William Allen White

Children’s Book Award

3rd-5th Grade

2009-2010

BackgroundHistory:

• Established in 1952 Ruth Gagliardo• Directed by Emporia State University

Purpose:• Honors William Allen White, a Pulitzer Prize

winning journalist from Kansas Encourages Kansas children to read and enjoy

high quality literature Distinction:

Thought to be the first book award program in the country decided by children

Nominated Books Must be published within the past

year Authors must be from the United

States, Canada or Mexico Text must be fiction, non-fiction or

poetry Selection committee chooses books

for their originality, vitality, accuracy and sincerity

Participation Who: 3rd – 8th grade Kansas students What: Read 2 nominated books Where: Check them out at the

library When: Read all year long and be

ready to vote by April 15th

Why: To select the 2009-10 winners!

2008-09 WAW Winner 3rd-5th Grade

Clementine

by Sara Pennypacker

2008-09 WAW Winner 6th-8th Grade

Yellow Starby Jennifer Roy

William Allen White

Children’s Book Award

3rd-5th Grade Master list

2009-2010

A Friendship for Today

In 1954, when desegregation comes to Kirkland, Missouri, ten-year-old Rosemary faces many changes and challenges at school and at home as her parents separate.

By Patircia McKissack

Bravo Zulu, Samantha

Decidedly unenthusiastic about spending part of her summer vacation with her grandparents, twelve-year-old Samantha is particularly upset by her prickly grandfather's secretive behavior and decides to find out what he is hiding.

By Kathleen Benner Duble

Dexter the Tough

A sympathetic teacher and her writing assignment help fourth-grader Dexter deal with being the new kid in school after he punches a kid on the first day of school.

By Margaret Peterson Haddix

Home of the Brave Kek, an African

refugee, is confronted by many strange things at the Minneapolis home of his aunt and cousin, as well as in this fifth grade classroom, and longs for his missing mother, but finds comfort in the company of a cow and her owner.

By Katherine Applegate

How to Steal a DogLiving in the family car in their small North Carolina town after their father leaves them virtually penniless, Georgina, desperate to improve their situation and unwilling to accept her overworked mother's calls for patience, persuades her younger brother to help her in an elaborate scheme to get money by stealing a dog and then claiming the reward that the owners are bound to offer.

By Barbara O’Connor

One Thousand Tracings:

Healing the Wounds of World War II

The author describes her family's efforts to help their friends and others who were left homeless and hungry in the aftermath of World War II.

By Lita Judge

Seeing Sky Blue Pink

Although fearful at first, eight-year-old Maddie soon begins to enjoy living in the country and getting to know her new stepfather.

By Candice Ransom

The Rising Star of Rusty Nail

In the small town of Rusty Nail, Minnesota, in the early 1950s, musically talented ten-year-old Franny wants to take advanced piano lessons from newcomer Olga Malenkov, a famous Russian musician suspected of being a communist spy by gossipy members of the community.

By Lesley M. M. Blume

Way Down DeepIn the West Virginia town of Way Down Deep in the 1950s, a foundling called Ruby June is happily living with Miss Arbutus at the local boarding house when suddenly, after the arrival of a family of outsiders, the mystery of Ruby's past begins to unravel.

By Ruth White

William Allen White1910-1941

William Allen White

Children’s Book Award

3rd-5th Grade

2009-2010