ISBN: 0-7614-5234-6, $14.95. Reviews

Down Girl gives a dog’s-eye account of several outings – from generously providing her owner with a smelly fish to savoring the discomfort of her nemesis, Here Kitty Kitty, at the Vet’s office.

Osborne, Mary Pope. 2006. Pompeii: Lost and Found. Illustrated by Bonnie Christensen. New York: Knopf. Library Edition, ISBN: 0-375-92889-8, $18.99. Trade Edition, ISBN: 0-375-82889-3, $16.95. Reviews

Osborne and Christensen ask readers to become archaeologists, imagining the eruption of Mount Vesuvius on August 24, 79 CE and interpreting the daily life of this very “modern” ancient Roman town.

Schubert, Leda. 2006. Ballet of the Elephants. Illustrated by Robert Parker. New Milford, Connecticut: Brodie/Roaring Brook. Trade Edition, ISBN: 1-59643-075-3, $17.95. Reviews

In the early 1940s, John Ringling North, Igor Stravinsky, and George Balanchine collaborated to create an unusual circus act -- elephants in pink tutus partnering with beautiful ballerinas to perform the Circus Polka.

Skye, Obert. 2005. Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo. Salt Lake City, Utah: Shadow Mountain. Trade Edition, ISBN: 1-59038-369-9, $17.95. Paperback Edition, Simon & Schuster (2006), ISBN: 1-4169-2806-5, $7.99. Audio CD, Shadow Mountain, ISBN: 1-59038-408-3, $29.95. Audio CD, Simon & Schuster (2006), ISBN: 0-743-56200-3, $34.95. Reviews

Leven Thumps, a boy with a power to change the future, begins a mission to save the dreams of humankind and the land of Foo from the evil Sabine.

Stanley, Diane. 2006. Bella at Midnight. New York: HarperCollins. Library Edition, ISBN: 0-06-077574-2, $16.89. Trade Edition, ISBN: 0-06-077573-4, $15.99. Reviews

Written in multiple voices, this Cinderella tale chronicles Bella’s magical quest to save her kingdom from war and warn her childhood friend, Prince Julian, of the threat against his life.

Taylor, Gaylia. 2006. George Crum and the Saratoga Chip. Illustrated by Frank Morrison. New York: Lee & Low. Trade Edition, ISBN: 1-58430-255-0, $16.95. Reviews

Teased as a child, George Crum could turn feisty. When he became a chef, a fussy customer insisted her French fries weren’t crisp, so feisty George whipped up a new creation: the potato chip.

Yep, Laurence. 2006. The Earth Dragon Awakes: The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. New York: HarperCollins. Library Edition, ISBN: 0-06-027525-1, $15.89. Trade Edition, ISBN: 0-06-027524-3, $14.99. Reviews

Henry, the son of a wealthy banker, and Chin, the son of the Chinese houseboy, describe the 1906 earthquake in alternating chapters. When a firestorm breaks out, both boys discover the true meaning of heroism.

The TBA Committee selected the 2007-2008 Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List titles after receiving suggestions from librarians, teachers, parents, students and others. The Master List books, all recommended by one or more reviewing source, should be evaluated in terms of each library’s selection policy. It is not mandatory that a school or public library purchase all titles listed.

TBA Home • TLA Home

2006-2007

Winner: Ghost Fever, by Joe Hayes

Birdsall, Jeanne. 2005. The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy. New York: Knopf. ISBN: 0-375-83143-6, $15.95. Reviews • Readers Advisory

While vacationing with their father at a summer cottage in the Berkshires, the four very different Penderwick sisters, along with the son of the estate’s snooty owner, encounter numerous adventures.

Byars, Betsy, Betsy Duffey, and Laurie Myers. 2004. The SOS File. Illustrated by Arthur Howard. New York: Henry Holt. ISBN: 0-8050-6888-0, $15.95. Reviews • Readers Advisory

Mr. Magro invites his students to write about the biggest emergency in their lives. From riding in a go-cart out of control, to being the last at-bat when you need a run to win, each essay interprets “emergency” differently.

Coman, Carolyn. 2004. The Big House. Illustrated by Rob Shepperson. Ashville, NC: Front Street. ISBN: 1-932425-09-8, $16.95. Reviews • Readers Advisory

With their parents in prison for embezzlement, Ivy and her younger brother, Ray, must live with the snobby heiress whose accusations sent them “up the river.” Ivy and Ray discover secrets that prompt them to case the joint, get the skinny on what’s really going on, and make plans to spring their parents.

Cooper, Susan. 2005. The Magician’s Boy. Illustrated by Serena Riglietti. New York: McElderry Books. ISBN: 0-689-87622-X, $14.95. Reviews • Readers Advisory

When a magician’s apprentice loses the puppet of Saint George, his master forces him to search for it in the Land of Story. The boy’s quest through well-known nursery rhymes and folk tales, leads him to face many challenges and narrowly escape with his life.

Fleischman, Sid. The Giant Rat of Sumatra or Pirates Galore. New York: Greenwillow. Library Edition ISBN: 0-06-074239-9, $16.89; Trade Edition ISBN: 0-06-074238-0, $15.99. Reviews • Readers Advisory

“Shipwreck,” a twelve-year-old cabin boy, narrates a swash-buckling adventure containing an abundance of plot dualities, twists, and turns. His breezy narrative takes readers into the waning days of Mexican rule in California and a high-spirited romp of revenge, romance, and rivalry.

Frank, John. 2004. The Toughest Cowboy. Illustrated by Zachary Pullen. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN: 0-689-83461-6, $17.95. Reviews • Readers Advisory

Grizz Brickbottom and his gang of cattle rustlers need some companionship and a little civilizing. The solution: Foofy the miniature poodle who takes a bunch of rough, dirty cowboys and turn them into good, clean businessmen.

Gottfried, Maya. 2005. Good Dog. Illustrated by Robert Rahway Zakanitch. New York: Knopf. ISBN: 0-375-83049-9, $15.95. Reviews • Readers Advisory

This picture book collection of free-verse poetry includes poems written in the distinctive voices of various dog breeds. Full-page painted portraits of the canines and smaller preliminary pencil sketches accompany the verses.

Hayes, Joe. 2004. Ghost Fever/Mal de Fantasma. Illustrated by Mona Pennypacker. El Paso: Cinco Puntos. ISBN: 0-938317-83-0, $14.95. Reviews • Readers Advisory

Set in the railroad town of Duston, Arizona, this dual language story begins when Frank Padilla and his two daughters move into a rundown house rumored to be haunted. There, fourteen-year-old Elena learns the truth as she and her abuletia to try and solve an old, supernatural mystery.

Hill, Elizabeth Starr. 2004. Wildfire! Illustrated by Rob Shepperson. New York: Farrar. ISBN: 0-374-31712-7, $16.00. Reviews • Readers Advisory

Ben and newcomer Elliott don't hit it off when Elliott belittles their Florida town. And the hostility escalates when Elliott adopts the puppy Ben wants so badly and then turns dangerous when he challenges Ben to set off fireworks in the middle of a drought.

Jackson, Donna M. 2004. In Your Face: The Facts About Your Features. New York: Viking. ISBN: 0-670-03657-9, $17.99. Reviews • Readers Advisory

Readers are encouraged to undertake a closer examination of a familiar part of their anatomy in this logical, cumulative study. A wide variety of topics (from face decorating to reconstruction) are introduced in text that blends scientific inquiry with social and cultural issues.

LaFevers, R. L. 2004. The Forging of the Blade (Lowthar’s Blade Trilogy, Book 1). New York: Dutton. ISBN: 0-525-47349-1, $15.99. Reviews • Readers Advisory

Evil times fall over the land of Lowthar after the warlord Mordig murders the true King. Then the blacksmiths, including Kendric’s father, vanish. Seeking answers, Kendric begins a quest full of danger, a journey threatened with Mawr hounds lurking in the shadows and grymclaws circling the skies.

McGill, Alice. 2004. Sure As Sunrise: Stories of Bruh Rabbit & His Walkin’ Talkin’ Friends. Illustrated by Don Tate. New York: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN: 0-618-21196-9, $17.00. Reviews • Readers Advisory

Drawing on her North Carolina heritage, storyteller McGill retells five Bruh Rabbit tales, including the well-known “Please Don’t Fling Me in the Briar Patch” and less familiar selections such as “Looking to Get Married.” Brief introductions and notes accompany each story.

Park, Linda Sue. 2005. Project Mulberry. New York: Clarion. ISBN: 0-618-47786-1, $16.00. Audio Cassette, Listening Library (2005), ISBN: 0-307-24533-0, $18.00. Audio CD, Listening Library (2005), ISBN: 0-307-24534-9, $28.00. Reviews • Readers Advisory

Julia Song, who wishes to downplay her Korean background, is hesitant to raise silkworms for a school science project because she thinks it’s too Korean. But soon she and her best friend, Patrick, learn much about silkworms and themselves.

Riordan, Rick. 2005. The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson & The Olympians, Book 1). New York: Hyperion. ISBN: 0-7868-5629-7, $17.95. Audio Cassette, Listening Library (2005), ISBN: 0-307-24528-4, $28.00. Audio CD, Listening Library (2005), ISBN: 0-307-24530-6, $40.00. Reviews • Readers Advisory

Percy Jackson has just found out that not only is he the son of an Olympic god, but he is the prime suspect in the mystery surrounding Zeus’s stolen lightning bolt. Join Percy and his friends as they battle the gods and monsters of Mount Olympus in modern day America.

Sabuda, Robert and Matthew Reinhart. Encyclopedia Prehistorica: Dinosaurs. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick. ISBN: 0-7636-2228-1, $26.99. Reviews • Readers Advisory

Beginning with the first dinosaur in the Triassic period and ending with possible reasons for the extinction of dinosaurs 65 million years ago, this intricate paper-engineered volume includes six spreads of dinosaur pop-ups and information.

Siy, Alexandra & Dennis Kunkel. 2005. Mosquito Bite. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge. ISBN: 1-57091-591-1, $15.95. Paper Edition, Charlesbridge (2006), ISBN: 1-507091-592-X, $6.99. Reviews • Readers Advisory

Here’s a mosquito, up close and personal. “Bordered with scales, her wings whine, beating about 500 times in one second.” And she’s coming closer, showing (through photomicrographs) readers why and how she bites unsuspecting humans.

Weeks, Sarah. 2004. So B. It: A Novel. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0-06-623622-3, $15.99. Paper Edition, HarperTrophy (2005) ISBN: 0-06-441047-1, $6.99. Audio CD, HarperChildrens Audio (2004), ISBN: 0-06-075481-8, $25.95. Reviews • Readers Advisory

For twelve years Heidi has lived a sheltered life, home schooled by her agoraphobic neighbor and caring for her mentally retarded mother, So B. It. But with a newly discovered photograph, Heidi begins a cross-country quest to learn the truth about her mother and her own background.

White, Andrea. 2005. Surviving Antarctica: Reality TV 2083. New York: Eos. Library Edition ISBN: 0-06-055455-X, $16.89. Trade Edition ISBN: 0-06-055454-1, $15.99. Reviews • Readers Advisory

In 2083 a new reality television show debuts. It’s called Historical Survivor and simulates Robert F. Scott’s 1912 expedition to Antarctica. Each contestant who finishes receives a cash prize. In this story five fourteen year old participants embark on the dangerous, but exhilarating journey but there are adults who play a role in their voyage.

Wiles, Deborah. 2005. Each Little Bird That Sings. New York: Gulliver/Harcourt. ISBN: 0-15-205113-9, $16.00. Audio CD, Listening Library (2005) ISBN: 0-307-28230-9, $35.00. Reviews • Readers Advisory

For Comfort Snowberger, whose family runs the funeral home in Snapfinger, Mississippi, death is a way of life. But, when her Great Uncle Edisto and then her Great-Great Aunt Florentine die, Comfort comes face to face with “the messy glory of life” accepting and beginning to understand its grief, fear, joy, hope and love.

Yoo, Paula. 2005. Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds: The Sammy Lee Story. New York: Lee & Low. ISBN: 1-58430-247-X, $16.95. Reviews • Readers Advisory

Both text and sepia-toned illustrations capture the time period and struggles of Sammy Lee, the first Asian American to win an Olympic gold medal in 1948. This biography relates how one man overcame formidable odds in following his dream without disrespecting his father.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

The TBA Committee selected the 2006-2007 Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List titles after receiving suggestions from librarians, teachers, parents, students and others. The Master List books, all recommended by one or more reviewing source, should be evaluated in terms of each library’s selection policy. It is not mandatory that a school or public library purchase all titles listed.

TBA Home • TLA Home

2005-2006 Bluebonnet Books

Winner: Sea Dogs, by Lisa Wheeler

   Anderson, Janet S. 2003. The Last Treasure.

After receiving a mysterious summons from a distant cousin, Ellsworth Smith returns to his father’s family home and quickly becomes embroiled in a quest to find an elusive treasure.

      Balliett, Blue. 2004. Chasing Vermeer.

Coincidences and puzzles abound in this fast-paced mystery as two eleven-year-olds, Petra and Calder, search for clues to a missing Vermeer.

      Borden, Louise. 2004. Sea Clocks: The Story of Longitude.

Spare prose and delicate pen and ink watercolors (reminiscent of the eighteenth century setting), capture John Harrison’s persistent and dedicated forty-year quest to make an instrument that determines longitude on a moving ship.

     Brown, Don. 2003. Mack Made Movies.

The story of silent movies and Mack Sennett, “the King of Comedy” who began his slapstick career as a horse and later became the owner of his own studio, unfolds in this illustrated biography.

     Collins, Suzanne. 2003. Gregor the Overlander.

When Gregor’s sister tumbles through a portal in their New York City apartment complex, he follows her to a parallel world called Underland. There, Gregor discovers that the inhabitants believe him to be their prophesized hero, the “Overland warrior,” sent to save their civilization.

      Divakaruni, Chitra Banerjee. 2003. The Conch Bearer.

India provides the backdrop for this adventure fantasy wherein a young boy, his street urchin cohort, and the mysterious Abhaydatta set off on a quest to return a magical conch shell to its rightful place.

     George, Kristine O’Connell. 2004. Hummingbird Nest: A Journal of Poems.

This kinetic and keen journal of poems traces one family’s experiences with a hummingbird and her young throughout their seasonal activities of nest building, egg hatching, and flying lessons.

      Hannigan, Katherine. 2004. Ida B . . . and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World.
Ida B details her struggles as her insular, home-schooled world on an idyllic Wisconsin farm with her loving and devoted parents is replaced by public schooling, the sale of part of their land, and her Mother’s battle with cancer.

      Henkes, Kevin. 2003. Olive’s Ocean.

Over the course of one memorable summer, Martha experiences a myriad of events and emotions as she embarks on an affirming rite of passage from childhood innocence to adolescent awareness of her world.

      Hopkinson, Deborah. 2004. Sailing for Gold: The Klondike Kid, Book 1.

Amidst the chaos in Seattle at the beginning of the Klondike gold rush, orphaned Davey overcomes a multitude of obstacles as he searches for his only living relative, an uncle who lives somewhere in the newly discovered gold fields.

      Krull, Kathleen. 2004. The Boy on Fairfield Street: How Ted Geisel Grew Up to Become Dr. Seuss.
Biographer Krull introduces readers to the first twenty-two years in Ted Geisel’s life; spot art reproductions of familiar characters from Dr. Seuss’s many works remind children of these favored books and tie into detailed backmatter concerning Dr. Seuss’s later life and work.

      Loy, Jessica. 2003. Follow the Trail: A Young Person’s Guide to the Great Outdoors.

Filled with numerous ideas, safety rules, and games, as well as ways to identify animal tracks, wildflowers, and constellations, this outdoor guide provides a roadmap for camping fun and excitement.

      Mann, Elizabeth. 2003. Empire State Building.

From inception to completion, Mann tracks the wonders of architecture, engineering, and construction that went into the creation of the Empire State Building. Social and political profiles of both millionaires and laborers capture the essence of the individuals who dreamed of and built this landmark.

      Marsden, Carolyn. 2004. Silk Umbrellas.
At eleven, Noi, like her grandmother, paints delicate designs on silk umbrellas that she sells in the local Thai market. But, when this income fails to sustain the family, she must struggle to reconcile her own dreams with her mother’s plan for her to work in a factory.

      Montgomery, Sy. 2004. The Tarantula Scientist.
Follow scientist Samuel Marshall at work in the field in French Guiana, as well as in the Hiram College lab in Ohio, while he studies all kinds of tarantulas, including the Goliath birdeater, native to French Guiana and as big as a dinner plate.

      Raven, Margot Theis. 2004. Circle Unbroken: The Story of a Basket and Its People.

Through her grandmother’s tales, a young girl learns the story of her African-American heritage as well as the art of making traditional Gullah sweetgrass baskets.

      Sandin, Joan. 2003. Coyote School News.

Monchi Ramirez guides readers through the 1938 school year in a small school in rural Arizona. Students celebrate La Fiesta de los Vanqueros and strive to win baseball games as well as a Perfect Attendance Award in this illustrated historical fiction.

      Wheeler, Lisa. 2004. Seadogs: An Epic Ocean Operetta.
Staged as an operetta, the final voyage (including a pirate attack and a search for buried treasure) of a small but courageous canine crew plays out in lively verse and comic book like illustrations.

      Wise, William. 2004. Christopher Mouse: The Tale of a Small Traveler.

In this firstmouse narrative, young Christopher relates episodes of his life in short, fast-paced chapters as he deals with a dangerous cat, a scheming boy, and a young taxidermist.

      Youme. 2004. Sélavi, That Is Life: A Haitian Story of Hope.

Through a moving text and the beauty of batik, collage, and photographs, Youme presents the circumstances of a group of street children in Haiti and shows how together they build a home in the midst of civil unrest.