NUMBER 5
WINTER 2003
ARIZONA YOUNG READERS AWARD
2004 NOMINATIONS
Each year students across Arizona read and vote for their favorite book for the Arizona young readers' award. The books are divided into groups: picture, intermediate and young adult.
Here are the books nominated for the 2003-2004 school year. These books can be found in the fiction section of the children's department or in the fiction (ya fic) section of the young adult department of public libraries or check with your school media center or library. You can order them on tape from the Arizona Braille and Talking Book Library. To vote for your favorite book see your school's media specialist or librarian.
ARIZONA YOUNG READER PICTURE BOOKS
A Fine, Fine School by Sharon Creech
BR 14025
When a principal loves his school so much that he wants the children to attend classes everyday of the year, it's up to his students to show him free time is a good thing, too.
Crickwing by Janell Cannon
RC 51574
A lonely cockroach named Crickwing has a creative idea that saves the day for the leaf-cutter ants when their fierce forest enemies attack them.
If You Hopped Like A Frog by David Schwartz
BR 13063
Introduces the concept of ratio by comparing what humans would be able to do if they had bodies like different animals.
Mr. Lincoln's Way by Patricia Polacco
RC 55598
When Mr. Lincoln, ”the coolest principal in the whole world,” discovers that Eugene, the school bully, knows a lot about birds, he uses this interest to help Eugene overcome his intolerance.
Other Young Reader Picture Books selected: Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson; Dancing in the Wings by Debbie Allen; Mice and Beans by Pam Munoz Ryan; Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! by Candace Fleming; Ruby's Wish by Shirin Yim Bridges; Sailor Moo: Cow at Sea by Lisa Wheeler. You may wish to check with your local public or school library for these books.
ARIZONA YOUNG READER INTERMEDIATE BOOKS
A Boy At War: A Novel of Pearl Harbor by Harry Mazer
RC 52594
While fishing with his friends off Honolulu on December 7, 1941, teenaged Adam is caught in the midst of the Japanese attack and through the chaos of the subsequent days tries to find his father, a naval officer who was serving on the U.S.S. Arizona when the bombs fell.
The Beloved Dearly by Doug Cooney
RC 54554
Although his father has forbidden it, Ernie, a twelve-year-old business tycoon, makes a tidy profit in the pet funeral business, but when he refuses to give his star employee a raise and the business starts to fall apart, it takes the death of his own dog to bring everyone back together.
I Was a Rat by Phillip Pullman
RC 49859
At the same time that a prince announces his marriage (to a mysterious girl), a young boy appears at an elderly couple's house. They take him in, but when they question him about his past, he says only, “ I was a rat!”
Love, Ruby Lavender by Debbie Wiles
RC 55903
Nine year old Ruby and her grandmother deal with Ruby's grandfather's death in different ways. Her grandmother goes to Hawaii for the summer while Ruby copes at home in Mississippi. Taking care of pet chickens and meeting a new friend help Ruby through a hard time.
Nothing Wrong With a Three-Legged Dog by Graham McNamee
Inprocess
With the help of his good friend and her three-legged dog, Leftovers, ten-year-old Keath learns how to handle the class bully and deal with being the only white boy in his class.
Over the Edge by Gloria Skurzynski
RC 55713
Wildlife veterinarian Olivia Landon has been asked to help find the source of the lead shotgun pellets that are poisoning the few remaining California condors in Grand Canyon National Park. National Geographic Society mystery.
Other Young Reader Intermediate Books selected:
Following Fake Man by Barbara Ware Holmes; Star in the Storm by Joan Hiatt Harlow; The Transmogrification of Rosco Wizzle by David Elliot; Word Eater by Mary Amato. You may wish to check with your local public or school library for these books.
ARIZONA YOUNG READER TEEN BOOKS
Fair Weather by Richard Peck
RC 53892
In 1893, thirteen-year-old Rosie and members of her family travel from their Illinois farm to Chicago to visit Aunt Euterpe and attend the World's Columbian Exposition which, along with an encounter with Buffalo Bill and Lillian Russell, turns out to be a life-changing experience for everyone.
Matilda Bone by Karen Cushman
RC 52441
Fourteen-year-old Matilda, an apprentice bonesetter and practitioner of medicine in a village in medieval England, tries to reconcile the various aspects of her life, both spiritual and practical.
Silent to the Bone by E.L. Konigsburg
RC 51532
When he is wrongly accused of gravely injuring his baby half-sister, thirteen-year-old Branwell loses his power of speech and only his friend Connor is able to reach him and uncover the truth about what really happened.
Speak by Laurie by Halse Anderson
RC 49958
A traumatic event near the end of the summer has a devastating effect on Melinda's freshman year in high school.
Thief Lord by Cornelia Caroline Funke
RC 55343
Two brothers, having run away from the aunt who plans to adopt the younger one, are sought by a detective hired by their aunt, but they have found shelter with--and protection from--Venice's "Thief Lord."
Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements
RC 54713
When fifteen-year-old Bobby wakes up and finds himself invisible, he and his parents and his new blind friend Alicia try to find out what caused his condition and how to reverse it
Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelson
RC 53095
After his anger erupts into violence, Cole, in order to avoid going to prison, agrees to participate in a sentencing alternative based on the Native American Circle Justice, and he is sent to a remote Alaskan Island where an encounter with a huge Spirit Bear changes his life.
Turnabout by Margaret Peterson Haddix
RC 52466
"It isn't natural for you to be younger than your great-grandchildren. We messed around with nature, and we shouldn't have." Melly and Anny Beth both lived normal lives throughout the 20th century. But in 2000, when they are old and ready to die, they are selected to participate in Project Turnabout and are given an injection to make them grow younger.
Other Young Reader Teen Books selected:
Mary, Bloody Mary by Carolyn Meyer; Multiple Choice by Janet Tashjian. You may wish to check with your local public or school library for these books.
DESCRIPTIVE VIDEOS
The Braille and Talking Book Library now offers descriptive videos
that may be borrowed. Patrons in good standing may borrow only one video
at a time for a two week checkout period. Remember, we are limited in
the number of videos we have.
Described videos have a second audio track with a narrator’s voice describing
the action on the screen during the breaks in the dialog and sound effects.
You may request a descriptive video catalog by calling or writing the
library.
FOR THE PARENTS
Raising Special Kids supports and encourages Arizona
families with special health needs or various disabilities. Parents can
contact them at 602-242-4366 voice/tty, 1-800-237-3007 or check their web
site www.raisingspecialkids.org.
National Information Center For Children and Youth With Disabilities is
an information clearing house that provides information on disabilities
and disability related issues with special focus on children with disabilities
from birth to age 22. Contact them at 1-800-695-0285 voice/tty or search
their web site www.nichcy.org.
ADAPTIVE RECREATION
City of Phoenix Adaptive Recreation Services located at
Pioneer Pool
1946 W. Morningside Dr.
Phoenix, Az.
Telephone 602-495-5222 voice, 602 534-2491 TTY
To order books or videos, you may call your librarian at 602-255-5578
or 1-800-255-5578 outside the Phoenix area. This publication is available
in alternative format upon request by contacting the library.
YREADER
YREADER is published bi-annually by the Arizona State
Braille and Talking Book Library Division, Arizona State Library, Archives
and Public Records. Director: Linda Montgomery and editor: Jim Lovell
1030 N. 32nd Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85008
1-800-255-5578
Any mention of products and services in YREADER is
for information only and does not imply endorsement.
YREADER is also available in braille, on cassette as part of Newsletters
Unlimited, and on our web site at www.lib.az.us/braille.
If you would like to receive this newsletter on cassette or in braille,
please call 602-255-5578 or 1-800-255-5578.
ARIZONA SUMMER READING PROGRAM
This coming year's Arizona Summer reading program focuses on Plant a Seed . . . Read! All young readers will be receiving further information
and promotional materials through the mail for the summer reading
program.
Onebook Arizona for Kids is Nancy Farmer's The Warm Place -- Ruva is a young giraffe when she is captured in Africa, brought to the United States, and sold to a zoo near San Francisco. But all Ruva can think about is getting back to Africa and her warm place where she feels secure. Along the way, Ruva is befriended by a rat known as Rodentus Von Stroheim the Third, another rat known as Troll, a chameleon named Nelson, and a young African American boy known as Jabila. Please check with your local library for information on Onebook Arizona for Kids.
BORROWING AND RETURNING REMINDERS:
Books checked out should be returned in 30 days. You need to order
at least one book a year to stay active.
Described videos need to be returned in 14 days.
CASSETTE MAGAZINES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE:
CRICKET
A monthly literary magazine for ages 6-12; on one cassette with National
Geographic World.
HUMPTY DUMPTY'S MAGAZINE
8 issues/year. Stories, jokes, poems, and game activities.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC WORLD
A monthly about people, places, customs, animals, and plant life, on
one cassette with Cricket.
SEVENTEEN
A monthly beauty and fashion magazine for young women; careers, education,
social relations, and diet.
SPIDER: THE MAGAZINE FOR CHILDREN
Stories, poems, and informational articles geared to readers ages 6-9,
published monthly.
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED FOR KIDS
Monthly kid's version of the well-known sports magazine.
TEEN PEOPLE
People magazine format directed to teens. 10 issues per year.
YOUNG ADULT MAGAZINE OF THE MONTH
A different magazine each month.
OTHER MAGAZINES ON CASSETTE THAT TEENS MIGHT ENJOY ARE:
Arizona Highways, Asimov's Science Fiction, Smart Computing,
Family Circle, National Geographic, National Geographic Traveler, Newsweek,
Popular Science, and
Reader's Digest.
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Updated: 04/09/2007
