Texas Bluebonnet Awards

Every year, the Texas Bluebonnet Award committee chooses a “master list” of children’s books from the suggestions of students, teachers, librarians, parents and anyone interested in children’s literature.  After they choose the master list, school-age children vote on their picks (they must have read at least six nominated titles) at either their school or library.  The voting takes place in January, so if your kids want to vote, it’s time to start reading!

Here is this year’s master list, from which this year’s winner will be picked.  For more details on selection and voting visit the Texas Bluebonnet Award’s official website:

 Firegirl. by Tony Abbott

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.

The Blue Ghost. By Marion Dane Bauer, Illustrated by Suling Wang.

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.

 The Greatest Skating Race: A World War II Story from the Netherlands. By Louise Borden Illustrated by Niki Daly.

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.

 The Misadventures of Maude March. By Audrey Couloumbis

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.

Chicken Boy. By Frances O’ Roark Dowell

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.

Who Stole Halloween? By Martha Freeman

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.

Double Identity. By Margaret Peterson Haddix

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.

Weedflower. Cynthia Kadohata

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.

The Ghost’s Grave. By Peg Kehret

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.

The Year of the Dog. By Grace Lin

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.

Outside and Inside Mummies. By Sandra Markle

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.

Hubert Invents the Wheel. Claire and Monte Montgomery Illustrated by Jeff Shelly.

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.

Roxie and the Hooligans. Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

“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.

Down Girl and Sit: On the Road. Lucy Nolan Illustrated by Mike Reed.

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.

Pompeii: Lost and Found. By Mary Pope Osborne Illustrated by Bonnie Christensen.

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.

Ballet of the Elephants. By Leda Schubert Illustrated by Robert Parker.

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.

Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo. By Obert Skye 

 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.

Bella at Midnight. By Diane Stanley.

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.

George Crum and the Saratoga Chip. By Gaylia Taylor.

 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.

The Earth Dragon Awakes: The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. By Laurence Yep. 

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.

Children’s Book Week

Children’s Book Week, sponsored by the Children’s Book Council, runs from November 12-18 this year and celebrates the best in children’s literature.

 What are the best books for children?  Many different organizations and individuals have developed lists to determine this question.  So, in celebration of children’s literature, we will be regularly featuring various children’s book lists throughout the month of November.

In 2002, Publisher’s Weekly created a list of the top-selling children’s books of all-time, through 2000.  While no determination of the value of the book as literature, the list does determine which books have endured through the years.

 Here are the top-ten sellers in Hardcover:

1. The Poky Little Puppy, Janette Sebring Lowrey (1942)
2. The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Beatrix Potter (1902)
3. Tootle, Gertrude Crampton (1945)
4. Green Eggs and Ham, Dr. Seuss (1960)
5. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J. K. Rowling (2000)
6. Pat the Bunny, Dorothy Kunhardt (1940)
7. Saggy Baggy Elephant, Kathryn and Byron Jackson (1947)
8. Scuffy the Tugboat, Gertrude Crampton (1955)
9. The Cat in the Hat, Dr. Seuss (1957)
10. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, J. K. Rowling (1999)

Click here for the complete list

They also compiled a list for the best-selling children’s paperbacks:

1. Charlotte’s Web, E. B. White; illustrated by Garth Williams (1974)
2. The Outsiders, S. E. Hinton (1968)
3. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Judy Blume (1976)
4. Love You Forever, Robert Munsch; illustrated by Sheila McGraw (1986)
5. Where the Red Fern Grows, Wilson Rawls (1973)
6. Island of the Blue Dolphins, Scott O’Dell (1971)
7. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, J. K. Rowling (1999)
8. Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret, Judy Blume (1972)
9. Shane, Jack Schaeffer (1972)
10. The Indian in the Cupboard, Lynne Reid Banks (1982)

Click here for the complete list.

I’m Not Scared!

Are your children afraid of the dark?  Are you?  Read “I’m Not Scared!” by Jonathan Allen.  This simple, boldly illustrated book features Baby Owl and his stuffed pal, Owly, as they travel alone through the night-time woods.  Baby Owl’s adventures in the dark will reassure your frightened children, and help them realize that it’s okay to be afraid. 

I highly recommend this book for ages 2-5.  The short text and bright pictures make it an ideal read-aloud book.   Jonathan Allen also wrote/illustrated I’m Not Cute and Mucky Moose. 

posted by Dana Z.

Ed Emberley

    Today is author and illustrator Ed Emberley’s birthday!  Emberley has been writing children’s picture and drawing books since 1961, when he published his first work, The Flea on the Wing.  Drummer Hoff , a collaboration between him and his wife, Barbara Emberley won the Caldecott Medal in 1968.  In August of this year, Emberley released his latest picture book, Ed Emberley’s Bye-Bye, Big Bad Bellybug.  His body of children’s fiction and illustration work is prolific; however, most people probably know him for his many instructional drawing books for children, including  Ed Emberley’s Drawing Book of Weirdos and Fingerprint Drawing Book.  In all, Ed Emberley has written about 80 books throughout his life, but only about 20 are still in print.  To find out more about Emberley and his work visit his website and check out his written and illustrated works:

 Go Away, Big Green Monster!

Three: An Emberley Family Sketchbook

Ed Emberley’s Big Green Drawing Book

Ed Emberley’s Big Orange Drawing Book