This section contains the following sections:
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(includes the Massachusetts Children's Book Awards 2006-07)
2007 winners may be found in Award Winning Books.
Books and More
Click on the Hyperlink below to find activities to go with the book title or topic that is listed.
Biographies --Helen Keller
Astronauts-Gus Grissom
Dinosaurs- Tyrannosaurus Rex
Immigration and Family Trees- Milly and the Macy's Day Parade
William Shakespeare- "Twelfth Night"
Human Body- The Magic Schoolbus Inside the Human Body
Jack Prelutsky- poetry- It's Raining Pigs and Noodles
American History-Rock and Roll- A History of Us
Picking a Great Book to Read
It is important for you to pick out books which you can read and enjoy. There are several strategies that you can employ to help you.
Deciding if you want to read a particular book
The first thing you should do is read the summary of the book on the back of the book or on the book flap. If you can't find a summary in either place, open the book and find the title page. Usually the page before or after the title page will give you a two sentence summary of the story. Paperbacks often have clues about the book on the back cover. Hardback books often tell you about the book on the inside front cover.
Deciding if a book is too hard for you to read
The five finger rule is a good test to decide if a story is too hard for you to read. Simply open the book to a random page near the middle and begin to read. For each word that you do not understand, raise one finger. If you get to five fingers before the end of the page, the book is too difficult for you to read.
If you know all of the words or only are missing one or two words, the book is below your reading level. If you do not know three or four words, you are right at your reading level.
When you find a word you do not know, use the meaning of the sentence to figure out what the word means. If you cannot do this, the text may be too difficult for you.
Choosing a title
1. Look for authors who you have enjoyed in the past. Many authors write in series and you may find another book in the series that you would like.
2. Look for books and authors who have won awards. The Caldecott Medal is given each year for the best illustrations. The Newbery Award is given for the best piece of children's literature each year. Other awards that are given each January for children's literature are the Horn Book Award, The Coretta Scott King Award, the Sydney Taylor Award, and Scott O'Dell Award. The winner of the Massachusetts Children's Book Award is announced in May. Each of these awards will point you to new authors and books which you can enjoy. To see lists of all of these award winning books see the sites at Good Books to Read and Award Winning Books or check out the Authors to Know page. If you are in grades 3 through 5, you will also find good books to read on the Massachusetts Children's Book Award lists.
3. Look for a particular genre of books. For example, many of our students like historical fiction or fantasy books. We have several new books in these categories, as well as, more that have been ordered. Ask for assistance from the librarian or use Athena to find books in a certain genre.
4. Finally, look at the displays in the library for new titles and authors that you might enjoy.
Is it wrong to read a book that is below my reading level?
No. You should read books that are easy, medium, and challenging for you. Books that are easy for you to read, allow your mind to pick up speed as you read. This is a skill you will need as you grow up. You should be reading books at your reading level as well as challenging ones to help your reading vocabulary grow. In time, this will make it easier for you to read all books.
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