Irma Black Award 2014 Semifinalists

Here are the 16 semifinalists for the 2014 Irma Simonton and James H. Black Award chosen by a committee of librarians, writers, and educators. These books are now sent (in four sets) to the 3rd and 4th grade classrooms here at the Bank Street School for Children. As part of their picture book evaluation curriculum, students look critically at the art and words and whether these books would be relevant to younger children. Over the course of five weeks the children will read and discuss all of the books. These are the students who vote for the four finalists. The finalists are determined in March of each year.

Without further ado, the 2014 semifinalists…

123 versus ABC
written and illustrated by Mike Boldt
(Harper)

Are the Dinosaurs Dead, Dad?
written by Julie Middleton
illustrated by Russell Ayto
(Peachtree)

The Boy Who Cried Bigfoot!
written and illustrated by Scott Magoon
(Simon & Schuster)

Bugs in My Hair!
written and illustrated by David Shannon
(Blue Sky Press)

Can’t Scare Me!
written and illustrated by Ashley Bryan
(Atheneum Books for Young Readers)

Chick-O-Saurus Rex
written by Lenore Jennewin
illustrated by Daniel Jennewin
(Simon & Schuster)

King for a Day
written by Rukhsana Khan
illustrated by Christiane Kromer
(Lee & Low Books)

The King of Little Things
written by Bil Lepp
illustrated by David T. Wenzel
(Peachtree)

Lucky Ducklings
written by Eva Moore
illustrated by Nancy Carpenter
(Orchard Books)

Nurse Clementine
written and illustrated by Simon James
(Candlewick)

The Silver Button
written and illustrated by Bob Graham
(Candlewick)

That Is Not a Good Idea!
written and illustrated by Mo Willems
(Balzer + Bray)

Tiger in My Soup
written by Kashmira Sheth
illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler
(Peachtree)

The Tree Lady
written by H. Joseph Hopkins
illustrated by Jill McElmurry
(Beach Lane Books)

Warning: Do Not Open This Book!
written by Adam Lehrhaupt
illustrated by Matthew Forsythe
(Simon & Schuster)

Whale Shines
written and illustrated by Fiona Robinson
(Abrams)

For more information and to register your class to participate, see the Irma Black Award website.