William Allen White Children’s Book Award Vote for your favorite!

William Allen White Mr. White Award

William Allen White He was a famous writer that lived in Emporia, Kansas. He is most famous for the editorials he wrote in the Emporia Gazette.

How does it work? A selection committee (of teachers and librarians) selects a list of books for 3rd - 5th grades and another list for 6th – 8th grades. Students read the books! Students vote in the Spring for their favorite.

What happens next . . . The winner is announced in April! The winning author is invited to a celebration at Emporia State University in September where they receive the award.

THE BOOKS

A Difficult Boy by M.P. Barker It is 1839. Nine-year-old Ethan does not want to be an indentured servant. But his family has no other way to pay off their debt. Their master is a horrid man who viciously beats them. The servants take a desperate measure to protect themselves, but will their astonishing plan only make things worse?

Diamond Willow by Helen Frost Willow would rather blend in than stick out. But she still wants to be seen for who she is. She wants her parents to notice that she is growing up. She wants, more than anything, to mush the dogs out to her grandparents’ house, by herself. But sometimes when it’s just you, one mistake can have frightening consequences . . .

Every Soul a Star by Wendy Mass Three kids take turns telling the story of how their lives intertwine during a major solar elicpse. Three unlikely friends meet; nature-loving Ally, glamour-loving Bree, who is convinced she has been "switched at birth“, and science loving Jack.

Itch by Michelle D. Kwasney After the death of her beloved Gramps, Delores Colchester, better known as “Itch,” moves with her grandmother from Florida to Ohio. Starting over is hard, and Itch feels like an outsider in her new school, until she makes a new friend…

Keeping the Night Watch by Hope Anita Smith A couple of years ago, CJ’s dad walked out on his family. His dad is back now and everyone else in his family so happy, so willing to forgive, except CJ….

Milagros: Girl from Away by Meg Medina Milagros’ life hasn’t been easy since her father sailed away with pirates. She’s being teased at school and her mom has hard time trying to make ends meet. Still, Milagros loves living on her small island in the Caribbean. But everything changes when marauders destroy the island and most of the people who live there…

Savvy by Ingrid Law Two days before her birthday where she is supposed to receive her “savvy” or super power, Mibs’ dad is in a terrible car accident two hours away. Determined to see him she and her siblings hitch a ride on a pink bus…

The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti When his brother brings home a prohibited short-wave radio, Helmuth soon learns that Hilter and the Nazi’s are lying to the German people. He hatches a plan to expose the truth, but in the process puts the lives of his family, his friends, and himself at risk. Can he keep it a secret?

The Cabinet of Wonders by Marie Rutkoski Petra sets off to find her father's eyes when the evil prince steals them. They are very powerful eyes and have the power to move and work with metal. Petra must gather her wits and make sure she holds onto them. Book 1 of the Kronos Chronicles

The Floating Circus by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer Owen and his brother are orphans and Owen is known as “the bad kid”. He feels bad that his brother hasn’t been adopted so he puts him on the Orphan Train and befriends a freed slave who gets him a job aboard a floating circus.

The Underneath by Kathi Appelt A pregnant calico cat is abandoned and through the bayou she hears the howl of a lonely hound dog. They are an unlikely pair, but he takes in the cat and her kittens. They are safe under the porch from his mean owner until one of the kittens gets curious…

Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connor Addie longs to be normal, but after her mom and stepdad get divorced things change. She and her mom have to move into this tiny trailer. And when her mom gets a new boyfriend things get even worse…

Works Cited http://www.barnesandnoble.com http://www.emporia.edu/libsv/wawbookaward/ http://www.kshs.org/portraits/white_william.htm

Are you up for the challenge? Battle of the Books Are you up for the challenge?

How does it work? Teams of students read the WAW books. After spring break we have a “Jeopardy-style” battle. The top two teams win prizes!

What do I do? Read the WAW books! Form a team for four students – any grade any class. Sign ups will be after spring break.