By Kena Hardin, MLIS, Children's Library Associate, Central Library
The 2027 Donna Norvell reading list has some amazing titles for children to read! The Donna Norvell award recognizes a book that has made a significant contribution to the field of literature for children in grades PreK-2nd grade. Every year, children can read a minimum of 3 books or more in their grade category and then vote for their favorite book in March. This is open to all children, regardless of where they go to school, or if they're homeschooled! Below are a few of my favorite books on the Donna Norvell lists. The full list of 2027 books can be found on the Oklahoma Library Association website. Happy reading!
Anything by Rebecca Stead is about a father and daughter who recently moved into a new apartment. He tells his daughter to wish for three "anythings", but when she admits she wishes to return to their old home, her dad helps her realize home is where they are together.
Read-alikes for Anything:
Leaving 4B by Chambrae Griffith
"A hidey-hole, a climbing tree, and a polka-dot wall. 4B is perfect! So why did they have to leave? For a spunky girl and her cat Suki, 4B is the perfect home. It's full of quirks, keeps all her secrets, and has the best neighbors. But with her family outgrowing the small apartment, she must say goodbye and find a way to make plain, tattletale 816 feel like home. Through its kid-centered lens, Leaving 4B tackles an evergreen topic by exploring the intricate ways a place feels like home: a fresh coat of paint, a new hidey-hole, and--above all--welcoming in old (and new) friends."
The Balcony by Melissa Castrillon.
"When a little girl moves from her home to an apartment in the city, she takes her plants with her and one by one they grow and bloom and change both her world and the world all around her as she makes a new friend."
Cat Nap by Brian Lies follows a kitten who follows a mouse that jumps into a framed poster on the wall! An epic chase through time, art, and history ensues. Every leap and bound is full of suspense and makes for a masterpiece.
Read-alikes for Cat Nap:
They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel
"In simple, rhythmic prose and stylized pictures, a cat walks through the world, and all the other creatures see and acknowledge the cat."
Mr. Wuffles! by David Wiesner.
"Mr. Wuffles ignores all his cat toys but one, which turns out to be a spaceship piloted by small green aliens. When Mr. Wuffles plays rough with the little ship, the aliens must venture into the cat's territory to make emergency repairs."
