2015-2016 Show-Me Reader Award Nominees

The Missouri Association of School Librarians has just announced the nominees for the 2015-2016 Show-Me Reader Award.  These books were chosen because of their interest and appeal to students ages 6-10 years old.  Students in grades 1-3 will have an opportunity to vote for their favorite title at their school library.

"The Matchbox Diary" by Paul Fleischman
Follow a girl's perusal of her great-grandfather's collection of matchboxes and small curios that document his poignant immigration journey from Italy to a new country.












"Wilfred" by Ryan Higgins
When Wilfred, a big, hairy, and lonesome giant, enters a town full of tiny bald people, he finds only one friend but that proves to be enough when the other townspeople trick him out of his warm hair.







"Picture Day Perfection" by Deborah Diesen
After planning for months to have the perfect school picture taken, a boy's moment of weakness ruins everything.

"The Spelling Bee Before Recess" by Deborah Lee Rose
As the annual school spelling bee nears its finish, two students compete with equal success until the principal breaks the tie with an unusual word.

"The Invisible Boy" by Trudy Ludwig
Brian has always felt invisible at school, but when a new student, Justin, arrives, everything changes.










"A Splash of Red-the Life and Art of Horace Pippin" by Jen Bryant
Presents an illustrated introduction to the life and work of artist Horace Pippin, describing his childhood love for drawing and the World War I injury that challenged his career.









"As Fast as Words Could Fly" by Pamela M. Tuck
A thirteen-year-old African American boy in 1960s Greenville, North Carolina, uses his typing skills to make a statement as part of the Civil Rights movement. Based on true events.














"The Day the Crayons Quit" by Drew Daywalt
When Duncan arrives at school one morning, he finds a stack of letters, one from each of his crayons, complaining about how he uses them.

"Trouper" by Meg Kearney
Trouper, a three-legged dog, remembers his life as a stray, before he was adopted.

"Memoirs of a Hamster" by David Scillian
Follow a girl's perusal of her great-grandfather's collection of matchboxes and small curios that document his poignant immigration journey from Italy to a new country.

--Angie RH, Headquarters

2013-2014 Show Me Award Nominees Announced!

Every year the Missouri Association of School Libraries nominates ten picture book titles that they feel make great reading for students from first through third grade. Kids read these books throughout the early part of the school year and then they get to vote for their favorite. The Show Me Award is chosen by kids. How awesome is that!

Here are the newest nominees. Start reading them today.

"Painter and Ugly" by Robert J. Blake. Painter and Ugly, two sled dogs who are inseparable best friends, are put on different teams for the Junior Iditarod, but they manage to find their way back to one another for the big race.

"Willow and the Snow Day Dance" by Denise Brennan-Nelson. When Willow's family moves to a new home, she makes friends with all of the neighbors, even unsmiling Mr. Larch, through her letters inviting each to be as generous as she is.

 

"Peanut Butter and Homework Sandwiches" by Lisa Broadie Cook. When his teacher is out sick for a week, Martin MacGregor has a difficult time with the homework assigned by the substitute teacher.

 

"The Day Dirk Yeller Came to Town" by Mary Casanova.When outlaw Dirk Yeller arrives in Cowtown looking for something to take away his cat-scratch fever, young Sam, whose pa says he is "a world-a-trouble and curious as a tomcat," knows just what this dangerous and jittery criminal needs to calm him down 

"Princess Kim and Too Much Truth" by Maryann Cocca-Leffler. Young Kim discovers that there is a difference between being honest and always speaking the truth.
 

"Charlie the Ranch Dog" by Ree Drummond. While Charlie, a sleepy basset hound, tells about the busy life of a ranch dog, his best friend Suzie, a Jack Russell terrier, is getting the work done.

"Grandpa's Tractor" by Michael Garland. Grandpa Joe brings his grandson, Timmy, back to the site of the family farm. The visit brings back many memories, which Grandpa Joe shares with Timmy. His fondest memory, however, is of his father's red tractor. 

"Three Hens and a Peacock" by Lester Laminack. When life on the Tucker farm is disrupted by the arrival of a peacock, whose shrieking and strutting bring many welcome visitors, the hens complain that they are doing all of the work until the hound suggests a trade. 

"A Book for Black-Eyed Susan" by Judy Young. While traveling along the Oregon Trail, ten-year-old Cora and her newborn baby sister suffer the loss of their mother and are separated, but Cora stitches a book to tell the dark-eyed baby of their journey and family.

"A Pet for Miss Wright" by Judy Young. A lonely writer searches for the perfect pet to keep her company in her solitary work.

 

                                             

 

2012-2013 Show Me Award Nominees

The Missouri Show Me Reader Awards have been announced.

"The Can Man" written by Laura Williams. To earn money, a young boy decides to collect and redeem empty soft drink cans, but ends up giving away his money to help a local homeless man.

"Sylvia Jean, Scout Supreme" written by Lisa Campbell Ernst. Sylvia Jean disguises herself in order to assist a neighbor who does not want her enthusiastic help, but she still might be the only one in her Pig Scout Troop who will not earn a Good Deed Badge.

"The Blue House Dog" written by Deborah Blumenthal. A boy without a dog-and a dog without an owner-find each other in this powerfully moving story of loneliness and redemption. Day after day, Cody watches Bones roam the streets. No one else thinks the old stray is special, but Cody does. He knows the dog is alone now. He watched them tear down the blue house where Bones used to live with an old man. Cody knows how it feels to lose someone, too. Slowly-cautiously-Cody opens his home and his heart to the scruffy dog with one blue eye and one brown. Readers will be deeply affected by Deborah Blumenthal's story of love and loss.

"Stand Straight, Ella Kate" written by Kate Klise. A fictionalized biography of Ella Kate Ewing, born in 1872, who was eight feet tall by the age of seventeen and who became financially independent by traveling the country for nearly twenty years appearing at museums, exhibitions, and in circus shows.

"Fly Free!" written by Rosanne Thong. When Mai feeds the caged birds at a Buddhist temple in Vietnam, her simple act of kindness starts a chain of thoughtful acts that ultimately comes back to her. Includes author's note explaining the Buddhist concepts of karma and samsara, or the wheel of life. 

"Memoirs of a Goldfish" written by Devin Scillian. A goldfish gives a personal account of his experiences while swimming around his bowl as it slowly fills with fish and other accessories, only to realize when he is relocated for a cleaning how much he misses them.

"Librarian on the Roof!: A True Story" written by M.G. King. The story of RoseAleta Laurell who arrived in Lockheart, Texas to be the head of the Dr. Eugene Clark Library. The library was outdated so she spent a week on the library roof to raise money and interest in the library.

"Lucky Beans" written by Becky Birtha. During the Great Depression, Marshall, an African American boy, uses lessons learned in arithmetic class and guidance from his mother to figure out how many beans are in a jar in order to win her a new sewing machine in a contest. 

"Pierre the Penguin: A True Story" written by Jean Marzollo. When Pierre, a penguin living at the California Academy of Sciences, loses his feathers, he gets some help from his human friends. A true story of veterinary ingenuity.

"How Rocket Learned to Read" written by Tad Hills. A little yellow bird teaches Rocket the dog how to read.