Show Me Readers Award

Each year, Missouri schoolchildren in grades 1-3 vote for their favorite book from a list of nominated titles. The Show Me Readers Award is awarded to the author of this book by the Missouri Association of School Librarians.

2012 -2013 Show-Me Readers Award Nominees
	Fly Free by Roseanne Thong; illustrated by Eujin Kim Neilan
	When Mai feeds the caged birds at a Buddhist temple in Vietnam, her simple act of kindness starts a chain of thoughtful acts that ultimately comes back to her. Includes author's note explaining the Buddhist concepts of karma and samsara, or the wheel of life.

	How Rocket Learned to Read by Tad Hills
	A little yellow bird teaches Rocket the dog how to read by first introducing him to the "wondrous, mighty, gorgeous alphabet."

	Librarian on the Roof!: A True Story by M.G. King; illustrated by Stephen Gilpin
	The story of RoseAleta Laurell, who arrived in Lockheart, Texas, in 1989 to be the head of the Dr. Eugene Clark Library. The library was outdated, so she spent a week on the library roof to raise money and interest in the library, with special emphasis on a new children's section.

	Lucky Beans by Becky Birtha; illustrated by Nicole Tagdell
	During the Great Depression, Marshall, an African American boy, uses lessons learned in arithmetic class and guidance from his mother to figure out how many beans are in a jar in order to win her a new sewing machine in a contest.

	Memoirs of a Goldfish by Devin Scillian; illustrated by Tim Bowers
	A goldfish gives a personal account of his experiences while swimming around his bowl as it slowly fills with fish and other accessories, only to realize when he is relocated for a cleaning how much he misses them.

	Pierre the Penguin: A True Story by Jean Marzollo; illustrated by Laura Regan
	Rhyming text and colorful illustrations describe the efforts of aquatic biologist Pam to help Pierre, an African penguin living at the California Academy of Sciences, when he begins to go bald.

	Stand Straight Ella Kate by Kate Klise; illustrated by M. Sarah Klise
	A fictionalized biography of Ella Kate Ewing, born in 1872, who was eight feet tall by the age of seventeen and who became financially independent by traveling the country for nearly twenty years appearing at museums, exhibitions, and in circus shows.

	Sylvia Jean, Scout Supreme by Lisa Campbell Ernst
	Sylvia Jean disguises herself in order to assist a neighbor who does not want her enthusiastic help, but she still might be the only one in her Pig Scout Troop who will not earn a Good Deed Badge.

	The Blue House Dog by Deborah Blumenthal; illustrated by Adam Gustavson
	A boy whose beloved dog has died, and a dog whose owner also died, find each other and slowly begin to trust one another.

	The Can Man by Laura Williams; illustrated by Craig Orback
	After watching a homeless man collect empty soft drink cans for the redemption money, a young boy decides to collect cans himself to earn money for a skateboard until he has a change of heart.
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2011 -2012 Show-Me Readers Award Nominees
	Nubs: the True Story of a Mutt, a Marine, and a Miracle by Major Brian Dennis, Kirby Larson, Mary Nethery
	The story of a wild dog who befriended Marine Major Brian Dennis in Iraq, and, when they were separated, trekked seventy miles through the desert winter to rejoin his friend.

	Desert Rose and her Highfalutin Hog by Alison Jackson
	Upon finding a large gold nugget on her pig farm, Desert Rose sets out to buy the biggest, fattest hog in Texas to enter in the state fair, but first she must get the hog to Laredo and every animal she asks for help is just as "ornery" as the hog.

	Finding Lincoln by Ann Malaspina
	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. Includes an author's note with historical information about library segregation in the South.

	Dewey: There's a Cat in the Library! by Vicki Myron and Bret Witter
	Tells the story of Dewey Readmore Books, a kitten abandoned in the Spencer Library return box and nursed back to health by a librarian, who discovers that (like his librarian friends) helping people big and small is what he is meant to do.

	Stars Above Us by Geoffrey Norman
	A little girl's father helps her get over her fear of the dark before he goes off to war, and she uses the stars they painted on her ceiling to remind her of him while he is away.

	Testing the Ice: A True Sotry About Jackie Robinson by Sharon Robinson
	As a testament to his courage, Jackie Robinson's daughter shares memories of him, from his baseball career to the day he tests the ice for her, her brothers, and their friends.

	Peace Week in Miss Fox's Class by Eileen Spinelli
	For "Peace Week," the animals in Miss Fox's class find ways to be peaceful instead of squabbling with each other.

	Twist of Fate: the Miracle Colt and His Friends by Chris Stuckenschneider
	A horse tale from the heartland of Missouri that will touch hearts everywhere.

	Itsy Bitsy & Teeny Weeny by Robbyn Smith van Frankenhuyzen
	"A nature and animal rescue story that finds a lamb, rejected by its mother, and an orphaned fawn being cared for by a farm family as siblings on Hazel Ridge Farm. The next spring, the animals separate, one back into the wild and other a domestic animal"--Provided by publisher.

	Minnow and Rose: an Oregon Trail Story by Judy Young
	Traveling west with her pioneer family in a wagon train, Rose meets Minnow, who lives in a native American village along the banks of a river.
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Show-Me Readers Award Winners
2011 1st Place	Two Bobbies: a True Story of Hurrican Katrina, Friendship and Survival by Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery
	Bobbi and Bob Cat are the best of friends. When their hometown of New Orleans was struck by Hurricane Katrina, many lost everything. But not Bobbi and Bob Catâ€”they still had each other. Only by staying together could they survive. This is the story of their remarkable friendship.
2011 2nd Place	For the Love of Autumn by Patricia Polacco
	Miss Parks, a new teacher, is devastated when her cat, Autumn, disappears during a storm, but with the help of her students, she finds not only Autumn but also the man of her dreams.
2011 3rd Place	Titanicat by Marty Crisp
	A boy who has signed on as cabin boy aboard the Titanic helps ready the ship for its maiden voyage, but when it is time to set sail and he cannot find the ship's cat on board, he leaves the vessel to search for her.

	2010 - Some Dog! by Mary Casanova
	A stray dog moves into George's formerly peaceful home, dazzling the man and woman of the house with lively tricks and antics that just leave George exhausted.

2009 - Hero Cat by Eileen Spinelli
A cat gives birth to a litter of kittens in an abandoned building that catches fire while she is out searching for food.

2008 - Magnus at the Fire by Jennifer Armstrong
When the Broadway Fire House acquires a motorized fire engine, Magnus the fire horse is not ready to retire.

2007 - Arrowhawk by Lola M. Schaefer
Based on the true story of a bird of prey's survival after being struck by a poacher's arrow.

2006 - Bad Boys by Margie Palatini
Two hungry wolves in disguise attempt to raid a sheep farm.

2005 - Epossumondas by Coleen Salley
A retelling of a classic tale in which a well-intentioned young possum continually takes his mother's instructions much too literally.

2004 - Frog Principal by Stephanie Calmenson
After the principal of P.S. 88 is turned into a frog by a bumbling magician, the frog bargains for the chance to act as principal until Mr. Bundy returns from his "family emergency."

2003 - Go Home! The True Story of James the Cat by Libby Philips Meggs
A homeless cat spends several seasons trying to survive the elements until at last a suburban family adopts him.

2002 - Hooway for Wodney Wat by Helen Lester
All his classmates make fun of Rodney because he can't pronounce his name, but it is Rodney's speech impediment that drives away the class bully.

2001 - Raising Dragons by Jerdine Nolen
A farmer’s young daughter shares numerous adventures with the dragon that she raises from infancy.

2000 - Verdi by Janell Cannon
A young python does not want to grow slow and boring like the older snakes he sees in the tropical jungle where he lives.

1999 - Duke the Dairy Delight Dog by Lisa Campbell Ernst
Darla doesn’t want a dirty dog around her Dairy Delight, but Duke patiently tries every tactic to convince her that her shop is his home.

1998 - Heart of a Tiger by Marcie Arnold
As the Name Day celebration approaches, a young kitten tries to deserve a noble name, by following the path of the beautiful Bengal tiger.

1997 - My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother by Patricia Polacco
After losing running, climbing, throwing, and burping competitions to her obnoxious older brother, a young girl makes a wish on a falling star.

1996 - Soap! Soap! Don’t Forget the Soap! by Tom Birdseye
A forgetful boy gets himself into trouble when he repeats what each person he meets on the road says to him.

1995 - Sukey and the Mermaid by Robert D. San Souci
Unhappy with her life at home, Sukey receives kindness and wealth from Mama Jo the mermaid.
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