KEYSTONE TO READING ELEMENTARY BOOK AWARD LISTS
2014-2015
Annotated Preschool List
Fox Forgets by Suzanne Bloom
Goose has an errand to do and asks Fox to let Bear know he will be right back. When Fox forgets, Bear gets worried.
Look What I Can Do! by Nancy Viau
This book celebrates how young animals as well as young children learn new things as they grow.
One-Dog Sleigh by by Mary Cassanova
A little girl hitches up her sleigh to take her dog for a ride, but soon other forest animals ask to join them. Will there be enough room? This book is filled with lyrical text, rhythm, and rhyme as well as examples of strong vocabulary words.
Stripes of All Types by Susan Stockdale
2014 PA One Book: Every Young Child selection
This book provides an introduction to animals with stripes around the world; includes additional information about each animal and where it lives as well as an interactive matching game.
The Shape of My Heart by Mark Sperring
Young readers are encouraged to find basic shapes in ordinary things in this
When the Monsters Are Quiet by Alicia Lloyd
PA Author
This book will help young children overcome bedtime worries. It includes suggestions for parents of beginning reading strategies they can try at home.
KEYSTONE TO READING ELEMENTARY BOOK AWARD LISTS
2014-2015
Annotated Primary List
Bats Biggest! Littlest! by Sandra Markle (Nonfiction)
In this book you will find questions and answers about bats of all sizes. The end pages provide additional information and a glossary.
Big Snow by Jonathan Bean
PA Author
A little boy anticipates a big snow storm. While he waits, he “helps” his mother with household chores which always remind him of the possible big snow.
Bits & Pieces by Judy Schachner
PA Author
Tink, who was raised by the Grannyman, is all grown up and raising a kitty of his own. Tink yearns for adventure and the outdoors, so one day he escapes and spends one night as an outdoor cat before being returned.
Forest Has a Song by Amy Ludwig Vanderwater (Poetry)
Vanderwater invites us, through a collection of poems, to accompany her on a year-long journey through a forest; includes a variety of structures and techniques that can serve as models and are sure to inspire students to write.
Max and the Tag-Along Moon by Floyd Cooper
A young boy has to say good-bye to his Granpa who reminds him that the moon at his house is the same moon that will follow him all the way home. Wonderful paintings that capture the wonder of the moon and the love between Granpa and his grandson.
The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt
All the crayons in Duncan’s box write him letters of complaint, but by using his imagination he finds a way to make them all happy again. Wonderful examples of persona writing!
The Tree Lady by H. Joseph Hopkins (Nonfiction – Biography)
This book tells the story of Kate Sessions who started a plant nursery in San Diego. Through her work, City Park (later named Balboa Park) was transformed from a dusty desert to a lush green landscape.
This Is the Rope by Jacqueline Woodson
This is the story of a little girl who finds a rope that becomes part of her family’s history. It is a story from the Great Migration, when African American families relocated to the north in search of better opportunities.
Trouper by Meg Kearney
Trouper is a three legged dog who runs with a pack of strays. He and his friends are taken to a shelter where one by one he sees his friends taken to new homes. Finally, Trouper is adopted and feels kindness and love for the first time. Told in the voice of the dog.
White Fur Flying by Patricia MacLachlan (Chapter Book)
Zoe’s family rescues dogs, so there is always lots of noise and fur flying around her house. Phillip, a new boy who has moved into the neighborhood, is always silent. Soon Zoe learns that saving dogs and saving boys have a lot in common. This is a touching story about how saving dogs can lead to dogs saving others. It would make a great read aloud for the primary grades, or an independent read for students ready for chapter books.
KEYSTONE TO READING ELEMENTARY BOOK AWARD LISTS
2012-2013
Annotated Intermediate List
A Little Book of Sloth by Lucy Cooke (Nonfiction)
An informational book about sloths that includes wonderful photographs.
A Splash of Red by Jen Bryant (Nonfiction – Biography)
PA Author
Together with the exquisite collages of illustrator Melissa Sweet, Jen helps us learn of the struggles and successes of Pennsylvania artist Horace Pippin. The text offers many lessons for young writers and includes excerpts from some of Pippin’s notebooks.
As Fast As Words Could Fly by Pamela M. Tuck
PA Author
In this book, young Mason Steele teaches himself to type with the help of a gift from his father’s civil rights group. Soon he starts attending a formerly all-white high school where his faces many injustices. But when he competes in the county typing tournament, his skills help break down the barriers of prejudice. (Based on true events).
Duke by Kirby Larson (Chapter Book)
Hobie Hanson’s father is fighting overseas as a pilot during World War II. In order to do his part, Hobie loans his dog, Duke, to the Dogs for Defense program. Soon Duke is involved in the war, too. Hobie regrets his decision and tries to get Duke back, but eventually realizes his must let Duke go. Wonderful themes of bravery, friendship, and loyalty are woven through this story.
Grumbles Forest: Fairy-Tale Voices with a Twist by Jane Yolen and Rebecca Kai Dotlich (Poetry)
This book provides a collection of poems in which the voices of characters from each of fifteen fairy tales are heard. These poems would be excellent to use for teaching point of view.
The Eagles Are Back by Jean Craighead George (Nonfiction)
This is the story of a baby eaglet that hatched and thrived despite odds. With help from a young boy, the eaglet helped to restore the population of American Bald Eagles.
The Matchbox Diary by Paul Fleischman
A little girl visiting her great-grandfather hears the stories of his journey from Italy and his first years in America through the objects he kept in matchboxes. He wanted to record his adventures but could not read or write, so he used objects.
The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp by Kathi Appelt (Chapter Book)
Raccoon brothers Bingo And J’miah, and 12-year-old Chap are all on a mission to save the swamp. At the center of the story is the Sugar Man, cousin to bigfoot, who has been asleep for the past sixty years. He is to be woken only in an emergency, and with wild hogs headed straight for the swamp, there is a definite emergency. Not only that, but two villains want to use the land for a theme park. An engaging story that would make a great read aloud.
The Water Castle by Megan Frazer Blakemore (Chapter Book)
Ephraim and his family move to the Water Castle, their ancestral home. There are secrets hidden here, especially one about a legendary Fountain, and Ephraim is sure finding it will help cure his dad. Together with his friend Mallory, who has been raised in a family who are guardians of the secret, and Will, who puts all his faith in science, they embark on a quest that blurs the lines of magic and science. Readers will wonder: Do you believe in the unbelievable?
Words With Wings by Nikki Grimes (Novel in Verse)
Gabby escapes into a world of daydreams as a way to deal with her parents’ arguments. With the help of a new teacher, Gabby learns to harness her daydreams and become a writer. From Amazon: “…this remarkable verse novel is a celebration of imagination, of friendship, of one girl’s indomitable spirit, and of a teacher’s ability to reach out and change a life.”
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