WLA youth services section

Outstanding Book Awards

Each year, the Children's Book Award Committee constructs an annual list of publications for children and young adults created by Wisconsin authors and illustrators which were published during the previous year.

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Online Resources

Enjoy these multimedia, online resources about the books and authors associated with the Wisconsin Library Association awards, courtesy of http://www.teachingbooks.net. Questions? (800) 596-0710.

2011 Selections

Wisconsin authors & illustrators recognized for outstanding achievement for books published in 2010. Click on the book cover for a link to additional information about the WI author / illustrator.

My Garden
Author/Illustrator: Kevin Henkes
Description: A girl helps out in her mother's garden, but in the garden of her imagination, there are chocolate rabbits, tomatoes as big as beach balls, flowers that change color, and seashells. From the author's website.

Shark vs. Train
Author: Chris Barton
Illustrator: Tom Lichtenheld (Wisconsin illustrator)
Description: So, who's tougher—Shark or Train? It all depends. When trick-or-treating, Shark is the clear winner, thanks to his wicked smile; but, in a marshmallow-roasting contest, Train triumphs by virtue of his built-in, coal-stoked roaster. And on and on it goes, with Shark and Train in one absurd competition after another until they discover that sometimes, nobody wins. From the illustrator's website.

Art and Max
Author: David Wiesner

Description: Max and Arthur are friends who share an interest in painting. Arthur is an accomplished painter; Max is a beginner. Max's first attempt at using a paintbrush sends the two friends on a whirlwind trip through various artistic media, which turn out to have unexpected pitfalls. Although Max is inexperienced, he's courageous—and a quick learner. His energy and enthusiasm bring the adventure to its triumphant conclusion. Beginners everywhere will take heart. From the author's website.

The Boys
Author: Jeff Newman
Description: This wordless picture book tells the story of a quiet boy working to overcome his shyness and finding the courage to play baseball with the other kids in the park... With the help of a few old timers from the nearby park... From the publisher's website.

The Reinvention of Edison Thomas

Author: Jacqueline Houtman
Description: Eddy is distraught when his entry in the science fair doesn't win. When his disappointment, coupled with the gymnasium hubbub, peaks, he squats on the floor, covers his ears, rocks, and chants chemical-compound names to himself. Eddy's sensitive nerves act like antennae, soaking up anxieties that cause him to recoil. The boy has high-functioning Asperger's syndrome and his intolerance of noise, and of other students' inadequate entries, is real—sadly, as real as the people who avoid him. Former playmates have grown up and turned into mean adolescents. At the same time, Eddy overlooks students who try to befriend him, because he is unable to understand social cues. When the school's crossing guard is let go, the boy obsesses over every imaginable calamity that could happen to children in the street. He loves the structure of science and tinkers endlessly with recycled gizmos and wires, and, following his counselor's advice, puts his worry to work inventing a traffic-signal device. From School Library Journal

My Garden	Author/Illustrator: Kevin Henkes Description: A girl helps out in her mother's garden, but in the garden of her imagination, there are chocolate rabbits, tomatoes as big as beach balls, flowers that change color, and seashells. From the author's website.
Shark vs. Train	Author: Chris Barton Illustrator: Tom Lichtenheld (Wisconsin illustrator) Description: So, who's tougher—Shark or Train? It all depends. When trick-or-treating, Shark is the clear winner, thanks to his wicked smile; but, in a marshmallow-roasting contest, Train triumphs by virtue of his built-in, coal-stoked roaster. And on and on it goes, with Shark and Train in one absurd competition after another until they discover that sometimes, nobody wins. From the illustrator's website.
Art and Max	Author: David Wiesner Description: Max and Arthur are friends who share an interest in painting. Arthur is an accomplished painter; Max is a beginner. Max's first attempt at using a paintbrush sends the two friends on a whirlwind trip through various artistic media, which turn out to have unexpected pitfalls. Although Max is inexperienced, he's courageous—and a quick learner. His energy and enthusiasm bring the adventure to its triumphant conclusion. Beginners everywhere will take heart. From the author's website.
The Boys	Author: Jeff Newman Description: This wordless picture book tells the story of a quiet boy working to overcome his shyness and finding the courage to play baseball with the other kids in the park... With the help of a few old timers from the nearby park... From the publisher's website.
The Reinvention of Edison Thomas	Author: Jacqueline Houtman Description: Eddy is distraught when his entry in the science fair doesn't win. When his disappointment, coupled with the gymnasium hubbub, peaks, he squats on the floor, covers his ears, rocks, and chants chemical-compound names to himself. Eddy's sensitive nerves act like antennae, soaking up anxieties that cause him to recoil. The boy has high-functioning Asperger's syndrome and his intolerance of noise, and of other students' inadequate entries, is real—sadly, as real as the people who avoid him. Former playmates have grown up and turned into mean adolescents. At the same time, Eddy overlooks students who try to befriend him, because he is unable to understand social cues. When the school's crossing guard is let go, the boy obsesses over every imaginable calamity that could happen to children in the street. He loves the structure of science and tinkers endlessly with recycled gizmos and wires, and, following his counselor's advice, puts his worry to work inventing a traffic-signal device. From School Library Journal

Kisses on the Wind	Author/Illustrator: Lisa Moser* Description: Grandma takes Lydia on a very special walk and teachs her how to say good-bye, and more importantly, how to keep love alive. From the author's website
Birds	Author: Kevin Henkes* Illustrator: Laura Dronzek* Description: Birds come in all sizes, shapes, and colors. Birds are magic. Birds are everywhere. If you listen very carefully you will hear them, no matter where you live. And if you look very closely you will see them, no matter where you are. And if you can't go outside right this minute, you can always read this book. From the author's website
Namaste!	Author: Diane Cohn Illustrator: Amy Cordova* Description: Whenever Nima meets someone on her long walk to the market village in Nepal, she brings her hands together with her fingers almost touching her chin, bows her head slightly, and says "Namaste" which means "the light in me meets the light in you." Includes information on the geography, culture and people of Nepal.
Marching to Appomattox: the Footrace that Ended the Civil War	Author/Illustrator: Ken Stark* Description: We always hear about how wars start, but how they end can be just as fascinating. That is certainly the case with America’s Civil War. After the fall of Richmond, Robert E. Lee and his Confederate troops were racing toward North Carolina for supplies and reinforcements. Ulysses S. Grant’s Union troops were determined to stop them. Both sides were certain they would prevail, yet after fighting with all his heart and soul, Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House. What made him do that? Find out how geography, luck, perseverance, and compassionate diplomacy by Lee and Grant combined to change the course of our nation’s history.

It's Not Fair	Author: Amy Krouse Rosenthal Illustrator: Tom Lichtenheld* Description: Who in this world has not heard the familiar “It’s not fair!” mantra. This title can easily become a popular read for the entire family, paired with Tom Lichtenheld’s humorous cartoon illustrations.
Old Bear	Author/Illustrator: Kevin Henkes* Description: There is more to this picture book than first meets the eye. With sparse text and creative use of color throughout readers see Bear in all his seasons of the year.
The Adventures of Sir Lancelot the Great	Author: Gerald Morris Illustrator: Aaron Renier* Description: Each chapter tells of a new and humorous adventure of clever Sir Lancelot. A fun title for young readers that doesn’t quite stick to the script.
Monsoon Afternoon	Author: Kashmira Sheth* Illustrator: Yoshiko Jaeggi Description: A beautiful, quiet story of a young boy and his grandfather finding companionship with each other during the seasonal monsoons. Soft, watercolor illustrations are a wonderful compliment to this title.
Bird Lake Moon	Author: Kevin Henkes* Description: A quiet, yet compelling story centering around Mitch (whose parents are divorcing) and Spencer (whose family is returning to the lake after the drowning of his brother). Well-developed characters and true-to-life storyline make this book a stand-out.

Babies Can't Eat Kimchee! Author: Susan L. Roth* Illustrator: Nancy Patz	Keeping Corner Author: Kashmira Sheth*
The Perfect Nest Author: Catherine Friend* Illustrator: John Manders	Terrible Storm Author: Carol Otis Hurst Illustrator: S.D. Schindler*
Circle the Truth Author: Pat Schmatz*	The OK Book Author: Amy Krouse Illustrator: Tom Lichtenhelf*
The Silenced Author: James DeVita*

Love, Football & Other Contact Sports Author: Alden Carter	Rash Author: Pete Hautman
Up Author: Jim LaMarche	Gone Wild: an Endangered Animal Alphabet Author: David McLiman
Busy in the Garden Author: George Shannon	Flotsam Author: David Wiesner
Story of Salt Author: Mark Kurlansky Illustrator: S.D. Schindler	Jackie's Bat Author: Marybeth Lorbiecki Illustrator: Brian Pinkney
Lilly's Big Day Author/Illustrator: Kevin Henkes	Hearts of Stone Author: Kathleen Ernst

Crackback Author: John Coy	Leonardo Da Vinci Author: Kathleen Krull
White is for Blueberry Author: George Shannon Illustrator: Laura Dranzek*	The Lioness & Her Knight Author: Gerald Morris
Leaf Man Author: Lois Ehlert

Blue Jasmine Author: Kashmira Sheth	Godless Author: Pete Hautman
With Courage & Cloth: Winning the Fight for a Woman's Right to Vote Author: Ann Bausum

Colibri Author: Ann Cameron	Sweetblood Author: Pete Hautman
George Washington's Teeth Author: Deborah Chandra Illustrator: Brock Cole	Olive's Ocean Author: Kevin Henkes

Butterflies & Lizards, Beryl & Me Author: Ruth Lercher Bornstein	Bears Make Rock Soup & Other Stories Author: Liselotte Erdrich Illustrator: Lisa Fifield
A Story for Bear Author: Jim LaMarche	Skeleton Hiccups Author: Margaret Cuyler Illustrator: S.D. Schindler
Elizabeti's School Author: Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen	The Fantastic Journey of Pieter Bruegel Author: Anders Shafer
All You Need for a Snowman Author: Alice Schertle Illustrator: Barbara Lavellee	Owen's Marshmallow Chick Author/Illustrator: Kevin Henkes
One Little Mouse Author: Dori Chaconas

The Good Fights: How World War II was Won Author: Stephen E. Ambrose	I'm Tougher than Diabetes Author: Alden Carter Photographer: Carol Carter
Waiting for Wings Author: Lois Ehlert	Hole in the Sky Author: Pete Hautman
Parsifal's Page Author: Gerald Morris	Farmer's Market Author: Cheryl Walsh Bellville & Marcia R. Rendon
No Bad News Author: Kenneth Cole Photographer: John Ruebartsch	Simply Wright: a Journey into the Ideas of Frank Lloyd Wright's Architecture Author: Diane Bresnan Fleming
Goal Author: Robert Burleigh Illustrator: Stephen T. Johnson

The Nazi Olympics: Berlin 1936 Author: Susan Bachrach	Stretching Ourselves: Kids with Cerebral Palsy Author: Alden Carter
Wemberly Worried Author/Illustrator: Kevin Henkes	The Savage Damsel & the Dwarf Author: Gerald Morris
The Mighty Skink Author: Paul Shipton	Growing Seasons Author: Elsie Lee Splear Illustrator: Ken Stark
Good-bye for Today: the Diary of a Young Girl at Sea Authors: Peter & Connie Roop	The Raft Author: Jim LaMarche
Buttons Author: Brock Cole	Dragon Bones & Dinosaur Eggs: a Photo Biography of Explorer Roy Chapman Andrews Author: Ann Bausum

Youth Services Section