A "library of links" related to the year 2009-2010 nominees. These include whatever we can find on the books, their authors, and any interesting topical links related to the books' subject matter.
Primary Level nominees (Grades K-2)
Intermediate Level nominees (Grades 3-6)
Middle School/Junior High Level nominees (Grades 6-8 or 7-9)
Young Adult Level nominees (Grades 9-12)
- The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
- Saint Iggy by R.L. Going
- Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr
Picture Books for Older Readers nominees (All grades)
Frank the frog is supported by his parents to try to achieve anything he sets his mind to. They have to back off, however, when he decides he wants to fly.
Mr. Rabbit is worried about his relationship to his new neighbors, the otters. A wise bird helps him discover that if you "do unto otters" as you would have them treat you, everybody gets along.
Pauline Poulet attempts to escape the farmer's plans to make her dinner and has some wild adventures on the way.
- Bio of Ellen Kelley from her website
- Recipe for a large (9x13) Chicken Pot Pie
- Cute petting zoo homepage with pics of the animals and music
Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly Links
Velma must compete with her perfect sisters for attention in school until she is befriended by a butterfly on a trip to a butterfly conservatory.
Millie the cow loves to wait for the mailman and scare him until he comes up with a plan to improve the situation.
The very loud fifth-grade boys challenge the very loud fifth-grade girls to a contest to see who can go the longest without talking.
Rosemary Patterson begins her sixth grade year as one of the few black students in a desegregated white school and also misses her best friend who has been stricken with polio.
- Bio of McKissack from Scholastic
- Info on the history of polio from the Smithsonian
- A history of School Desegregation from PBS
Zoe Elias' world is definitely NOT perfect as she deals with receiving an organ instead of her wished-for piano, a mother who works long hours and a father who is afraid to go outside the home.
Official web site for Linda Urban
Zoe's father has agoraphobia. Read about it here.
Samuel, a tough fighter of a London street kid, is picked from an
orphanage to make the journey to the New World as one of the Jamestown
colonists.
After the death of his survivalist father, 10-year-old Moon is well equipped to keep living on his own in the woods but he is thrown into the juvenile system that wants to "take care" of him and fights to escape it.
- Official web site for Watt Key
- Information on the Talladega National Forest
- A Kid's Survival Primer - how to be safe in the woods
- Learn the 5 basic survival skills
Convinced that his teacher "hates his guts," Holling spends his
seventh-grade year trying to keep her happy, and that includes reading
Shakespeare.
The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian Links
Arnold Spirit's decision to attend and all-white school instead of the
school on the reservation makes him an outcast in both his own community and
the new school.
Iggy, in danger of being expelled, tries to improve himself. He can't count on his parents - they have more problems than he does - so he turns to a friend who has a drug problem of his own.
DeAnna Lambert tries to live down the reputation she received when her father caught her with a boy, and deal with her changing feelings for her best friend, Jason.
- Sara Zarr's website
Armando and the Blue Tarp School Links
When Seņor David brings his "school" to the garbage dump where Armando and his father are trash pickers, Armando's father decides his son must go to school and learn.
- Reviews, a booktrailer and more
- Children of the Dump is a program offering school and food to children
Owney the Mail Pouch Pooch Links
A stray terrier puppy is adopted by the Albany, NY post office in 1888 and becomes famous for riding the mail train.
- Mona Kerby's website offers info and some activities
- Owney's true story from the National Postal Museum
Willy and Max: A Holocaust Story Links
Willy becomes friends with Max and his Jewish family. Though separated for many years, an old photo and a special painting will one day reunite their friendship.