Louisiana Young Readers’ Choice Award
Ballot 2011
Grades 3-5

“The Apple-Pip Princess” by Jane Ray. Illustrated by Jane Ray. 32 pages. This beautifully illustrated book is a sweet tale of humility winning over the loud shouts of steel and the towering heights of buildings. This story is a tribute to the adage “the meek shall inherit the earth”.
Trade Cloth: Candlewick Press. 2008. 0-7636-3747-5. $16.99.

“The Blacker the Berry” by Joyce Carol Thomas. Illustrated by Floyd Cooper. 32 pages. This vibrantly illustrated book contains 13 original poems dealing with identity. The underlying theme is that beauty is within and you are beautiful no matter what your outward appearance is.
Trade Cloth. HarperCollins Publishers. 2008. 0-06-025375-4. $16.99.
Library Binding. HarperCollins Publishers. 2008. 0-06-025376-2. $17.89.

“Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman” by Mark Tyler Nobleman. Illustrated by Ross MacDonald. 40 pages. This biographical picture book describes the lives of Superman’s creators. From the first glimmer of an idea in someone’s head to Superman’s humble pen-and-ink beginnings through his continued popularity, every comic book fan should know the true story of Superman’s creators.
Trade Cloth. Random House Children’s Books. 2008. 0-375-83802-3. $16.99.
Library Binding. Random House Children’s Books. 2008. 0-375-93802-8. $19.99.

“Dodger and Me” by Jordan Sonnenblick. 176 pages. Willie Ryan must overcome his only friend moving away, his failure as a baseball player and issues with his overprotective mother. This is nothing compared to what happens when he meets a magical blue chimp named Dodger, complete with three wishes to help him overcome these issues. Along the way Willie learns the true meaning of loyalty and friendship. 
Trade Cloth. Feiwel & Friends. 2008. 0-312-37793-2. $16.95.
Trade Paper. Feiwel & Friends. 2009. 0-312-56122-9. $6.99.
Compact Disc. Brilliance Audio. 2009. 1-4233-8243-9. $19.99.

“The Dragon in the Sock Drawer” by Kate Klimo. Illustrated by John Schroades. 176 pages. Jesse and Daisy are thrilled when a rock they find hatches a baby dragon. They have always longed for adventure but soon discover that taking care of their new charge and protecting it from an evil dragon slayer may prove to be too much.
Trade Cloth. Random House Children’s Books. 2008. 0-375-85587-4. $14.99.
Library Binding. Random House Children’s Books. 2008. 0-375-95587-9. $17.99.
Digest Paperback. Random House Children’s Books. 2008. 0-375-85588-2. $5.99.
Compact Disc. Brilliance Audio. September 2009. 1-4418-0218-5. $19.99.

“Eleven” by Patricia Reilly Griff. 176 pages. Just before his eleventh birthday, Sam’s dreams fill with frightening images after he finds an old newspaper clipping that raises questions about his identity. With the help of a new friend, Sam, who was never a good reader, works on a school project and explores questions of his past and faces his fears.
Trade Cloth. Dell Publishing. 2008. 0-385-73069-1. $15.99
Library Binding. Random House Children’s Books. 2008. 0-385-90098-8. $18.99.
Digest Paperback. Random House Children’s Books. 2009. 0-440-23802-1. $6.50.
Compact Disc. Random House Audio Publishing Group. 2008. 0-7393-6280-1. $25.00.

“The Key to Rondo” by Emily Rodda. 2008. 224 pages. After cousins Mimi and Leo break the rules about a music box Leo inherited, they find themselves transported to Rondo, the magical kingdom shown on the box. There a talking pig joins Mimi and Leo on their quest to save Mimi’s dog from the evil Blue Queen.
Trade Cloth. Scholastic, Inc. 2008. 0-545-03535-X. $10.19 (School), $16.99.
Digest Paperback. Scholastic, Inc. 2008. 0-545-03536-8. $6.99.

“Molly the Pony: A True Story” by Pam Kaster. 30 pages. Molly is a survivor. She survived Hurricane Katrina alone and found the determination and zest for life to overcome the hardships of survival and become a role model for all.
Trade Cloth. Louisiana State University Press. 2008. 0-8071-3320-5. $15.95.

“Nic Bishop Frogs” by Nic Bishop. Photographs by Nic Bishop. 48 pages. Eye-catching photos and simple, yet informative text are combined in this fascinating book that is certain to attract children (even if they don’t have to write a report on frogs). The photos of frogs from all over the world nearly leap off the pages, making this title irresistible.
Trade Cloth. Scholastic, Inc. 2008. 0-439-87755-5. $10.79 (School), $17.99.

“Oh, Brother” by Nikki Grimes. Illustrated by Mike Benny. 32 pages. In a series of poems brought to life with paintings, Xavier comes to terms with his mother’s remarriage. He decides that the addition of a stepfather, stepbrother and a new baby are all important notes in a new song to sing.
Picture Book. HarperCollins Publishers. 2008. 0-688-17294-6. $16.99.
Library Binding. HarperCollins Publishers. 2008. 0-688-17295-4. $17.89.

“One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Difference” by Katie Smith Milway. Illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes. 32 pages. In this inspiring story, Kojo, a young African boy, learns that taking the small step of selling eggs from his hen leads to a successful small business. After he becomes an adult, this also leads to the opportunity of helping others start their own small businesses.
Trade Cloth. Kids Can Press, Limited. 2008. 1-55453-028-8. $18.95.

“There’s a Wolf at the Door” by Zoe Alley. Illustrated by R.W. Alley. 40 pages. Five classic tales are retold in this tongue and cheek graphic story. That icon of villains, the Wolf, strolls through fairy tale land, in and out of stories, doing what he does best, grabbing a quick meal. Pigs, sheep, lying little boys, geese and fashionable little girls all conspire to keep him hungry. What’s a well-dressed wolf to do?
Trade Cloth. Roaring Brook Press. 2008. 1-59643-275-6. $19.95.

“Two Bobbies” by Kirby Larson & Mary Nethery. Illustrated by Jean Cassels. 32 pages. Join a dog and cat, both with bobbed tails, in this true heartwarming story of survival and friendship in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Trade Cloth. Walker & Company. 2008. 0-8027-9754-7. $16.99.
Reinforced. Walker & Company. 2008. 0-8027-9755-5. $17.89.

“When Sergeant Came Marching Home” by Don Lemna. 208 pages. When 10 year old Donald’s father comes home from World War II, many things change for the worse, in Donald’s opinion. His father uproots the family from town to country and expects a lot from Donald and his younger brother, causing many hilarious confrontations. This is a laugh-out-loud story of a father-son relationship.
Trade Cloth. Holiday House, Inc. 2008. 0-8234-2083-3. $16.95.
Trade Paper. Holiday House, Inc. 2008. 0-8234-2211-9. $7.95.

“The Wolves are Back” by Jean Craighead. Illustrated by Wendell Minor. 32 pages. This is a beautiful picture book of life along George the Lamar River in Yellowstone National Park depicting the reintroduction of wolves and their beneficial effect on the environment. With the return of the wolves, the natural order is reestablished.
Trade Cloth. Penguin Group. 2008. 0-525-47947-3. $16.99.
Mixed Media (Book and CD). Live Oak Media. 2008. 1-4301-0594-1. $28.95.