Monarch Nominated Books
2008/2009 Monarch Book Award Nominees
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The
Blizzard Betty Ren Wright Illustrator, Ronald Himler |
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Although a blizzard prevents his cousins from visiting for his birthday, a disappointed Billy ends up having a very special day when his teacher and classmates must stay overnight at his family's house to wait out the snowstorm. (Grades PreS - 2) |
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The
Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County Janice N. Harrington Illustrator, Shelley Jackson |
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A young farm girl tries to catch her favorite chicken, until she learns something about the hen that makes her change her ways. (Grades K - 2) |
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Clementine Sara Pennypacker Illustrator, Marla Frazee |
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While sorting through difficulties in her friendship with her neighbor Margaret, eight-year-old Clementine gains several unique hairstyles while also helping her father in his efforts to banish pigeons from the front of their apartment building. (Grades 2 - 5) |
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Cookies:
Bite-size Life Lessons Amy Krouse Rosenthal Illustrator, Jane Dyer |
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Etiquette vocabulary in a sweet package. (Grades PreS - 2) |
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The
Great Fuzz Frenzy Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel |
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When a tennis ball lands in a prairie dog town, the residents find that their newfound frenzy for fuzz creates a fiasco. (Grades PreS - 2) |
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George
Did It Suzanne Jurmain Illustrator, Larry Day |
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George Washington could always be counted on, but there was one job he was not interested in and he tried to avoid it. (Grades 2 - 4) |
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Henry
and the Buccaneer Bunnies Carolyn Crimi Illustrator, John Manders |
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Captain Barnacle Black Ear, baddest of the Buccaneer Bunnies, is ashamed of his book-loving son, Henry, until the day a great storm approaches. (Grades PreS - 2) |
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Henry
and Mudge and the Great Grandpas Cynthia Rylant Illustrator, Sucie Stevenson |
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When Henry and his dog Mudge go with Henry's parents to visit Great-grandpa Bill in the home with lots of other grandpas and learn how much fun all grandpas can be. Full color. (Grades K - 3) |
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Library
Lion Knudsen, Michelle Illustrator, Kevin Hawkes |
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A lion starts visiting the local library but runs into trouble as he tries to both obey the rules and help his librarian friend. (Grades PreS -2) |
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Nora's
Ark Natalie Kinsey-Warnock Illustrator, Emily Arnold McCully |
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A flood is coming! When the water climbs to the rooftops, where will everybody go? To Grandma's house, of course, high up on a hill. Before long, the house is full ofpeople, chickens, ducks, pigs, horses, cats, and even a cow. There's only one person missing -- Grandpa! (Grades K - 3) |
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Once
Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude Kevin O'Malley Illustrator, Kevin O'Malley, Carol Heyer, and Scott Gato |
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Once upon a time there was a boy and a girl who had to tell a fairy tale to the class, but they couldn't agree on the story. Will everyone live happily ever after? (Grades 3 - 5) |
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Precious
and the Boo Hag Patricia McKissack andOnawumi Jean Moss Illustrator, Kristen Brooker |
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Home alone with a stomachache while the family works in the fields, a young girl faces up to the horrifying Boo Hag that her brother warned her about. (Grades K - 2) |
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Sea
Horse: The Shyest Fish in the Sea Chris Butterworth Illustrator, John Lawrence |
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Dive into the warm ocean and swim around amid the coral and waving sea grass. Do you see an eye like a small black bead peering out at you? Linger for a while and discover the secrets of the sea horse. (Grades PreS - 3) |
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The
Secret Science Project That Almost Ate the School Judy Sierra Illustrator, Stephen Gammell |
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Students, heed this little rhyme: When it's science project time, Do not make goop, or glop, or grime, And never mess with mutant slime. (Grades K - 3) |
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Skippyjon
Jones Judy Schachner |
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With a little imagination and a whole lot of fun, this frisky cat dons a mask and cape and takes on a bad bumble-beeto to save the day. And along the way, he'll be sure to steal young reader's hearts, yes indeed-o! (Grades PreS - 3) |
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Stink:
The Incredible Shrinking Kid
Megan McDonald Illustrator, Peter H. Reynolds |
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In his first solo adventure, Judy Moody's younger "bother" stars in this funny, homespun saga that reflects the familiar voice of a kid who pictures himself with super powers to deal with the travails of everyday life. (Grades 1-4) |
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SuperHero
ABC Bob McLeod |
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Silly and zany, and armed with the most unusual skills, these heroes are out to save the world-one letter at a time! bubble-Man blows big bubbles at bullies, and laughing lass laughs at lawbreakers! (Grades PreS - 3) |
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Surprising
Sharks Nicola Davies Illustrator, James Croft |
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Those who think all sharks are giant, man-eating killers are in for a surprise. The compelling narrative, colorful illustrations, and captivating facts in SURPRISING SHARKS reveal that sharks come in all shapes and sizes (Grades K - 3) |
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There
is a Flower at the Tip of My Nose Smelling Me Alice Walker Illustrator, Stefano Vitale |
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In a beautifully poetic text, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alice Walker invites readers young and old to see the world -- and our place in it -- through new eyes. Glowing colors and radiant images accompany this joyous celebration of the connections and interconnections between self, Nature, and creativity. (Grades 2-5) |
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Today
I Will Fly Mo Willems |
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This Easy Reader introduces gloomy elephant Gerald and his upbeat best friend, Piggie. (Grades PreS - 3) |



















