2012 Blue Bonnet Nominees

Along with the fantastic selection of 2x2 books, Texas also has a list of books for upper elementary students.  The Blue Bonnet Award is given to those twenty fiction and non fiction books that are of high literary quality and student interest.  The books are geared for students in grades 3-6.  Once students have read five of the books, they can vote on their favorite.  The author with the highest number of votes is the winner of the award.

See the complete list here!

Just Being Audrey by Margaret Cadillo

I must admit a bit of favoritism toward this title.  I have always loved Audrey Hepburn, but this biographical story of her life not only shows the stylish actress most of us know her as, but also her confident, comfortable spirit she had even while growing up.  The book follows her life story into her philanthropic work with children and her remarkable appeal for UNICEF assistance.  And I would be doing this book a disservice not to mention the illustrations.  They are incredible!  Each picture is exactly Audrey!  A beautiful book to inspire a new generation of young people.

Postcards from Camp by Simms Faback

What a fun read!  A great book to share with a young reader heading off to camp with a case of the nerves.  Michael is going to camp and has a tough time at first.  He and his dad trade postcards and letters including Michael's attempt at a ransom note begging his dad to come get him from camp.  The writers incorporates real photos and fun drawings and even a pull-out letter and ghost story.  Lots of fun details to look at on each page.  May be fun to do this prior to a postcard writing activity.

Hot Diggity Dog by Adrienne Sylver

Wow!  Did you know Americans eat two billion hotdogs in the month of July alone?  It's enough to lay end to end and wrap around the Earth seven times!  Never would I have thought I'd learn so  much about hot dogs!  This is a great look into the origins of the famous treat.  Kids who love learning lots of fun facts will love this book and could be inspired to look into one of their favorite foods too.

Clever Jack Takes the Cake by Candace Fleming

A sweet new fairy tale!  Jack is a poor boy but wants to make a good impression on the Princess at her birthday party.  So, he trades all his has to make her a beautiful cake, but along the way to the party, four and twenty blackbirds, a troll, a dancing bear, and a dark forest take apart his cake.  What can Jack possibly have now for the Princess's birthday?  Find out in this fun story.

Thunder Birds: Nature's Flying Predators by Jim Arnosky

This is the kind of book you have to see to believe.  Jim Arnosky and his wife are both avid bird watchers and nature enthusiasts.  This book is a collection of information and incredible painted pages from their traveling experience.  Some of the images are even life-sized with long pull-out pages (and I just learned these are called gatefolds...cool!).  Gorgeous work combined with very interesting facts for young (and more mature) readers alike.

Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie by Julie Sternberg

Poor Eleanor.  She is having a bad month...a very bad month indeed.  As bad as pickle juice on a cookie!  Her babysitter Bibi is moving away and now she has to meet and get to know another one before the start of another school year.  She is not happy.  The new babysitter just isn't like Bibi.  Can she ever learn to move on from Bibi?  

Benjamin Franklinstein Lives by Matthew McElligot and Larry Tuxbury 

Science geeks beware!  What would you do if you found Benjamin Franklin "living" in your basement?  What would you do if he woke up and began running around town looking for electricity to eat?  Well, of course you'd try to help him...and try to win the science fair at school at the same time.  This is exactly what Victor does too.  A very funny book full of great drawings and quotes directly from Benjamin Franklin himself.  A great combination of humor and science.

The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale  by Carmen Agra Deedy & Randall Wright

How do you get Charles Dickens into the young minds of readers today?  Include him in a story involving cats, mice, a raven, and cheese!  Skilley isn't your ordinary "mouser" and Pip sure isn't your ordinary mouse.  With Charles Dickens in the background madly trying to craft an opening line for his latest work, perhaps you've heard of it, A Tale of Two Cities, Pip and Skilley are involved in a most unusual relationship.  But when Skilley's archenemy intrudes on the new friends, things get a bit scary for all the animals involved.  What they have to do to survive will take readers on a fun ride.

Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke