Bluestem Award

 The Bluestem Award is the newest childrens' choice award in Illinois.  The books selected for this list are well-suited for students in grades 3, 4, and 5. 

This is the second year for the award program. Students in grades 3, 4, or 5 are encouraged to read the books on this year's list.  Students reading at least 4 books will be able to vote for their favorite book in February, as well as enjoy special activities throughout the school year.

  Three Titles Now Available as EBooks - read them online!

Search for the titles in the card catalog:

Bad News for Outlaws

Flight of the Phoenix

World According to Humphrey

  Join our Social Media Site Edmodo to discuss the Bluestem books!  Check out special activities and our monthly poll.

Ask Mrs. Krouse for the code to join!

 2011-2012 Bluestem Titles:

14 Cows for America: This book presents an illustrated tale of a gift of fourteen cows given by the Maasai people of Kenya to the U.S. as a gesture of comfort and friendship in the wake of the attacks of September 11, 2001.  The coauthor is Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah.

Adventures in Cartooning: This book uses a story about a magical elf who helps a princess learn how to draw a comic to present techniques for and advice about drawing comics.

All Stations! Distress!  April 15, 1912: The Day the Titanic Sank by Don Brown This book presents an account of the deadly voyage of the "Titanic" in April 1912, when about 2,200 passengers and crew fought to survive.

Animal Heroes: True Rescue Stories by Sandra Markle

This book consists of real-life stories about animal heroes.  It also discusses how people have learned to work with animals in ways that make the most of each animal's special abilities to help humans.

Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal by Vaunda Nelson

This biography profiles the life of Bass Reeves, a former slave who was recruited as a deputy United States Marshal in the area that was to become Oklahoma.

Bunnicula: a Rabbit Tale of Mystery by Deborah and James Howe

Chester, the Monroe family's cat, resorts to hilarious antics to alert his owners and Harold, their dog, that the newly adopted bunny may actually be a vegetable vampire.  The coauthor is James Howe.

Dying to Meet You by Kate Klise  In this story told mostly through letters, children's book author I.B. Grumply gets more than he bargained for when he rents a quiet place to write for the summer.

Extra Credit by Andrew Clements  As letters flow back and forth, between the prairies of Illinois and the mountains of Afghanistan, acrss cultural and religious divides, sixth-grader Abby, ten-year-old Amira, and eleven-year-old Sadeed begin to speak and listen to each other.

Faith, Hope and Ivy June by Phyllis Naylor During a student exchange program, seventh-graders Ivy June and Catherine share their lives, homes, and communities and find tat although their lifestyles are total opposites, they have a lot in common.

Flight of the Phoenix by R. L. LaFevers With his parents lost at sea, Nate lands on the doorstep of a distant cousin, the world's last remaining beastologist.  Soon he is whisked off on his first expedition, to Arabia, where the world's only phoenix prepares to lay its new egg.

Just Grace by Charise Harper  Misnamed by her teacher, seven-year-old Just Grace prides herself on being empathetic, but when she tries to help a neighbor feel better, her good intentions backfire.

Knucklehead: Tall Tales and Mostly True Stories About Growin Up Scieszka by Jon Scieszka Part memoir, part scrapbook, thris trip down memory lane provides a unique glimpse into the formation of a creative mind and a free spirit.

 Passage to Freedom: the Sugihara Story by Ken Mochizuki

The story of one man's courage and the respect between father and son who shared the weight of an amazing act of humanity during World War II.

Riding Freedom by Pam Munoz Ryan Charlotte (Charley) Parkhurst runs away from an orphanage, poses as a boy, moves to California, and fools everyone by her appearance.

 Rules by Cynthia Lord

Frustrated at life with an autistic brother, twelve-year-old Catherine longs for a normal existence, but her world is further complicated by a friendship with a young paraplegic.

Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook by Eleanor Davis

Eleven-year-old Julian thought changing schools would mean leaving his "nerdy" persona behind, but instead he forms an alliance with fellow inventors Greta and Ben and words to prevent an adult from using one of their gadgets for nefarious purposes.

Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar Humorous episodes take place in the classroom on the thirtieth floor of Wayside School, which was accidentally buildt sideways with one classroom on each story.

 Sisters Grimm: The Fairy-Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley  Orphans Sabrina and Daphne Grimm are sent to live with an eccentric grandmother who they have always believed to be dead.

Swindle by Gordon Korman

After unscrupulous collector S. Wendell Palomino cons sixth-grader Griffin Bing out of a valuable baseball card, Griffin puts together a band of misfits to break into Palomino's heavily guarded store and steal the card back.

The World According to Humphrey by Betty Birney Humphrey, pet hamster at Longfellow School, learns that he has an important role to play in helping the teacher and his classmates.