Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: Mock Sibert Winner & Predictions

ALA Youth Media Awards are happening on Monday, January 23rd at 8:00 a.m. Eastern. Click here for more information and a link for the live webcast. 

In November, Michele Knott of Mrs. Knott's Book Nook and I shared our Mock Sibert Posts. Check out these links to learn more about the Mock Sibert Challenge. 
Mock Sibert Challenge Part I
Mock Sibert Challenge Part II
Mock Sibert Challenge Part III
Mrs. Knott's Book Nook Mock Sibert Part I
Mrs. Knott's Book Nook Mock Sibert Part II
Mrs. Knott's Book Nook Mock Sibert Part III

Since our initial posts, I have enjoyed watching a number of people talk about the Mock Sibert Challenges that they have done at their schools and libraries. With the announcements of the Youth Media Awards and the actual Sibert Award just around the corner, I am making my predictions. However, this year, I feel like there is one book that will most definitely win but I don't have a strong sense of what other books will win. Below I will list the books I think might actually win and see how right I am in the end. 

Mock Sibert Announcements

If you posted your Mock Sibert predictions or hosted a Mock Sibert Club at your school, please link up below and enter the giveaway. (You are welcome to link up twice - once for the challenge and once for the Sibert.)

Here are my predictions:

Winner: Some Writer! The Story of E.B. White by Melissa Sweet (HMH Books for Young Readers)

Honor Books:

Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivor's Story by Caren Stelson (Carolrhoda Books)

Giant Squid by Candace Fleming; Illustrated by Eric Rohmann (Roaring Brook Press)

Esquivel! - Space Age Sound Artist by Susan Wood; Illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh (Charlesbridge)

A Poem for Peter by Andrea Davis Pinkney; Illustrated by Steve Johnson & Lou Fancher 

For fun, I am doing a Sibert Giveaway.  Here are the rules:

1. You must complete a Mock Sibert post with your own predictions (or the predictions of your class) by Sunday, January 22, 2017 and add the link below and a comment in the comments section.

2. A Winner will be randomly selected on Tuesday, January 24th and announced on Wednesday, January 25th here on the blog. 

3. You must be 13 years or older to enter (or have a parent enter on your behalf). 

4. You must have a US or Canadian mailing address or if the book is available through Book Depository and they deliver to your country, please feel free to enter. 

5. Winner will receive a copy of the 2017 Sibert Winner (or if you already own that book then one of the honor titles). 

6. Special prize: If more than one of my predictions are correct, then the winner will receive a complete set of the 2017 Sibert titles (winner and all honor books selected this year). 

7. Please do not add personal information like your email or mailing address in the comments. 

Link up below to enter the #NFPB2017 Challenge and/or to share your Mock Sibert posts: 

Book Review & Giveaway: Ballet Cat

Ballet Cat: Dance! Dance! Underpants!
by Bob Shea
Disney-Hyperion (February 2, 2016)
Audience: Ages 3-6

ABOUT THE BOOKS
The Totally Secret Secret
Ballet Cat and Sparkles the Pony are trying to decide what to play today. Nothing that Sparkles suggests--making crafts, playing checkers, and selling lemonade--goes well with the leaping, spinning, and twirling that Ballet Cat likes to do. When Sparkles's leaps, spins, and twirls seem halfhearted, Ballet Cat asks him what's wrong. Sparkles doesn't want to say. He has a secret that Ballet Cat won't want to hear. What Sparkles doesn't know is that Ballet Cat has a secret of her own, a totally secret secret. Once their secrets are shared, will their friendship end, or be stronger than ever?

Dance! Dance! Underpants!
Ballet Cat is getting her friend Butter Bear ready for her big ballet debut. "Leap, Butter Bear, leap!" Ballet Cat prompts. But Butter Bear would prefer to just point her toe. When Ballet Cat keeps pushing, Butter Bear gets hungry, then thirsty, then sleepy . . . The bottom line is that Butter Bear would rather do almost anything to avoid making a big leap. Why? Because her bottom is covered in silly underpants! This second entry in the Ballet Cat series will have beginning readers rolling on the floor with laughter.

Quick thoughts about the books:
When I first read, Ballet Cat: The Totally Secret Secret!, I smiled.  I read a lot of early readers and I enjoy many but few make me say "wow". Ballet Cat has a totally adorable main character and a collection of friends like Sparkles the Pony and Butter Bear.  Ballet Cat has a bigger than life personality. Her friends learn to negotiate in order to find balance in their friendship.

However, before the resolution of conflict, there is a lot of fun. 

And other entertainnig characters.  If you have not seen Ballet Cat, go find the first book and enjoy it before the second book comes out on February 2nd.

Look for a copy at your local indie bookstore or public library.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bob Shea is the author of the first book about Ballet Cat: THE TOTALLY SECRET SECRET, the Dinosaur vs. series, and several other picture books, including DON'T PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD and UNICORN THINKS HE'S PRETTY GREAT. He and his wife have their own design studio in Madison, Connecticut

Giveaway:

BALLET CAT COLLECTION prize pack

One (1) winner receives:

·         Copies of TOTALLY SECRET SECRET and DANCE! DANCE! UNDERPANTS

·         Plus a plush BALLET CAT by MerryMakers Inc.

 Giveaway open to US addresses only.
Prizing and samples provided by Disney-Hyperion.

Per FTC disclosure guidelines, samples and prizing are provided by Disney-Hyperion.

Book Review: Women Who Broke the Rules Series

Yesterday, I had the fabulous Kathleen Krull stop by to talk about her new series, WOMEN WHO BROKE THE RULES. I realized that there was so much more that needed to be shared including the answers to her quiz. To check out the interview and quiz, click here.  To find out more about the series and to enter to win a set of the books, scroll down.

Dolley Madison: Parties Can be Patriotic
by Kathleen Krull; Illustrated by Steve Johnson, Lou Fancher
Bloomsbury (June 9, 2015)

Sonia Sotomayor: I'll Be the Judge of That!
by Kathleen Krull; Illustrated by Steve Johnson, Lou Fancher
Bloomsbury (June 9, 2015)

Judy Blume: Are You There Reader? It's Me, Judy!
by Kathleen Krull; Illustrated by Steve Johnson, Lou Fancher
Bloomsbury (June 9, 2015)

Sacajawea: Lewis and Clark Would Be Lost Without Me
by Kathleen Krull; Illustrated by Steve Johnson, Lou Fancher
Bloomsbury (June 9, 2015)

Description of the series: 
Many awe-inspiring women have changed the course of history. From fighting for social justice and women's rights to discovering and shaping our amazing country, women have left an indelible mark on our past, present, and future. But it's not easy to affect change, and these women didn't always play by the rules to make a difference! Kathleen Krull blends history and humor in this accessible young biography series. 

My thoughts on the series:
From the first biography of Kathleen Krull's that I read, I have been a huge fan of her work. When Bloomsbury sent me the first four books in the WOMEN WHO BROKE THE RULES series, I just may have squealed and done a happy dance. Of course, I then had to wait months before I could enjoy the final version and also had to put a hold on sharing more than glimpses of it with teachers until now.  

There is a lot to love about this series. Each book is 7" by 9" and just 48 pages long. Perfect for those 7 and 8 year olds who might want to do a report on a strong woman but not quite ready for longer or more complex text. Just because the text is not as complex as a biography written for older readers, Krull never talks down to her readers. Through extensive research, Krull determines what elements to maintain from the lives of these amazing women and what must be cut. The result is a very readable introduction to some fabulous women. 

Here are a couple of interior spreads from Judy Blume: 

In addition to the engaging text and fun illustrations, there is also a list of books and internet resources to learn more about the amazing woman being featured in this series. 

If you are looking for a biography series for 2nd and 3rd graders, these would make a great addition to a classroom library. Thank you to Bloomsbury, the series has been released simultaneously in paperback and hardcover. Consider placing a set of hardcover books in your school library and gifting the paperbacks to teachers or your favorite budding biographers. 

Giveaway: If you are interested in a chance to win the 4 initial books in this series, please complete the rafflecopter below.  You must be 13 years or older and have a US mailing address.  You will be required to answer 4 of the questions from the quiz posted as part of the interview. To see the full quiz, click here.  The winner will be picked randomly through rafflecopter.  Please note that the answers for the full quiz will be revealed after a winner has been picked.