Alabama Camellia Award nominees for 2011-2012

Note: All summaries are taken from Camellia Award 2011-12 Booklist, found here.
GRADES K-1
Princess K.I.M. and the Lie That Grew, by Maryann Cocca-Leffler, 2009 (picture book)
In order to get the kids to like her, Kim tells a tiny lie that causes her problems later on.
At first I wasn't crazy about the way the grandmother helped Kim cover her lies, but in the end this is a good story about what can happen if you tell just one little lie. Kim discovers that kids will like her for what she is, not what she pretends to be. Entertaining, and will probably be a hit with this age group.

Yucky Worms by Vivian French, 2010
To be friends with a worm takes a special kind of person. They are slimy and you can’t tell one end from the other. This book gives many descriptions to help tell them apart.
Haven't read yet.

Can't Sleep Without Sheep, by Susan Leonard Hill, 2010 (picture book)
Ava has trouble sleeping and always counts sleep to help. However, it takes her so long to fall asleep that the sheep finally give up and quit, but they promise to find a suitable replacement for her.
I really like this book. It's such a simple idea, but imagination takes it a long way. Who will replace the sheep jumping over the fence? The sheep win in the end, because they are dependable and perfect for the job! Reminds me of "I Can't Get to Sleep" by Frank Rodgers (I used to read that book to my own children all the time!)

Bedtime Hullabaloo by David Conway, 2010
This is a humorous story about a leopard and a hyena and how they are in for a big surprise after they hear a terrible noise one night.
Haven't read yet.

The Three Little Gators by Helen Kettermen, 2010.
This is a wonderful story about three little gators, a retelling of the three pigs, who set out on their own in a Texas swamp.


Even Monsters Need Haircuts by Matthew McElligott, 2010 (picture book)
A young barber stays out well past his bedtime so he can cut the hair of some most surprising clients.
Cute, cute book! Would be good to read around Halloween-time. Love the illustrations, love the story with its friendly monsters and matter-of-fact young boy. This will be a hit!

Who Will Plant a Tree? by Jerry Pallotta, 2010
This well illustrated book shows how animals plant trees without even trying.
Haven't read yet.

Chick 'n' Pug by Jennifer Sattler, 2010 (picture book)
This is a wonderful tale of friendship and hero worship as chick and pug enter into adventures.
I read this to Kindergartners, and some of it was a little over their heads: "Go get'em Tiger! Show that knotted rope who's boss" and "What about that Frisbee? Are you gonna let it taunt you like that?" and "You never know when an empty can might turn on you." The characters are entertaining though, and the illustrations fun and endearing.

Memoirs of a Goldfish by Devin Scillian, 2010 (picture book)
This book talks about the life of a goldfish.
Well, that description doesn't do this book justice. It is not a dry non-fiction account of the life cycle of a goldfish, but rather a clever, entertaining account of a goldfish who is all alone, but then joined by company. And more company. And more company, until his bowl is so crowded no one can move! Whimsical illustrations and lovable characters make this book a winner.


Mr. President Goes to School by Rick Walton, 2010 (picture book)
After feeling stress in his job, the president decides to go back to kindergarten to learn what is really important in life.
Good book on many levels. Could be used at the beginning of the year to teach classroom manners. Could be used at President's Day to make the job of the president more accessible to the little ones. Or it could be used anytime to teach the importance of the basic things in life, things like manners, kindness and cooperation.

GRADES 2-3
The Lunch Thief by Anne C. Bromley, 2010
Rafael is angry that a new student is stealing lunches, but he takes time to learn what the real problem is before acting.
Haven't read yet.

Ocean Soup by Stephen R. Swinburne, 2010 (picture book)
Poems about the ocean.
The sub-title of the book is "Tide-Pool Poems". Tide pools are described by Rachel Carson, quoted in the beginning of this book, as "contain[ing] mysterious worlds, where all the beauty of the sea is subtly suggested and portrayed in miniature." This book is so much more that just a book of poems. Each page certainly starts out with a rather humorous poem, one that focuses on a particular animal, but goes on to include a paragraph of information about that animal.. Interesting information! This would be an excellent book to use with a study of biomes or habitats. Animals include barnacles, sea slugs, sea urchins, starfish, hermit crabs and mussels. "A Starfish Interviews an Octopus" is a great idea! Have students come up with their own interview questions (and answers) for the different animals! What a fun way to learn and put that learning to use! There's a glossary at the end along with Additional Resources. This book is really a good idea!

Rosa's Bus: The Ride to Civil Rights, by Jo S. Kittinger, 2010 (picture book)
This book is about the true story of Rosa Parks and what happened that day at the bus stop.
Before I opened this book, I thought, "What else can be said about Rosa Parks' ride?". Well, Kittinger surprised me! This book is literally about "the bus", almost written from the bus' point-of-view! How clever! But Kittinger goes on to explain the whole story in very clear, understandable terms and phrases that make this book perfect for 2nd and 3rd graders. It even gives more information about the bus and the fact that it is now on permanent display at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan (where it was manufactured). The book also mentions (in the "Author's Note) several other important characters in this chapter of the Civil Rights saga, namely Claudette Colvin. I will definitely use this book with 3rd graders.

Pierre the Penguin: a True Story, by Jean Marzollo, 2008
This is a true story about a penguin living in a museum in California who experiences some mysterious difficulties.
Haven't read yet.

First Dog's White House Christmas, by J. Patrick Lewis and Beth Zappitello, 2010 (picture book)
This is a beautifully illustrated (by Tim Bowers)book about the First Dog’s Christmas in the White House.
While technically fictional, this book provides lots of information about dogs, their respective countries of origin, and that country's Christmas customs and traditions. Clever way to get the information across. I love the author's note at the end: "The meaning of Christmas is the same for people and pooches everywhere: giving. Every dog gives a gift that is both free and priceless at the same time--unconditional love."! Great book with lots of lesson expansion possibilities.

What's So Special About Planet Earth? by Robert E. Wells, 2009
An illustrated look about what makes our Earth special. (Yes, the summary says "about". I would have used the word "at").
Haven't read yet.

Miles of Smiles: The Story of Roxey, the Long Island Rail Road Dog, by Heather Hill Worthington, 2010
The book tells of Roxey, the Long Island Rail Road Dog, and how he became the mascot of the Long Island Rail Road.
Haven't read yet.

Seaside Dream by Janet Costa Bates, 2010 (picture book)
At a birthday celebration on the beach, Cora gives her grandmother a special gift and encourages her to make a trip back to her home country, Cape Verde.
What at first seems like a sweet but simple story about a girl and her grandmother turns out to be a memorable comment on the depth and importance of family. This would be a wonderful book to use with a multicultural study, as Cape Verde is a small island off the coast of Africa. The grandmother leaves her homeland (forever, it turns out) and her family, and not necessarily by choice. She loves her home, but comes to America to find a better life, more opportunity. A gentle reminder that what we (Americans) might take for granted, this land of freedom and opportunity, is actually important enough to some people to leave their homeland and family forever.

The Can Man, by Laura E. Williams, 2010
A young boy changes his mind about collecting cans to sell for recycling money when he learns about a man who is doing the same thing to survive.
Haven't read yet.

One of Us, by Peggy Moss, 2010
This is a story about Roberta, the new girl at school, and about how she didn’t fit in at school at first.
Haven't read yet

GRADES 4-6
Dirt Road Home by Wyatt Key, 2010 (211 pages)
At a reform school for second-offenders, Hal Mitchell has to avoid gang violence from his enemies.
In this companion to his first novel, Alabama Moon, Key reveals more about the character "Hal", someone with whom Moon spent time in "Juvie". While both novels are good, and would appeal to reluctant boy readers, I actually like this book better. I think Key's writing has matured and flows a little more smoothly. You might want to know that the language in both books can be a little rough, although it is authentic and not used just for the shock value.

Leaving Gee's Bend by Irene Latham, 2010 (230 pages)
A quilt tells a story of a 10-year-old African American girl who leaves Gee’s Bend, Alabama to seek medical help for her mother.
This rich novel moves like a hot summer day, slow but memorable. It is character driven and wonderful in the viewpoints it presents from a young girl's perspective, but will therefore appeal to a more mature girl reader (5th grade and above). The opening scene involves a birth, in rather graphic detail, so be aware.

The Boy Who Howled by Timothy Power, 2010 (260 pages)
After a boy has been raised by wolves he is found and has to figure out how to survive and live in human society.

Operation Yes by Sara Lewis Holmes, 2009 (234 pages)
Miss Loupe, a new teacher, uses acting to get through to her sixth grade students until tragedy happens and they rally behind her and her family.
I find it funny that the summary (above) mentions Miss Loupe and no other character. She is certainly an important part of the story, but the reader never gets to go inside her head. Rather, we are told the story more from the point of view of the main boy and girl character, cousins who are thrown together because of military parents. I think both boys and girls will like this book. It is authentic, inspiring, funny, heartbreaking, and an excellent comment on life in a contemporary military family. This book will leave you cheering for kids and their never-ending ingenuity (when they are interested and passionate about the project) and with a gratefulness to all military families in America.

Missile Mouse the Star Crusher by Jake Parker, 2010 (172 pages: Graphic novel)
Missile Mouse is always in trouble with his headquarters after not playing by the book.
I usually don't like graphic novels, but this one caught my attention from the first page.

My Invisible Sister by Beatrice Colin and Sara Pinto, 2010 (119 pages)
Frank searches for a way to make his invisible sister visible to keep her from causing trouble so they will not have to move again.

The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo, 2009?? (201 pages)
A young boy searches out his sister after being told by a fortune teller that she is very much alive.
Again, I would not have worded the summary as you see it above. The whole book revolves around mystery and chance and dreams and perceptions. I would have left the part about the sister being alive out, because that takes some of the magic out of the first few chapters of the book. This is one of DiCamillo's best, which is hart to say. She writes so beautifully and so authentically that every book is a treasure. We would all do well to read each and every one of her books just to see the example of fine writing. This book falls somewhere between Tale of Despereaux and The Tiger Rising, in that place where life takes on an element of fantasy.

Finding Family by Tonya Bolden, 2010 (181 pages)
A young girl is shocked about the truth about her parents and other relatives in this turn-of-the-century tale.
Go rummaging through antique stores and garage sales and attics for a few years. Collect old photographs. Then make a story about the people in the photographs. What a clever, creative idea, and one used here by the author to create a memorable story about a young girl's search for her "family". Bolden does an excellent job of telling the story from the viewpoint of a 12-soon-to-be-13-year-old girl, a girl whom you will like and remember. (PS- The book starts out a little slow, but don't let that stop you. At a certain point in the book, things change, and the action is such that you can't put the book down!)

What Momma Left Me by Renee Watson, 2010 (224 pages)
After her parents die, Serenity Evans and her brother go to live with relatives who try to keep them away from bad influences and they also help them cope with their loss.

11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass, 2009 (267 pages)
Two children celebrated their first 10 birthdays together, but because of an argument on the 10th birthday they have not spoken for a year, but strange things start to happen leading up to their 11th birthday.
This is a fun book, sure to be enjoyed by all! So much room for prediction and alternate endings and speculation! This quote from the book sums it up: "It strikes me how differently the same day can go, depending on my choices."