This year I plan to read all the GA Book Award Nominees and provide a “one stop” resource for teachers who would like to use these books in their classrooms. I will be posting links to author Web sites, teacher’s guides, and related Web links. I hope to make this an unbiased resource, so I will not be providing my own review of the books–other than recommending it as a read aloud (or not).
Leepike Ridge
by N.D. Wilson
Summary: While his widowed mother continues to search for him, eleven-year-old Tom, presumed dead after drifting away down a river, finds himself trapped in a series of underground caves with another survivor and a dog, and pursued by murderous treasure-hunters.
Teacher’s Guide: Teacher’s Guide @ Random House
Related Links: Archaeology
China Highlights: The Terracotta Army Museum at the Tomb of Qin Shihuang
Encyclopedia Britannica: Qin Tomb (Archaeological Site, China)
National Geographic: Mysteries of the the Ancient World
National Geographic: Who Were the Phoenicians?
National Geographic for Kids: Ten Cool Archaeology Sites
Phoenician Treasures (Phoenician Encyclopedia)
Related Links: Caves
Caves.org: Science Topics (Bats, Cave Biology, Cave Archeology, etc.)
National Caves Association: http://cavern.com
National Geographic Kids: Cave Exploration (Photos)
National Park Service: Caves and Karst Program
Nova: Mysterious Life of Caves
Related Links: Chinese Mythology
Encyclopedia Britannica: Fu Xi (referred to in the story as Fu Hsi, tamer of animals)
JAARS Museum of the Alphabet: Fu Hsi
Related Links: Geology
Geo-Mysteries @ The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
Related Links: Maritime Exploration
Related Links: Speleology
Showcaves.com (Speleology: River Cave)
Related Links: Subterranean Rivers
Puerto Princesa, Phillipines (Be sure to check out the videos in the multimedia section!)
World’s Longest Underground River
Read Aloud Recommendation: Great Choice! This book is filled with fast paced adventure that will keep readers on the edge of their seat.
The text of the book is super simple, but the pictures provide a clever look an optical illusion in the form of an argument over whether a duck or a rabbit is depicted. The book illustrates a good point that can be made in many arguments, “It depends on how you look at it!”
, a former Caldecott winner. It would also make a great addition to the Easter basket of young children as it is a simple story of friendship between Rabbit and Mouse told mostly through pictures with minimal text.