The National Book Award

The National Book Award was founded on March 15, 1950. This award was sponsored by publishing groups in America that wanted to increase reading nation wide. The award is given to American author. The National Book Award recognizes four genres: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Young People's Literature, with an emphasis on culture appreciation. For the wiki, we are focusing on the young people's genre. The National book award is given by American writers for American writers. (Krystin)

http://www.nationalbook.org/nba.html (Krystin)

Where the Buffalos Began by: Olaf Baker

Premise: A young Indian boy is told a folktale about buffalo. He goes in search of the buffalo only to find enemies of his tribe. (Krystin)

Miss Rumphius by: Barbara Cooney

Premise: Miss Rhumphius did not know what to leave as her mark on the world until she grew up.

(Krystin)

When I was Young in the Mounatins by: Cynitha Rylant

Premise: A young girl recalls what her life was like living in the mounatins without running water or heat.

(Krystin)

On Market Street by: Anita Lobel

Premise: A young child buys presents for a friend, one for each letter of the alapabet.

(Krystin)

This award seems to favor books that use American history as the theme. The books main characters are young children who are in different time periods throughout America's history. (Krystin)

Where the Buffalos Began takes the reader(s) back to the time when Indians were the only ones who occupied the North American land. The author shows hoe the indinas were "one" with the land and the animals. Miss Rumphius, as well as When I was Young in the Mountains, are accounts of the author's childhoods growing up in America. Miss Rumphius is told as a child that she ca do anything if she sets her mind to it. She is taught the Amican dream. When I was Young in the Mountains is set back in an earlier time period because where was was no running water or electricty. The young child is taught how to take care of her family off the land where they live. On Market Street is an alphabet book to help teach young readers what Amican society likes and how the society has changed. The young child buys the gifts with coins and purchases items that are no longer popular in American society, which now make the items historical. (Krystin)

Homeless Bird is focused on a young girl in India but what makes this book relate to American history is the "American dream" aspect. In this book you have a girl who goes from having no control of her life to taking control and making her own decisions. The Penderwicks is a story of a family of sisters on vacation who go through many mysteries and are young girls just trying to make the best out of their vacation. The story Frog and Toad is a book about two friends who constantly have problems but always seem to work their way through it. In American history we would bend over backwards for some of our closest friends and this book seems to really relay that message to a younger audience. Claudette Colvin is a book based on a real womans struggle to have equal rights in America. This book is the epitomy of a National Book Award because it is based on true American history. (Delaney)

Homeless Bird by:Gloria Whelan

Premise: Koly, a young girl in India, is forced into an arranged marriage. What becomes of this marriage she would have never guessed. (Delaney)

The Penderwicks by: Jeanne Birdsall

Premise: The Pinderwick sisters think they are going on a boring vacation, but come to find out there are many adventures coming their way. (Delaney)

Frog and Toad Are Friends by: Arnold Lobel

Premise: Frog and Toad are two friends, but toad seems to always have a problem. Can frog help him out?

(Delaney)

Claudette Colvin by: Phillip Hoose

Premise: A young woman is sick of the way she is being treated by segregaton. She decides she's had enough and takes a stand to not give up her seat.

(Delaney)

-- CSUSB.jimenezm - 2009-12-05

Jennie is a dog that once had everything she needed in life. However one day she leaves her home in search of something she does not have. What she finds along the way is more than she ever expected.

In exploring how animals make their homes, we see that everyone has different ways of making a house. But no matter how different our houses may seem from each other, a house can be any place we feel our best in.

Judy and Peter are left at home alone and bored one afternoon. They discover a board game call Jumanji, but their once boring afternoon will soon turn into a fight for survival.

While father is away at sea, and mother in the arbor; Ida must protect her baby sister from all dangers near and far; and even from the goblins that reside outside over there.

My books are different from the eight books listed above. These four books listed are more centered on fiction and the quality of the imagination. The other books are about America, and the cultures and traditions that reside in it. Each of these books have a different tone to their story. Two books discuss how siblings stay together to work for the best. While another books focuses on the stresses of a dog seeming to have everything. Lastly, this award displays a book stating that even though no one is ever the same, we can all be happy in our surroundings no matter what.

However, I did find a common theme that ties together these eight unseemingly connectable books. And that is the element of the imagination. Americans all have the power of the imagination with them; some more than others. Without the imagination and creativity of the people who built this country, we could have turned out very different than what we've become today.