Ashley's comments (member since Sep 16, 2008)

Ashley's comments from the Children's Literature Awards, LLED Fall 08 group.

The winner of the book that expresses the most magnificent book about Magic is Jon Agee. The reason I chose this book is because I have always had a fascination with magic. It is a cute story about a magician who just can't get his magic trick down. WIth help from a friend he is able to master the trick, and end up being the hit of the town. I just love the story line that Jon Agee brought to life!

The WInner for the book that represents the best book about Magic is......Milo's Hat Trick!

Megan's Birthday Tree: A Story About Open Adoption

This book is a good choice for this nomination because it talks about a girl who is adopted by a family because her mom wasn't ready to take care of a baby. She remains in contact with her birth mother, and understand why she had to give her up. But when her mother moves away, she begins to think that her mother is going to forget about her. Eventually she comes to the realization that that is the last thing that would happen. In the end she realizes that she has the greatest family a girl could ask for.

When Addie Was Scared

This book talks about a girl who is afraid of everything, even things that aren't even there. It isn't till a hawk tries to attack her grandma's chicken that she gets the courage to stand up against it. From that day on she knows that she will have that inner courage if she ever needs it.

Tikki Tikki Tembo

This book tells the story of why Chinese people came to give their first child such a big name. But after an almost deathly accident, the Chinese people realized that maybe naming their first child with an extremely long name, might not be the best choice. Through the terrifying experience, the first born son changed the course of history that no more would parents name their first son with such a long name.

This book is a good choice, because although the book might be for younger children, the name of the fist son may be a little intimidating for some.

Helen Keller: The World in Her Heart


After an illness left Helen Keller blind and death she had to rely on her senses of touch and smell to compensate for her lost in other areas. She finds through this tragedy in her life what is really important-it is the love of others.

This book how Helen Keller is able to get through this hard time by learning to function in new ways and by the help of others who really care about her.

Alice The Fairy

Alice the Fairy is a temporary fairy who seems to get herself into trouble with her magical powers that she possesses like being able to turn her dad into a horse. However she still has to master harder skills like putting clothes away, learning to fly, and not being afraid of the dark before she can become a permanent fairy. In the end, Alice learns how to become what she has been wanting all along.

We'll Paint the Octopus Red

A six-year-old little girl has a new brother and can't wait to play with him, but she soon finds out that he has down syndrome. She worries that he won't be able to do the fun things that she had wanted to teach him.

This book is a good choice because it reassures both parents and children that have to deal with a family member that has a disorder. It also answers questions that children may be wondering about down syndrome.

If A Bus Could Talk: The Story of Rosa Parks

The story is about an African American girl named Rosa who refuses to give up her seat on the bus to a white man, and how that act of courage inspired others around the world to stand up for freedom.

Alphabet Under Construction
This book is about a mouse that is hard at work constructing the alphabet leter by letter. He must use tools to accomplish this big task. For example, he dyes the D, erases the E, and folds the F until he has made his way to Z. With every letter, he uses tools that starts with the letter he is creating. By the end his hard work has paid off when he has the complete alphabet.

This book is good because it breaks the alphabet down so children can understand each letter and the different words that begin with each .

The Biggest Pumpkin Ever

The book is about two mice named, Desmond and Clayton, who use teamwork in everything they do. Whether it's growing a pumpkin, making a Valentine, or building a snowman, they learn to work together each time to come up with the best and the biggest ever.

I'm sure at one point or another we have all imagined ourselves as the Great Houdini whether it was the fascination of how a rabbit could be pulled from a hat or levitating someone into mid air. No matter what it is, the thought of being a magician who is able to perform these tricks intrigues us all; it is being able to deceive others into believing that you have extraordinary powers. What better way to foster our imagination but by a good book about a magic. Wolf says, "Stories that we love pull on the heart,". This is why I have chosen this award nomination. It has always been one of my imaginations, and hopefully by time you are finished it will be one of yours.

The award is for any child's book that has to do with characters using magic. There are ;however, a few restrictions. The book should be for ages five to ten years of age. Also, the book must be a picture book, and its main characters do not have to be human. It should be a story that a child would thoroughly enjoy, and be enthused to talk about.