2020 2021 William Allen White Childrens Book Awards

2020 -2021 William Allen White Children’s Book Awards

William Allen White Award • • What is the WAW Book Award? Who was William Allen White? How does it work? Who selects the books? Who votes? Then what happens? History of the Award 2020 - 2021 Book List

What is the WAW Book Award? • It is a Children’s Book Award for the state of Kansas. • This award is directed by Emporia State University. Source: https: //wawchildrensbookaward. com/welcome

Who was William Allen White? • He was the editor of the Emporia Gazette newspaper in Emporia, Kansas. • In 1896, he became well known because of an editorial he wrote in that newspaper about a political issue of the time. • He was NOT the author of these books. Source: https: //wawchildrensbookaward. com/welcome

How does it work? • Each year books are selected for 2 groups: 3 rd – 5 th grades & 6 th – 8 th grades. • There is one winner for each group. • Students across the state are encouraged to read as many books as possible from the list.

Who can vote? • Students who have read at least two books from the Master List for their grade level are eligible to vote for their favorite. • Ballots are sent to all Kansas schools in February or March. • Schools turn their voting results in to Emporia State University in April.

Then what happens? • The authors of the winning books are invited to a reception in the fall where they’ll receive a bronze “White Award Medal” at an awards ceremony. • Students and teachers are encouraged to attend the award ceremony to meet the authors and listen to their acceptance speeches. • This year’s celebration will be Saturday, October 3, 2021, at Emporia State University.

Who selects the books? • There is a selection committee who represents Kansas educational and professional organizations concerned with children. • They create a master list of titles. • Books can be fiction, non-fiction, or poetry and were published during the previous year. • Anyone can nominate a book and submit it to the committee.

Selection committee process • Members must read at least 50% of nominated books to participate in selection. Executive director & secretary & committee chair do not vote. • Only books read by at least 60% of those present at the meeting can be considered. • For a title to be placed on the list following discussion of it, at least 60% of those who read it must vote for its placement. • Titles are first chosen for the list without regard for age division. Once nominations cease, the lists are divided into grades 3 to 5 & grades 6 to 8. • Before the list is finalized, there is opportunity to reconsider any titles chosen.

History of the Award • The book award was began in 1952 by the late Ruth Garver Gagliardo, to honor the memory of William Allen White. • It was established to encourage the boys and girls of Kansas to read and enjoy good books. • A lot has changed since Ruth c. 1964 ESU Archives Garver Gagliardo created the award and served as its first selection committee chairperson…but the structure

Grades 3 - 5

GRANTED BY JOHN DAVID ANDERSON A fairy on her first assignment as a granter finds the job she has dreamed of doing is not cut and dried — and the world is full of danger. A faithful dog and a friend help her find her way. Walden Pond Press, an imprint of Harper. Collins Book Trailer (: 52)

SMALL SPACES BY KATHERINE ARDEN Book-loving sixth grader Olivia is warned by a woman with a 100 -year-old diary to “keep to the small spaces”. On a field trip, she finds the graves of the people in the diary. When the bus breaks down on the way home, she and her friends must heed that advice. Puffin Books Book Trailer (1: 50)

CAN I TOUCH YOUR HAIR? POEMS OF RACE, MISTAKES, AND FRIENDSHIPS BY IRENE LATHAM AND CHARLES WATERS Authors Latham and Waters use the fictional setting of a fifth grade classroom to share poems about growing up and discovering differences and commonalities. Carolrhoda Books Book Trailer (2: 24)

THE SEASON OF STYX MALONE BY KEKLA MAGOON 10 - year- old Caleb narrates the story of a summer in rural Indiana when he and his 11 year old brother meet 16 year old Styx Malone, who teaches them about “escalator trading” and about life as he’s learned it. Random House Children's Book Trailer (2: 06)

BOB BY WENDY MASS AND REBECCA STEAD 10 - year- old Livy returns to her Gran’s home in Australia after five years away to discover “a small zombie wearing a chicken suit”—her forgotten friend Bob. Together they search to find what Bob is and where he belongs Square Fish/Feiwel and Friends Book Trailer (1: 50)

THIRTY MINUTES OVER OREGON: A JAPANESE PILOT'S WORLD WAR II STORY BY MARC TYLER NOBLEMAN In 1942, a Japanese pilot dropped bombs in the woods near a small town in Oregon, hoping to start a fire. 20 years later, he returned to apologize, give money for library books, and plant a tree at the bomb site. This true story illustrates a question raised by the author: “He went from fighting to uniting. Which took more courage? ” Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (Book Trailer (3: 23))

INKLING BY KENNETH OPPEL Ethan finds he can’t draw the cartoons he promised for his group at school. His illustrator father has artist’s block. His sister wants a puppy. They all miss their mom. Inkling solves all these problems and more by jumping off a page of Ethan’s father’s work. New problems are created as Inkling begins devouring books—and he reflects what he reads, good or bad. Ethan and his dad must work together to restore Inkling back to the paper from which he rose. A Yearling Book Trailer (: 58) Book Trailer (: 28)

OTIS AND WILL DISCOVER THE DEEP: THE RECORD-SETTING DIVE OF THE BATHYSPHERE BY BARB ROSENSTOCK This non-fiction book details the 1930 ocean dive of an engineer and an explorer in their invention—a hollow metal ball that allows them to explore the deepest depths of the ocean. Will Otis and Will survive the maiden voyage of the Bathysphere to tell what they’ve seen? Little, Brown and Company Book Trailer (: 51)

PASS GO AND COLLECT $200: THE REAL STORY OF HOW MONOPOLY WAS INVENTED BY TANYA LEE STONE The true story of how Monopoly was invented begins in 1903, when Lizzie Magie invented “The Landlord’s Game” and patented it. 30 years later, Charles Darrow tried to sell his version of the game to Parker Brothers. Eventually Lizzie got $500, while Darrow made millions on the game still played today. Book Trailer (: 45)

FRONT DESK BY KELLY YANG 10 -year- old Mia, the child of Chinese immigrants, helps her family manage the California hotel where they live. Mia wants to be a writer and finds plenty of subject matter in her daily life. Loosely based on Yang’s own life. Scholastic Inc Book Trailer (1: 02)

Last Year’s Winner Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling New friends and a mystery help Aden, thirteen, adjust to middle school and life at a dying western theme park in a new state, where her being born armless presents many challenges. Sterling Children’s Books (2: 13)

Michelle Hammond WAW Awards program director Beverley Buller Selection committee chairperson READ! ESU Archives