2012 NCTE/CLA Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts

This list includes outstanding 2011 titles for K-8 readers selected by the NCTE/CLA Notable

Children's Books in the Language Arts Committee. Additional resources for all books have been

collected by librarian, John Schumacher, and can be found on his blog:

http://mrschureads.blogspot.com/2012/03/resources-for-2012-notable-childrens.html

Addie on the inside By Howe, James

Outspoken thirteen-year-old Addie Carle

learns about love, loss, and staying true to

herself as she navigates seventh grade, enjoys

a visit from her grandmother, fights with her

boyfriend, and endures gossip and meanness

from her former best friend. IL:5-8 RL:5

Amelia lost : the life and disappearance of

Amelia Earhart By Fleming, Candace

Traces the life of female aviator Amelia

Earhart from her childhood to her final flight,

discusses the extensive search for her and her

missing plane, and includes photographs,

maps, handwritten notes by Amelia, and

sidebars. IL:5-8 RL:6.3

Balloons over Broadway: the true story of

the puppeteer of Macy's Parade By Sweet, Melissa

Tells the story of puppeteer Tony Sarg, the

man who first invented the helium balloons

that have become the trademark of the annual

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

IL:K-3 RL:5.4

Bluefish By Schmatz, Pat

Thirteen-year-old Travis, living in cramped

quarters with his alcoholic grandfather, longs

for his old life in the country, and struggles in

school to hide the fact that he cannot read, but

a persistent teacher and a special girl open his

eyes to a new world. IL:YA

Bookspeak!: poems about books By Salas, Laura Purdie

Books are given the opportunity to speak in an

illustrated collection of humorous poems.

IL:K-3 RL:2

Breadcrumbs By Ursu, Anne

Hazel and Jack are best friends until an

accident with a magical mirror and a run-in

with a villainous queen find Hazel on her own,

entering an enchanted wood in the hopes of

saving Jack's life. IL:3-6 RL:5.5

A butterfly is patient By Aston, Dianna Hutts

Introduces young readers to the life cycle,

characteristics, and behaviors of butterflies.

IL:K-3 RL:5

The cazuela that the farm maiden stirred By Vamos, Samantha

A cumulative tale of a farm maiden who, aided

by a group of animals, prepares "Arroz con

Leche," or rice pudding. Includes recipe and

glossary of the Spanish words that are woven

throughout the text. IL:K-3 RL:2.4

The Cheshire Cheese cat: a Dickens of a tale By Deedy, Carmen Agra

A community of mice and a cheese-loving cat

form an unlikely alliance at London's Cheshire

Cheese, an inn where Charles Dickens finds

inspiration and Queen Victoria makes an

unexpected appearance. IL:3-6 RL:5.1

Dead end in Norvelt By Gantos, Jack

In the historic town of Norvelt, Pennsylvania,

twelve-year-old Jack Gantos spends the

summer of 1962 grounded for various offenses

until he is assigned to help an elderly neighbor

with a most unusual chore involving the newly

dead, molten wax, twisted promises, Girl

Scout cookies, underage driving, lessons from

history, typewriting, and countless bloody

noses. IL:5-8 RL:6

The friendship doll By Larson, Kirby

Follows the adventures of Miss Kanagawa, a

doll made to serve as an ambassadors from

Japan to the United States, as she makes

friends and learns about love during the

twentieth century. IL:3-6 RL:5.2

The great wall of Lucy Wu By Shang, Wendy Wan Long

Eleven-year-old aspiring basketball star and

interior designer Lucy Wu is excited about

finally having her own bedroom, until she

learns that her great-aunt is coming to visit and

Lucy will have to share a room with her for

several months, shattering her plans for a

perfect sixth-grade year. IL:3-6 RL:5.3

Heart and soul: the story of America and

African Americans By Nelson, Kadir

Examines the history of the United States,

focusing on events that influenced African-

Americans and how they advanced liberty and

justice in America. IL:3-6 RL:5.8

Hound dog true By Urban, Linda

Mattie, a shy fifth grader, wants to hide out at

her new school by acting as apprentice to her

Uncle Potluck, the custodian, but her plan falls

apart when she summons the courage to speak

about what matters most and finds a true

friend. IL:3-6 RL:4.3

Inside out & back again By Lai, Thanhha

Through a series of poems, a young girl

chronicles the life-changing year of 1975,

when she, her mother, and her brothers leave

Vietnam and resettle in Alabama.

IL:3-6 RL:4.9

Lemonade: and other poems squeezed from

a single word By Raczka, Bob

A collection of poems based on a child's day-

to-day experiences that includes a puzzle at the

end of each poem. IL:3-6 RL:6.1

Me-- Jane By McDonnell, Patrick

Holding her stuffed toy chimpanzee, young

Jane Goodall observes nature, reads Tarzan

books, and dreams of living in Africa and

helping animals. Includes biographical

information on the prominent zoologist.

IL:K-3 RL:3.5

A monster calls : a novel By Ness, Patrick

Thirteen-year-old Conor awakens one night to

find a monster outside his bedroom window,

but not the one from the recurring nightmare

that began when his mother became ill--an

ancient, wild creature that wants him to face

truth and loss. IL:YA

Okay for now By Schmidt, Gary

Fourteen-year-old Doug Swieteck faces many

challenges, including an abusive father, a

brother traumatized by Vietnam, suspicious

teachers and police officers, and isolation, but

when he meets a girl known as Lil Spicer, he

develops a close relationship with her and

finds a safe place at the local library.

IL:5-8 RL:4.6

Over and under the snow By Messner, Kate

During a cross country ski trip through the

winter woods, adventurers can discover all

sorts of animals living under the snow.

IL:K-3 RL:3

Pablo Neruda : poet of the people By Brown, Monica

Describes the life of Chilean poet Pablo

Neruda, covering his childhood, his decision to

use a pen name and change his name from

Neftali, his love of people, and his poetry.

IL:K-3 RL:3.5

Passing the music down By Sullivan, Sarah

A boy and his family befriend a country

fiddler, who teaches the boy all about playing

the old tunes, which the boy promises to help

keep alive. Inspired by Melvin Wine and Jake

Krack. IL:K-3 RL:2.7

Requiem : poems of the Terezin ghetto By Janeczko, Paul B Dewey: 811

Collects poems in which Paul B. Janeczko

describes the experiences of prisoners of the

Czechoslovakian concentration camp Terezin;

and includes illustrations by inmates. IL:YA

The Scorpio Races By Stiefvater, Maggie

Nineteen-year-old returning champion Sean

Kendrick competes against Puck Connolly, the

first girl ever to ride in the annual Scorpio

Races, both trying to keep hold of their

dangerous water horses long enough to make it

to the finish line. IL:YA

Shout! Shout it out! By Fleming, Denise

Mouse invites the readers to shout out what

they know as they review numbers, letters, and

easy words. IL:K-3 RL:.8

Stars By Ray, Mary Lyn

Explores the wonder of stars, whether they are

in the night sky, on a plant as a promise of

fruit to come, or in one's pocket for those days

when one does not feel shiny. IL:K-3 RL:2.1

These hands By Mason, Margaret

An African American man tells his grandson

about a time when, despite all the wonderful

things his hands could do, they could not touch

bread at the Wonder Bread factory. Based on

stories of bakery union workers; includes

historical note. IL:K-3 RL:2.5

True (--sort of) By Hannigan, Katherine

For most of her eleven years, Delly has been in

trouble without knowing why, until her little

brother, R.B., and a strange, silent new friend,

Ferris, help her find a way to be good--and

happy--again. IL:3-6 RL:3.8

Underground By Evans, Shane

Follows a family's journey toward freedom as

they travel along the Underground Railroad.

IL:K-3 RL:.6

Won-Ton: a cat tale told in haiku By Wardlaw, Lee

A cat arrives at a shelter, arranges to go home

with a good family, and settles in with them,

all the while letting them know who is boss

and, finally, sharing his real name.

IL:K-3 RL:3