KEYSTONE TO READING BOOK
AWARD LISTS 2008-2009
Primary List
Badger’s Fancy Meal, by Keiko Kasza Badger is tired of apples, roots and
worms and wants some fancier foods. His attempts to capture the animals he
needs for his new dishes don’t work out. But these animals enjoy Badger’s
apples, roots and worms.
Do Unto Otters: A Book About Manners, by
Laurie Keller Mr. Rabbit is concerned about getting along with his new
neighbors, the Otters. Mr. Owl suggests an old saying, “Do unto otters as you
would have otters do unto you.” That’s just what Mr. Rabbit does!
Dogs and Cats, by Steve Jenkins Read front to back about cats, then
flip the book over and read front to back about dogs. The information is
appealing to students of all ages.
Duck at the Door, by Jackie Urbanovic Max decides not to fly south
with his flock, but finds the winter to be too cold. Irene invites him to stay
with her “family” but when spring arrives they are happy to see this
“larger-than-life” houseguest leave!
Guess What is Growing Inside This Egg,
by Mia Posada The wonderful illustrations provide clues for readers to try and
guess what is growing inside the eggs.
Henry’s Freedom Box, by Ellen Levine Henry Brown, a slave in
A Kiss Goodbye, by Audrey Penn Chester Raccoon (from The Kissing
Hand) has to move and he’s not happy. Mother tells
Melissa Parkington’s
Beautiful, Beautiful Hair, by Pat
Brisson Melissa has beautiful, long, dark, shiny hair but wants to be special
for something other than her hair. She sees a sign in the beauty parlor window
about donating hair for children who need wigs. Melissa does something not only
special but spectacular!
The Perfect Nest, by Catherine Friend Jack, the cat, is hungry and
wants the perfect omelet. He builds the perfect nest to entice the perfect
chicken, then the perfect duck, then the perfect goose. Instead of getting an
omelet, Jack ends up as mother to the “babies” who hatch.
Slugs in Love, by Susan Pearson Marylou and Herbie keep missing
each other’s love poems. Finally, they meet and it’s true love.
Someday, by Eileen Spinelli Goldie dreams about what she will
become someday and what she does today. For example, she dreams about being an
Olympic gymnast on one page and practices cartwheels on the next. With
outstanding illustrations and text, this story is perfect for finding
comparisons and contrasts.
Will You Read to Me? by Denys Cazet Hamlet loves to read and write, not like
the other pigs in the sty. This is an excellent story about being different
even in your own family.
KEYSTONE TO READING BOOK AWARD LISTS 2008-2009
Intermediate List
Casey Back at Bat, Dan Gutman Thayer’s classic poem has a new twist ~
Casey hits that fly ball sending it on a wild adventure! Baseball fans will
cheer!
Champ, Marcia Thornton Champ, a show dog, is injured and
can’t win in the dog show circuit anymore. Thanks to Riley and friends, Champ
becomes a star in another show ring.
Comets, Stars, the Moon and
Mars, Douglas Florian Forian’s poetry
and paintings describe the planets, stars and more with humor and detail that
should be read aloud.
The Fabled Fourth Graders of
Aesop Elementary School, Candace
Fleming Spend the school year with Mr. Jupiter’s 4th grade class
whose reputation does precede them. Each chapter ends
with a moral.
Iron Thunder, the Battle Between the Monitor and the Merrimac, Avi Thirteen-year-old Tom Carroll finds himself
working to prepare the Monitor for battle. As assistant to Captain Ericsson,
the ship’s inventor, he learns how the ship is built and the Navy’s plans.
Confederate spies try to get the information from Tom, but his friends help him
do the right thing.
The John Hancock Club, Louise Borden Sean is worried that third grade will
be harder than second especially since students learn cursive writing. His teacher’s
handwriting club includes instruction about John Hancock, the Revolutionary War
and cursive writing.
The Legend of the Cape May
Diamond, Trinka Hakes Noble It takes
2000 years for the small pebbles in the Delaware River to make their way to the
Delaware Bay and
The Man
Who Named the Clouds, Julie Hannah Luke Howard (born 1772) was always interested in the clouds
and weather. As a young man he joined the Askesian Society, a group that met
monthly, to research and share information. Luke’s research on naming cloud
types is still used today.
Punished, David Lubar Logan and his buddy
Benedict are supposed to be doing research in the library but instead they are
fooling around.
The Trailblazing Life of Daniel Boone, How Early Americans Took to the Road, Cheryl Harness Young readers will love following the life of Daniel Boone and his adventures hunting, fighting and forging new frontiers.