Members Only

Reading Circle Program

NATIONAL AWARD WINNING BOOKS

2010 Caldecott Medal
The Lion and the Mouse, written and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. Little, Brown Book Group, ©2009. An owl's screech, a mouse's squeak, and a lion's roar transport readers to the Serengeti for this nearly wordless retelling of Aesop's classic fable. In glowing colors, Pinkney's textured watercolor illustrations masterfully portray the relationship between two unlikely friends.

2010 John Newbery Medal
When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead. Random House, ©2009. Twelve-year-old Miranda encounters shifting friendships, a sudden punch, a strange homeless man and mysterious notes that hint at knowledge of the future.

Coretta Scott King Author Award
Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshall, by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. Lerner Publishing Group, ©2009. Bass had a hard life and a strong sense of right and wrong when he was born into slavery in 1838. He became one of the most feared and respected lawmen in what was then called Indian Territory.

Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award
My People, by Langston Hughes, illustrated by Charles R. Smith, Jr.. Simon and Schuster, ©2009. Charles Smith's photographs pair beautifully with the poetry of Langston Hughes. Sepia-toned photographs highlight the 33-word poem.

Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature
Going Bovine, by Libba Bray. Random House, ©2009. Sixteen-year-old slacker Cameron sets off on a road trip to save the world and maybe his own life. A punk angel, a dwarf, a yard gnome and a mad scientist accompany him. This imaginative take on Don Quixote is complex, hilarious and stunning.

Mildred L. Batchelder Award
A Faraway Island, by Annika Thor, translated by Linda Schenck. Random House, ©2009. Originally published in Swedish in 1996, this book tells the story of two Jewish sisters from Austria. The parents of 12-year-old Stephie and her younger sister Nellie, send their daughters to Sweden to escape the Nazis. Nellie adapts easily, but Stephie faces painful challenges. This engaging novel explores the importance of family, friendship and personal growth.

Pura Belpré Author Award
Return to Sender, by Julia Alvarez. Random House, ©2009. Tyler's father hires undocumented workers when he is unable to maintain the family farm. The story discusses the connection between children of different cultures and explores the relationship between American citizens and newcomers.

Pura Belpré Illustrator Award
Fiesta! Celebrate Children's Day/Book Day; Celebremos el día de los niños/El día de los libros, by Pat Mora, illustrated by Rafael López. HarperCollins, ©2009. Latino children invite children of other cultures to their book fiesta. Vibrant colors and the use of magical realism show that the love of reading is universal.

Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal
Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream, written by Tanya Lee Stone. Candlewick Press, ©2009. The idea of women in space might not seem like a big deal today, but it took over 20 years for NASA to recognize that women have the Right Stuff. The book tells the story of the Mercury 13, a group of women aviators and aspiring astronauts who in the early 1960s proved themselves capable but could not overcome discrimination. The book is meticulously researched and illustrated with archival materials and is insightfully and passionately written. ?

Schneider Family Book Award for Middle School
Anything but Typical, by Nora Raleigh Baskin. Simon and Schuster, ©2009.  Jason Blake has autism and considers himself to be anything but typical. Despite this, his life is that of a conventional 12-year-old boy. He wants a girlfriend, to fit in, and to be recognized for his creative writing.

Schneider Family Book Award for Teens
Marcelo in the Real World, by Francisco X. Stork. Scholastic, ©2009.  Marcelo Sandoval, who has Asperger syndrome, is pushed beyond his comfort zone when he is forced to work in his father's law firm. Over a tumultuous summer, Marcelo learns what it is to be a friend, to stand up for what he believes in, and that he can create a place for himself in the real world.

Schneider Family Book Award for Young Children
Django, written and illustrated by Bonnie Christensen. Holtzbrinck, ©2009. Musician Django Reinhardt was in an accident that severely burned his hands and threatened to end his career. Through perseverance he went on to become one of the world's most recognized and appreciated jazz guitarists. The book tell's Reinhardt's biography through colorful oil paintings and lyrical free verse.

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award
Benny and Penny in the Big No-No, by Geoffrey Hayes. TOON BOOKS, ©2009. Siblings Benny and Penny find trouble when curiosity about a mysterious neighbor leads them into unexpected adventures. Each panel's rich artwork reveals the characters' emotions in this graphic novel. Readers will connect with the realistic dialogue and page-turning appeal of the story.

2010 YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults
Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith, by Deborah Heiligman. Macmillan, ©2009. After creating a list of the pros and cons of marriage, science-minded Charles Darwin marries his strictly religious cousin. Little does he know that he is about to embark upon the most loving, creative and intellectually important relationship of his life.