Wyoming Kids 💘💘 Their Books

By Leslie Colin Tribble  💕

On this Valentine's Day, I want to give a shout out to a program which engages Wyoming's K-3 grade students with reading. A collaboration of the Wyoming State Reading Council and the Wyoming Library Association, the Buckaroo Awards are sure-fired fun and a great way to get kids reading.

Saddle Up, Let's Learn About the Buckaroos

The Buckaroo Award is designed to help primary students
*learn about contemporary authors,
*become aware of the qualities of a good book
*teach students about choices and voting procedures
*provide children with a chance to honor the author of the winning book.

During the school year, students read or have read to them books from the list of current nominees both fiction and non-fiction. Then around March 1, the children vote for their absolute favoritest book, and the ballots are tallied by teachers and school librarians. Those results are sent to the state committee and the winners are announced. Depending upon the desires of the state committee, the winner is honored with a donation made in their name to a literary organization. The book is also highlighted in online sites such as NoveList, which can significantly improve a book's visibility and sales.

Last year's winner was B.J. Novak's A Book With No Pictures. First Runner Up was President Taft is Stuck in the Bath by Mac Barnett with Second Runner Up Chris Tougas' Dojo Daycare.

A Round Up of the 2016-2017 Buckaroo Nominees

This year's list features four nonfiction books and six fiction. I wanted to read the books but wouldn't you know it, every single title was already checked out! Although that's my loss, I'm thrilled children are immersing themselves in such great reading material.

1. Annie and Helen - Deborah Hopkinson/Raul Colon
   The story of Helen Keller and her teacher Annie Sullivan.

2. Elizabeth Started All the Trouble - Doreen Rappaport/Matt Faulkner
    This nonfiction book deals with the early suffragette movement.

3. Frog on a Log - Kes Gray/Jim Field

   A rhyming picture book about animals and their designated seats.

4. McToad Mows Tiny Island - Tom Angleberger/John Hendrix

    Here's another book featuring an amphibian, but this fellow spends a lot of time with various     modes of transportation in order to mow Tiny Island.

5. Mother Bruce - Ryan Higgins  

    Bruce is a grumpy bear who loves eating eggs until he hatches some goslings.

6. Ragweed's Farm Dog Handbook - Anne Vittur Kennedy  

    Ragweed wants to help other farm dogs succeed so he's written this handy dandy guidebook.

7. There's a Lion in My Cornflakes - Michelle Robinson/Jim Field

    The misadventures of two brothers who get some crazy prizes in their cereal boxes.

8. Too Tall Houses - Gianna Marino  

    Rabbit and Owl are best friends until they start building taller and taller houses.

9. A Tower of Giraffes - Anna Wright   

    This nonfiction book introduces children to the collective nouns for various animal groups.

10. Winter Bees - Joyce Sidman/Rick Allen - This nonfiction poem teaches readers about how animals survive in winter.

This year's winner will be announced in April. According to our local children's librarian, the kids love each of the nominees. Ragweed might just come out on top because he throws up in the book - a surefire way to make kids LOVE a book.

Why not find your favorite Valentine and read some of these heart-warming treats today?

💖