2015 FOREST OF READING WINNERS

Congratulations to today's award recipients! 

			The 2015 Blue Spruce Award™ Winner: The Day My Mom Came to Kindergarten by Maureen Fergus, illustrated by Mike Lowery			The 2015 Red Maple Non-Fiction Award™ Winner: The Last Train: A Holocaust Story by Rona Arato
			The 2015 Red Maple Fiction Award™ Winner: The Rule of Three by Eric Walters			The 2015 White Pine Award™ Winner: Rush by Eve Silver

Caldecott Winner 2015

The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.

(Print information from http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/caldecottmedal)

2015 Medal Winner : The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend

 illustrated and written by Dan Santat 

I am thrilled that one of my picks for my elementary library 'must haves' has been selected as this years winner!  Beekle is so visually appealing and adorable that it practically jumped off the shelf and into my arms.

In four delightful “visual chapters,” Beekle, an imaginary friend, undergoes an emotional journey looking for his human. Santat uses fine details, kaleidoscopic saturated colors, and exquisite curved and angular lines to masterfully convey the emotional essence of this special childhood relationship. 

“Santat makes the unimaginable, imaginable,” said Caldecott Medal Committee Chair Junko Yokota. 

Have a look inside:

Click HERE for an interview with 
Author and Illustrator Dan Santat from Bookpage.com





2015 Honor Books

Nana in the City, written and illustrated by Lauren Castillo

Castillo’s evocative watercolor illustrations tell the story of a young boy’s visit to his grandmother, and the reassuring way she helps him to lose his fear and experience the busy, loud city in a new way.

The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky's Abstract Art, illustrated by Mary GrandPré, written by Barb Rosenstock
Abstract artist Vasily Kandinsky experienced colors as sounds and sounds as colors; he created work that was bold and groundbreaking using colors from his "noisy paint box.” His process is reflected beautifully by GrandPré, whose paint flows across the page in ethereal ribbons of color..

Sam & Dave Dig a Hole, illustrated by Jon Klassen, written by Mac Barnett
Klassen’s use of texture, shape and earth tones in this deceptively simple book invite readers into the experience of two boys, who, accompanied by their dog, set out to dig a hole. Readers will find an unexpected treasure and be challenged to ponder the meaning of “spectacular.”

Viva Frida, illustrated and written by Yuyi Morales 
 Using a unique variety of media - puppetry, printmaking, painting and photography - combined with an intoxicating use of color and unfailing sense of composition, Morales celebrates the artistic process.

Blue Spruce 2015:Kenta and the Big Wave; Oddrey and The New Kid

The Blue Spruce™ Award program brings recently published Canadian children's picture books to Ontario children ages 4 to 7 in kindergarten through to grade two.
This program promotes reading for enjoyment and begins to develop the reader’s skill in evaluating a picture book based on story, text and pictures. Students read 10 nominated picture books during the school year and vote for their favourite book in the spring. The best picture book is selected by student voting, and the winning author is presented with the Blue Spruce Award.

Kenta and the Big Wave by Ruth Ohi

The tsunami has swept everything away—including Kenta’s most prized possession, his soccer ball.

When tragedy strikes Kenta’s small village in Japan, he does all he can to hang on to the things that matter to him most. But amidst the chaos of an emergency evacuation brought on by the tsunami, Kenta and his family must quickly leave their home, taking with them only the barest necessities. Climbing to safer ground, Kenta watches helplessly as his prized soccer ball goes bouncing down a hill and gets swept away by the waves, never to be seen again… that is until it washes up on a beach on the other side of the world, into the hands of a child who takes it upon himself to return the ball to its rightful owner.

Love the page showing the kids playing while living at the school after the tsunami.  This is a good way to introduce the idea of natural disasters to primary grades in an age appropriate way.  But the gem of this story is the adventure that Kenta's soccer ball goes on and it's journey back to Japan.
LESSON IDEA:
-pair this story with a Pen Pal program with a school in another country.
-Pair this story with fact books of tsunamis and hurricanes and fires.  Talk about how we have fire drills and Kenta's school have tsunami drills.  Compare and contrast the two activities.
-Have the kids colour a basic world map.  Have them chose  and draw on the map an important toy or item and have them predict on the map where it could travel to by ocean current.

Oddrey and The New Kid by Dave Whamond
Ever since she averted disaster in the class production of The Wizard of Oz, Oddrey has been making new friends at school. Her classmates have come to appreciate her irrepressible charm and Oddrey, in turn, encourages them to be their own unique selves. So when Oddrey's teacher introduces a new girl, Maybelline, to the class, Oddrey, ever the optimist, is sure that they'll become the best of friends.  But Maybelline's elaborate storytelling habits and bossy playground personality soon force Oddrey to reconsider. Fed up with Maybelline's tall tales, and her classmates' fascination with Maybelline's stories, Oddrey challenges Maybelline during a class trip to the zoo. The adventure that ensues is Maybelline's and Oddrey's best adventure yet!

More fun and bright illustrations. Another tale about Oddrey who still sees the world in a unique manner and a new character, Mabelline, who like to tell stories of her many adventures.The middle part of the story becomes a wordless book allowing the reader to actively become part of the storytelling.  I feel that a discussion at the end is still necessary to discuss whether Mabelline's stories were true or false or mostly true.
LESSON IDEA: Tall Tales - discussion and comparison
what is a tall tale.  list items that hint that a story may be a tall tale ___ The story has many exaggerations in it.
___ The main character has a problem to solve.
___ The main character is bigger than life and has super-human abilities.
___ The plot of the story is funny and impossible
discuss one or two of Mabelline's stories and write on chart paper which parts match a tall tale and which parts  could be true.

Blue Spruce 2015: The Day My Mom came to Kindergarten; The Man with the Violin

The Blue Spruce™ Award program brings recently published Canadian children's picture books to Ontario children ages 4 to 7 in kindergarten through to grade two.
This program promotes reading for enjoyment and begins to develop the reader’s skill in evaluating a picture book based on story, text and pictures. Students read 10 nominated picture books during the school year and vote for their favourite book in the spring. The best picture book is selected by student voting, and the winning author is presented with the Blue Spruce Award.

The Day My Mom came to Kindergarten by Maureen Fergus
"I liked kindergarten from the very 1st day," begins the narrator of this very funny and touching picture book. However, she notices, "My mom was happy for me, of course, but I got the feeling that she was also a little sad" to leave her. So one day the little girl invites her mom to join the kindergarten class for the day, which turns out to be a real learning experience — for both of them. Somehow her mom just can't get any of the rules right: she barges to the front of the line, she shouts out without raising her hand, she slams down her scissors during Craft Time. How embarrassing! In a wonderful role reversal that will delight young children, the girl must become the patient and sometimes frustrated expert who instructs her mom on how to behave.

A fun role reversal book that discusses classroom rules.  Kids movie have used this concept for years: making the kid the expert who has to teach or lead the adults.  It is a tactic that make this book about rules fun and lively.  I see many opportunities for class interaction during story time and there are many connections to be made with the students home lives.  I predict some interesting conversations at the end of this read-aloud!
LESSON IDEA: Report card.  Give grades of thumbs up, thumbs out or thumbs down to how mom did at first, how the daughter taught her; and how mom did in the end.
How many think their mom or dad would have trouble on the first day with the classroom rules?
Pick a rule and say how would you help them learn it?

The Man with the Violin by Kathy Stinson
Who is playing that beautiful music in the subway? And why is nobody listening?
Based on the true story of Joshua Bell, the renowned American violinist who famously took his instrument down into the Washington D.C. subway for a free concert, this is a  story that reminds us all to stop and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us. More than a thousand commuters rushed by him, but only seven stopped to listen for more than a minute.
Dylan is someone who notices things. His mom is someone who doesn’t. So try as he might, Dylan can’t get his mom to listen to the man playing the violin in the subway station. But Dylan is swept away by the soaring and swooping notes that fill the air as crowds of oblivious people rush by. With the beautiful music in his head all day long, Dylan can’t forget the violinist, and finally succeeds in making his mother stop and listen, too.

This book has so many wonderful levels.  There are lessons about paying attention to the world around you; about not rushing so much but to slow down and notice the important things in life; to listen to one another; not judging people solely on appearance and assumptions; and, about the importance of retaining the imagination and curiosity we had in childhood.  The illustrations also seem to contain a higher meaning.  The fading of colours the farther from the music Dylan walks. (picture)

LESSON IDEA: discussion and connections
Talk about why no one listened.  How many reasons can they think of.
Why did Dylan listen?  How did he feel?  How do you know?(colours in books)
What happens when we rush around?  we don't notice things?  Did you rush today?  What things could you notice if you didn't rush?

Blue Spruce 2015: My Blue is Happy; Loula is Leaving for Africa

The Blue Spruce™ Award program brings recently published Canadian children's picture books to Ontario children ages 4 to 7 in kindergarten through to grade two.
This program promotes reading for enjoyment and begins to develop the reader’s skill in evaluating a picture book based on story, text and pictures. Students read 10 nominated picture books during the school year and vote for their favourite book in the spring. The best picture book is selected by student voting, and the winning author is presented with the Blue Spruce Award.

My Blue is Happy by Jessica Young
A lyrical ode to colors — and the unique ways we experience them — follows a little girl as she explores the world with her family and friends.  Your neighbor says red is angry like a dragon’s breath, but you think it’s brave like a fire truck. Or maybe your best friend likes pink because it’s pretty like a ballerina’s tutu, but you find it annoying — like a piece of gum stuck on your shoe. In a subtle, child-friendly narrative, art teacher and debut author Jessica Young suggests that colors may evoke as many emotions as there are people to look at them — and opens up infinite possibilities for seeing the world in a wonderful new way.

This is great for explaining the concept of perception or comparing different experiences without getting too complicated.  The  activities and questions you can involve students in practically leap off the page.  
LESSON IDEA: Great for exploring colours or feelings.
Explore what different colours mean to individuals. Try verbal comparisons; artistic interpretations of what colours mean (like in the book); or, word association games; etc.


Loula is Leaving for Africa by Anne Villenieuve
Loula has had enough of her terrible triplet brothers and decides to run away to Africa. Luckily, her mother's chauffeur, Gilbert, knows just how to get there. Together, Loula and Gilbert ride camels, cross a desert and, most important, use heaps of imagination in this heartwarming adventure.

Oh to have a chauffeur...and one who joins in on the adventures of the imagination (without turning creepy). Loula's chauffeur is a gem, thinking of thinks like needing a boat to get to Africa and tickets for the boat.  The best imaginary adventures have some detail to make them feel true!
LESSON IDEA: planning
Display a map of the world.  Plot your location and where Africa is.
Have the class suggest a list of what you would need for your trip (food, clothes, tickets, ship, food for whales, plane, sunscreen, postcards, etc).  They could also plot the route they would take on a map handout and draw items from the list where they think they would use them. 

Blue Spruce 2015: Young Frank Architect; The Highest Number in the World

The Blue Spruce™ Award program brings recently published Canadian children's picture books to Ontario children ages 4 to 7 in kindergarten through to grade two.
This program promotes reading for enjoyment and begins to develop the reader’s skill in evaluating a picture book based on story, text and pictures. Students read 10 nominated picture books during the school year and vote for their favourite book in the spring. The best picture book is selected by student voting, and the winning author is presented with the Blue Spruce Award.

Young Frank Architect by Frank Viva
Young Frank, Architect follows the adventures of Young Frank, a resourceful young architect who lives in New York City with his grandfather, Old Frank, who is also an architect. Young Frank sees creative possibilities everywhere, and likes to use anything he can get his hands on—macaroni, old boxes, spoons, and sometimes even his dog, Eddie—to creates things like chairs out of toilet paper rolls and twisting skyscrapers made up of his grandfather’s books. But Old Frank is skeptical; he doesn’t think that’s how REAL architects make things. 

Although sure of his opinions and critical of his grandsons methods, Old Frank makes an important discovery during the story.  I appreciate that the author included an elderly gentleman in the story without focusing on his age.  It is great to see people with some years on them represented in stories without being silly,  a punchline or a problem.  I found I really liked Frank, both the younger and the older. I am a fan of young Franks creations.  The back page includes info about some of the real designs Young and Old Frank saw at the museum.  Information on the designers and architects is included.

LESSON IDEA: create
Have students draw a structure (building, chair, etc) that they designed.  List materials to be used in  building it (can be fanciful such as a 58 lollipop bridge or a purple brick castle).


The Highest Number in the World by Roy MacGregor 

9-year-old Gabe (Gabriella) Murray lives and breathes hockey. She's the youngest player on her new team, she has a nifty move that her teammates call "the Gabe," and she shares a lucky number with her hero, Hayley Wickenheiser: number 22. But when her coach hands out the team jerseys, Gabe is stuck with number 9. Crushed, Gabe wants to give up hockey altogether. How can she play without her lucky number? Gabe's grandmother soon sets her straight, though--from her own connection to the number 9 in her hockey-playing days to all the greats she cheered for who wore it, she soon convinces Gabe that this new number might not be so bad after all.

My favorite part of the story? I'm almost exhausted with all the hockey themed books that I have seen lately (almost...I am Canadian!) but the final page got me: Gabriella and her hero both wearing their hockey jersey's.  Why?  Read the book.  It's worth it!
LESSON IDEA: discussion and draw
Who is your hero? Is it someone you have met?  WHY is that person a hero?  Do you have any heroes in your family?  What makes them a hero? Draw a medal (or provide medal template for them to personalize) for your hero, include something in the design that illustrates why they are a hero (eg. hockey stick, sport jersey, uniform, fireman's hat, etc).

James Bartleman Aboriginal Youth Creative Award 2014

The James Bartleman Aboriginal Youth Creative Writing Award celebrates Aboriginal youth for their creative writing efforts and provides an opportunity for them to showcase their work to a broader audience. The Honourable James Bartleman was the 27th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario (2002 – 2007). Mr. Bartleman was the first Aboriginal Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.

“These six young writers represent exactly what this award is intended to encourage. They have taken their own unique experiences and married them with their creative writing talent to create stories that move us and expand our understanding of one another.”  -The Honourable James K. Bartleman, Former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario

Every year up to six Aboriginal students each receive the award of $2,500, a framed certificate, and a trip for them and two guests to attend the awards ceremony.  Congratulations to the 2014 winners:

Brooklyne Amyot
for her poem that compares Canada to a playground.

Natalie Court
for her poem about the beauty in what we often call our flaws.

Krista Lee
for her essay on multiculturalism in Canadian society and the role of Aboriginal peoples.

Anawahs Migwans
for her story about a girl born with one blue eye and one brown eye.

Steven Okeese
for his short story about same-sex relationships and the struggle for acceptance from family.

Jada Sofeafor her essay on hope in her community of Webequie.

New York Times Best Illustrated Books Awards for 2014

Judges to select picture books on the basis of artistic merit.  The award had been given annually since 1952.

DRAW!
Written and illustrated by Raúl Colón.
  



SHACKLETON’S JOURNEY
Written and illustrated by William Grill.
 

HAITI, MY COUNTRY
Poems by Haitian Schoolchildren
lllustrated by Roge.
 



HARLEM HELLFIGHTERS
Written by J. Patrick Lewis. Illustrated by Gary Kelley.
 


TIME FOR BED, FRED
Written and illustrated by Yasmeen Ismail.
 


HERE IS THE BABY
Written by Polly Kanevsky. Illustrated by Taeeyun Yoo.
 


WHERE’S MOMMY?
Written by Beverly Donofrio. Illustrated by Barbara McClintock.
 


THE PROMISE
Written by Nicola Davies. Illustrated by Laura Carlin.
 


THE BABY TREE
Written and illustrated by Sophie Blackall.
  



THE PILOT AND THE LITTLE PRINCE
The Life of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Written and illustrated by Peter Sis