Themed Book Lists

The Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People is named for Geoffrey Bilson, an avid reader from a young age who went on to publish historical novels for children as well as several adult books. The award is presented annually in Canada by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre. Below are past winners starting […]

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The NYT Best Illustrated Children’s Books are named annually since the 1952. The NYT Book Review has selected a panel of judges who select each year’s winners based solely on artistic merit. Below are the 2016 winners, including a title illustrated by R. Gregory Christie           The White Cat and the […]

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CLCD, as it stands now, has come a long way from its inception in 1993, when a computer programmer and the first female assistant secretary of the U.S. Senate, decided it was time for a career change. Marilyn Courtot endeavored to create a source for teachers, librarians, parents, and childcare providers that offered reviews of […]

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Comstock-Gág Read Aloud Book Awards is a program initiated by the Curriculum Materials Center at the Livingston Lord Library at Minnesota State University that supports two separate awards, the Comstock Read Aloud Book Award and the Wanda Gág Read Aloud Book Award. The Comstock Read Aloud Book Award is an annual award for the best read […]

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In honor of CLCD’s founder, Marilyn Courtot, computer programmer and female pioneer, here is a list of award winning books that put women in the STEM spotlight. Enjoy!         Ada Twist, scientist By: Andrea Beauty Ada Twist is a very curious girl who shows perseverance by asking questions and performing experiments to […]

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With frost on the ground in lovely Central New York, it is hard to imagine that summer is right around the corner, but so it is, and with it comes the lazy days of summer vacation.  From now until August, Read & Shine will continue to bring you the latest and greatest in the children’s […]

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National Teachers day is May 9, 2017 and to celebrate I decided to honor one of my longest and closest friends, Leslie Randall Peters, who also happens to be an amazing art teacher.  Of all of my friends, (all 4 of them), it seems that Leslie always knew exactly what she wanted and how to […]

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The winners of the 2017 Edgar Awards were announced on April 27, 2017 in New York City. Each year the Mystery Writers of America honor the best in mystery fiction, non-fiction, and television in such categories as Short Stories, Juvenile, and Young Adult.            Winner Juvenile Titles OCDaniel By: Wesley King […]

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May 6, 2017 marks the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby, the “greatest two minutes in sports.”  The Grade 1 stakes race for 3 year old Thoroughbred horses has been held annually at Churchill Downs since 1875.  If you are like me, this means almost nothing to you aside from a visit to the National Museum […]

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April brings spring showers and hopefully spring flowers so do not despair on a rainy day but instead embrace it and enjoy these books for a rain themed story time.               Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain: A Nandi Tale By: Verna Aardema A cumulative rhyme relating how Ki-pat […]

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Spring break is over and the final stretch is upon classroom teachers.  Get to June with a little help from one of these great read-aloud titles.               The Great Gilly Hopkins By: Katherine Paterson When she arrives at her newest foster home, it is clear to Galadriel “Gilly” Hopkins […]

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The Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award is given annually to the author of the book voted most outstanding by students in grades 4-8 in participating Illinois schools.  Named in honor of Rebecca Caudill who lived and wrote in Urbana, Illinois for nearly 50 years, the award is given in recognition for her literary talent and […]

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I spent the Easter weekend at my brother’s house in Massachusetts.  My nephew, Finn, is wise beyond his years and I was excited to see him happy to go to bed with his latest read, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.  As a 7 year old first grader, he is a remarkable reader and his […]

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Celebrate spring and the birthdays of these great authors and illustrators                                                     April 2 Hans Christian Andersen Fairy Tales By: H.C. Andersen A collection of Andersen’s tales including The Fir Tree, The Little Match Girl, The Emperor’s New Clothes, Thumbelina, The Tinderbox, and The Ugly Duckling.  Ages 6 and up April […]

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I am on a good weather high.  Yesterday was sunny and 60’s and todays forecast is close to 80.  As we were out walking yesterday I saw a lot of people clearing out their gardens to plant new seeds and noticed flowers coming up.  Though we are still a long way from our last frost […]

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I have a love hate relationship with libraries.  Of course, having worked in a public library, academic library, school library, and medical library, I love libraries! Still, having worked in a public library, academic library, school library, and medical library, I hate libraries.  Let me explain. I have often said I could write a book […]

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The E.B. White Read-Aloud Award is given annually by the American Booksellers Association.  Below are the Middle Reader finalists for 2017 which “reflect the playful, well-paced language, the engaging themes, and the universal appeal to a wide range of ages embodied by E.B. White’s collection of beloved books”.  Click here for the Picture Book finalists.  A winner […]

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The E.B. White Read-Aloud Award is given annually by the American Booksellers Association.  Below are the Picture Book finalists for 2017 which “reflect the playful, well-paced language, the engaging themes, and the universal appeal to a wide range of ages embodied by E.B. White’s collection of beloved books”.  Click here for the Middle Reader finalists.  A […]

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Spring is here finally, or at least for today.  The sun was shining and warm air surrounded us as we walked downtown.  Daddy took Gertrude to the park on the bike, I hung diapers to dry out in the driveway.  It feels great!  After a long winter it is hard to remember the beauty of […]

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The Schneider Family Book Award is awarded annually by the ALA to honor an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability for child and adolescent audiences.  Each year winners are honored in three separate categories, Teen, Middle School, and Young Children’s.  The 2017 winners are listed below.       […]

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