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2014 2014 Charlie May SimonCharlie May Simon

Book Award Nominees Book Award Nominees

Charlie May Simon 1897-Charlie May Simon 1897-1977 1977

The first prominent The first prominent children’s book author from children’s book author from Arkansas.Arkansas.

Wrote almost 30 books in Wrote almost 30 books in her lifetime.her lifetime.

Married to another writer.Married to another writer. The two lived in a home The two lived in a home

overlooking the Arkansas overlooking the Arkansas River in Little Rock.River in Little Rock.

An award was created in An award was created in her name in 1971 and is her name in 1971 and is given to an outstanding given to an outstanding book chosen by Arkansas book chosen by Arkansas students in grades 4-6.students in grades 4-6.

2013 Charlie May Simon 2013 Charlie May Simon Winner & Honor BookWinner & Honor Book

Theodore Boone, Kid LawyerTheodore Boone, Kid Lawyer

by John Grishamby John Grisham

MockingbirdMockingbird

by Kathryn Erskineby Kathryn Erskine

City of OrphansCity of Orphans

by Aviby AviThe streets of 1893 New York are crowded and filthy. For thirteen-year-old newsboy Maks Geless, they are also dangerous. Bruno, leader of the awful Plug Ugly Gang, has set his sights on Maks and orders his boys to track him down. Suddenly Maks finds himself on the run, doing all he can to evade the gang, with only his new friend Willa by his side. And that’s just the start of Maks' troubles. His sister, Emma, has been arrested and imprisoned for stealing a watch from the glamorous new Waldorf Hotel. Maks knows she didn’t do it—but will he be able to prove it in time?

The Penderwicks at The Penderwicks at Point MouettePoint Mouette

by Jeanne Birdsallby Jeanne BirdsallWhen summer comes around, it's off to the beach for Rosalind . . . and off to Maine for the rest of the Penderwick girls and Jeffrey.

That leaves Skye as OAP (oldest available Penderwick)—a terrifying notion for all. Things look good as they settle into their cozy cottage, with a rocky shore, seagulls, and a charming next-door neighbor.  But can Skye hold it together?  Will Jane's Love Survey come to a tragic conclusion? Is Batty the only Penderwick capable of carrying a tune?  And will Jeffrey be able to keep peace between the girls . . . these girls who are his second, and most heartfelt, family? It's a rollicking ride as the Penderwicks continue their unforgettable adventures in a story filled with laughs and joyful tears!

 

TroublemakerTroublemakerby Andrew Clementsby Andrew Clements

Clayton Hensley is accustomed to trouble: There’s a folder of incident reports inPrincipal Kelling’s office that’s as thick as a phonebook and growing daily. Most recently, Clay’s art teacher told the class to spend the period drawing anything they wanted, and Clay decided to be extra “creative” by drawing a spot-on portrait of Principal Kelling…as a donkey.

It’s a pretty funny joke, but Clay is coming to realize that the biggest joke of all may be on him. When his big brother, Mitchell, gets in some serious trouble, Clay decides to change his own mischief-making ways…but he can’t seem to shake his reputation as a troublemaker. 

No Passengers Beyond This No Passengers Beyond This PointPoint

by Gennifer Choldenkoby Gennifer Choldenko

Siblings India, Finn, and Mouse are stunned when their mom tells them they are flying that night--without her--to their Uncle Red's home in Colorado. But things take an even more dramatic turn when their plane lands in a very unusual place. A mysterious driver meets them at the airport. When he drops them off at their "destination," each kid suddenly has a clock with a different amount of time left. If the time runs out, they have to become permanent citizens in a place they don't recognize or understand. Only if they work together can they call the driver back to help get them where they really belong.

The Cheshire Cheese Cat: The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a TaleA Dickens of a Tale

by Carmen Deedy & Randall Wrightby Carmen Deedy & Randall WrightSkilley, an alley cat with an embarrassing secret, longs to escape his hard life dodging brooms and carriage wheels and trade his damp alley for the warmth of the Cheshire Cheese Inn. When he learns that the innkeeper is looking for a new mouser, Skilley comes up with a scheme to place himself in the famous tavern. Once established in the inn, Skilley strikes a bargain with Pip, the intelligent mouse-resident, and his fellow mice. Skilley protects the mice and the mice in turn give to Skilley the delectable Cheshire cheese of the inn. Thus begins a most unlikely alliance and friendship. The cat and mouse must contend with a tyrannical cook, a mouse-despising barmaid, and an evil tomcat named Pinch.

Amelia Lost: The Life & Amelia Lost: The Life & Disappearance of Amelia Disappearance of Amelia

EarhartEarhartby Candace Flemingby Candace Fleming

In alternating chapters, author Candace Fleming moves readers back and forth between Amelia Earhart's life and the exhaustive search for her and her missing plane after it mysteriously disappeared in 1937.

With incredible photos, maps, little known facts and handwritten notes from Amelia this unique nonfiction title is tailor-made for you!

The Princess CurseThe Princess Curseby Merrie Haskellby Merrie Haskell

In the fifteenth-century kingdom of Sylvania, the prince offers a fabulous reward to anyone who cures the curse that forces the princesses to spend each night dancing to the point of exhaustion. Everyone who tries either disappears or falls into an enchanted sleep. Thirteen-year-old Reveka, a smart, courageous herbalist’s apprentice, decides to attempt to break the curse despite the danger. Unraveling the mystery behind the curse leads Reveka to the Underworld, and to save the princesses, Reveka will have to risk her soul.

JunoniaJunoniaby Kevin Henkesby Kevin Henkes

Returning to the beach cottage—a cottage named Scallop—where she has always celebrated her birthday is a special occasion for Alice Rice. Who will see the first dolphin this time? The first pelican? What will have changed? Stayed the same? And will this be the year she finally finds a junonia shell?

Alice's friends are all returning, too. She's certain her parents have the best party planned for her. Alice can't wait. If Alice is lucky, everything will be absolutely perfect. Will Alice be lucky?

Eight KeysEight Keys by Suzanne LaFleur by Suzanne LaFleur

Elise and Franklin have always been best friends. Elise has always lived in the big house with her loving Uncle and Aunt, because Elise's parents died when she was too young to remember them.  There's always been a barn behind the house with eight locked doors on the second floor.

When Elise and Franklin start middle school, things feel all wrong. Bullying. Not fitting in. Franklin suddenly seems babyish.  Then, soon after her 12th birthday, Elise receives a mysterious key left for her by her father. A key that unlocks one of the eight doors upstairs…

IInside Out & Back Againnside Out & Back Againby Thanhha Laiby Thanhha Lai

For all the ten years of her life, Ha has only known Saigon: the thrills of its markets, the joy of its traditions, the warmth of her friends close by, and the beauty of her very own papaya tree. But now the Vietnam War has reached her home. Ha and her family are forced to flee as Saigon falls, and they board a ship headed toward hope.

This is the moving story of one girl's year of change, dreams, grief, and healing as she journeys from one country to another, one life to the next.

Liesl & PoLiesl & Poby Lauren Oliverby Lauren OliverLiesl lives in a tiny attic bedroom, locked away by her cruel stepmother. Her only friends are the shadows and the mice—until one night a ghost named Po appears from the darkness.

That same evening, a scientist's apprentice named Will makes an innocent mistake that has tremendous consequences for Liesl and Po, and it draws the three of them together on an extraordinary journey.

Be a student in Arkansas grades 4-6.Be a student in Arkansas grades 4-6.

Read OR listen to at least 3 of the books and you Read OR listen to at least 3 of the books and you will be eligible to vote for the Charlie May Simon will be eligible to vote for the Charlie May Simon Award.Award.

Vote in the school library or with your reading Vote in the school library or with your reading teacher in April 2014. teacher in April 2014.

How to Vote:How to Vote: