Twist of Fate: The Miracle Colt and His Friends by Chris Stuckenschneider, illustrated by Kevin Belford

2009/32 pgs

About the Book: An accident causes a semi to overturn, trapping the animals inside. This is the story of the animal rescue and the miracle colt that was born.

Sarah Teenlibrarian Says: I sort of wonder if the reason this is on the Show-Me Awards list is because it takes place in Missouri. I don't really know what the point of this book was. Was it to tell me about the accident? Was it about the animals survival? It tried to do a little bit of both and because of that I don't think the book works at all. Instead it has no real plot and I found it boring.

It's told from the point of view of Twist of Fate, the colt who was born after the accident-his mother was on the truck and was pregnant at the time of the accident. Throughout the pages are also pictures of other surviving animals and short bios about them. I didn't think this worked all that well because it didn't tie in well with the story Twist of Fate was telling. I found the whole book choppy and wasn't impressed.

Dewey: There's a Cat in the Library by Vicki Myron & Bret Witter and illustrated by Steve James

2009/40pgs.

About the Book: Dewey is a kitten who is found by a librarian. She decides that Dewey will live in the library. But just living in the library isn't enough-Dewey wants to help people and be a library cat!

Sarah Teenlibrarian Says: Oh Dewey. Your story was cute to start but now I'm a bit sick of you. You, like your canine counterpart Marley, have turned into a let's see how much money we can make off this animal marketing venue.

This picture book featuring Dewey might appeal to Dewey fans or cat lovers, but that's about it. I didn't really learn anything about Dewey's life, the story doesn't flow, and it really does read like a "let's see what else we can turn this Dewey story into it and milk it for all it's worth" type of book. The book starts out OK but then it turns into random snipppets about Dewey and doesn't ever really have a cohesive plot. Honestly, I'm not even sure how this made it onto the Show-Me Readers list, other than the fact that it takes place in the library. But there isn't much of a lesson typically found in books on the list.

Needless to say, I was very disappointed in this book.

Peace Week in Miss Fox's Class by Eileen Spinelli, illustrated by Anne Kennedy

2009/32pgs.

About the Book: When Miss Fox has had enough of the fighting and arguing in her class she declares a peace week!

Sarah Teenlibrarian Says: Yep, it's another Show Me Readers Award nominee that is an OK book with a very heavy handed message. I can see this book being good to use in the classroom and you might be able to make your own peace week out of it. But the results of Miss Fox's peace week are almost too good to be true. (I guess that's why it's fiction!) The students all remember it's peace week, they all accept it's peace week and they all resolve their various arguments, sibling fights, and never say anything mean or rude. And by doing so they make new friends. Yes, it's a good message, but for me it was just a little too easy.

It's also one of the Show Me books that I think is very limited on age. It really is for 1st grade and I'm not sure has appeal all the way up the 3rd grade-I think 2nd and 3rd graders would be rolling their eyes at this story (or maybe I'm just too cynical).

Testing the Ice by Sharon Robinson illustrated by Kadir Nelson

2009/40 pgs.

About the Book: Sharon Robinson recalls a childhood memory of her father, Jackie Robinson and the day they went ice skating.

Sarah Teenlibrarian Says: I really enjoyed this book! Sharon Robinson's writing style is beautiful. She never talks down to the reader. She's written a book that has a message without it ever feeling too preachy. Instead, it comes across as her telling a childhood tale. The image of Jackie Robinson stepping out onto the frozen ice, even though he's afraid because he can't swim is also a great metaphor for him stepping into the world of baseball and breaking the color barrier. But this metaphor is worked so well into the story that it never comes off as a lesson.

The artwork is amazing, of course, since the book is illustrated by Kadir Nelson (aka my children's literature boyfriend). His artwork always amazes me! Each page looks so lifelike and it's obvious he takes great care with his subjects. He used Robinson family photos to help create the illustrations in this book, which I think adds to the lifelike feel.

One of my favorite Show-Me Readers Award Nominees I've read!

Desert Rose and Her Highfalutin Hog by Alison Jackson, illustrated by Keith Graves

2009/40 pgs.

About the Book: Desert Rose just bought the biggest hog and she plans to win at the state fair. But this is a highfalutin hog and getting to the fair isn't going to be easy.

Sarah Teenlibrarian Says: Finally a Show-Me Readers Award Nominee that I liked!!

The text in Desert Rose is very cute and it feels as though it should be read with a big Southern accent and yee-haw. Poor Rose is only trying to use a shortcut to get her hog to the state fair, but the hog won't take a drink, the coyote won't bite the hog, the snake won't scare the coyote, and so on. This is a circular story and Rose keeps trying to find someone or something to help get her hog to the fair. Readers will enjoy seeing how Rose gets everything to work and the funny "moral" at the end is too cute. The artwork is bright and engaging. It might be a bit long for storytime, but if you have older readers who can sit through longer books, this is worth giving a try.

Stars Above Us by Geoffrey Norman illustrated by E.B. Lewis

2009/32 pgs

About the Book: A little girl and her father find a way to combat her fear of the dark.

Sarah Teenlibrarian Says: This is my least favorite nominee on the Show-Me Readers list and honestly, I'm not really sure why I didn't like it.

I thought the story was a bit boring and not that well written which is maybe why I wasn't a big fan. Amanda is afraid of the dark and her dad helps her put glow in the dark stars on her ceiling. Then he tells her that she can look at the North Star when he's away.

We're never really told why Amanda's father is away or that he's in the Army, but we see that in pictures. I think I felt like the whole book never really seemed to flow-it just went from one story idea to another and didn't fully come together.

Minnow and Rose by Judy Young, illustrated by Bill Farnsworth

2009/37 pgs.

About the Book: Two young girls meet along the Oregon Trail.

Sarah Teenlibrarian Says: This is another typical Show-Me Readers nominee. The writing is OK, the illustrations are so-so, but there's an easy lesson that can be tied into the book so it's on the list.

I will say that it is one of the better books on the Show-Me Readers list, but I think the audience for this one is a bit limited. I think 2nd-3rd grade girls who love frontier tales and Little House on the Prairie are going to be the ones who like this book.

Itsy Bitsy and Teeny Weeny by Robbyn Smith Van Frankenhuyzen

2009/48pgs.

About the Book: When a run lamb and an injured fawn both need help, they find each other at Hazel Ridge Farm.

Sarah Teenlibrarian Says: This is another animal themed Show Me Readers Award nominee, but thankfully it's light on the sap that many of the animal books come with.

The book never says anywhere that it's based on a true story, but I'm guessing it is, since the author also the narrator and it seems as though she's retelling an experience she had on her farm. The illustrations by Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen are well done and they almost look like cross stitch with the subtle lines on every page.

The story has a "message" but it doesn't ever feel too heavy and it never feels like the author was out to teach a lesson, but merely share her story, which I liked. The author also writes as though you're in her living room and she's sharing this story, which maked the book more enjoyable. Animal lovers are sure to enjoy it and I can see this being a popular read off the Show Me list this year.

Finding Lincoln by Ann Malaspina, illustrated by Colin Bootman

2009/32pgs.

About the Book: In 1951 Alabama, a young boy discovers the courage to walk into a segregated library to find a book about Abe Lincoln.

Sarah Teenlibrarian Says: This is another Show Me Readers Awards nominee. The more I read from the Show Me list, the less impressed I am with the nominees. It seems like the nominees are chosen on what lesson can be taught instead of what is truly an outstanding picture book in writing and illustration.

Finding Lincoln has a great lesson. But the writing is bland and boring and the illustrations are not that great. When there are people being drawn, I want them to actually look like people, not blobs of watercolors. There's not a lot of attention to detail in the illustrations and many of the extra on the pages seem to just bleed together.

The story seems like it's there just to teach a lesson. I wasn't impressed with the writing at all. The author talks down to the audience and I didn't think the story flowed that well. There were some small details thrown out aren't really resolved and the ending sort of leaves the reader hanging-it's not the best resolution.

I can see why this one made the Show Me Readers Award list because of the school lessons that can go along with it, but I wasn't all that impressed.

Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine, and a Miracle by Major Brian Dennis, Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery

2009/42 pgs.

About the Book: Nubs is a war dog in Iraq. One day he meets a group of Marines and befriends Major Brian Dennis. Nubs knows he needs Brian and he begins a journey to find a home with his new friend.

Sarah Teenlibrarian Says: Every year it seems there is some animal story on the Show Me Readers list that is made to tug at your heart strings. This year that book is Nubs.

The story of Nubs and Brian is a good one, but I felt the writing wasn't all that impressive. It really is for younger readers and in some ways I felt the authors talked down to their audience a bit. There are e-mails and letters added which didn't always flow with the text.

I won't deny the story itself is good, I was just a bit disappointed in the writing. I felt like the authors were trying to re-create what they did with their previous book Two Bobbies, but didn't quite succeed. If you're an animal lover, chances are you'll enjoy this story and I'm sure when kids start reading the Show Me Readers Award nominees they'll love the story of Nubs.