"Small Beauties" is a story about a girl named Darcy Heart O'Hare who notices the small beauties of nature. Darcy and her family live in Ireland on a farm. When the family fails to be able to pay the rent, they are kicked out of their home and forced to cross the ocean to America. Only Darcy holds the key to their new happiness through the collecting of her small beauties. This book has many strengths. First, it is a historical non-fiction book that allows readers to see what may have really happened during that time period. At the back of the book is also a true recalling of the time of the famine, which includes historical facts and information that relate to real stories like Woodruff's portrayal. The book is also beautifully illustrated. The illustrations just bring the story to life and keep the reader wanting more. "Small Beauties" is a perfect book to be shared with children in one's classroom. It has potential for connection to a lesson that deals with immigration and it's historical aspects.It is an amazing book that carries the potential for great discussion following it's reading.

"The Growing Story" is a touching story about a little boy who sees everything around him growing larger and wonders if he is going to grow at all as well. This book has beautiful illustrations that support the text on every page. It's use of the boy's questioning throughout the story promotes the idea of curiosity and the want to learn being a good thing. The book also shows that being patient, and not rushing and getting upset over things that you do not see or do not understand, is the best way to go. "The Growing Story" is the type of book you would choose to read to a group of children who are just beginning to realize or understand that they are going to get bigger and that they are going to change...only it is going to take a little bit of time. A story like this could promote patience and understanding within the classroom setting very easily.

"Least of All" is a heart touching story about a girl who is the youngest in her family. She is too young to help out with the rest of the chores on the farm, but she is able to help by churning the butter. During this time when she is all alone churning butter, she sits with the family Bible on her lap, and tries to teach herself how to read. This book is very strong in the importance of reading. It shows that reading is more of a luxarie in some households than it is a neccesity. The book also portrays a strong sense of family and tradition. "Least of All" is an excellent story for children to read. Through the determination of the little girl to learn to read, author Carol Purdy shows the importance of reading, and how lucky most children today have the opportunity of learning to read and having proper instruction. This is the kind of book that definitely would inspire kids to learn to read.

"Banjo Granny" is a fun story about a Grandmother who would do anything to be able to see her grandchild. Through a little bit of banjo playing and a little bit of determination, Granny makes her way to her Grandchild to share her bluegrass tunes with him. This book utilizes immense amounts of imagination and creativity through the use of Granny's "Carry-All Banjo". The illustrations are supportive of the text and are bright and colorful enough to catch the attention of any wandering pair of eyes. The book also holds a theme of determination, and love which are two important parts of social life. "Banjo Granny" is an amazing children's story. It inspires kids to become interested in music. It teaches kids that music can be fun and with a little determination, anything is possible.

"The Girl Who Wanted a Song" is a beautiful story about a young girl who has just lost her parents and is trying to find a way back to her normal life. After moving in with her aunt, she becomes friends with a goose who cannot fly. Through the interaction between the girl and the goose, both finally, in the end, get their wings back and are able to fly. This is a great story to deal with emotion. It shows that even when things get bad and you feel there is nothing left, there is always a way to get back to normal and live again. The book also has amazing illustrations than capture your eyes attention immediately. The illustrations also fully support the text, which is good for younger readers who are just starting to understand books. "The Girl Who Wanted a Song" is an amazing book that portrays emotions in a deep and meaningful way. It shows that in even the saddest of times, things eventually will look up, especially with a little help from a friend.

"Raccoon Tune" is an amazing book full of fun illustrations and an outlook on the night life from a raccoon's point of view. The use of poetry in this story makes the text fun and enjoyable for readers of almost any age. This book holds several strengths. First, it's images support the text that is being presented page by page. Second, it uniquely uses poetry as it's main format of writing and portraying the given story. Finally, the illustrations and story line are fun and interesting. It is definitely a book that can keep the attention of any child. "Raccoon Tune" is a great book to use as an example of the use of poetry as a type of writing. It also promotes creativity and the use of unique ideas within a peice of writing.

"My Dog is as Smelly as Dirty Socks" is an extraordinary book full of color and smiles. It starts off with a child who draws a simple picture of her family. But she is not satisfied. She goes further into detail about her family and their characteristics, illustrating them with everything from lightbulbs, dirty socks, whistles and springs. This book has many strengths. It is extremely creative and definitely a book that would inspire children to think outside the box. It engages in the idea of using great detail utilizing the basic senses in a peice of writing. Finally, it is a book that will intrigue children, and keep their interest throughout all of the book's pages. "My Dog is as Smelly as Dirty Socks" is a great book to inspired children to use their imagination and to turn away from the conventional writing and thinking. It encourages students to think independantly and to be their unique selves.

"The Red Blanket" is a book about a single woman who wished she had a child to share her life with. She wrote to adoption agencies and adopted a baby girl from an orphanage in China. The book goes through the ups and downs of the relationship between the young woman and her new child. This book has several strong themes. First, that love will take you far. Second, A family can be made up of different componants, not everyone has to have the same "normal" family to be considered a family. Finally, that dreams can come true with a little work, faith, and determination. "The Red Blanket" is a great book to read to children to enforce the idea of diverse families. It is important that children understand that families come in different colors, shapes, and sizes so that they can better live in today's society.

"Rolling Along" is a story about a young boy named Taylor who was born with cerebral palsy, causing him to have trouble walking. Taylor is a bright optimistic boy. In this story we follow him through his daily schedule and experience the excitement of his first wheelchair. This book promotes the importance for accomodations in public places for people who use wheelchairs, shows that being disabled is not a downfall in life, and that anything is possible with a little love, understanding, and compassion. "Rolling Along" is a great educational book for young readers. Most children have never had much experience with people who are "different" from the everyday child, and a book like this would help them understand and accept those who may have a disability.

"Rolling Along" is a story about a young boy named Taylor who was born with cerebral palsy, causing him to have trouble walking. Taylor is a bright optimistic boy. In this story we follow him through his daily schedule and experience the excitement of his first wheelchair. This book promotes the importance for accomodations in public places for people who use wheelchairs, shows that being disabled is not a downfall in life, and that anything is possible with a little love, understanding, and compassion. "Rolling Along" is a great educational book for young readers. Most children have never had much experience with people who are "different" from the everyday child, and a book like this would help them understand and accept those who may have a disability.

This award recognizes book illustrators and their illustrations of which tend to be taken for granted by readers. The visual arts can be very important literary elements of literature, especially in children's stories. It can bring both the text and the imagination to new and exciting heights and allows the reader to take reading to new levels and bring books to new life. Author Shelby A. Wolf states in her book "Interpreting Literature with Children" that "…words say what pictures cannot reveal, and the pictures show what the words do not tell. The verbal and the visual speak and show, show and speak, and together they construct new meaning." This award acknowledges children's books with illustrations that enhance the literary element and content of the text. Books taken into consideration for nomination under this award include children's books in the age range of 8 to 12 years of age. Preferably picture books only, please. Submissions for this award are due by February 19, 2008.