Award Winning Books
Award winning books are always the utmost important, high-quality picture books for young children. There are a plethora of awards that are given to prestigious books such as The Newberry Medal, Caldecott Medal, Coretta Scott King Award, Geisel Award, Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, and Parent's Choice Award. The Newberry Medal is awarded to an author that has demonstrated the most distinguished children's literature that year. The Newberry Medal is one of the most prestigious awards an author can receive. The Caldecott Medal is given to a book that illustrates the most physically appealing pictures and has the most distinguished illustrations in a picture book published that year. The Coretta Scott King Award recognizes an African American author and illustrator that has made an outstanding contribution to children's literature that year. The Geisel Award is the Dr. Seuss award that recognizes an author and illustrator that has created a distinguished beginning reader book published that year. The Laura Ingalls Wilder Award is presented to an author or illustrator that has made a significant contribution to children's literature over time. Additionally, the Parent's Choice Award is a presented to a book that is recommended by parents and teachers and given to high quality books that are entertaining, educationally stimulating.All of these prestigious medals award high quality books that all young children should be able to experience.
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by: Mo Willems
Willems, Mo. Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! London: Walker Books Books, 2004.
Willems, Mo. Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! London: Walker Books Books, 2004.
- Ages: Early Childhood (Prek-K)
- This Cadelcott Award winner engages young readers by allowing them to be apart of the story. The audience adds to the text by telling the Pigeon no every time he asks to drive the bus.
- The pigeon is a whimsical and comical character that all children love. The books is perfect to engage young children and build their love of reading. The hilarious illustrations add to the story by playing along with the plot beyond text.
The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
Pfister, Marcus and James, J. Alison. The Rainbow Fish. New Jersey: North-South Books, 1992.
Pfister, Marcus and James, J. Alison. The Rainbow Fish. New Jersey: North-South Books, 1992.
- Ages: Elementary School (K-2)
- This story is about a selfish Rainbow Fish who is the most beautiful fish in the whole sea, but he has no friends. He gets advice from an octopus to give each fish he encounters one of his shiny, most beautiful scales. He is apprehensive at first because they are his most prized possession but after he shares his scales, he gains friendship.
- This Caldecott Award winning book is a classic due to it's beautiful illustrations of foilstamped scales. It provides a universal message on how to be a good friend. It can utilized within the classroom to teach morals of stories.
The Snowy Day by: Ezra Jack Keats
Keats, Ezra Jack. The Snowy Day. London: Puffin Books, 1976.
Keats, Ezra Jack. The Snowy Day. London: Puffin Books, 1976.
- Ages: Early Childhood (PreK-1)
- This book is about Peter enjoying his snow day by playing in the snow, having a snow ball fight, building a snowman, and other adventures typically enjoyed in the winter season.
- This Caldecott Award winning book includes beautiful pictures that allow the story to extend beyond text and assist in telling the adventures of Peter. This story creates a great lesson on comparing and contrasting while making connections- text to self- which align with Common Core Standards.
So You Want to be President? by: Judith St. George
George, Judith St. and Small, David. So You Want to be President? New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2015.
George, Judith St. and Small, David. So You Want to be President? New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2015.
- Ages: Elementary School (K-3)
- This Caldecott Award winning book is filled with current facts about various presidents of the United States such as George W. Bush, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and others. The story includes foibles, quirks, and interesting facts about each of the forty-two presidents.
- The quirky and hilarious illustrations capture the essence of each personality of the president. This book creates a great introduction to learning about the presidents and creates a fun, entertaining history lesson.
Olivia by: Ian Falconer
Falconer, Ian. Olivia. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2000.
Falconer, Ian. Olivia. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2000.
- Ages: Early Childhood (PreK-K)
- This story is about Olivia dressing up, singing songs, building sand castles, dancing, painting on walls, and going to sleep.
- The character of Olivia is hilarious and highly relatable to young readers. The story encourages young readers to continue reading other books in the Olivia series because of the similar acts and events in their own life and in the life of Olivia. This book can be used in the classroom setting by connecting to the Common Core Standards of making connections from text to self.