Newbery and Caldecott Winning Books for 2012

The Newbery Medal is the most prestigious children's literature award presented in the United States by the American Library Association. The Newbery winning book for 2012 is Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos.
(4th - 6th Grade)

Melding the entirely true and the wildly fictional, Dead End in Norvelt is a novel about an incredible two months for a kid named Jack Gantos, whose plans for vacation excitement are shot down when he is “grounded for life” by his feuding parents, and whose nose spews bad blood at every little shock he gets. But plenty of excitement (and shocks) are coming Jack’s way once his mom loans him out to help a fiesty old neighbor with a most unusual chore—typewriting obituaries filled with stories about the people who founded his utopian town. As one obituary leads to another, Jack is launched on a strange adventure involving molten wax, Eleanor Roosevelt, twisted promises, a homemade airplane, Girl Scout cookies, a man on a trike, a dancing plague, voices from the past, Hells Angels . . . and possibly murder.  Barnes and Noble
Also the Winner of the 2012 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction.  (Story has some tricky profanity)
                                                                       
In the United States, the Caldecott Medal is awarded to the picture book with the best illustrations. The Caldecott Medal goes to A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka. (Kindergarten - 3rd Grade)

Daisy the dog loves her red ball.  One day something happens to Daisy's ball. Will friendship heal her saddened heart? 

Meet the Author: Nic Bishop

Nic Bishop has been described as being like "Indiana Jones" because he travels all over the world having adventures as part of his work.  He is one of the best photographers of animals in the world and will do just about anything to get the best photos.  He takes photographs of animals for the children's books he makes. He takes pictures in rain forests, in jungles, in the mountains. Sometimes his best pictures are done in a controlled environment. In his home, he will create a pond and vegetation authentic to the animal’s home to capture the perfect photograph.

As a boy, Nic Bishop did not enjoy reading fiction books.  When he discovered non-fiction books with pictures of animals he started reading and became a proficient reader.  Later in life, he went on to receive a doctorate degree from Canterbury University in New Zealand, and now, as a grown up, he makes award winning non-fiction animal books for children.

At age 3, Nic Bishop moved from London to Bangladesh with his family.  Later in his life he lived in Sudan, Africa, Papua, New Guinea as well as New Zealand.  He went on hikes in the jungles and mountains with tribesmen when he was a teenager.  This is where he started taking pictures of animals. He won photography contests year after year.  Several years later he has received numerous awards for his non-fiction children's books about animals.

Learn about Nic Bishop and his books on these websites:  www.scholastic.com/teachers/contributor/nic-bishop and             www.nicbishop.com

Fun Books about SCHOOL

In the month of September we read some fun books about school. 


For grades k-2 we read If you Take a Mouse to School by Laura Numeroff.  This book describes the mountain of mischief a mouse could get into--in science class, reading class, and playtime, for example--if he came along to school. (destiny quest)







For grades 3-4 we read Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School by Andrew Clements.  As the new Keepers of the School, sixth-graders Ben and Jill must decipher a handful of clues written as maritime riddles to save their school from demolition by a greedy company. (destiny quest)







For grades 5-6 we read the School Story by Andrew Clements.  After twelve-year-old Natalie writes a wonderful novel, her friend Zoe helps her devise a scheme to get it accepted at the publishing house where Natalie's mother works as an editor. (destiny quest)