The Bluestem Award: Illinois' Grades 3-5 Readers' Choice Award

•Named in honor of Big Bluestem which is the state prairie grass, the award may include both timeless classics and current titles, as well as books that have appeared on Monarch and Rebecca Caudill lists. •Students must read, or have read to them 4 of the 20 books.

Bluestem Brochure

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Bean likes stomping in puddles, climbing fences into neighbors' backyards, and playing tricks on her older sister, Nancy. Bean wasn't interested in making friends with Ivy, the new girl across the street, until she plays a trick on her sister and needs a place to hide out.

Ivy and BeanBy Annie Barrows

Realistic

Fiction

RL 2.74 RC Pts.113 Pgs.

Nic Bishop FrogsBy Nic Bishop

Some jump. Some glide. Some burrow. Full-color, illustrated photographs describing the characteristics and behaviors of a variety of frogs around the world.

Non-fictionRL 5.63 RC Pts.

48 Pgs.

No TalkingBy Andrew Clements

Realistic

Fiction

The noisy fifth grade boys of Laketon Elementary School challenge the equally loud fifth grade girls to a "no talking" contest. Who will win that contest???

RL 4.87 RC Pts.

Nancy Keane - No Talking

146 Pgs.

What is a BFG? Why a Big, Friendly Giant, of course! Kidsnatched from her orphanage by a BFG, who spends his life blowing happy dreams to children, Sophie concocts with him a plan to save the world from nine other man-gobbling cannybull giants. Follow Sophie’s adventures as she befriends the BFG, meets the Queen of England and matches wits with the other Big, not-so-friendly Giants!)

The BFGBy Roald Dahl

FantasyRL 5.87 RC Pts.

219 Pgs.

Nancy Keane book talk

Kenny & the DragonBy Tony DiTerlizzi

Kenny Rabbit tries to save his friend, the dragon, after he is labeled a community nuisance by the simple people of Roundbrook village, who arrange for the creature to be fought by St. George.

RL 4.87 RC Pts.Fantasy

151 Pgs.

Sky Boys: How They Built the Empire State BuildingBy Deborah Hopkinson & James E. Ransome

Have you ever wondered how a sky scraper is made? In 1931, a boy and his father watch as the world's tallest building, the Empire State Building, is constructed, step-by-step, near their Manhattan home. To this day, it ranks among the most amazing accomplishments of American Architecture. Using new building techniques, records were set for the incredible speed and efficiency of the building.

Historical

Fiction

RL 6.42 RC Pts.

34 Pgs.

Emma and the Incredible Shrinking Rat by Lynne Jonell

“Emmy was a good girl…she really was a little too good... which is why she liked to sit by the Rat. The Rat was not good at all…” So begins the fascinating story of a girl who found she could communicate with the class Rat. When Emmy discovers that she and her formerly loving parents are being drugged by their evil nanny with rodent potions that can change people in frightening ways, she and some new friends must try everything possible to return things to normal. Could her very intrusive nanny, Miss Barmy, really be as evil as it now appeared?

RL 4.514 RC Pts.Fantasy

346 Pgs.

Henry’s Freedom BoxBy Ellen Levine

How old is Henry? Henry doesn’t even know. No one keeps records of slaves’ birthdays. This is a fictionalized account of how in 1849 a Virginia slave, Henry "Box" Brown, escapes to freedom by shipping himself in a wooden crate from Richmond to Philadelphia.

Historical

Fiction

RL 1.93 RC Pts.

40 Pgs.

The Year of the DogBy Grace Lin

Realistic

Fiction

Frustrated at her seeming lack of talent for anything, a young Taiwanese American girl sets out to apply the lessons of the Chinese Year of the Dog, those of making best friends and finding oneself, to her own life.

RL 5.27 RC Pts.134 Pgs.

Nancy Keane book talk Being Teddy R.

Being Teddy RooseveltBy Claudia Mills

When he is assigned Teddy Roosevelt as his biography project in school, fourth-grader Riley finds himself inspired by Roosevelt's tenacity and perseverance and resolves to find a way to get what he most wants--a saxophone and music lessons. Will he succeed?

Realistic

Fiction

RL 3.55 RC Pts.89 Pgs.

Historical

Fiction

RL 3.75 RC Pts.

Professor Ueno's loyal Akita, Hachiko, waits for him at the train station every afternoon, and even after the professor has a fatal heart attack while at work, Hachiko faithfully continues to await his return. Based on a true story. How long would you wait?

Hachiko WaitsBy Leslea Newman

96 Pgs.

Collective

Biography

RL 4.33 RC Pts.Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman by Marc Tyler Nobleman

Jerry Siegelman and Joe Shuster, two misfit teens in Depression-era Cleveland, were more like Clark Kent—meek, mild, and myopic—than his secret identity, Superman. Both boys escaped into the worlds of science fiction and pulp magazine adventure tales. Jerry wrote stories, and Joe illustrated them. In 1934, they created a superhero who was everything they were not. SUPERMAN

34 Pgs.

RL 3.99 RC Pts.Realistic

FictionHow to Steal a DogBy Barbara O’Connor

"The day I decided to steal a dog is the same day my best friend, Luanne Godfrey, found out I lived in a car.“ A reward poster for a lost dog gives Gerogina the seriously unfortunate idea to steal a dog and then return it for the reward. The plan doesn't work quite like she planned though because her conscience makes itself heard loud and clear. Homelessness??

170 Pgs.

Nancy Keane audio book talk Houdini Box

The Houdini BoxBy Brian Selznick

Young Victor dreams of being a great magician someday. Just like his idol Harry Houdini. He practices over and over again. When he gets to actually meet his hero, imagine his delight when Houdini gives him a magic box. (Mysterious box--one that might hold the secrets to the greatest magic tricks ever performed) When he turned it over, he saw that the initials E.W. were on the bottom. He was so disappointed. This wasn't Houdini's box after all. How could Houdini been so cruel?

Realistic

Fiction

RL 5.32 RC Pts.74 Pgs.

Dodger and MeBy Jordan Sonnenblick

Fantasy

Do you believe in Genies? Miserable because his only friend moved away and he has once again caused his baseball team to lose a game, fifth-grader Willy Ryan's life suddenly becomes a lot more interesting when he finds Dodger, a furry, blue chimpanzee that only he can see, and he has to decide what he really wishes for in life.

RL 4.89 RC Pts.171 Pgs.

Realistic

Fiction

RL 4.53 RC Pts.Where I Live

By Eileen SpinelliDiana loves where she lives. She loves the astronomy charts on her walls and the fact that she can wave to her best friend, Rose, from her very own window. And best of all, a wren has recently made its home right by her front door! When her family is forced to move, Diana wonders if she’ll ever find that same grounded and happy feeling again. Loosing a friend and a home!!

Eileen Spinelli Website

112 Pgs.

RL 3.54 RC Pts.Biography

Stand Tall Abe LincolnBy Judith St. George

Abraham Lincoln grew up poor and without schooling in a Kentucky wilderness and lost his mother before he was ten. It was sparkplug Sally Bush Johnston who married his father, brought a library of books to their log cabin home, and believed in Abe from the beginning. She was an inspiring turning point for young Abe, who went on to become America’s sixteenth and most popular and respected president.

48 Pgs.

RL 4.75 RC Pts.Realistic

FictionSecret Identity

By Wendelin Van Draanen

Fifth-grader Nolan Byrd, tired of being called names by the class bully, has a secret identity--Shredderman!

138 Pgs.

Nancy Keane audio booktalk Oggie

Realistic

Fiction

RL 5.77 RC Pts.Oggie CooderBy Sarah Weeks

Fourth-grader Oggie Cooder calls the calming activity of chewing and carving cheese charving. When a TV show about unique talents wants to send him to Hollywood, Oggie has to decide if he's willing to change and put up with his fame-crazed neighbor, Donnica.

172 Pgs.

The Aurora County All-StarsBy Deborah Wiles

In his small Mississippi town, twelve-year-old House Jackson has been sidelined for a whole sorry year with a broken elbow. He's finally ready to play, but wouldn't you know that the team's only game of the year has been scheduled for the exact same time as the town's 200th-anniversary pageant. Will he play ball or do the pageant? He just inherited a dog named Eudora Welty!!!

RL 4.512 RC Pts.Realistic

Fiction 242 Pgs.

What book will you start with?