Texas Bluebonnet Award

2010-2011 Master List

Applegate, Katherine. 2007. Home of the Brave. New York: Feiwel and Friends. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 9780312367657; Paperback (published by Square Fish), ISBN-13: 9780312535636; MP3 Book, ISBN-13: 9780739362204.

Kek and his mother are the only ones in his family who have survived, and his mother is missing. The Refugee Settlement Center has brought Kek to America while a search continues for her. The difference between Africa and Minnesota winters is almost too much to consider for a boy who has never seen snow. Add to that, a new language that sounds tangled to Kek’s ears, and the world is full of the unknown. Until, on the way to his new home, he sees a cow. In the author’s words, Kek explains, “I stroke her cold, wet coat, and for a moment I hold all I want right there in my hand.” With a beautiful poetic voice Katherine Applegate tells the story of Kek.

Brown, Don. 2008. All Stations! Distress!: April 15, 1912: The Day the Titanic Sank. New York: Roaring Brook Press.  Hardcover, ISBN-13: 978-1596432222.

When Titanic’s builder Thomas Andrews pronounced the ship's wound from plowing into an iceberg as fatal, the telegraph keys transmitted, “All Stations! Distress!” The tragedy of the sinking of the Titanic is viewed from the perspective of her Captain who did not slow down for icebergs because he thought the threat unlikely; to the confidence in the shipping line that the ship was unsinkable thus providing lifeboats for only half of its passengers; to the loss of most of the third class passengers, including fifty-two children, due to their rank in society. Don Brown brings goose bumps to his readers through both text and illustrations as he takes the reader through the sinking of one of history’s most famous ships.

Claflin, Willy. 2008. The Uglified Ducky: A Maynard Moose Tale. Illustrated by James Stimson. Atlanta: August House. Hardcover (includes CD), ISBN-13: 978-0874838589; MP3 Book, ISBN-13: 2000003485864; Compact Disc (abridged), ISBN-13: 9780874837018.

Han’s Christian Andersen might not recognize this humorous version of his story, but he would certainly laugh. Maynard the Moose tells the oh, so sad story of a Moose that thinks he is a ducky. Mother ducky cannot figure out why her one ducky is so uglified. Plus he trips when he waddles, he sinks when he paddles, and he carries a sign that says “quack,” because all he can say is “Gronk! Arooo!” Needless to say, on flying lesson day his Mother and ducky siblings leave him behind. The reader will have a hard time deciding if the text or illustrations are funnier. What does it matter? Get your funny bone ready to be tickled.

Crowe, Ellie. 2007. Surfer of the Century: The Life of Duke Kahanamoku. Illustrated by Richard Waldrep. New York: Lee & Low Books, Inc. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 9781584302766.

Surfing was not known outside of what was, until 1959, The Republic of Hawaii until Duke Kahanamoku introduced it around the world. Kahanamoku was good at all water sports since his backyard was the Pacific Ocean. It was swimming that made him known throughout the world. This shy man, with dark native Hawaiian skin, quietly endured prejudice to become a three-time Olympic swimming gold medalist. Though his dream of surfing becoming an Olympic sport never came true, his influence on the sport brought him the name, “The Father of Modern Surfing.”  With words and pictures the reader comes to know a man who not only was a great sportsman, but whose kindness and love of life shines through the pages. As author, Ellie Crowe says, “No matter what he did, he spread aloha.”

Deedy, Carmen Agra. 2009. 14 Cows for America. In collaboration with Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah. Illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez. Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 9781561454907.

In the oral tradition of the Maasai peoples, a young man receiving his education in America returns home for a visit several months after the bombing of the World Trade Center. As is the tradition, he tells his people the story under the acacia tree at the edge of the village. Though the Maasai are fierce warriors, their hearts bleed with compassion when they hear of suffering and injustice. What can they give to ease the pain of these Americans? This true story of empathy told in the voice of that young man, Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah, by Carmen Deedy will stir each heart. Look for the Twin Towers symbols added to the pages in the awe- inspiring illustrations by Thomas Gonzalez. 

Graff, Lisa. 2009. Umbrella Summer. New York: Laura Geringer Books, an imprint of HarperCollins.  Hardcover, ISBN-13: 9780061431876; digital ebook, ISBN-13: 9780061912627.

Ever since Annie’s older brother Jared died, she has become obsessed with being safe. After all, the world is full of dangers. When she borrows without permission her neighbor’s book, The Everyday Guide to Preventing Illness, she has even more fears on her plate. To top things off, Jared’s birthday is coming up. Annie wonders if a person is dead, can you still celebrate their birthday? Annie’s quirkiness brings laughs amid this story of dealing with grief. With the help of her family and friends plus the lessons learned from a certain famous pig and spider from children’s literature, Annie learns life is meant to be lived to its fullest.

Harrison, David L. 2008. Pirates. Illustrated by Dan Burr. Honesdale, PA: Wordsong. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 978-1-59078-455-6.

Arrrgh! This book about pirates is not about the jolly idea of “it’s a pirate’s life for me. Ho, Ho.” Through poetry and realistic paintings David Harrison and Dan Burr give the true version of a pirate’s life. The life of long days at sea, filth and disease, little money, and harsh treatment for breaking the pirate rules are portrayed.  As the first verse of Harrison’s poem “Ship’s Rules” says, “You’ve joined the Pirate Brotherhood, let no man here forget it. If you do, I promise you you’ll live—if you live—to regret it.”

Henson, Heather. 2008. That Book Woman. Illustrated by David Small. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 9781416908128.

Cal can see no sense in all the reading his sister Lark does. He has much better things to do such as helping his Pap with the plowing and sheep. One day a lady on a horse arrives up the Kentucky mountainside with books for them. Lark thinks they’re gold, but in Cal’s mind they are just plain ole books. That winter is a hard one, and when the packhorse librarian comes though the freezing weather to deliver books, Cal wonders what is so special about them. He asks Lark to help him decipher their wonder. When the Book Woman returns in the spring, his Mama is able to thank her for “making two readers outta one.”

Jenkins, Steve. 2009. Down Down Down: A Journey to the Bottom of the Sea. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 9780618966363.

Steve Jenkins takes the reader from the surface of the ocean down, down, down to the ocean’s floor. Along the way are some of the most extreme and unusual animals on Earth. At 33 feet below the surface is the Mola Mola, at 164 feet, the largest shark on the planet, the whale shark. The deeper one goes, the stranger the creatures. At 1640 feet below the surface most of the fish are luminescent and the ocean floor at 13,000 feet has, among other beasts, the hagfish. The name alone is descriptive. Once the ocean floor is reached, Jenkins continues to take the reader on this knowledgeable journey with more and more information.

Klise, Kate. 2009. Dying to Meet You: 43 Cemetery Road, Book 1. Illustrated by M. Sarah Klise. Boston: Harcourt. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 9780152057275.

The reader knows a good time is afoot when the real estate agent’s name is Anita Sale, the publisher’s name is Paige Turner, and the children’s book author is I.B. Grumply (the truism on that name becomes obvious). Grumply is suffering from writer’s block and he thinks moving to this quiet old Victorian mansion will solve his problem. Seymour Hope, the boy in residence, and Olive C. Spence have other things in mind. This ghostly humorous tale is told through letters, emails, and newspaper articles. Add to that comical illustrations, and the reader becomes a happy resident at 43 Old Cemetery Road.

Mass, Wendy. 2009. 11 Birthdays. New York: Scholastic Press. Hardcover: ISBN-13: 9780545052399; Paperback (available January 10, 2010), ISBN-13: 9780545052405; Audiobook available January 10, 2010.

Amanda and Leo were born on the same day, in the same hospital. Since that time, the now best friends have celebrated all their birthdays together. That is – until this, the 11^th birthday. This year, it will be two parties. Amanda doesn’t like to think about the event that caused this riff in their friendship; she just wants the day to be over. Unfortunately for her, something very strange is happening. She keeps waking up and experiencing her 11^th birthday again, and again, and again. Soon she discovers that Leo is having the same experience. Will Amanda and Leo get this day to ever stop repeating or will they have their 11^th birthday every day for the rest of their lives?

McDonald, Megan. 2008. The Hinky Pink: An Old Tale. Illustrated by Brian Floca. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Richard Jackson Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishers. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 9780689875885.

And the story begins, “Back when mirrors could talk and princes were frogs, there lived a girl in Old Italy named Anabel.” Now in those days, all girls wanted to be a princess, but not Anabel. She was a talented seamstress and she dreamed of the day she could make a dress for a princess, to make a dress for dancing the tarantella at a ball. When Princess Isabella Caramella Gorgonzola sends for Anabel to make her a dress for the Butterfly Ball, holy macaroni, Anabel’s dream is about to come true. With one week only to make the dress, Anabel must get her sleep. Each night something pinches her and steals her bed covers. It’s a hinky pink. If Anabel can’t solve this problem, her dream of one of her dresses being worn to a ball will never come true.

Moser, Lisa. 2007. Squirrel’s World. Illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev. Cambridge: Candlewick Press. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 978-0-7636-2929-8; Paperback, ISBN-13: 9780763640880.

Squirrel loves, loves, loves his friends and wants to help, help, help them whenever he can. When Squirrel helps Mouse gather food for his nest, Mouse ends up under a big pile, pile, pile of apples. Then Squirrel plays games with Turtle who just wants to sleep, sleep, sleep. Squirrel tries to help Rabbit get a leaf from the river so Rabbit won’t have to get wet, but his eagerness gets Rabbit soaked, soaked, soaked.  Sometimes Squirrel is so, so, so helpful that his friends are happy to see him go, go, go.

Park, Linda Sue. 2007. Tap Dancing on the Roof: Sijo (Poems). Illustrated by Istvan Banyai. New York: Clarion Books. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 9780618234837.

Linda Sue Park introduces the reader to Sijo, a type of poem that originated in Korea. Like Haiku, it has a set number of syllables and lines. The best part about Sijo is that there is always an unexpected twist in the last line. In this book, Park takes familiar topics of children and puts them in Sijo poetry. Here is one example: “Breakfast. For this meal, people like what they like, the same every morning. Toast and coffee, Bagel and juice. Cornflakes and milk in a white bowl. Or—warm, soft, and delicious—a few extra minutes in bed.” Istvan Banyai’s illustrations are a perfect complement to this unique collection.

Paulsen, Gary. 2009. Mudshark. New York: Wendy Lamb Books, an Imprint of Random House Children’s Books. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 978-0385746854; Library Binding, ISBN-13: 978-0385909228; Paperback (published by Yearling, release date, June 8, 2010), ISBN-13: 978-0553494648; Digital Ebook, ISBN-13: 9780375892554.

If you hate to laugh-out-loud, don’t read Mudshark. From the principal’s announcements at the beginning of each chapter to the escaped gerbil, disappearing erasers, and a psychic parrot, readers will find themselves letting laughs escape. (Don’t’ take this to church to surreptitiously read during the sermon.) Amid the laughs, the Mudshark Detective Agency, with it’s one and only employee Lyle Williams (aka Mudshark), has mysteries to solve. He must find the erasers and the gerbil, or he will no longer be the boy who everyone knows can find the answers.

Pennypacker, Sara. 2009. Sparrow Girl. Illustrated by Yoko Tanaka. New York: Disney-Hyperion Books. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 9781423111870.

The importance of all life’s diversity to maintaining a balance is told in this historical fiction picture book of China’s Sparrow War. The Great Leader sets aside three days for all able-bodied citizens of China to beat drums and ignite firecrackers – literally scaring the birds to death, thus preventing them from eating the farmer’s crops. In Pennypacker’s story, the child Ming-Li saves seven sparrows and hides them from her village. When locusts and worms eat all the crops because they no longer have natural enemies, there is a famine. Ming-Li’s secret is able to save her village. This story, based on actual events from 1958, continues to have lessons for people today.

Rollins, James. 2009. Jake Ransom and the Skull King’s Shadow. New York: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 9780061473791; Library Binding, ISBN-13: 9780061473807; Paperback, ISBN-13: 9780061473814; Compact Disc (Unabridged), ISBN-13: 9780061761034; MP3 Book (Unabridged), ISBN-13: 9780061806018; Digital Ebook, ISBN-13: 9780061858208.

Jake and Kady’s archeologist parents have been missing for three years. All they have from them are a sketch book, a field log, and two halves of a gold Mayan coin which each wears around their neck. Jake and Kady are invited to attend a special Mayan artifact collection in London. Jake places his half of the coin in a hole found in a golden pyramid at the exhibition. The next thing he knows, he and his sister are flying through time to a world inhabited by dinosaurs, mythical monsters, and even more amazing, people from ancient civilizations all over the world. The evil shadowy figure of the Skull King, after being banished from this land, is determined to take over once again, and unwavering in his goal of destroying Jake and Kady in the process.

Rutkoski, Marie. 2008. The Cabinet of Wonders. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 9780374310264; Hardcover-large print, ISBN-13: 9781410413208; Compact Disc (unabridged), ISBN-13: 9781427205483; Digital Ebook, ISBN-13: 9781429930000.

Petra’s father, an expert in metal (he can actually move it with his mind), has been in Prague for too long as far as Petra is concerned. However, she is very proud of him since he has been commissioned by the Prince of Bohemia to make the world’s first astrological clock. The day he finally returns home, he is missing his eyes. The Prince has stolen them to wear. Petra and her pet robotic spider Astrophil go to the castle determined to bring back his eyes. Full of adventure and excitement, this fantasy will keep the reader’s eyes glued to the pages. 

Salisbury, Graham. 2009. Calvin Coconut Trouble Magnet. Illustrated by Jacqueline Rogers. New York: Wendy Lamb Books, an imprint of Random House. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 9780385737012; Library Binding, ISBN-13: 9780385906395; Digital Ebook, ISBN-13: 9780375893933; Paperback (release April 27. 2010).

Since Calvin’s dad left, his mother tells him he is the Man of the House. The problem is that being responsible is not one of Calvin’s best qualities; plus, trouble just seems drawn to him like metal to a magnet. For example, he takes a centipede in a jar to school the first day of fourth grade. He knows this is not allowed, but no one will know. He looks in the jar and the centipede is on his back, legs up – Calvin thinks he must be dead. He takes the lid off and since he draws trouble, the centipede has a remarkable recovery and the rest is terrified student history. Besides the problem with trouble, Calvin has to deal with bullies and giving up his room to a fifteen-year-old girl living with them for a year. Calvin gets to live in a shed in the garage. Calvin Coconut just may go coconuts!

Yaccarino, Dan. 2009. The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. Hardcover, ISBN-13: 978-0375855733.

As quoted in this biography by Dan Yaccarino, Jacques Cousteau states, “The best way to observe a fish is to become a fish.” Jacques Cousteau was a weak child and turned to the ocean and swimming to develop strength. His love of tinkering led him to discover how things worked. As he became an adult these two interests lead him on his life’s journey to learn about the oceans and the life teeming within by inventing equipment to aid in man’s exploration of the seas. In other words, he found a way to “become a fish.”   Dan Yaccarino’s words and art introduce this explorer and environmentalist to a new generation so they, too, can enjoy The Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau.