Tag Archives: Children’s Book Week

Children’s Book Week: May 2-8, 2016

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Have you ever loved a children’s book so much you wished there was a holiday to celebrate it? You aren’t alone; the Children’s Book Council, the sponsor of the national Children’s Book Week, claims that “children’s books and literacy are life-changers” and children, teenagers, adults, students, librarians, teachers, parents, and many more agree! The love of children’s books isn’t exactly new; as early as 1913, the librarian for the Boy Scouts of America lobbied for a nation-wide, week-long celebration of children’s literature. In 1919, that dream became a reality, and Children’s Book Week was born.  In 2016, the Children’s Book Council and Every Child a Reader, a non-profit dedicated to promoting literacy in young people, will work together from May 2 through 8 to mark the 97th Children’’s Book Week.

If you want to observe Children’s Book Week, check for an official event in your state! For the 3rd year in a row, all 50 states will hold events and invite children’s book authors and illustrators to bookstores, schools, and libraries to speak, read, and greet their fans. If you can’t make it to an event but still want to participate, download the free 2016 Children’s Book Week bookmark, this year designed by award-winning author and illustrator CeCe Bell, to use in your own celebration.

This month, the S-Collection blog bibliography will focus on books that have been selected for the Children’s and Teen Choice Book Awards, which are sponsored by the Children’s Book Council and announced yearly during Children’s Book Week.  In honor of young readers, the Children’s and Teen Choice Book Awards are the only awards where winners are selected by children and teens. Award categories include K-2nd grade, 3-4th grade, 5-6th grade, Teens, Debut Authors, and Illustrator. Check out lists of all the winners and finalists of past years here and check back in mid-May to see the list of 2016 winners!

K-2nd Grade Book-of-the-Year Winners

Bogan, Paulette.
Lulu the Big Little Chick. 2009.
Lulu is tired of always being told she’s too little to do things, so she decides to run away…but sometimes a little chick in a big world needs her mama!
[SSHEL S Collection SE. B633l]

Cohen, Jeff.
Eva and Sadie and the Worst Haircut Ever. 2014.
When big sister Sadie notices that little sister Eva’s hair is getting out of control, she decides to take the matter—and the scissors—into her own hands. When she finishes…uh-oh. What will their mom and dad say? This adorable romp was inspired by an interview conducted by the author with his two daughters for NPR.
[SSHEL S Collection Q. SE. C66053e]

DaCosta, Barbara.
Nighttime Ninja. 2012.
The Nighttime Ninja creeps silently through the house while everyone is asleep. What is his mission—and can he complete it?
[SSHEL S Collection SE. D1189]

Daywalt, Drew.
The Day the Crayons Quit. 2013.
The crayons have had quite enough of their owner Duncan—Blue is tired of being used for bodies of water, Beige is feeling neglected, and Orange and Yellow can never agree who should be used to draw the sun. Each color writes Duncan a letter explaining why they absolutely, definitely, without a doubt, quit. What’s poor Duncan to do?
[SSHEL S Collection and CCB SE. D337d]

Kerby, Johanna.
Little Pink Pup. 2010.
In this heartwarming true story, Pink the pig is the runt of his litter; he is so little that his piggy brothers and sisters push him out the way at dinnertime. Luckily, Tink the dachshund steps in to help and Pink is accepted into his adoptive puppy family.
[SSHEL S Collection and CCB SE. K4522l]

Laminack, Lester L.
Three Hens and a Peacock. 2011.
Three hardworking hens are disgruntled when a peacock arrives at their farm—they do all the work laying eggs, but the flashy peacock gets all the attention! A wise old hound dog suggests that the hens and peacock trade places, and they learn that doing someone else’s job isn’t as easy as it looks.
[SSHEL S Collection Q. SE. L186t]

Schaefer, Lola M.
Frankie Stein. 2007.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank N. Stein are nothing at all like their son. Monsters should be scary, but Frankie is cute. Despite his parents’ best efforts, Frankie just doesn’t fit in with his family. They love him anyway, and Frankie discovers how he can be scary—just in his own way.
[SSHEL S Collection SE. Sch134f]

Willems, Mo.
The Pigeon Wants a Puppy. 2008.
The Pigeon is back at it again—and this time, he really, really, REALLY wants a puppy. Why can’t he have one?! Children who have giggled through Willems’ other Pigeon books will be happy to see their silly, stubborn friend in the pages of this book.
[SSHEL S Collection and CCB SE. W667pp]

3rd-4th Grade Book-of-the-Year Winners

Bruel, Nick.
Bad Kitty for President. 2012.
Who will win the election for president of the Neighborhood Cat Coalition? All the kitties on the right side of the street vote for one candidate, and all the kitties on the left side of the street vote for the other. It all comes down to one vote—who will Old Kitty choose?
[SSHEL S Collection S. B832bap]

Curtis, Jennifer.
Kali’s Story: An Orphaned Polar Bear Rescue. 2014.
Orphaned polar bear cub Kali is rescued and taken to live first at the Anchorage Zoo in Alaska before reaching his final home at the Buffalo Zoo in New York, where he meets his roommate, another polar bear named Luna. Beautiful photographs document the whole journey.
[SSHEL S Collection S. 599.786 C944k]

Krosoczka, Jarrett.
Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute. 2009.
Lunch Lady is no ordinary school employee—she’s a crime fighter! In this graphic novel she discovers an evil plot to replace everyone’s favorite teachers with robots and serves up justice with a side of tater tots.
[SSHEL S Collection S. 741.5973 K928lc]

Shannon, David.
Bugs in My Hair! 2013.
Lice! Oh, no! The pesky little critters are the main focus of this laugh-out-loud book that pairs the story of an itchy-headed young boy with information about what to do when you’ve got bugs in your hair.
[CCB Q. SE. Sh191b]

Williams, Dinah.
Spooky Cemeteries. 2008.
In this piece of historical nonfiction, readers learn about eleven of the scariest, creepiest cemeteries in the world and the stories of the people buried there, including the tale of Mercy Brown, a young girl whose father believed she was a vampire.
[SSHEL S Collection S. 133.122 W6713s]

5th-6th Grade Book-of-the-Year Award Winners

Gee, Joshua.
Encyclopedia Horrifica: The Terrifying Truth! About Vampires, Ghosts, Monsters, and More. 2007.
This exciting encyclopedia provides reference entries about all kinds of spooky and ghoulish happenings. Readers learn the origin stories behind some scary stories and read eyewitness accounts of others…if they dare!
[SSHEL S Collection S. 001.9 G27e]

Gownley, Jimmy.
The Dumbest Idea Ever. 2014.
Sometimes dumb ideas turn your life upside down. When 13-year-old Jimmy gets the chicken pox and misses his championship basketball game, everything seems terrible…could a dumb idea fix his problems and be the best thing that ever happened to him?
[SSHEL S Collection S. 741.5973 G748d]

Krieger, Emily.
National Geographic Kids: Myths Busted! 2013.
The colorful photos and fun facts in this book debunk commonly circulated myths: do humans really eat spiders while they sleep? Do fortune cookies really come from China? Readers will learn the answers in this colorful encyclopedia-style book!
[SSHEL S Collection S. 001.96 K893m]

Myracle, Lauren.
Thirteen. 2008.
Winnie is finally thirteen! She’s understandably excited, but thirteen brings all kinds of relationship challenges—one new, mostly great boyfriend and two old friends who just can’t act their age—that Winnie wasn’t expecting.
[SSHEL S Collection S. M996th]

Riordan, Rick.
The Red Pyramid. 2010.
In this first book of The Kane Chronicles, Sadie and Carter must go on a journey to uncover secrets about their family after their father unleashes the Egyptian god Set, who plans to take kingship of the other gods and eventually destroy the world.
[SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. R479r]

Russell, Rachel Renée.
Tales from a Not-so-Graceful Ice Princess. 2012.
In this fourth book in the Dork Diaries series, Nikki tries to help her crush, who volunteers at a local animal shelter in danger of closing. Nikki and her friends enter an ice-skating contest, planning to use the prize money to save the shelter (and impress the crush). As always, nothing in Nikki’s life is simple, and an interfering classmate tries to foil her plan.
[SSHEL S Collection S. R917tg]

Schmidt, Gary D.
Okay for Now. 2011.
Doug Swieteck just moved to town, is totally friendless, and has a real jerk of an older brother. Doug finds refuge in a new acquaintance, Lil, as well as in the local library, and learns important lessons about who he was, is, and can be.
[SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. Sch53o]

Teen Book-of-the-Year Award Winners

Cass, Kiera.
The One. 2014.
In the conclusion to the Selection series, America Singer finds herself a finalist in the competition for Prince Maxon’s heart while political unrest rises outside the castle walls.
[SSHEL S Collection S. C2707o, Residence Halls 813 C2707on]

Clare, Cassandra.
Clockwork Prince. 2011.
In the second installment in the Infernal Devices series, the council attempts to strip Charlotte of her power while Tessa works with the London Shadowhunters to destroy the clockwork army.
[SSHEL S Collection S. C541clo, Uni High Fiction C541clo, Residence Halls 813 C5412clp]

Collins, Suzanne.
Catching Fire. 2009.
In the second Hunger Games book, Katniss, victor of the 74th Games, finds herself back in the arena and fighting for her life once more.
[SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. C696c, Uni High Fiction C696c, Undergrad PS3603.04558 C383 2009, Residence Halls 813 C6963ca]

Green, John.
The Fault in Our Stars. 2012.
Hazel, a teenage girl with stage IV thyroid cancer, meets Gus, a cancer survivor with a different perspective on life and death, and the two embark on a relationship.
[CCB S. G823f, Uni High Fiction G823f, Undergrad PS3607.R43293 F38 2012, Residence Halls 813 G8234fa]

Green, John and David Levithan.
Will Grayson, Will Grayson. 2010.
Two teens, each named Will Grayson, find that their lives collide and intertwine in unexpected, important, and—let’s face it—fun ways.
[CCB S. G823w, Uni High Fiction G823w, Undergrad PS3607.R43293 W5 2010, Residence Halls 813 G8234wi]

Meyer, Stephanie.
Breaking Dawn. 2008.
The Twilight saga comes to a close in this third book, in which Bella and Edward begin their married life with a complicated pregnancy and a battle for immortal existence as they know it.
[Uni High Fiction M5758b, Undergrad PS3613. E979 B74 2008, Residence Halls 813 M5758br]

Roth, Veronica.
Allegiant. 2013.
In the final installment in the Divergent trilogy, Tris fights to create a new world that she can believe in—one outside the factions she was taught to trust.
[CCB S. R7427al, Uni High Fiction R724a, Residence Halls 813 R7427al]

Children’s Book Week, May 11-17, 2009

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Last month, the S-collection celebrated El Dia de Los Ninos/El Dia de Los Libros, an annual event that promotes literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds. The celebration and promotion of young readers continues this month, with Children’s Book Week, an annual event sponsored by the Children’s Book Council. As part of Children’s Book Week, held this year from May 11-17, youth are invited to vote for their favorite titles and authors as part of the Children’s Choice Book Awards, the only reader-driven awards given to authors and illustrators of books for children and teens. Please visit www.bookweekonline.com to help young readers vote for their favorite books, get tips on planning an event in your classroom or library, or for more information on the history of Children’s Book Week.

And the nominees for this year’s awards are…
Grades K-2 category:
Staake, Bob.
The Donut Chef. 2008.
In this delicious tale, a baker hangs out his shingle on a small street and soon the line for his donuts stretches down the block. But it’s not long before the competition arrives and a battle of the bakers ensues.
[Education S Collection SE. St111d]

Himmelman, John.
Katie Loves the Kittens. 2008.
When Sara Ann brings home three little kittens, Katie the dog’s enthusiasm frightens the kittens away, until she learns that quiet patience is sometimes needed to begin a friendship.
[Education S Collection SE. H576k]

Willems, Mo.
The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! 2008.
The pigeon really, really wants a puppy, but when a puppy arrives the pigeon changes its mind.
[Education S Collection SE. W667pp]

Mariconda, Barbara.
Sort it Out! 2008.
Packy the Packrat’s mother has had enough! It’s time that he sorts through his ever-growing collection of trinkets and puts them away.

Rubin, Adam.
Those Darn Squirrels! 2008.
Old Man Fookwire is a grump. The only thing he likes to do is paint pictures of the birds that visit his backyard. So he decides to get them to stay by putting up beautiful birdfeeders filled with seeds and berries. Unfortunately, the squirrels like the treats, too, and make a daring raid on the feeders.
Grades 3-4 category:
Holm, Jennifer.
Babymouse #8: Puppy Love. 2007.
Babymouse doesn’t exactly have a great history with pets–even her goldfish ran away from home. But all that’s about to change. Will Babymouse get the dog of her dreams?

Swain, Ruth Freeman.
Underwear: What We Wear Under There. 2008.
With uproarious illustrations by John O’Brian, Ruth Freeman Swain sets out to discover the truth behind this curious topic. A time line is included.

Williams, Dinah.
Spooky Cemeteries. 2008.
Do the dead tell tales? Readers will find out in this scary trip through 11 of the world’s spookiest graveyards!

Brennan-Nelson, Denise.
Willow. 2008.
Miss Hawthorn doesn’t like painting out of the lines, until new student Willow joins the class. Magical things can happen when your imagination is allowed to run wild, and for Miss Hawthorn the notion of what is art and what is possible is forever changed.

DK Publishing.
One Million Things: A Visual Encyclopedia. 2008.
Featuring gorgeous photographs that illustrate and educate, this visual encyclopedia is jam-packed with thousands and thousands of images that bring more than one million things to light.
Grades 5-6 category:
Claybourne, Anna.
100 Most Dangerous Things on the Planet. 2008.
Kids will learn how to handle natural disasters, extreme weather, dangerous animals, and being lost in the wild. From asteroid strikes to avalanches, being lost in a cave to being attacked by an alligator, this is the ultimate survival guide!

Kibuishi, Kazu.
Amulet: The Stonekeeper. 2008.
Emily’s and Narvin’s mother is kidnapped and dragged into a strange and magical world where, it seems, the children’s great-grandfather has been before. It’s up to the children to set things right and save their mother’s life.
[Center for Children’s Books S. K533s]

Boos, Ben.
Swords: An Artist’s Devotion. 2008.
Illustrated with breathtaking intricacy, a celebration of swords and swordsmen spans history and cultures to review the ancient warriors who lived by the sword, from Beowulf to medieval knights, and from stealthy ninja and samurai to legendary maidens of war.
[Education S Collection Q. S.623.441 B64449s]

Lupica, Mike.
The Big Field. 2008.
When fourteen-year-old baseball player Hutch feels threatened by the arrival of a new teammate named Darryl, he tries to work through his insecurities about both Darryl and his remote and silent father, who was once a great ballplayer too.
[Education S Collection S. L973b]

Myracle, Lauren.
Thirteen. 2008.
Winnie’s thirteenth year brings many joys and challenges as she negotiates her relationship with her first boyfriend and realizes that change is inevitable in her friends, family, and even herself.
[Education S Collection S. M996th]
Teen Category:
Meyer, Stephenie.
Breaking Dawn. 2008.
In the fourth and final book in the #1 bestselling teen vampire Twilight Saga, questions will be answered and the fate of Bella and Edward will be revealed.
[Uni High M5758b]

Collins, Suzanne.
The Hunger Games. 2008.
In a future North America, where the rulers of Panem maintain control through an annual televised survival competition pitting young people from each of the twelve districts against one another, sixteen-year-old Katniss’s skills are put to the test when she voluntarily takes her younger sister’s place.
[Education S Collection S. C696h]

Dessen, Sarah.
Lock and Key. 2008.
When she is abandoned by her alcoholic mother, high school senior Ruby winds up living with Cora, the sister she has not seen for ten years, and learns about Cora’s new life, what makes a family, how to allow people to help her when she needs it, and that she too has something to offer others.
[Education S Collection S. D472l]

Greer, John.
Paper Towns. 2008.
One month before graduating from his Central Florida high school, Quentin “Q” Jacobsen basks in the predictable boringness of his life until the beautiful and exciting Margo Roth Spiegelman, Q’s neighbor and classmate, takes him on a midnight adventure and then mysteriously disappears.
[Education S Collection S. G823p]

Cabot, Meg.
Airhead. 2008.
Sixteen-year-old Emerson Watts, an advanced placement student with a disdain for fashion, is the recipient of a “whole body transplant” and finds herself transformed into one of the world’s most famous teen supermodels.
[Education S Collection S. C1125ai]
* Descriptions of books not yet in our collection are taken from the publishers’ websites. Books listed without call numbers are being ordered for the S-Collection.

Celebrate National Children’s Book Week, November 14-20, 2005!

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National Children’s Book Week is an opportunity to celebrate and encourage reading. Additional information about National Children’s Book Week can be found at: http://www.cbcbooks.org/cbw/

In our library, we have an annual event that supports reading, particularly in the classroom. Each year we sponsor a free poster and book jacket giveaway. Advertised to students and faculty in the teacher education and library and information science programs, the event offers an opportunity to obtain free posters, book jackets, and miscellaneous items. Some possible uses for the posters and book jackets are:

–to decorate a classroom or office
–to hold up while giving a book talk
–to use in an art project
–to create a story from the picture/title and write about it

Book jackets are gathered each year from those books that are identified as not needing book jackets. Posters are obtained from conferences and publishers, as are other miscellaneous items such as stickers, tote bags, and activity packets. While the library uses many posters for display, some of the older posters are identified for future giveaway. This event promotes reading, allows the library to constructively dispose of unneeded items, and also publicizes the library’s collection of teaching materials and children’s books. This year our annual giveaway was so successful that seven boxes of giveaway items disappeared in the first two and a half hours!