Horace Mann Upstanders Book Award

2007

Ain’t Nobody a Stranger-by Ann Grifalconi, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney (Hyperion Books): Two Caldecott Honor recipients join to bring you the incredible journey of one man, as he recounts the story of his passage on the Underground Railroad to his granddaughter.

One Thousand Tracings:  Healing the Wounds of WWII-written and illustrated by Leta Judge (Hyperion Books)
The Giant of Seville:  A Tall Tale Based on a True Story-written and illustrated by Dan Andreasen (Abrams)

When I Crossed No-Bob-by Margaret McMullan (Houghton Mifflin): Ten years after the Civil War's end, twelve-year-old Addy, abandoned by her parents, is taken from the horrid town of No-Bob by schoolteacher Frank Russell and his bride, but when her father returns to claim her she must find another way to leave her O'Donnell past behind.

Sacred Leaf-by Deborah Ellis (Groundwood Books): Twelve year old Diego escapes from slavery at an illegal cocaine operation and is taken in by the Ricardos, coca farmers.

Brendan Buckley’s Universe and Everything in It-by Sundee T. Frazier (Delacorte): Ten-year-old Tae Kwon Do blue belt and budding rock hound Brendan Buckley keeps a "Confidential" notebook for his top-secret scientific discoveries. And he's found something totally top secret. The grandpa he's never met, who his mom refuses to talk about or see, is an expert mineral collector and lives nearby!

The Klipfish Code-by Mary Casanova (Houghton Mifflin): Sent with her younger brother to Godøy Island to live with her aunt and grandfather after Germans bomb Norway in 1940, ten-year-old Merit longs to join her parents in the Resistance and when her aunt, a teacher, is taken away two years later, she resents even more the Nazis' presence and her grandfather's refusal to oppose them.


2008

One-written and illustrated by Kathryn Otoshi
How to Heal a Broken Wing-written and illustrated by Bob Graham (Candlewick Press): When Will finds a bird with a broken wing, he takes it home and cares for it, hoping in time it will be able to return to the sky.

The Streets are Free-by Karusa, illustrated by Monika Doppert (Annick Press):  this was a cute book about some kids who live in this city that keeps growing leaving them with no where to play, so they play in the streets

Walking to School-by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Michael Dooling (Clarion Books):  Bunting addresses the complicated relations in Northern Ireland. Narrated by Allison, a Catholic, the story effectively captures the child's trepidation and confusion, particularly as she has learned that a favorite uncle has committed violent acts.

Fly, Cher Ami, Fly-by Robert Burleigh, illustrated by Robert MacKenzie (Clarion Books):  Using a picture-book format, Burleigh tells the true story of the last flight of a U.S. Army Signal Corps carrier pigeon, which took place in France during World War I. Cher Ami was the last hope for the “Lost Battalion” of the 77th Division in the Battle of the Argonne. The pigeon managed to avoid ambushes of the German army and deliver the message that saved the battalion.

The Dump Man’s Treasures-by Lynn Plourde, illustrated by Mary Beth Owens (Downeast):  Mr. Pottle, who oversees the town dump, cannot bear to destroy books, so he recycles them for the community to enjoy. When Mr. Pottle falls and the community's children deliver books to him to speed his recovery, they discover the book-loving dump man cannot read. A town full of willing tutors then teaches Mr. Pottle to read so he can fully enjoy his treasures.

That Book Woman-by Heather Henson, illustrated by David Small (Antheneum):  A simple and heartfelt paean to the Pack Horse Librarians of the 1930s who were part of a WPA program founded to take books to remote areas. Cal and his family live high in the Appalachian hills.

Buffalo Song-by Joseph Bruchac, illustrated by Bill Farnsworth (Lee & Low Books):  Based on the true story of Samuel Walking Coyote, a Salish (Kalispel) Indian who rescued and raised orphaned buffalo calves in the late 1800s.

One-Written and Illustrated by Kathryn Otoshi: This is a deceptively simple color and counting book that turns into a lesson on bullying


2009

Sparrow Girl-by Sara Pennypacker, illustrated by Yoko Tanaka: In her final year of high school in 1989, Australian teenager Rachel has her world turned upside down when the most popular (and disturbed) boy in school comes to live with her family for a semester.

Big Bear Hug-written and illustrated by Nicholas Oldland (Kids Can Press): A bear who loves to hug everything meets a human who is about to chop down a tree, and the bear must make a decision on how to save his forest.
Finding Lincoln-by Ann Malaspina, illus by Colin Bootman (Albert Whitman Co.):  In segregated 1950s Alabama, Louis cannot use the public library to research a class assignment, but one of the librarians lets him in after hours and helps him find the book that he needs.

Duck and Cover-written and illustrated by Jackie Urbanovic: Irene and her menagerie of pets, including Max the duck, take in an alligator who has run away from the zoo, in spite of grave concerns about his voracious appetite.
How Robin Saved Spring-by Debbie Ouellet, illustrated by Nicoletta Ceccoli: When Lady Winter casts a sleeping spell on Sister Spring, Robin and the other forest animals try one by one to sneak past Lady Winter and awaken her sister, so that spring will finally arrive.

The Curious Garden-written and illustrated by Peter Brown: Liam discovers a hidden garden and with careful tending spreads color throughout the gray city.

First Come the Zebra-written and illustrated by Lynne Barasch:  When two young Kenyan boys, one Maasai and one Kikuyu, first meet, they are hostile toward each other based on traditional rivalries, but after they suddenly have to work together to save a baby in danger, the boys begin to discover what they have in common.
Weezer Changes the World-written and illustrated by David McPhail: After an ordinary puppyhood, Weezer develops extraordinary skills that make him a major influence in the world.

The Hair of Zoe-by Laurie Halse Anderson, illustrated by Ard Hoyt:  Zoe has a glorious bright red mane. In fact, her "wild and beautiful" hair seems to have a mind of its own, performing various tasks (it can "turn on the TV, pour a glass of juice, pet the cat, and play the computer—all at the same time") and even allowing her to fly.

Nasreen’s Secret School-written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter:  The focus is primarily on the regime's impact on women, who were no longer allowed to attend school or leave home without a male chaperone, and had to cover their heads and bodies with a burqa.

Anything but Typical-by Nora Raleigh Baskin: Jason, a twelve-year-old autistic boy who wants to become a writer, relates what his life is like as he tries to make sense of his world.

Eli the Good-by Silas House: In the summer of 1976, ten-year-old Eli Book's excitement over Bicentennial celebrations is tempered by his father's flashbacks to the Vietnam War and other family problems, as well as concern about his tough but troubled best friend, Edie.

Operation Redwood: S. Terrell French: In northern California, Julian Carter-Li and his friends old and new fight to save a grove of redwoods from an investment company that plans to cut them down.

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