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Poetry

I Lay my stitches down, poems of American Slavery

Author Information
Author's Last Name: 
Grady
Author's First Name: 
Cynthia
Illustrator's First Name: 
Michele
Illustrator's Last Name: 
Wood
Publisher: 
Eerdmans
Publication Date: 
2012
2013 Nomination (not yet selected): 
In 14 poems the voices of 14 different slaves are heard, describing the hardships of their individual lives and their dreams of freedom. The theme of quilt patterns is carried out in those dreams and in Michele Wood's powerfully living illustrations.

IN THE WILD

Author Information
Author's Last Name: 
Elliott
Author's First Name: 
David
Illustrator's First Name: 
Holly
Illustrator's Last Name: 
Meade
Publisher: 
Candlewick
Publication Date: 
2010

Meet the elephant, “powerful, yet delicate as lace,” the panda, “a bear in silk pajamas,” and twelve other wild animals that come to life through colorful verse and bold watercolor and woodcut illustrations.

MISS CRANDALL'S SCHOOL FOR YOUNG LADIES & LITTLE MISSES OF COLOR

Author Information
Author's Last Name: 
Alexander
Author's First Name: 
Elizabeth
Second Author's First Name: 
Marilyn
Second Author's Last Name: 
Nelson
Illustrator's First Name: 
Floyd
Illustrator's Last Name: 
Cooper
Publisher: 
Wordsong
Publication Date: 
2007

Twenty-four beautifully crafted sonnets evoke Miss Crandall's mid-nineteenth century school in Connecticut: the students' fervor, the local vigilantes, and the school's ultimate fiery end. Subdued illustrations complement this important and little-known story.

Word after Word after word

Author Information
Author's Last Name: 
MacLachlan
Author's First Name: 
Patricia
Publisher: 
HarperCollins
Publication Date: 
2010
2013 Nomination (not yet selected): 
A book about the power of words and the power of teachers. This is similar to Love that Dog in terms of encouraging student writing, but follows the response of 5 students in a fourth grade class as a writing teacher comes into the class to share some special lessons.
A short read about how one visiting teacher helps students to find their "words" and discover more about themselves and their lives. This is a simple story with lots to discuss.

JABBERWOCKY: THE CLASSIC POEM FROM LEWIS CARROLL'S THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS, AND WHAT ALICE FOUND THERE

Author Information
Author's Last Name: 
Carroll
Author's First Name: 
Lewis
Illustrator's First Name: 
Christopher
Illustrator's Last Name: 
Myers
Publisher: 
Jump at the Sun
Publication Date: 
2007

This familiar poem is reset on a city basketball court where the Jabberwock is a gigantic player, and the ball goes "snicker-snack" as it drains the basket. Intense fiery colors, black silhouettes, and a bold typeface add excitement and drama.

DIAMOND WILLOW [AUDIOBOOK]

Author Information
Author's Last Name: 
Frost
Author's First Name: 
Helen
Narrator's First Name: 
Jennifer
Narrator's Last Name: 
Ikeda
Publisher: 
Recorded Books
Publication Date: 
2009

This coming of age story in the Alaskan wilderness sparkles to life with an inspired narrator and cast, bringing listeners the magic of living close to nature and traditional Alaskan beliefs. Survival drama abounds, complete with injured sled dogs and raging storms. Hearing the images in this book of diamond-shaped verses may be even effective than reading them. Ages 10-14.

SWEETHEARTS OF RHYTHM: THE STORY OF THE GREATEST ALL-GIRL SWING BAND IN THE WORLD

Author Information
Author's Last Name: 
Nelson
Author's First Name: 
Marilyn
Illustrator's First Name: 
Jerry
Illustrator's Last Name: 
Pinkney
Publisher: 
Dial
Publication Date: 
2009

Rousing poems complemented with evocative images of the 1940’s bring to life the story of talented women who defied both the racism and conventions of their time to give joy and jazz to a war-torn world.

ALL THE BROKEN PIECES

Author Information
Author's Last Name: 
Burg
Author's First Name: 
Ann E.
Publisher: 
Scholastic
Publication Date: 
2009

This carefully crafted novel in verse poignantly portrays Matt, the son of an American soldier and Vietnamese woman, struggling to reconcile his comfortable American life, with issues the 1977 Vietnamese War has raised.

GERTRUDE IS GERTRUDE IS GERTRUDE IS GERTRUDE

Author Information
Author's Last Name: 
Winter
Author's First Name: 
Jonah
Illustrator's First Name: 
Calef
Illustrator's Last Name: 
Brown
Publisher: 
Atheneum
Publication Date: 
2009

Adults will recognize that the narrative imitates Gertrude Stein’s style and presents her circle of friends from Picasso to Alice B. Toklas, while
children will giggle at the nonsensical rhymes whose point is that writing is fun. Chalky acrylics mirror period art, contributing to the playfulness.

THE DREAMER

THE DREAMER
Author Information
Author's Last Name: 
Ryan
Author's First Name: 
Pam Muñoz
Illustrator's First Name: 
Peter
Illustrator's Last Name: 
Sís
Publisher: 
Scholastic
Publication Date: 
2010

Poetic language and magical illustrations combine in this fictional biography that captures the wonder, passion, and pain of Pablo Neruda’s early life. Printed in Neruda’s signature green ink, the beautifully crafted book includes representative poems, author notes, and sources.

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