Zelda and Ivy: The Runaways by Laura McGee Kvasnosky

  10 books from the Geisel Award or Honor winning books

10. 2007 Medal winner

 Zelda and Ivy: The Runaways 

 by Laura McGee Kvasnosky 

About the Author:

"Laura McGee Kvasnosky (1951- ) grew up in Northern California as one of five children in a newspaper family that provided the grist for many of her stories as a noted children’s writer and illustrator. She turned to children’s writing in mid life, and is best known for her series of “Zelda and Ivy” books featuring two fox sisters, the older and bossy Zelda, and her adoring younger sibling, Ivy. The series drew critical praise and fan loyalty for its fresh take on sibling rivalry. Kvasnosky’s honors include dual Golden Kite Honors Awards in 1999 from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), and the American Library Association’s 2007 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for “Zelda and Ivy: The Runaways” as America’s most distinguished book for beginning readers published that year. Her latest book, "Little Wolf's First Howling", the story of a wolf pup who can't help singing his own song, arrived in 2017 to further acclaim, winning the Margaret Wise Brown Honor Book Award for children's literature text, as well as numerous starred reviews and "best of the year's books" honors."

Book Summary:

"The fabulous fox sisters return in three funny stories perfect for beginning readers. Whether Zelda and Ivy are combating the injustice of cucumber sandwiches for lunch, deciding what to leave the children of the future in their time capsule, or solving Zelda's writer's block, they are sure to tickle the funny bones of both new and returning fans." -Amazon.com

Zelda and Ivy Read Aloud

Reviews:

Another appealing offering. . . . Bright, expressive cartoon illustrations complement the fine writing. —School Library Journal (starred review) Three satisfying stories of two sisters create one rewarding read. —The Horn Book (starred review) Jaunty gouache art takes them through three predicaments. . . . It’s all delightfully droll. —San Francisco Chronicle Children will recognize the details and the sibling dynamics. . . . Kids will look forward to more from the Fox sisters. —Booklist

Sources:

https://www.amazon.com/Zelda-Ivy-Runaways-Candlewick-Sparks/dp/0763666351/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Zelda+and+Ivy%3A+The+Runaways+by+Laura+McGee+Kvasnosky&qid=1606096682&sr=8-1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wstJlOvGn10

Tales for Very Picky Eaters by Josh Schneider

 10 books from the Geisel Award or Honor winning books

9. 2012 Medal winner

Tales for Very Picky Eaters

 by Josh Schneider 

About the About:

Josh Schneider is the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award-winning creator of Tales for Very Picky Eaters and many popular picture books, including Princess Sparkle-Heart Gets a Makeover, Everybody Sleeps (But Not Fred), and Kid Amazing vs. The Blob. His first book, You'll Be Sorry, was named "Book That Provides Best Ammunition to Parents Weary of Warning Their Kids About Socking Their Siblings" by Publishers Weekly magazine. Josh lives in Chicago with his wife, Dana.

Book Summary:

"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 if you’re willing to give them a try." -Amazon.com

Tales for Very Picky Eaters

Reviews:

"Eager and picky eaters alike will enjoy the wordplay and outrageous situations, which create humor from a familiar source of family tension."—Booklist

 

"The sophisticated yet silly humor will appeal to new readers wanting something a little different. . . . A perfect segue into chapter books, this easy reader is sure to be a crowd pleaser." —School Library Journal

 

"Stories with all the wit and good humor parents can often lose during dinner table battles. A palatable strategy." —Chicago Tribune

Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVCotqWQ4-c

https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Very-Picky-Eaters-Schneider/dp/0544339142/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Tales+for+Very+Picky+Eaters+by+Josh+Schneider&qid=1606096140&sr=8-1

Bink and Gollie by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee

  10 books from the Geisel Award or Honor winning books

8. 2011 Medal winner

Bink and Gollie

written by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee,

illustrated by Tony Fucile

About the Authors:

"Kate DiCamillo's writing journey has been a truly remarkable one. She grew up in Florida and moved to Minnesota in her twenties, when homesickness and a bitter winter led her to write Because of Winn-Dixie -- her first published novel, which became a runaway bestseller and snapped up a Newbery Honor. The Tiger Rising, her second novel, was also set in Florida and went on to become a National Book Award finalist. Since then, the best-selling author has explored settings as varied as a medieval castle and a magician's theater while continuing to enjoy great success, winning two Newbery Medals and being named National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. She now has almost 30 million books in print worldwide."

Alison McGhee writes for all ages and in all forms. Her most popular books include the bestselling novel Shadow Baby, which was a Today Show Book Club pick, and Someday, the #1 New York Times bestselling picture book for adults. 2020 will see the publication of The Opposite of Fate, a new novel for adults, and World So Wide, a picture book for all ages. She lives in Minneapolis and southern California. You can find her at alisonmcghee.com, @alisonmcghee, and #alisonmcghee. She loves hearing from readers and tries to respond quickly.

Book Summary:

"Meet Bink and Gollie, two precocious little girls — one tiny, one tall, and both utterly irrepressible. Setting out from their super-deluxe tree house and powered by plenty of peanut butter (for Bink) and pancakes (for Gollie), they share three comical adventures involving painfully bright socks, an impromptu trek to the Andes, and a most unlikely marvelous companion. Full of quick-witted repartee, this brainchild of Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo and award-winning author Alison McGhee is a hilarious ode to exuberance and camaraderie, imagination and adventure, brought to life through the delightfully kinetic images of Tony Fucile." -Amazon.com

Bink and Gollie by Kate DiCamillo & Alison McGhee Book Trailer

Review:

“If James Marshall's George and Martha were not hippos and were both girls, they would be much like best friends Bink and Gollie. . . . More, please!” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Sources:

https://www.amazon.com/Bink-Gollie-Kate-DiCamillo/dp/0763659541/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=Bink+and+Gollie+by+Kate+DiCamillo+and+Alison+McGhee&qid=1606095510&sr=8-2

https://www.amazon.com/Kate-DiCamillo/e/B001H6MDMY?ref_=dbs_p_pbk_r00_abau_000000

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd3cXLHzcHA

https://www.amazon.com/Alison-McGhee/e/B000APLP8G?ref_=dbs_p_pbk_r00_abau_000000

The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli

 10 books from the Geisel Award or Honor winning books

7. 2014 Medal Winner

The Watermelon Seed,

by Greg Pizzoli

About the Author:

"Greg Pizzoli is the creator of the Baloney & Friends series as well as a three-time Theodor Seuss Geisel Award recipient for The Watermelon Seed(Medal winner), The Book Hog (Honor book), and Good Night Owl (Honor book). He is also the author-illustrator of This Story Is for You, The 12 Days of Christmas, Templeton Gets His Wish, and Number One Sam. His nonfiction for children includes the New York Times Best Illustrated Book The Impossible True Story of Tricky Vic: The Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower, and he has also illustrated picture books written by authors such as Mac Barnett, Kelly DiPucchio, Jennifer Adams, and Margaret Wise Brown. He lives in Philadelphia."

Book Summary:

"Crocodile loves watermelon, but what will happen when his greatest fear of swallowing a watermelon seed comes to pass? Will vines sprout out his ears? Will his skin turn pink? Only one thing is certain: his wild imagination will have kids laughing out loud and begging for another read.

With perfect comic pacing, bold color and dynamic sense of design, three-time Theodor Seuss Geisel Award recipient Greg Pizzoli's picture book debut transforms this familiar childhood anxiety into a contemporary classic read-aloud perfect for fans of I Want My Hat Back."- Amazon.com

 Kids Book Read Aloud: THE WATERMELON SEED by Greg Pizzoli

Reviews:

"[A]n expert debut." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Children will love this hilarious book. The story has broad appeal, making it a great first purchase." -- School Library Journal (starred review)

Sources:

https://www.amazon.com/Watermelon-Seed-Board-Book/dp/1484712366/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=The+Watermelon+Seed+by+Greg+Pizzoli&qid=1606094979&sr=8-1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gp9F50QzRa0

You Are (Not) Small by Anna Kang

    10 books from the Geisel Award or Honor winning books

6. 2015 Medal Winner

You Are (Not) Small

written by Anna Kang

 illustrated by Christopher Weyant 

About the Author:

Husband-and-wife team Anna Kang and Christopher Weyant live in New Jersey with their two daughters. You Are (Not) Small is their first children’s book. They are working on a sequel. Anna, a native New Yorker, grew up believing she was small until one day she realized that everyone else was big. She received an M.F.A. from University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, where the visual storyteller in her was awakened, forever changing the way she saw art, life, and everything in between. Besides writing, Anna loves to read, travel, laugh, eat, and nap. A cartoonist and illustrator, Christopher’s cartoons can regularly be seen in The New Yorker magazine. His cartoons are syndicated worldwide and have been featured on The Today Show, Meet the Press, and World News with Diane Sawyer. Christopher likes to think that he is both big and small. Visit him at www.christopherweyant.com.

Book Summary:

Winner of the 2015 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award

"Two fuzzy creatures can't agree on who is small and who is big, until a couple of surprise guests show up, settling it once and for all! The simple text of Anna Kang and bold illustrations of New Yorker cartoonist Christopher Weyant tell an original and very funny story about size—it all depends on who's standing next to you."

(Animated Story) You are not Small by Anna Kang

Reviews:

“This playful take on perspective details a confrontation between two bears . . . Husband and wife team Kang and Weyant nail the concept and provide humor along the way. The story’s structure makes it an entertaining read aloud, and the dialogue between the two bears authentically captures child logic.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books “What some parents may use as a lesson in relativity others will embrace as an encouragement to good-humored humility.” —Wall Street Journal “[A] funny book with a good-hearted lesson.” —School Library Journal

Sources:

https://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Small-Anna-Kang-ebook/dp/B00I8YB71Q/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=You+Are+%28Not%29+Small+by+Anna+Kang&qid=1606094177&sr=8-1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoGSu7kS7f0

 

The Infamous Ratsos by Kara LaReau

   10 books from the Geisel Award or Honor winning books

5. 2017 Medal Winner

The Infamous Ratsos,

written by Kara LaReau,

illustrated by Matt Myers

About the Author:

Kara LaReau is the author of a number of picture books, including Ugly Fish, Mr. Prickles, and Otto: The Boy Who Loved Cars, all illustrated by Scott Magoon. She lives in Providence, Rhode Island, with her family.

Matt Myers is the illustrator of E-I-E-I-O: How Old MacDonald Got His Farm with a Little Help from a Hen by Judy Sierra, and Bartholomew Biddle and the Very Big Wind by Gary Ross, as well as many other books for young readers. Matt Myers lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. --This text refers to the library edition.

Book Summary:

"Louie and Ralphie Ratso’s dad, Big Lou, always says that there are two kinds of people: those who are tough and those who are soft. Louie and Ralphie are tough, tough, tough, just like Big Lou, and they’re going to prove it. But every time they try to show just how tough they are, the Ratso brothers end up accidentally doing good deeds instead. What’ll Big Lou do when he finds out they’ve been acting like softies all over the Big City? Perfect for emerging and reluctant readers, this clever and surprisingly warmhearted chapter book shows that being tough all the time can be really tough."-Amazon.com

The Infamous Ratsos meets Bikers for Books

Reviews:

Louie and Ralphie Ratso are determined to be as tough as their truck-driver father, but the rats' efforts go hilariously awry in this funny, thoughtful, and smart chapter book...LaReau packs substantial comedy and poignant emotion into each chapter (the boys' mother has "been gone for a little while now"), adeptly amplified by Myers's spot art.

--Publishers Weekly (starred review) LaReau keeps the action high and completely appropriate for readers embarking on chapter books...The humor springs from their foiled efforts and their reactions to their failures. Myers' sprightly grayscale drawings capture action and characters and add humorous details, such as the Ratsos' "unwelcome" mat. A nicely inventive little morality "tail" for newly independent readers. --Kirkus Reviews

Sources:

https://www.amazon.com/Infamous-Ratsos-Kara-LaReau-ebook/dp/B01IPZVID4/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=The+Infamous+Ratsos+by+Kara+LaReau&qid=1606089028&sr=8-1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8UKpPigJqU

We Are Growing! by Laurie Keller

  10 books from the Geisel Award or Honor winning books

4. 2017 Medal Winner

We Are Growing!

by Laurie Keller

About the Author:

Mo Willems (www.pigeonpresents.com), a New York Times #1 best-selling author and illustrator, has been awarded a Caldecott Honor on three occasions, for Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, and Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity. The celebrated Elephant & Piggie early-reader series has been awarded the Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal on two occasions (for There Is a Bird on Your Head! and Are You Ready to Play Outside?) as well as garnering five Geisel Honors (for We Are in a Book!, I Broke My Trunk!, Let's Go for a Drive!, A Big Guy Took My Ball! and Waiting Is Not Easy!).

Book Summary:

"Walt and his friends are growing up fast! Everyone is the something-est. But . . . what about Walt? He is not the tallest, or the curliest, or the silliest. He is not the anything-est! As a BIG surprise inches closer, Walt discovers something special of his own!" -Amazon.com

We Are Growing by Laurie Keller Read Aloud by Read Me A Book

Reviews:

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 2—An exciting thing is happening. The grass is growing! One blade grows tall, another grows curly, and two grow pointy. As these changes occur, the blades of grass declare what it is that makes them unique—all but one, that is. The last blade of grass has no distinguishing feature of note, and no matter how much the group wrack their brains, they can't figure it out. Then, the great equalizer, the lawn mower, comes along. It takes this event for the blade to discover his special quality. As for the rest, even though they are literally cut down, they are reassured that they will grow again. The empowering narrative can be applied to lessons regarding things like confidence, identity, and growing up. No matter the takeaway, the message is easily consumable, thanks to exaggerated characteristics, cartoonish actions, and a good sense of comedic timing. In this new series, Willems's popular characters share their favorite books, acting as the introductory and closing framework to the story. In this case, they have made an excellent choice. VERDICT Fans of Elephant and Piggie will devour this kooky easy reader, with its similar presentation and storytelling style.—Rachel Forbes, formerly at Oakville Public Library, Ontario, Canada

Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpD0K_sKD08

https://www.amazon.com/Elephant-Piggie-Like-Reading-Growing/dp/1484726359/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=We+Are+Growing%21+by+Laurie+Keller&qid=1606088383&sr=8-1

Charlie & Mouse by Laurel Snyder

 10 books from the Geisel Award or Honor winning books

3. 2018 Medal Winner

Charlie & Mouse

written by Laurel Snyder,

illustrated by Emily Hughes

About the Author:

Laurel Snyder is the author of many books for children. She lives and writes in Atlanta, Georgia. Emily Hughes is an illustrator (and sometimes writer) who lives in windy Brighton, England, while thinking fondly of her hometown in Hilo, Hawaii.

Book Summary:

"Four hilarious children's stories, two inventive brothers, one irresistible and award-winning beginner chapter book—now in paperback! Join Charlie and Mouse as they talk to lumps, take the neighborhood to a party, sell some rocks, and invent the bedtime banana. With imagination and humor, Laurel Snyder and Emily Hughes paint a lively picture of brotherhood that children will relish in a beginning chapter book format; making this a perfect book for young readers graduating from picture books." - Amazon.com

CHARLIE & MOUSE OUTDOORS

(by Laurel Snyder & Emily Hughes).

Reading & (writing/imagination) activity

Reviews:

"Four ebullient linked stories introduce the two eponymous brothers and their down-to-earth family."--Publishers Weekly, starred review "Sweet and funny."--The Wall Street Journal "Utterly endearing."--Julie Danielson, Kirkus Reviews "Charlie and Mouse has to be one of our favorites of the entire year, so far. It so easily elicits giggles!"--The Children's Book Review

Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Dezg9My0ew

https://www.amazon.com/Charlie-Mouse-Book-Laurel-Snyder/dp/1452172633/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Charlie+%26+Mouse&qid=1606087096&sr=8-1

Fox the Tiger by Corey R. Tabor

10 books from the Geisel Award or Honor winning books

2. 2019 Medal Winner

Fox the Tiger

written and illustrated by Corey R. Tabor

About the Author:

Corey R. Tabor is the author and illustrator of Snail Crossing, Fox and the Jumping Contest, Fox and the Bike Ride, Fox Is Late, Fox versus Winter, and the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award–winning Fox the Tiger. Corey lives in Seattle with his wife and son and spends his time making pictures and stories. You can visit him online at www.coreyrtabor.com.

Book Summary:

"Soon Turtle and Rabbit are joining in the fun. But will Fox want to be a tiger forever? In Fox the Tiger, this winning trickster character and his animal friends learn that the best thing to be is yourself. Fox the Tiger is a My First I Can Read book, which means it’s perfect for shared reading with a child. Other Fox books include: Fox Is Late, Fox and the Jumping Contest, and Fox and the Bike Ride." 

-Amazon.com

Kids Book Read Aloud - Fox the Tiger by Corey R. Tabor

Reviews:

PRAISE FOR FOX AND THE JUMPING CONTEST: “The text is drily witty, and the comical illustrations, rendered in pencils, watercolors, and ink and assembled digitally, are energetic and appealing. Kids may want to have jumping contests of their own after reading this-just omit jetpacks.” (Kirkus Reviews)

PRAISE FOR FOX AND THE JUMPING CONTEST:  “Tabor’s picture-book debut doesn’t carry a lesson per se, but it does have plenty of laughs and utterly sweet illustrations. While Fox’s friends aren’t pleased to learn about his scheme, things (mostly) work out in the end.” (Booklist)

Sources: 

https://www.amazon.com/Fox-Tiger-First-Can-Read/dp/0062398679/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Fox+the+Tiger+by+Corey+R.+Tabor&qid=1606086569&sr=8-1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZBi97IpvCU

Stop! Bot! by James Yang

10 books from the Geisel Award or Honor winning books

1. 2020 Medal Winner:

Stop! Bot!

written and illustrated by James Yang

About the Author: 

James Yang's prize-winning work has appeared in many magazines and newspapers, including Graphis, Newsweek, Forbes, Fortune, the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal. He is the author/illustrator of Bus! Stop!, Joey and Jet, Joey and Jet in Space, and Puzzlehead.

The designer of "Clockman," a sculpture on display at the National Museum of American History, Mr. Yang and his wife live in New York City.

Book Summary:

"In this very young picture book mystery, a little boy out for a walk with his family stops to show a building doorman his new "bot": "I have a bot!" Only he doesn't have it for long, because it floats up out of his hands like an escaped balloon. "Stop! Bot!" Springing to action, the kind doorman runs up to each floor of the building to try and catch it -- along with the help of each floor's resident. But while everything looks normal at first, every floor (and resident) is a little more wacky and unusual than the last! Musicians, baseball players, zoo animals, and finally a very large monkey all play a part -- but will they rescue the Bot before it's too late?! Children will love all the funny details and easy-to-read words in this very playful picture book!" -Amazon.com

Reviews:

"Yang works within the constraints of the building’s form to generate intriguing possibilities presented with clarity and wit." -- Publisher's Weekly 

" A great choice for beginning readers. An unexpected rooftop surprise will leave youngsters with a happy resolution and smiles on their faces." --Booklist

Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHArNCupxOg

https://www.amazon.com/Stop-Bot-James-Yang/dp/0425288811/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Stop%21+Bot%21+by+James+Yang&qid=1606084735&sr=8-1

In Daddy’s Arms I am Tall: African Americans Celebrating Fathers written by Alan Schroeder

  10 Coretta Scott King or CSK Honor winning books

10. Illustrator Award Winner- Javaka Steptoe

In Daddy’s Arms I am Tall: African Americans Celebrating Fathers

written by Alan Schroeder

About the Author:

"Javaka is the illustrator of Lee & Low's In Daddy's Arms I Am Tall, winner of numerous awards including the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award and an ALA Notable. His two other picture books, Do You Know What I'll Do? (HarperCollins) and A Pocketful of Poems (Chronicle) have received critical acclaim as well. Steptoe is renowned for his innovative collage constructions. The Jones Family Express is his first book as both author and illustrator. He received his degree in fine arts from Cooper Union in New York City, and currently teaches art to children. The son of the late Caldecott medalist, John Steptoe, Javaka marks his picture book debut with this collection. He lives in Brooklyn, NY."

Book Summary:

"In this intergenerational collection of poetry by new and established African American writers, fatherhood is celebrated with honor, humor, and grace. Folami Abiade, Dinah Johnson, Carole Boston Weatherford, Dakari Hru, Michael Burgess, E. Ethelbert Miller, Lenard D. Moore, David Anderson, Angela Johnson, Sonia Sanchez, and Davida Adedjouma all contribute. Javaka Steptoe, who also offers a poem, employs an inventive range of media to bring each of the poems to life. In Daddy's Arms I Am Tall testifies to the powerful bond between father and child, recognizing family as our greatest gift, and identifying fathers as being among our most influential heroes."- Amazon.com

Daddy's Arms by Fabian E Ferguson

Sources:

https://www.amazon.com/Daddys-Arms-Tall-Americans-Celebrating/dp/1584300167/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=In+Daddy%E2%80%99s+Arms+I+am+Tall%3A+African+Americans+Celebrating+Fathers&qid=1606069987&sr=8-1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl6nOUlWKws

Beautiful Blackbird by Ashley Bryan

   10 Coretta Scott King or CSK Honor winning books

9. 2004 Illustrator Award Winner

Ashley Bryan (author and illustrator) of Beautiful Blackbird

Book Summary:

"Black is beautiful, uh-huh!

Long ago, Blackbird was voted the most beautiful bird in the forest. The other birds, who were colored red, yellow, blue, and green, were so envious that they begged Blackbird to paint their feathers with a touch of black so they could be beautiful too. Although Black-bird warns them that true beauty comes from within, the other birds persist and soon each is given a ring of black around their neck or a dot of black on their wings—markings that detail birds to this very day.

Coretta Scott King Award-winner Ashley Bryan's adaptation of a tale from the Ila-speaking people of Zambia resonates both with rhythm and the tale's universal meanings -- appreciating one's heritage and discovering the beauty within. His cut-paper artwork is a joy."- Amazon.com

Beautiful Blackbird

Reviews:

From Publishers Weekly

Storyteller Bryan's (What a Wonderful World) singular voice provides rhythm and sound effects throughout this musical adaptation of a Zambian tale. When gray Ringdove calls the other monotone birds together and asks, "Who of all is the most beautiful?" they all reply, "Blackbird." They then encircle Blackbird, dancing and singing, "Beak to beak, peck, peck, peck,/ Spread your wings, stretch your neck. Black is beautiful, uh-huh!/ Black is beautiful, uh-huh!" At the birds' request, Blackbird agrees to paint black markings on them (with the blackening brew in his medicine gourd), but he warns Ringdove that it's not the color black that will make them beautiful. "Color on the outside is not what's on the inside..... Whatever I do/ I'll be me and you'll be you." The message about inner beauty and identity becomes somewhat diluted by the closing song, in which the birds triumphantly sing, "Our colors sport a brand-new look,/ A touch of black was all it took./ Oh beautiful black, uh-huh, uh-huh/ Black is beautiful, UH-HUH!" But if the ending creates a bit of confusion, Bryan's collages make up for it with their exhibition of colorful splendor and composition. Scenes of the rainbow of wings are outdone only by a lakeside view of their colors intricately "mirrored in the waters." And Bryan's lilting and magical language is infectious. Ages 3-7.

Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Sources:

https://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Blackbird-Coretta-Illustrator-Winner/dp/0689847319/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Beautiful+Blackbird+by+Ashley+Bryan&qid=1606066067&sr=8-1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mK_uUiGOpWg

Jimi: Sounds Like a Rainbow: A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix, written by Gary Golio

  10 Coretta Scott King or CSK Honor winning books

8. Illustration Honor 2011 - Javaka Steptoe

Jimi: Sounds Like a Rainbow: A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix,

written by Gary Golio

About the Author:

"A visual artist, musician, and psychotherapist, Gary Golio is the author of the New York Times- bestselling "JIMI: Sounds Like A Rainbow - A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix", recipient of a 2011 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award. His other books include "When Bob Met Woody: The Story of the Young Bob Dylan"; "Spirit Seeker: The Musical Journey of John Coltrane"; "Bird & Diz - Two Friends Create Bebop"; "Strange Fruit - Billie Holiday and the Power of a Protest Song"; "Carlos Santana - Sound of the Heart, Song of the World": and "SMILE - How Young Charlie Chaplin Taught the World to Laugh (and Cry)". His forthcoming books include "Dark Was the Night - Blind Willie Johnson's Journey to the Stars" (2020) and "Sonny on the Bridge - A Surprising Story about Jazzman Sonny Rollins (2021).

Each of these books highlights an artist's roots and influences, promoting the idea that artists are models of persistence and commitment, embodying values of imagination, hopefulness, and self-acceptance.

Read less"

Book Summary:

"Jimi Hendrix was many things: a superstar, a rebel, a hero, an innovator. But first, he was a boy named Jimmy who loved to draw and paint and listen to records. A boy who played air guitar with a broomstick and longed for a real guitar of his own. A boy who asked himself a question: Could someone paint pictures with sound?

     This a story of a talented child who learns to see, hear, and interpret the world around him in his own unique way. It is also a story of a determined kid with a vision, who worked hard to become a devoted and masterful artist. Jimi Hendrix--a groundbreaking performer whose music shook the very foundations of rock 'n' roll."-Amazon.com

"Jimi Sounds Like A Rainbow" by Gary Golio - Read Aloud

Reviews:

Coretta Scott King Honor for Illustrator

"This book is likely to fascinate older children and reluctant readers who might be familiar with Hendrix’s music, and could easily be tied into art and music curricula."—School Library Journal, starred review

"The author—an artist and clinical social worker—lucidly demonstrates that a path to creative excellence is not only possible for young people but self-actualizing."—Kirkus, starred review

"Valuable lessons underlie newcomer Golio's account of Hendrix's life: important work can be done by young people; artistry develops slowly, through careful work; and surroundings that appear hostile to creativity can just as well nurture it."—Publishers Weekly

Sources:

https://www.amazon.com/Jimi-Sounds-Rainbow-Story-Hendrix/dp/0618852794/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Jimi%3A+Sounds+Like+a+Rainbow%3A+A+Story+of+the+Young+Jimi+Hendrix&qid=1606065174&sr=8-1

Never Forgotten Author by Patricia C. McKissack Illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon

   10 Coretta Scott King or CSK Honor winning books

7. 2012  Honor Author

Never Forgotten

Author by Patricia C. McKissack

Illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon

About the Author:

"PATRICIA MCKISSACK is one of the most acclaimed authors writing for children today. She has written many award-winning books, including Never Forgotten, a Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book; Porch Lies, an ALA-ALSC Notable Children's Book; The Dark Thirty, a Newbery Honor Book; Let My People Go, recipient of the NAACP Image Award; and Mirandy and Brother Wind, a Caldecott Honor Book. Her other books include The All-I'll-Ever-Want Christmas Doll, Goin' Someplace Special, and Precious and the Boo Hag. Patricia and her husband, Frederick McKissack, are the recipients of the Coretta Scott King–Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement."

Book Summary:

"This gorgeous picture book by Newbery Honor winner Patricia C. McKissack and two-time Caldecott Medal-winning husband-and-wife team Leo and Diane Dillon is sure to become a treasured keepsake for African American families. Set in West Africa, this a lyrical story-in-verse is about a young black boy who is kidnapped and sold into slavery, and his father who is left behind to mourn the loss of his son. Here's a beautiful, powerful, truly unforgettable story about family, memory, and freedom."

-Amazon.com

Never Forgotten Book Trailer

Reviews:

"Forceful and iconic," raves Publishers Weekly in a starred review.

Sources:

https://www.amazon.com/Never-Forgotten-Junior-Library-Selection/dp/0375843841/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Never+Forgotten+Author+by+Patricia+C.+McKissack+Illustrated+by+Leo+and+Diane+Dillon&qid=1606064809&sr=8-1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmbAIREIojQ

Daniel Minter: Illustrator of Ellen's Broom

  10 Coretta Scott King or CSK Honor winning books

6. Illustrator of Ellen's Broom: Daniel Minter

Written by Kelly Starling Lyons

About the Author:

Kelly Starling Lyons (www.kellystarlinglyons.com) lives in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Daniel Minter (www.danielminter.com) lives in Portland, Maine.

Book Summary:

"A young girl learns a new meaning for freedom during the time of Reconstruction. Ellen always knew the broom resting above the hearth was special. Before it was legal for her mother and father to officially be married, the broom was what made them a family anyway. But now all former slaves who had already been married in their hearts could register as lawful husband and wife. When Ellen and her family make the long trip to the courthouse dressed in their best, she brings the broom her parents had jumped so many years before. Even though freedom has come, Ellen knows the old traditions are important too. After Mama and Papa's names are recorded in the register, Ellen nearly bursts with pride as her parents jump the broom once again. Ellen is a wonderfully endearing character whose love for her family is brought to life in Daniel Minter's rich and eye-catching block print illustrations."

 -Amazon.com

Ellen's Broom Book Trailer

Review:

5.0 out of 5 stars

 Love this heartwarming story

"I was really charmed by this antebellum story telling about the complex history of "jumping the broom" at African-American weddings. Ellen's parents are eager to put the past behind them when they are finally able to legally wed at a courthouse after slavery has ended. Ellen reclaims and transforms the tradition into something positive, by decorating the family broom with flowers. The book is illustrated with beautiful full-color linoleum woodcuts." -Amazon.com Customer Review

Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POjW-XVYGWc

https://www.amazon.com/Ellens-Broom-Coretta-Scott-Honor/dp/0399250034/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Ellen%27s+Broom&qid=1606064449&sr=8-1