Carol's comments (member since Jan 29, 2009)

Carol's comments from the Spring 09 LLED, Altoona group.

This letter is to inform you that your book 50 Ways to Take the Junk Out of Junk Food is the recipient of the Bon Appetit Award. This award was created to recognize children’s recipe books that encourage healthy eating habits to maximize brainpower and energy. Too many children are unable to make the best food choices for their growing bodies. With the aid of creative recipes, like those found in your book, parents, guardians, teachers, etc. are better equipped to help students make the right choices.
As a recent assignment for Penn State Altoona’s Language and Literacy Education courses, each elementary education student was asked to create an interesting book award. Because the rising health risks linked to childhood obesity are becoming a major problem in America, I decided to craft my award after this issue. After pouring over various other suggestions, I found your recipe book to be the most creative approach to sneaking healthy foods onto the plates of our children. Your clever recipes and healthy, yet practical ideas for substitutions will be a valuable asset within many homes and classrooms.
Thank you for your enthusiasm surrounding the health of our students.
Your book can help encourage our children to make better food choices
and give parents options when trying to do the same.

Sincerely,

Carol Ann Mitchell
Student

Dear Ms. Julie Whittingham,

This letter is to inform you that your book 50 Ways to Take the Junk Out of Junk Food is the recipient of the Bon Appetit Award. This award was created to recognize children’s recipe books that encourage healthy eating habits to maximize brainpower and energy. Too many children are unable to make the best food choices for their growing bodies. With the aid of creative recipes, like those found in your book, parents, guardians, teachers, etc. are better equipped to help students make the right choices.
As a recent assignment for Penn State Altoona’s Language and Literacy Education courses, each elementary education student was asked to create an interesting book award. Because the rising health risks linked to childhood obesity are becoming a major problem in America, I decided to craft my award after this issue. After pouring over various other suggestions, I found your recipe book to be the most creative approach to sneaking healthy foods onto the plates of our children. Your clever recipes and healthy, yet practical ideas for substitutions will be a valuable asset within many homes and classrooms.
Thank you for your enthusiasm surrounding the health of our students.
Your book can help encourage our children to make better food choices
and give parents options when trying to do the same.

Sincerely,
Carol Ann Mitchell
Student

I nominate "Jabberwocky," written by Lewis Carroll and illustrated by Graeme Base. This book is filled with mythical elements and make-believe words. The use of such incredible words as "vorpal," "uffish," and "mimsy" can allow a reader to use much of his or her imagination. I feel that this creative freedom within the book earns it a nomination for The Hooper Humperdink Award. This book can be used in grades 2-6.

I nominate "A Light in the Attic" by Shel Silverstein for the Reading is Fun Award. This book is full of silly poems - some that rhyme and some that don't. One of my favorites, though one may want to use this poem with caution, is called "Spelling Bee." This book of fun poetry is suitable for children in grades 1-6, although I found some to be pretty humorous myself!

I nominate the "Anthology of Poetry by Young Americans, 2000 Edition." This book is full of poetry written by children and young adults in reaction to several different incidents. While some children chose to write descriptions of their homes in the summertime, other students wrote about the drama surrounding Y2K. Still, others chose to write a song full of pride for our nation. I feel that this book of poetry deserves to win the Gracie's Cry Award because it is a product of the thoughts and fears of real children.

I nominate "The Book of Giant Stories" by David L. Harrison for the Is That Elvis?! Award. This book has three separate stories about the interactions between a child and a few giants. In each story, the ferocious and otherwise bad-mannered giants learn a great lesson from the young boy involved. Because each story has a moral, I feel it deserves to win the award. The book is best for children grades 1-5.

I nominate the book "Sky Memories" by Pat Brisson. In this book, 11-year old Emily deals with her mother's battle with cancer by creating memories of the sky with her. In spite of her mother's declining health, Emily and her mom are determined to hang on to every single memory they can before her mother passes. I think this book deserves to win The Hope Award because it depicts a young girl's struggle with her mother's cancer in a way that encourages making and clinging to memories. It is suitable for children in grades 3-6.

I nominate "Between Earth and Sky" by Joseph Bruchac. This book shows the importance of helping the next generation to understand sacred places of the Native American history. Uncle Old Bear takes Little Turtle out to see a few of the sacred Native American Indian sites in order to help Little Turtle gain a new reverence for his culture. I think this book deserves to win The Next Generation Award because it depicts the importance of maintaining a knowledge of cultural history and keeping it alive. This book is appropriate for children grades 2-6.

I nominate "The Only Boy in Ballet Class" by Denise Gruska for The Best Moral Award. The moral of the story is to always be yourself, no matter what the people around you might say. The main character, Tucker Dohr, loves his ballet class. The kids at school tease him, and even his uncle joins by saying Tucker should play football... all until the day of Tucker's dance recital. After the recital, Tucker, his mother, Uncle Frank, and Tucker's little twin sisters walk home past the football field. The same boys that have always made fun of Tucker pulled him into the game because they were short a player. When the game got tough, Tucker found that some of his dance moves helped him to make the plays. When his team won, the boys were so excited that they signed up for ballet class the very next day in order to learn the lightness of foot that Tucker possessed. The Best Moral Award should go to "The Only Boy in Ballet Class" because it encourages children, grades K-6 to always be themselves, because their talents are unique.

I nominate "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs" by Jon Scieszka. This book tells the story of the three little pigs from the point of view of the wolf. He attempts to explain to readers that he had a cold, which caused his sneezes that the pigs misconstrued as huffing and puffing. As he tries to prove his innocence, his narration is filled with humor. This book deserves to win The Best Personification Award because it is a traditional tale with a fun twist on narration. The book would best suit readers from grades 2-6.

I nominate the book "Miss Suzy" by Miriam Young. This book shows kindness on two sides and how it is repaid. Miss Suzy is a kind gray squirrel who is chased from her home by six red squirrels who fight a lot. Miss Suzy settles in a doll house in the attic of the house next to her tree and fins five toy soldiers to feed and care for. she tells them stories every night before she tucks them in and one night, she tells them about her beautiful home in the oak tree and how much she misses it. Determined to repay Miss Suzy's kindness, the captain and his men climb up the oak tree and demand that the quarrelsome red squirrels leave Miss Suzy's house. Elated, Miss Suzy requests that the soldiers stop by once a week for dinner so they can maintain their friendship. I think this book deserves to win The "Here You Go" Award because it shows how kindness can be repaid with kindness in a creative and unique way that appeals to children. This book is recommended for grades 1 through 5.

I nominate the book "Twinnies" by Eve Bunting. This book, suggested for children ages 4-8, is a great preparatory tool to use when a family is expecting twins. For an older sibling, the time spent on the new babies is time that seems to have been stolen from them. This book explains how much work goes into caring for twins and how an older sibling might be able to help out with the extra work. This book deserves to win The Sibling Addition Award because of its ability to show an older sibling that he or she can really help to care for his or her new siblings.

I nominate "The Talking Eggs" by Robert D. San Souci. This book is about a black family living in poverty that dreams of becoming rich city folks. The mother and eldest daughter have wicked hearts, while the younger daughter is kind-spirited. After meeting with an old woman who possesses some interestingly charmed traits, the young sister is blessed with lavish gifts. The mother and elder daughter become jealous and try to steal from the old woman, and their efforts fail miserably. I feel that this book deserves to win The Hear My Cry Award because it is a book written for 1st-6th graders that depicts an African American family living in a rural area in the depths of poverty. The youngest daughter gets to enjoy life as a rich city girl because of the kindness of her heart while her mother and sister continue to struggle. Though the author himself is not of a racially diverse background, the illustrator is a successful African-American. Jerry Pinkney's pictures add great depth to San Souci's book and characters.

I nominate "Guess How Much I Love You" by Sam McBratney. This story follows Big Nutbrown Hare and Little Nutbrown Hare in their quests to out-love one another. In his last effort to prove to his father just ow much he was loved, Little Nutbrown Hare stretches out and says, " I love you right up to the moon." After he closes his eyes and falls asleep, his dad leans over and whispers, "I love you right up to the moon - and back." This book deserves to win the I Love You Award because it shows the love between a parent and child in a beautiful way to which children can easily relate.

Lon Po Po is a spin on the traditional tale of "Little Red Riding Hood."

While explaining how to discover your inner voice as a writer, Fletcher decides that he will "put a piece of apple pie and a carrot right by the fireplace, right beneath the hung stockings," and wait for the creative juices to flow (70).

Though apple pie may not be the best brain food, the idea that perhaps a snack might help increase alertness is a very important concept for children to grasp. Sometimes, though, it's difficult to get kids to eat the right energy-boosting foods that can maximize brain power. This award goes to the best children's recipe book that encourages kids to make and eat the foods that give their bodies power. Then, they can have the energy to create all day, both inside the classroom and out!

All nominations for this award should be for books appropriate for students from grades K-6 and are due by March 5, 2009. Happy hunting!



Work Cited: Fletcher, Ralph. What a Writer Needs. Portsmouth: Heinemann, 1993.