This annual award is given to the author of the book voted most outstanding by students in grades four through eight in participating Illinois schools. The award is named in honor of Rebecca Caudill who lived and wrote in Urbana, Illinois, for nearly 50 years.
Students in fourth and fifth grade who read (or hear) at least three of the nominated books will be able to cast their vote in February. The statewide winner will be announced in March. I encourage you to support this program and help your child become eligible to cast his/her vote. As an extra incentive, I will honor students who read 10 or more of these books, pass the AR quizzes, and show me the AR TOPS reports in a picture poster and with a pizza lunch. Mrs. Johnson, a Prospect Heights public librarian, will give book talks on each title in September and October. Teachers will be able to select books as read alouds for their classes. We have at least one copy of each book on the list in our school library, and AR quizzes have been installed on computers. Books may also be obtained at your public libraries. I hope you enjoy these examples of outstanding literature for children and young people.
Since these books have been selected for 4th-8th grade participants, please note the Interest Levels. Some books may not be suitable for your child. Those marked (*) contain issues about coming of age and/or questionable language. Please let me know with a written request if you do not want your child to check out these books.
Mrs. Gail Anderson,
Eisenhower Learning Center
The following books have been nominated for the 2008 award:
| The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy | Grades 4-7 |
4.7 |
8 |
| Shakespeare’s Secret | Grades 5-8 |
4 |
6 |
| Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two | Grades 7-8 |
6.4 |
9 |
| The Misadventures of Maude March, or Trouble Rides a Fast Horse | Grades 5-7 |
5.11 |
11 |
| The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane | Grades 4-8 |
4.4 |
2 |
| Chicken Boy | Grades 5-7 |
5.1 |
5 |
| MVP: Magellan Voyage Project * | Grades 4-6 |
4.4 |
6 |
| The Ruins of Gorlan | Grades 5-8 |
7 |
12 |
| The Old Willis Place | Grades 5-7 |
4.2 |
7 |
| Princess Academy | Grades 4-7 |
6 |
10 |
| Thunder from the Sea | Grades 4-5 |
4.2 |
5 |
| Defiance | Grades 5-7 |
4 |
3 |
| Worth | Grades 5-7 |
4.5 |
4 |
| East * | Grades YA |
6.1 |
16 |
| Crooked River | Grades 5-8 |
5.5 |
7 |
| Yankee Girl | Grades 5-8 |
3.7 |
6 |
| The Schwa Was Here * | Grades YA |
5 |
9 |
| Drums, Girls, & Dangerous Pie * | Grades 5-8 |
5.9 |
8 |
| Listening for Lions | Grades 4-8 |
5.7 |
7 |
| Adam Canfield of the Slash | Grades 5-7 |
5.4 |
9 |