Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Award (K-3) Charlie May Simon Childrens Book Award (4-6) 2015-2016 The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE), the Arkansas Reading Association (ARA) and the Arkansas State Library (ASL) are the primary sponsors of the annual selection process, in conjunction with the two separate reading committees. There are overlapping functions by the three primary sponsors. The general policy for the past few years features the winning authors and illustrators being invited to the annual ARA statewide meeting for presentation of awards, and book signings. The awards presentations covering the 2014-15 school year will take place on November 19-20, 2015, at the ARA Literacy Conference in Little Rock at the Statehouse Convention Center and Marriott Hotel. Books for the 2015-2016 school year must have a 2013 copyright. The two reading committees will meet on the last Saturday of each month beginning in September and ending in February. Those book titles and administrative support for the selection process is performed by ASL personnel. Electronic voting for the winners of the 2014- 2015 school year was moved by ADE to the middle of May 2015, to better fit the academic school year. These eleven Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Award titles, for the 2015-2016 school year, represent the eighteenth consecutive year this program has been active. The award and honor books will be selected by students (K-3) voting across Arkansas, near the middle of May 2016, with an exact ending date to be announced by the ADE. Students will read, or have read to them, at least three books from the reading list to be eligible to vote in the spring. Each student will vote for only one title. These thirteen Charlie May Simon Book Award reading selections, for the 2015-2016 school year, represent the forty-sixth consecutive year this program has been in existence. The award and honor books will be selected by students (4-6) voting across Arkansas, near the middle of May 2016, with an exact ending date to be announced by the ADE. Students will read, or have read to them, at least three books from the reading list to be eligible to vote in the spring. Each student will vote for only one title. For further information on these reading lists, you may contact the following representatives: Cassandra Barnett, ADE Program Adviser for School Libraries Phone 501-682-6576 Email [email protected] Susan Peterson, ARA Executive Secretary Phone 501-908-4461 Email [email protected] Cathy Howser, ASL, Coordinator of Childrens and Institutional Programs Phone 501-682-2860, Fax 501-682-1693 Email [email protected] TABLE OF CONTENTS ARKANSAS DIAMOND PRIMARY BOOKS AWARD LIST (K-3) 2015-2016 (Eleven titles) Author Title Page Arkansas Diamond Primary Award Suggested Subject Reading Areas ............................. 2 Ashburn, Boni The Fort That Jack Built ................................................... 3 Daywalt, Drew The Day the Crayons Quit ................................................ 4 Greene, Rhonda Gowler No Pirates Allowed! Said Library Lou ............................ 5 Johnson, Angela Lottie Parks and the Best Place ........................................ 6 Kasza, Keiko My Lucky Birthday .......................................................... 7 Long, Loren Otis and the Puppy ............................................................ 8 Pinborough, Jan Miss Moore Thought Otherwise: How Anne .................. 9 Carroll Moore Created Libraries for Children Polacco, Patricia The Blessing Cup ........................................................... 10 Say, Allen The Favorite Daughter .................................................... 11 Tavares, Matt Becoming Babe Ruth ...................................................... 12 Tobin, Jim The Very Inappropriate Word ........................................ 13 Arkansas Diamond Primary Award Past Winners and Overview Schedule ..................... 14 CHARLIE MAY SIMON CHILDREN’S BOOKS AWARD LIST (4-6) 2015-2016 Thirteen Titles) Charlie May Simon Suggested Subject Reading Areas .................................................... 15 Appelt, Kathi The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp ................. 16 Burg, Ann E. Sarafina’s Promise .......................................................... 17 Creech, Sharon The Boy on the Porch ..................................................... 18 Harley, Bill Charlie Bumpers vs. the Teacher of the Year ................. 19 Hill, Kirkpatrick Bo at Ballard Creek ........................................................ 20 Hopkinson, Deborah The Great Trouble: A Mystery of London, the ............. 21 Blue Death, and a Boy Called Eel Kadohata, Cynthia The Thing About Luck ................................................... 22 Kurtz, Chris The Adventures of a South Pole Pig ............................... 23 La Valley, Josanne The Vine Basket ............................................................. 24 Long, Susan Hill Whistle in the Dark ......................................................... 25 Pileggi, Leah Prisoner 88 ...................................................................... 26 Sloan, Holly Goldberg Counting by 7s ................................................................ 27 Voigt, Cynthia The Book of Lost Things ................................................ 28 Past Charlie May Simon Book Award Winners ............................................................... 29 [1] SUGGESTED SUBJECT READING AREAS 2015-2016 ARKANSAS DIAMOND AWARD BOOKS (K-3) The Fort That Jack Built – Pg. 3 He borrowed something from every other family member to build the fort. The Day the Crayons Quit – Pg. 4 Several boxes of unhappy crayons. Overworked – Not properly used. No Pirates Allowed! Said Library Lou – Pg. 5 Big Pirate Pete needs a bath real bad. Is there a treasure in the public library? Lottie Paris and the Best Place – Pg. 6 The best place is the public library. Lots of books there. New friends to be made too! My Lucky Birthday – Pg. 7 Alligator Al is planning on a nice pork birthday dinner. Piglet has other plans for Al. Otis and the Puppy – Pg. 8 A new animal has moved to the farm. He and Otis become fast friends. Miss Moore Thought Otherwise: How Anne Carroll Moore Created Libraries For Children – Pg. 9 She was the first to push the most for children to be allowed in the public libraries. The Blessing Cup – Pg. 10 The Jewish families had to leave Russia. They could only take a few things with them. The Favorite Daughter – Pg. 11 Also, his only daughter. For a little while she is ashamed for being Japanese. Becoming Babe Ruth – Pg. 12 Babe had a very restless young life. The reformatory school was just what he needed. The Very Inappropriate Word – Pg. 13 There is never mention in the story of exactly what the inappropriate word is. [2] The Fort That Jack Built Written by Boni Ashburn Illustrated by Brett Helquist Fiction (32 pages) (Story in rhyme) Setting: Built in the safety of his family’s home, using borrowed materials. Guiding Principles: Initiative; Perseverance; Optimism; Adaptability; Imagination. Awards and Reviews: Horn Book (4/1/14); Kirkus Reviews; Publisher’s Weekly; School Library Journal (12/1/13). Main Characters: Jack; His youngest sister (Small chair); His brother (Stack of books); His older sister (Shower curtain with hooks); His mother (Sheets and the pillows-stack); His dad (“I need my chair, Jack”); His Photo by Ryan Greenleaf grandma (Her quilt); Milo (Jack’s dog—a leash). About the Story: Jack barely got his amazing fort built before each of the other family members began coming to the living room to claim their part of his special building project. His fort quickly began to sag and Jack begged everyone to leave their property in place. Finally, Grandma came to the former fort site and claimed her quilt. Then, Jack realized his building a fort idea was finished. Grandma wondered if Jack would like to share her beautiful quilt. Author – Boni Ashburn: Beginning with her earliest school days: “I loved absolutely everything about school including: my teachers, my school supplies, the smell of the school, the first day, the last day, and every day in between. Books have been a part of every day of my life. I have always read everything I could get my hands on. No matter where we lived, I always felt at home at the library. I dreamed of being a librarian, or a teacher, but never a writer. In college I settled on an English degree because it allowed me to do the most reading. I realized that reading a perfect picture book brings me joy like nothing else. I set out to write one myself, and to my surprise, it was easier than I thought it would be.” Some other books Ms. Ashburn has recently written: Hush, Little Dragon (2008); Over at the Castle (2010); I Had a Favorite Dress (2011); Builder Goose: It’s Construction Rhyme Time (2012); I Had a Favorite Hat (2015). She lives in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with her four children. Illustrator – Brett Helquist: He was born in Ganado, Arizona in 1966, and grew up in Orem, Utah. His main source for his early art background came from his joy of reading numerous comic books and strips. Brett’s Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts was earned at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Of all the art work he has done, Brett’s effort on Lemony Snicket’s thirteen titles known as A Series of Unfortunate Events has gained him the most praise and attention of all his illustrating works. He, and his wife, currently live in New York City. Accelerated Reader