Texas Bluebonnet Award
2005-2006 Master List
Released 11/15/2004; selecting a Texas Bluebonnet Award 
winner from this list occurs  in January 2006.

(The 2005-2006 Master List as a doc)

Reviews  •  Readers Advisory

The Texas Library Association sponsors the Texas Bluebonnet Award reading list solely t o encourage free voluntary reading. 

Anderson, Janet S. 2003. The Last Treasure. New York: Dutton.  ISBN 0-525-46919-2, $17.99. 

After receiving a mysterious summons from a distant cousin, Ellsworth Smith returns to his father’s family home and quickly becomes embroiled in a quest to find an elusive treasure.

Balliett, Blue. 2004. Chasing Vermeer. Illustrated by Brett Helquist. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 0-439-37294-1, $16.95. Audio Cassette: Listening Library, ISBN 0-3072-0672-6, $25.00. Audio CD: Listening Library, ISBN 0-3072-0673-4, $28.00. Paperback Edition:  Scholastic, ISBN 0-439-37297-6, $6.99. 

Coincidences and puzzles abound in this fast-paced mystery as two eleven-year-olds, Petra and Calder, search for clues to a missing Vermeer.

Borden, Louise. 2004. Sea Clocks: The Story of Longitude. Illustrated by Erik Blegvad. New York: McElderry. ISBN 0-689-84216-3, $18.95. 

Spare prose and delicate pen and ink watercolors (reminiscent of the eighteenth century setting), capture John Harrison’s persistent and dedicated forty-year quest to make an instrument that determines longitude on a moving ship. 

Brown, Don. 2003. Mack Made Movies. Illustrations by the author. Brookfield, Conn.: Roaring Brook Press. Library Edition: ISBN 0-7613-2504-2, $23.90. Trade Edition: ISBN 0-7613-1538-1, $16.95. 

The story of silent movies and Mack Sennett, “the King of Comedy” who began his slapstick career as a horse and later became the owner of his own studio, unfolds in this illustrated biography. 

Collins, Suzanne. 2003. Gregor the Overlander. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 0-439-43536-6, $16.95. Paperback Edition: Scholastic, ISBN 0-439-67813-7, $5.99. 

When Gregor’s sister tumbles through a portal in their New York City apartment complex, he follows her to a parallel world called Underland. There, Gregor discovers that the inhabitants believe him to be their prophesized hero, the “Overland warrior,” sent to save their civilization. 

Divakaruni, Chitra Banerjee.  2003. The Conch Bearer. Brookfield, Conn.: Neal Porter/Roaring Brook Press. Library Edition: ISBN 0-7613-2793-2, $23.90. Trade Edition: ISBN 0-7613-1935-2, $16.95. Audio Cassette: Listening Library, ISBN 0-8072-1959-2, $26.00. Paperback Edition: Aladdin, ISBN 0-689-04163-2, $5.99. 

India provides the backdrop for this adventure fantasy wherein a young boy, his street urchin cohort, and the mysterious Abhaydatta set off on a quest to return a magical conch shell to its rightful place. 

George, Kristine O’Connell. 2004. Hummingbird Nest: A Journal of Poems. Illustrated by Barry Moser. San Diego: Harcourt. ISBN 0-15-202325-9, $16.00. 

This kinetic and keen journal of poems traces one family’s experiences with a hummingbird and her young throughout their seasonal activities of nest building, egg hatching, and flying lessons.

Hannigan, Katherine. 2004. Ida B . . . and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World. New York: Greenwillow. Library Edition: ISBN 0-06-073025-0, $16.89. Trade Edition: ISBN 0-06-073024-2, $15.99. Audio Cassette: Listening Library, ISBN 1-4000-9093-8, $18.00.   

Ida B details her struggles as her insular, home-schooled world on an idyllic Wisconsin farm with her loving and devoted parents is replaced by public schooling, the sale of part of their land, and her Mother’s battle with cancer. 

Henkes, Kevin. 2003. Olive’s Ocean. New York: Greenwillow. Library Edition: ISBN 0-06-053544-X, $16.89. Trade Edition: ISBN 0-06-053543-1, $15.99. Audio CD: Harper Children’s Audio, ISBN 0-06-074814-1, $22.00. Paperback Edition: HarperTrophy, ISBN 0-06-053545-8 $5.99.   

Over the course of one memorable summer, Martha experiences a myriad of events and emotions as she embarks on an affirming rite of passage from childhood innocence to adolescent awareness of her world.

Hopkinson, Deborah. 2004. Sailing for Gold: The Klondike Kid, Book 1. Illustrated by Bill Farnsworth. New York: Aladdin. Library Edition: ISBN 0-689-86032-3, $11.89. Paperback Edition: Aladdin, ISBN: 0-689-86031-5, $3.99.   

Amidst the chaos in Seattle at the beginning of the Klondike gold rush, orphaned Davey overcomes a multitude of obstacles as he searches for his only living relative, an uncle who lives somewhere in the newly discovered gold fields. 

Krull, Kathleen. 2004. The Boy on Fairfield Street: How Ted Geisel Grew Up to Become Dr. Seuss. Illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher. New York: Random House. Library Edition: ISBN 0-375-92298-9, $18.99. Trade Edition: ISBN 0-375-82298-4, $16.95. 

Biographer Krull introduces readers to the first twenty-two years in Ted Geisel’s life; spot art reproductions of familiar characters from Dr.  Seuss’s many works remind children of these favored books and tie into detailed backmatter concerning Dr. Seuss’s later life and work. 

Loy, Jessica. 2003. Follow the Trail: A Young Person’s Guide to the Great Outdoors. Photographs by the author. New York: Holt. ISBN 0-8050-6195-9, $18.95. 

Filled with numerous ideas, safety rules, and games, as well as ways to identify animal tracks, wildflowers, and constellations, this outdoor guide provides a roadmap for camping fun and excitement.

Mann, Elizabeth. 2003. Empire State Building. Illustrated by Alan Witschonke. New York: Mikaya. ISBN 1-931414-06-8, $19.95. 

From inception to completion, Mann tracks the wonders of architecture, engineering, and construction that went into the creation of the Empire State Building. Social and political profiles of both millionaires and laborers capture the essence of the individuals who dreamed of and built this landmark.

Marsden, Carolyn. 2004. Silk Umbrellas. Cambridge, Mass.: Candlewick. ISBN 0-7636-2257-5, $15.99. 

At eleven, Noi, like her grandmother, paints delicate designs on silk umbrellas that she sells in the local Thai market. But, when this income fails to sustain the family, she must struggle to reconcile her own dreams with her mother’s plan for her to work in a factory.

Montgomery, Sy. 2004. The Tarantula Scientist. Photographs by Nic Bishop. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0-618-14799-3, $18.00. 

Follow scientist Samuel Marshall at work in the field in French Guiana, as well as in the Hiram College lab in Ohio, while he studies all kinds of tarantulas, including the Goliath birdeater, native to French Guiana and as big as a dinner plate.

Raven, Margot Theis. 2004. Circle Unbroken: The Story of a Basket and Its People. Illustrated by E. B. Lewis. New York: Melanie Kroupa/Farrar. ISBN 0-374-31289-3, $16.00.   

Through her grandmother’s tales, a young girl learns the story of her African-American heritage as well as the art of making traditional Gullah sweetgrass baskets.

Sandin, Joan. 2003. Coyote School News. Illustrated by the author. New York: Holt. ISBN 0-8050-6558-X. $17.95. 

Monchi Ramirez guides readers through the 1938 school year in a small school in rural Arizona. Students celebrate La Fiesta de los Vanqueros and strive to win baseball games as well as a Perfect Attendance Award in this illustrated historical fiction.

Wheeler, Lisa. 2004. Seadogs: An Epic Ocean Operetta. Illustrated by Mark Siegel. New York: Richard Jackson/Atheneum. ISBN 0-689-85689-X, $16.95. 

Staged as an operetta, the final voyage (including a pirate attack and a search for buried treasure) of a small but courageous canine crew plays out in lively verse and comic book like illustrations.

Wise, William. 2004. Christopher Mouse: The Tale of a Small Traveler. Illustrated by Patrick Benson. New York: Bloomsbury. ISBN 1-58234-878-2, $15.95.   

In this firstmouse narrative, young Christopher relates episodes of his life in short, fast-paced chapters as he deals with a dangerous cat, a scheming boy, and a young taxidermist.

Youme. 2004. Sélavi, That Is Life: A Haitian Story of Hope. Illustrated by the author. El Paso, Texas: Cinco Puntos. ISBN 0-938317-84-9, $17.95.   

Through a moving text and the beauty of batik, collage, and photographs, Youme presents the circumstances of a group of street children in Haiti and shows how together they build a home in the midst of civil unrest. 

The TBA Committee selected the 2005-2006 Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List titles after receiving suggestions from librarians, teachers, parents, students and others.  The Master List books, all recommended by one or more reviewing source, should be evaluated in terms of each library’s selection policy.  It is not mandatory that a school or public library purchase all titles listed.