Kentucky Bluegrass Award Nominees

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Kentucky Bluegrass Award Nominees

• Grades 3-5
• 2009-2010

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Iron Thunder by Avi

• Iron Thunder the Battle Between the Monitor and
  the Merrimac a Civil War Novel.
• When his father is killed fighting for the Union
  in the War Between the States, thirteen-year-old
  Tom Carroll must take a job to help support his
  family. He manages to find work at a bustling
  ironworks in his hometown of Brooklyn, New York,
  where dozens of men are frantically pounding
  together the strangest ship Tom has ever seen. A
  ship

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• made of iron.
• Tom becomes an assistant to the ships inventor,
  Captain John Ericsson. He soon learns that the
  Union Army has very important plans for this iron
  ship called the Monitor. It is supposed to fight
  the Confederate ironclad, the Merrimac. But
  Ericsson is practically the only person who
  believes the Monitor will float. Everyone else
  calls it Ericssons Folly or the iron coffin.
  

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• Meanwhile, Toms position as Ericssons
  assistant has made him a target of Confederate
  spies who offer him money for information about
  the ship. Tom finds himself caught between two
  certain dangers an encounter with murderous
  spies and a battle at sea in an iron coffin
• (From the cover.)

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• Published in 2007
• Historical Fiction or Historical Adventure
• Reading Level 4.3 (Follett)
• Ages 8-12 (Cover)
• Excellent Boy book, the main character is a
  boy, many supporting characters are boys and men.
• One of the first I Witness Series by Avi
  exciting stories about fictional young people
  during real events in history. (a letter from
  Avi in the front of the book)

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The Puzzling World of Winston Breen by Eric
Berlin

• Winston Breen loves puzzles, and he finds them
  everywhere- books, newspapers, even pizzas. So
  when Winston and his sister find some strange
  puzzle pieces in an antique box, its only
  natural that Winston try to find out where the
  box came from and what the words on the puzzle

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• pieces might mean. Soon, Winston and his friends
  are hunting for a long-hidden treasure,
  accompanied by the town librarian, a giant
  ex-policeman, a pretty reporter, and a pair of
  mysterious strangers who arrive out of nowhere
  looking for loot. But its clear from the start
  that someone in the group doesnt intend to share
  the treasure, should it be found. Chock-full of
  puzzles for the reader to

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• solve, this treasure hunt will thrill readers
  right to the end (From the cover).
• The book contains quite a few puzzles. You can
  solve the puzzles if you want, although you dont
  have to solve them to enjoy the story. Some of
  the puzzles are so important to the story, the
  answers are revealed almost immediately. The
  puzzles can be downloaded and printed from
  www.winstonbreen.com.
• (From the book).

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• Published in 2007
• Realistic Fiction / Mystery
• Reading Level 4.2 (Follett)
• Booklist Starred Review
• Good Boy and Girl book, the main character is
  a boy, but his sister is a strong supporting
  character.
• The author, Eric Berlin creates puzzles for all
  ages, from kids to adults, his crosswords appear
  often in The New York Times.
• You dont have to enjoy puzzles to enjoy the book!

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Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little by Peggy
Gifford

• Now, Moxy loved to read books. She loved books
  so much that sometimes she would stay up all
  night and read. Its just that Moxy liked to
  read what she wanted to read and not what someone
  told her to read.
• It isnt as if Moxy hasnt tried to read Stuart
  Little. She has. Theyve been practically
  inseparable all summer, like best friends.

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• If the book isnt in her backpack, its in her
  lap. If it isnt holding up the coffee table on
  the front porch, its following Moxy into the
  pool. So you see, it isnt as if they havent
  spent quality time together. But now, its the
  end of August. The day before fourth grade
  starts. The last possible second to finish
  summer reading.
• And if Moxy does not stay in her room and read
  ALL of Stuart Little, there will be
  consequences.
• Which means she wont get to play the eighth
  daisy petal in the Goodbye to Summer Splash!
  water ballet. Which will be tragic. (From the
  cover.)

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• Published in 2007
• Realistic Fiction / Humor
• Reading Level 5.2 (Follett) (questionable in my
  opinion)
• Great Girl book but also a good Boy book, the
  main character is a girl, but the story includes
  Moxys twin brother, Mark. The story is
  accentuated with photographs taken by Mark.
• The first of a series Moxy Maxwell Does Not
  Love Writing Thank You Notes (2009) and Moxy
  Maxwell Does Not Love Practicing the Piano (but
  She Does Love Being in Recitals) (2009).

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That Book Woman by Heather Henson

• Cal is not the readin type. Living way high up
  in the Appalachian Mountains, hed rather help
  Pap plow or go out after wandering sheep than try
  some book learning.

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• Nope. Cal does not want to sit stoney-still
  reading some chicken scratch. But that Book
  Woman keeps coming just the same. She comes

in the rain. She comes in the snow. She comes
right up the side of the mountain, and Cal knows
thats not easy riding. And all just to lend his
sister some books. Why, that woman must be plain
foolish- or is she really braver than he ever
thought?
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• That Book Woman is a rare and moving tale that
  honors a special part of American history- the
  Pack Horse Librarians, who helped untold numbers
  of children see

the stories amid the chicken scratch, and thus
made them into lifetime readers. (From the
cover.)
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• Published in 2008
• Historical Fiction
• Picture Book
• A Junior Library Guild Selection
• Reading Level 4.5 (Follett)

• Demonstrates the way poor rural families would
  trade something rather than to take something for
  free or a handout that they were unable to
  afford.

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• Heather Henson was born, raised, and lives in
  Danville, KY.
• Heather has published another picture book in
  2009, Grumpy Grandpa.

• Her web site is www.heatherhensonbooks.com.

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Swindleby Gordon Korman

• Swindle to cheat, steal, trick, deceive,
  defraud, lie, rob, con, backstab, obtain
  dishonestly
• When Griffin Bing plans a spooky sleepover in a
  haunted house thats about to be demolished, he
  isnt planning on making a fortune. But then he
  discovers something more valuable than gold a
  rare Babe Ruth baseball card, hidden out of view
  for many years.

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• Griffins on his way to a million dollarsuntil a
  mean collector named S. Wendell Palomino (a.k.a.
  Swindle) tricks him out of the card. Now Griffin
  must put together a team of friends (and one or
  two enemies) in order to get the card back.
• There are many things standing in their way a
  menacing guard dog, a high tech security system,
  a very secret hiding place, and the fact that
  none of them can drive. But Griffin is a Man
  With a Plan, and even if some things go way
  beyond his control, hes not going to let his
  fortune go without a fight. (From the cover.)

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• Published in 2008
• Realistic Fiction / Crime /Suspense
• Reading Level 4.9 (Follett)
• Excellent Boy book, good for reluctant readers
  sports connection, powerful main characters,
  includes planning and strategy, even a ferocious
  guard dog and high tech security system!
• A sequel to Swindle, Zoobreak, is scheduled to be
  released in Fall of 09.
• Gordon Korman has been publishing books for over
  25 years, a couple of his series include
  Kidnapped and On the Run.

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The Willoughbysby Lois Lowry

• Shouldnt we be orphans? one of the Willoughby
  children suggests one day. The four are, after
  all, part of an old-fashioned kind of family, and
  their parents- well their parents are not all
  that one would hope for.
• Recalling literary heroes and heroines such as
  Anne of Green Gables, Pollyanna, and James with
  his giant peach, the Willoughbys concoct a
  diabolical plot to turn themselves into worthy

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• and winsome orphans. Little do they know that
  Mr. and Mrs. Willoughby have already begun to
  formulate their own thoroughly despicable plan
  inspired by another favorite bedtime story the
  tale of Hansel and Gretel
• Villains, benefactors, no-nonsense nannies,
  abandoned infants, long lost heirs, and late life
  romance all make their appearance along with the
  irrepressible Willoughbys as Lois Lowry pays
  playful homage to classic works of literature in
  this hilarious and decidedly old-fashioned
  parody. (From the cover.)

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• Published in 2008
• VERY different style from other books by Lois
  Lowry!
• Reading level 5.2 (Follett)
• Starred reviews in Booklist and Kirkus Review.
• Similar to Unfortunate Events, appeals to boys
  and girls.
• Includes a glossary which humorously defines
  words not in newfangled stories, such as
  villainous and winsome
• Includes an annotated bibliography that comments
  on the 13 childrens books referenced in the
  story.

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The Runaway Dolls by Ann Martin and Laura Godwin

• Best friends Annabelle Doll and Tiffany Funcraft
  have stumbled upon an unexpected visitor, a new
  doll named Tilly May. Shes arrived in a
  mysterious packagebut she looks so familiar.
  Could she be Annabelles long-lost baby sister?
  Itll take a runaway adventure to find out for
  sure. Are the dolls ready for life on the road?
• (From the cover.)

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• Published in 2008.
• Reading level 4.4 (Follett)
• Illustrated by Brian Selznick.
• The book opens with a narrative sequence of black
  and white pencil drawings, which lures the reader
  into the story (similar to The Invention of Hugo
  Cabret.
• The third doll people story, but also stands
  alone for readers new to the series.
• Starred reviews in Publishers Weekly and Kirkus
  Review.
• Mostly appeals to girls, but has lots of
  adventure.

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Saving the Griffinby Kristin Wolden Nitz

• When eleven-year-old Kate and her younger brother
  Michael find a lost baby griffin a strange,
  fantastical creature with downy feathers and
  tufts of fur in an Italian garden, they enter
  into a magical adventure marked by danger, fear,
  and a sinister beckoning presence named Prince

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• Eduardo.
• The children try to keep Grifonino safe and his
  existence a secret but the pursuit by greedy
  paparazzi and eager scientists threatens the
  creatures safety. Now, with the help of their
  older brother Stephen, Kate and Michael set out
  to solve the mystery of where the griffin came
  fromand how to get him back there once and for
  all. (From the cover.)

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• Published in 2007.
• Reading level 4.1 (Follett)
• Fantasy Fiction
• Set in present-day Italy, with three very real
  siblings plunged into a fantasy world.
• Includes typical sibling rivalry/relationships.
• Great for boys and girls, brother and sister both
  are main characters.

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When the Wolves Returned Restoring Natures
Balance in Yellowstoneby Dorothy Patent

• Yellowstone National Parks majestic geologic
  wonders and remarkable wildlife draw millions of
  visitors each year. But

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• there was a time when the natural system was out
  of balance because one key piece of the puzzle
  had been eliminated-

the wolf. Now, more than a decade after
scientists realized the wolves' essential role
and returned them to Yellowstone, the parks
natural balance is gradually being restored. The
informative dual-level text and
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• Spectacular full-color photographs show the
  wolves in the habitat that was at risk without
  them.
• (From the cover.)

• Published in 2008.
• Reading level 6.0 (Follett) the dual text
  allows the reading level to be lower.

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• Nonfiction
• Photographed by a father-daughter team, Dan
  Hartman and Cassie Hartman.

• Cassie was sixteen when this book was published.
  The Hartmans have a website about their gallery
  at www.wildlifealongtherockies.homestead.com.

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My Dog May Be a Geniusby Jack Prelutsky

• Have you ever encountered an underwater marching
  band, a pig in a bathing suit, a pet orangutan,
  or a witch in a hardware store? Have you ever
  sat with a skunk in a courtroom, shopped for a
  dinosaur, or conversed with a Bupple,

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• a Wosstrus, a Violinnett or a Celloon? You will
  have, once youve read this exuberant
  collaboration from Jack Prelutsky and his
  partner in crime James Stevenson.
• The reigning czars of silliness have once again
  teamed up to bring readers an irresistible
  collection of poems that will have tongues
  twisting, imaginations soaring, and sides aching
  with

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• Laughter. The result is genius, indeed.
• (From the cover.)
• Published in 2008
• Poetry
• Reading level 3.2 (Follett)
• Written by the first national Childrens Poet
  Laureate, by the Poetry Foundation.

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• Companion anthologies include A Pizza the Size
  of the Sun and Something Big has Been Here.
• Starred reviews from Library Media Connection and
  Publishers Weekly.
• Great for younger readers and sharing aloud.
• Jack Prelutsky has a (somewhat)interactive
  website with activities at www.jackprelutsky.com

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Eleven by Patricia Reilly Giff

• Who is Sam, and what do his strange dreams mean?
  The shock of icy water as a boat crashes onto
  rocks feels real so does that castle high above
  him that is almost hidden in the mists. And what
  about the number eleven woven into all those
  dreams?

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• The papers Sam finds in the locked box in the
  attic may hold the answers if only he could
  read them. But to Sam, words are like spiders
  flexing their thin legs as they move across the
  page. Words are impossible. Its wood that Sam
  understands, wood that he loves to shape and
  build with.
• Caroline, the new girl, who bursts into Sams
  classroom one day and

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• warns him that shes not there to stay, helps
  build a castle with him, and reads those papers.
• Together they set out to discover who Sam really
  is and where he belongs. Readers will be drawn
  into this intriguing story about identity and the
  unlikely friendship between a girl who cant stop
  reading and a boy who cant begin.
• (From the cover.)

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• Published in 2008
• Realistic Fiction / Mystery
• Reading level 4.2 (Follett)
• Starred reviews in Kirkus Review and Publishers
  weekly.
• Excellent for boys and girls!
• She has an informative website at
  www.patriciareillygiff.com

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Slam Dunk!by Sharon Robinson

• Elijah Jumper Breeze is settling into his new
  home in Harlem though it hasnt been easy since
  his father died and his mother moved them from
  the suburbs.
• Still, Jumper made friends at summer camp and
  hes eager to see them at his new middle school.
  Hes also looking forward to hitting the books
  and hitting the court for some

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• serious b-ball. Then his best friend, Kelvin
  talks him into running for student council and
  suddenly life gets a lot more complicated!
• Jumpers campaigning for more than student
  council. Hes got to figure out how to raise
  enough money to fix the school gym so there can
  even be a basketball team. He needs to outpoll
  Nia, his fiercest opponent in the student council
  race, but doesnt want to lose her

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• friendship in the process. And then comes word
  that Jumpers rival, Marcus, is transferring to
  his class. Middle school is going to be a tough
  game!
• (From the cover.)
• Although this is a sequel to Safe at Home, it
  isnt necessary to have read the first book, to
  understand and enjoy this one.

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• Realistic Fiction
• Reading level 3.6 (Follett)
• Mostly a boy book and a sports book.
• Sharon Robinson has written several nonfiction
  books about her father, baseball legend, Jackie
  Robinson, including Promises to Keep How Jackie
  Robinson Changed America (2004).

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The Adventures of Molly Whuppie by Ann Shelby

• Combining traditional Appalachian folktale plots
  with a contemporary sensibility, writer and
  storyteller Anne Shelby creates fourteen lively,
  original stories of a funny, magical, yet
  familiar world.
• Many of the stories feature a girl named

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• Molly Whuppie, who is clever, brave, and strong.
  Encountering witches, giants, an ogre who refuses
  to do housework, unwanted boyfriends, and all
  manner of conundrums, Molly manages to outwit
  them all with a potent combination of nerve,
  trickery, and plain luck. Also appearing in the
  stories are Mollys sisters Polly and Betts, the
  famous

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• Appalachian hero Jack (Molly saves him a few
  times), and three cornbread-baking mice.
• These delightful and often surprising stories are
  sure to appeal to readers and listeners of all
  ages who enjoy an adventurous tale well told.
• (From the cover.)

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• Published in 2007.
• Fairy / Folk Tale
• Reading level 4.2
• Many of the stories are based on tales collected
  from Eastern Kentucky by folklorist Leonard
  Roberts. (From Annes website at
  www.anneshelby.com.)

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• The Adventures of Molly Whuppie is Annes
  adaptation of a story simply titled Molly
  Whuppie which has appeared in British and
  Appalachian stories (from the book).
• Anne has a new picture book, The Man Who Lived in
  a Hollow Tree, based on an Eastern Kentucky
  Legend (2009).
• Anne Shelby lives in Clay County, KY.