The Monarch Award is a K-3 readers' choice book award.
The name Monarch was chosen because of its familiarity to K-3 children and to symbolize the growth, change and freedom that becoming a reader brings. The Monarch is designed to encourage children to read critically and become familiar with children's books, authors and illustrators. The program is open to all K-3 age children in Illinois.
Past winners include Shark vs. Train, Rhyming Dust Bunnies, Scaredy Squirrel, Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude,and If I Built a Car. The 2014 master list was released last week.
Part One | Part Two | Part Three
Tales for Very Picky Eaters by John Schneider. Clarion, 2011.
James is a very picky eater. His dad has to get creative—very creative—in order to get James to eat foods he thinks he doesn’t like. He presents James with a series of outlandish scenarios packed with fanciful and gross kid-friendly details—like pre-chewed gum as an alternative to broccoli and lumpy oatmeal that grows so big it eats the dog—in an effort to get James to eat. But it is eventually James himself who discovers that some foods are not so bad, after all, if you’re willing to give them a try.
Learn how to pronounce JOSH SCHNEIDER.
TeachingBooks.net compiled resources about the 2012 Geisel winners.
The Trouble with Chickens by Doreen Cronin; illustrated by Kevin Cornell. Balzer & Bray, 2011.
J. Tully is a former search-and rescue dog who is trying to enjoy his retirement after years of performing daring missions saving lives. So he’s not terribly impressed when two chicks named Dirt and Sugar (who look like popcorn on legs) and their chicken mom show up demanding his help to track down their missing siblings. Driven by the promise of a cheeseburger, J.J. begins to track down clues. Is Vince the Funnel hiding something? Are there dark forces at work—or is J.J. not smelling the evidence that’s right in front of him?
A puppet interviewed Doreen Cronin about the sequel to The Trouble with Chickens.
Becky Anderson sat down with Doreen Cronin.
*****************
The One and Only Stuey Lewis: Stories from Second Grade by Jane Schoenberg; illustrated by Cambria Evans. Macmillan, 2011
Macmillan's Description:
So what if Stuey isn’t the world’s best reader, is only allowed to trick or treat around one block, doesn’t get to play on his soccer dream team, and has to put up with the most annoying girl on the planet. Somehow Stuey always makes life work and when he puts his mind to it, he can survive anything—even second grade. This hilarious collection of linked short stories, interspersed with sprightly line drawings, marks an impressive chapter book debut.
Clarion's Description:
The Acerra family had sixteen children, including twelve ball-playing boys. It was the 1930s, and many families had lots of kids. But only one had enough to field a baseball team . . . with three on the bench! The Acerras were the longest-playing all-brother team in baseball history. They loved the game, but more important, they cared for and supported each other and stayed together as a team. Nothing life threw their way could stop them.
So what if Stuey isn’t the world’s best reader, is only allowed to trick or treat around one block, doesn’t get to play on his soccer dream team, and has to put up with the most annoying girl on the planet. Somehow Stuey always makes life work and when he puts his mind to it, he can survive anything—even second grade. This hilarious collection of linked short stories, interspersed with sprightly line drawings, marks an impressive chapter book debut.
Download The One and Only Stuey Lewis discussion guide.
Good news! Stuey Lewis Against All Odds was released on May 22, 2012.
Brothers at Bat: The True Story of an Amazing All-Brother Baseball Team by Audrey Vernick; illustrated by Steven Salerno. Clarion, 2012.
The Acerra family had sixteen children, including twelve ball-playing boys. It was the 1930s, and many families had lots of kids. But only one had enough to field a baseball team . . . with three on the bench! The Acerras were the longest-playing all-brother team in baseball history. They loved the game, but more important, they cared for and supported each other and stayed together as a team. Nothing life threw their way could stop them.
Audrey Vernick visited Village Charter School.
*****************
Biblioburro: A True Story from Columbia by Jeanette Winter. Beach Lane, 2010.
Luis loves to read, but soon his house in Colombia is so full of books there's barely room for the family. What to do? Then he comes up with the perfect solution--a traveling library! He buys two donkeys--Alfa and Beto--and travels with them throughout the land, bringing books and reading to the children in faraway villages.
Learn more about the real Biblioburro.
COMING SOON: Parts 2 and 3.
