Maryland Black-eyed Susan Book Award Program

Lakewood readers in 1st grade through 5th grade have the opportunity to participate in the 2009-2010 Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award program, an annual statewide reading encouragement program sponsored by the Maryland Association of School Librarians. Students read from a list of books selected by a committee of Maryland media specialists. In April, students across the state vote for their favorite book from the list. Students must read 3 books from the chapter book list to vote in that category. Students must read 8 picture books to vote in the picture book category.
I will read 8 picture book nominees to students in grades 1 and 2. Students in grades 3, 4 and 5 will read independently, but I will introduce the books to the students. (Note: In general, the fiction nominees are more appropriate for 4th through 6th grade students in content.) The nominated books are listed below. Participation in this program is voluntary in grades 3 through 5. I also run an abbreviated and unofficial version of the program for the Kindergarten, reading only those books that are suitable.
These books are available in the Media Center. Titles followed by an asterisk are also available at Montgomery County Public Library branches.

2009-2010 Maryland Black-eyed Susan Book Award Nominees
Titles followed by an asterisk are available at Montgomery County Public Library branches.
The Lakewood Media Center has copies of each title.

Picture Books

Bateman, Teresa – Fiona's luck
Berne, Jennifer – Manfish : a Story of Jacques Cousteau*
Cyrus, Kurt – Tadpole Rex*
Ernst, Lisa Campbell – The Gingerbread Girl*
Fletcher, Susan – Dadblamed Union Army Cow*
Hopkinson, Deborah – Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek : a tall, thin tale*
Keller, Laurie – Do Unto Otters : a Book About Manners*
LaRochelle, David – The End*
Mitchell, Susan K. – The Rainforest Grew All Around
Smith, Lane – Madam President*
Stevens, Janet – Help me, Mr. Mutt! : expert answers for dogs with people problems*
Thoms, Susan Collins – Cesar Takes a Break
Watt, Melanie – Chester*
Weatherford, Carole Boston – I, Matthew Henson : Polar Explorer*
Willis, Jeanne – Daft Bat

Grades 4-6 Nominees

Frazier, Sundee T. – Brendan Buckley’s Universe and Everything In It*
Frost, Helen – Diamond Willow*
Funke, Cornelia – Igraine the brave*
Haig, Matt – Samuel Blink and the forbidden forest
Korman, Gordon – Swindle*
Law, Ingrid – Savvy*
Ryan, Pam Munoz – Paint the Wind*
Thomson, Sarah – Dragon’s Egg
Urban, Linda – A Crooked Kind of Perfect*
Woodruff, Elvira - Fearless*