Read up on book nominees—May 29, 2009
Every year ten books for three different age groups are nominated to win the Golden Sower Award. The 2009 winners have already been selected, so how about getting an early start on a few books from next years nominees. For primary readers try “Badger’s Fancy Meal,” by Keiko Kasza, about a hungry badger who is tired of eating the “same old” meal of apples, worms, and roots. Also try “The Great Texas Hamster Drive,” by Eric A. Kimmel. In this picture book Sal, Pecos Bill’s daughter wants a pet hamster, she receives two which eventually multiply into hundreds. The hamsters eat all the grass on the ranch and Sal and her family start the Great Texas Hamster Drive. Finally read “Henry’s Freedom Box,” by Ellen Levine, a true story that is about the Underground Railroad.
For intermediate readers try some great chapter books. In “The Homework Machine,” by Dan Gutman, four kids create a machine that does their homework for them, but when they start failing tests, their teachers begin to suspect that something is wrong. “On the Wings of Heroes,” by Richard Peck is about a boy named Davy, who’s older brother has joined the Force during World War II. Also try “Eleven,” by Patricia Reilly Giff, about a boy with mysterious dreams that are solved on his eleventh birthday when he finds some old newspapers in his attic.
For Young adults try “Peak,” by Roland Smith. Fourteen-year-old Peak Marcello, who gets in trouble for scaling skyscrapers in New York, joins his father on Mt. Everest, where he attempts to be the youngest person to ever reach the summit. Also try “Diamonds in the Shadow,” by Caroline B. Cooney. Jared Finch’s parents invite a refugee family from Africa to live with them. What Jared and his family don’t know is that the refugee family, the Amabo family, has someone following them, who wants something that the Amabo’s brought with them to America. Finally, read “Night of the Howling Dogs,” by Graham Salisbury. In this book a group of boy’s scouts in Hawaii, encounter a disaster foreshadowed by two howling dogs. The scouts must use their instincts and leadership skills in order to survive.
All these books and the other nominees can be found at Hastings Public Library.
