Nutmeg Book Award

1
Nutmeg Book Award

• 2007 Nominees
• Grades 4 - 6

2
Nutmeg Grades 4 - 6

• Becoming Naomi Leon
• By Pam Munoz Ryan
• AR 5.4
• Lexile 830
• Follett RL 6.8 IL 5-8
• RC 5,11

3
Nutmeg Grades 4 - 6

• The Boy Who Saved Baseball
• By John Ritter
• AR 4.4
• Lexile 660
• Follett RL 6.5 IL 5-8
• RC 5,11

4
Nutmeg Grades 4 - 6

• Brainboy and the Deathmaster
• By Tor Seidler
• AR 4.9
• Lexile 770
• Follett RL 6.4 IL 3-6
• RC 5.2,14

5
Nutmeg Grades 4 - 6

• Gifts from the Sea
• By Natalie Kinsey-Warnock
• AR 5.3
• Lexile 990
• Follett RL 6 IL 3-6
• RC 6.8,7

6
Nutmeg Grades 4 - 6

• Granny Torrelli Makes Soup
• By Sharon Creech
• AR 4.2
• Lexile 810
• Follett RL 4.5 IL 3-6
• RC 4.5,6

7
Nutmeg Grades 4 - 6

• Half and Half
• By Lensey Namioka
• AR 5.0
• Lexile n/a
• Follett RL 5 IL 3-6
• RC n/a

8
Nutmeg Grades 4 - 6

• Kensukes Kingdom
• By Michael Morpurgo
• AR 4.7
• Lexile 730
• Follett RL 4.3 IL 3-6
• RC 4.8,8

9
Nutmeg Grades 4 - 6

• Macaroni Boy
• By Katherine Ayres
• AR 4.7
• Lexile 700
• Follett RL 6 IL 5-8
• RC 4.9,10

10
Nutmeg Grades 4 - 6

• Thunder from the Sea
• By Joan Hiatt Harlow
• AR 4.2
• Lexile 700
• Follett RL 5.7 IL 5-8
• RC 5.1,11

11
Nutmeg Grades 4 - 6

• The Warriors
• By Joseph Bruchac
• AR 5.5
• Lexile 810
• Follett RL 4.8 IL 5-8
• RC 5.1,7

12
Becoming Naomi Leon

• Website http//www.pammunozryan.com/
• Resource Guide http//www.pammunozryan.com/naomi.
  html
• Read-alikes
• Here Today by Ann Martin
• Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
• Snap by Alison McGhee
• Anna Caseys Place in the World by Adrian Fogelin
• Any Small Goodness by Tony Johnston
• Cougar Canyon by Lucy Bledsoe

13
Becoming Naomi Leon

• Snacks coconut ice cream (or any!), hot
  chocolate, orange drinks, quesillos,
• Activities
• Plan a display of student collections in the
  classroom or library. Allow students to show off
  their artwork or items they collect.
• Have each student collect a fabulous word. Have
  other students try to guess what the words mean.
• Play Wheel of Fortune!
• Trace Naomis route to Oaxaca. Find out about
  places in Mexico along their journey.
• Have a Mexican cooking class. Share tasty treats
  and recipes.
• 5 Fact Questions
• 1. What is Naomis full name?
• 2. What game show do Gram and Fabiola watch every
  night?
• 3. What gift does Owen ask Skyla for?
• 4. On what objects do Naomi and the others carve
  in Mexico?
• 5. What is the name of Naomis school librarian?
• 5 Questions for Discussion
• 1. What are the things Naomi likes about her
  mother? Doesnt like?
• 2. Why do you think Owen needs to wear tape?
• 3. What are some of Naomis lists? What do they
  tell us about the way she sees things?

14
The Boy Who Saved Baseball

• Authors Page for the book http//www.johnhritter
  .com/TBWSBpage.sht
• Read-alikes
• Baseball card series by Dan Gutman
• The Gorillas of Gill Park by Amy Gordon
• Throwing Smoke by Bruce Brooks
• The Journal of Biddy Owens The Negro Leagues by
  W alter Dean Myers
• Some Kind of Pride by Maria Testa
• Strike Two by Amy Goldman Koss
• Excellent Non Fiction
• Ballpark the story of America's baseball fields
  by Lynn Curlee
• Mighty Jackie the strike-out queen / Marissa
  Moss
• Baseball's boneheads, bad boys just plain crazy
  guys / George Sullivan
• Promises to keep how Jackie Robinson changed
  America / Sharon Robinson
• Casey at the bat a ballad of the republic sung
  in the year 1888 by Ernest L. Thayer
• The hidden language of baseball how signs and
  sign-stealing have influenced the course of our
  national pastime / Paul Dickson
• Baseball for everyone stories from the great
  game / by Janet Wyman Coleman

15
The Boy Who Saved Baseball
5 Fact Questions 1. What is about to happen in
Dillontown as the book begins? 2. What
announcement does Doc make that surprises
everyone in town? 3. Who are the players on the
Wildcats? 4. What do we learn about the Wildcats
new coach? 5. What are some of the practice
exercises the Wildcats use to prepare for the big
game? 5 Questions for Discussion 1. Like others
in town, Toms mother and father disagree about
the proposed changes to Dillontown. Describe
their differing feelings, and tell which you
agree with and why. 2. Cruz accuses the
developers of being like the first settlers in
America, wanting to remove the local peoples from
the land. Explain what you think he means by
that statement. 3. Tom tells Doc his opinion, and
big things start to happen in Dillontown. Can
you think of other examples of small actions that
lead to big changes? You can pick examples from
your own life, your state, or even history. 4.
Does Tom learn anything new or change because of
the events of this eventful week? How? 5. Who is
the most influential person in this book? Why?

• Snacks Baseball cookies (icing for the
  stitching) burritos, tacos, oranges
• Activities
• Play baseball with the Nutmeg titles. For each
  question a child answers correctly, they can
  advance one base to steal bases or for doubles,
  ask multi-part questions. Incorrect answers are
  strikes/outs.
• Research favorite players and teams make
  baseball cards for them or for yourself! Hang
  them up around the room.
• Play Monopoly cover the board with buildings in
  your town. Make up your own chance cards with
  events unique to your town (rain causes leaks
  lose 100! School carnival collect 200)
• Learn about baseball statistics. Figure out
  RBIs, HRs, Batting Averages, ERA (Earned Run
  Average) for players (real or imagined). Graph
  players progress through the season.

16
Brainboy and the Deathmaster

• Publishers Page www.torseidler.com
• Read-alikes
• The Power of Un by Nancy Etchemendy
• Beatnik rutabagas from beyond the stars by
  Quentin Dodd.
• Virtual reality by Lisa Yount.
• Corrector Yui (graphic novels) by Keiko Okamoto
• Pendragon Series by DJ MacHale

17
Brainboy and the Deathmaster

• Snacks Silver Dollar Pancakes Pastries, Any
  (Fake) Chemical Concoction
• Activities
• Look at some objects under a microscope. Are you
  surprised by what you see?
• Create plans or drawings for a new invention
  share your idea with the class. Build it if you
  can.
• Mazes Really fun alternative have a class
  trip to a corn maze.
• Learn to put up a tent ask an expert to visit
  and talk about rock climbing techniques
• Write Science Fiction stories and share them with
  each other.
• 5 Fact Questions
• 1. How do Darryl and BJ meet?
• 2. Who is Boris looking for?
• 3. Who buys Mrs. Grimsley a Mercedes?
• 4. What does Nina bring out of Paradise Labs when
  she leaves?
• 5. What does BANATW stand for?
• 5 Questions for Discussion
• 1. Do you think Mr. Masterly is a good scientist?
  Why?
• 2. How do Boris and BJ make a good team? Describe
  some of the things they manage to find out or
  accomplish together.
• 3. Some of the kids fall apart when they stop
  taking their vitamin pills. Why does this
  happen?

18
Gifts from the Sea

• Read-alikes
• Following Fake Man by Barbara Ware Holmes (Maine
  story)
• Walk Across the Sea by Susan Fletcher
• The Wanderer by Sharon Creech
• Charlottes Rose by AE Cannon
• Prairie Whispers by Frances Arrington
• The Apprenticeship of Lucas Whittaker by Cynthia
  DeFelice
• Peppermints in the Parlor by Barbara Wallace
• Bo Mzzz Mad by Sid Fleischman
• Dave at Night by Gail Carson Levine

19
Gifts from the Sea

• Snacks Apple pie, taffy, oatmeal gingerbread,
  black bun fruitcake
• Activities
• String dried apples or seashells like Aquila for
  decoration
• Research and carry out some bird watching
• Learn about seals and selkies
• Listen to some fiddle music learn some Irish
  jigs or reels
• 5 Fact Questions
• 1. What does Cecelias name mean?
• 2. In what state does the book take place?
• 3. Where is Margaret from?
• 4. What animal helps Cecelia and Aquila on their
  trip in the boat?
• 5. What does Papa pick for Margaret?
• 5 Questions for Discussion
• 1. Whom do you think is Celias true family
  Aquila or Margaret? Why?
• 2. What things would you enjoy most and what
  things would you miss most about living on an
  island?
• 3. Do you think Aquilas life is lonely? Why or
  why not?
• 4. Do you believe the seals saved Celia and
  Margaret?

20
Granny Torrelli Makes Soup

• Website http//www.sharoncreech.com/index.html
  Harper Collins Reading Guide http//www.harperco
  llins.com/global_scripts/product_catalog/book_xml.
  asp?isbn0060292903tcrg
• Suggested Fiction TitlesQuit It by Marcia
  Byalick
• The Key Collection by Andrea Cheng
• A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck
• Mountain Pose by Nancy Hope Wilson
• My Louisiana Sky by Kimberly Willis Holt
• The Ocean Within by VM Caldwell
• Sun and Spoon by Kevin Henkes
• Suggested Non Fiction Titles
• Honest pretzels and 64 other amazing recipes
  for cooks ages 8 up by Mollie Katzen
• The Young Chefs Italian Cookbook by Rosalba
  Gioffre
• Emerils Theres a Chef in My Soup Recipes for
  the Kid in Everyone by Emeril Lagasse
• Blue Moon Soup by Gary Goss

21
Granny Torrelli Makes Soup
5 Fact Questions 1. Why are Bailey and Rosie
fighting? 2. What is Granny Torrellis favorite
saying and what does it mean? 3. Why did Rosie
want to learn Braille and why is Bailey so upset
that she can? 4. Who moves into the neighborhood
that Rosie doesnt like? 5. What story does
Granny Torrelli tell to make Rosie feel better
about Janine? 5 Questions for Discussion 1.
Does Granny Torrelli use any tricks in her
conversations with Rosie? Why do you think she
does? 2. Why does so much of this story take
place in the kitchen? 3. What does Bailey learn
at the end of the story? 4. What do you think
Granny wants to tell Rosie and Bailey when she
tells the stories of Pardo and Violetta? 5. Do
you think Granny Torrelli is stubborn (as she
says) or patient and good as Rosie thinks?

• Snacks soup (of course!), orange salad or
  oranges pasta Italian bread liquid lunch
• Activities
• Research recipes and cook a few favorites play
  fun music while youre cooking.
• Learn some or all of the Braille alphabet
  practice sending messages to each other.
• Find out about guide dogs have a local guide dog
  trainer visit the class
• Learn some Italian words to say to each other

22
Half and Half

• Author website http//www.lensey.com/home.html
• Read-alikes
• Adaline Falling Star by Mary Pope Osborne
• Enchanted Runner by Kimberley Griffiths Little
• The Land by Mildred TaylorValley of the Moon by
  Sherry Garland (Dear America)
• Aleutian Sparrow by Karen Hesse
• The Haunting of Granite Falls by Eva Ibbotson
• Millicent Min, Girl Genius by Lisa Yee
• Pure Dead Magic by Deb Gliori
• Chinese Cinderella the true story of an
  unwanted daughter by Adeline Yen Mah.
• Child of the Owl by Lawrence Yep
• Honeysuckle House by Andrea Cheng

23
Half and Half

• Snacks Scones, Any Chinese or Scottish foods
• Activities
• Learn some Scottish dancing!
• Learn some Kung Fu!
• Research and tell some Scottish or Chinese
  stories (Dress up if possible)
• Create your own books and illustrate them
• 5 Fact Questions
• 1. What does Fiona call her fathers mother?
• 2. Why does Fiona have trouble filling out her
  rec. center form?
• 3. What two activities conflict for Fiona at the
  folk festival?
• 4. What nationalities are Fionas mother and
  father?
• 5. Why did Fionas brother start taking kung fu?
• 5 Questions for Discussion
• 1. Why do you think Fiona finds it so hard to
  choose between her fathers talk and her Scottish
  dancing performance? Which would you choose to
  do?
• 2. Why do you think Fionas brother doesnt want
  to be a Scottish dancer?
• 3. What nationality are you? Do you cook any
  special foods or enjoy any special customs?
• 4. Do you think its easy or hard to live in
  America and have parents from other countries?

24
Kensukes Kingdom

• Read-alikes
• Abels Island by William Steig
• Island (series) by Gordon Korman
• Flight of the Fisherbird by Nora Martin
• Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott ODell
• Island of the Aunts by Eva Ibbotson
• Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry
• The Wanderer by Sharon Creech

25
Kensukes Kingdom

• Snacks crackers (the English kind with a prize
  inside), bananas, tropical fruits, rations (be
  creative!)
• Activities
• Practice survival skills learn how to use a
  compass, tie knots and design a well made fire
  (lighting it optional!) Have an expert visit
  (Boy/Girl Scout leader) if possible
• Learn about the weather find out what clouds can
  tell us about the weather
• Find out about Japanese painting try some if
  possible
• Learn a few words in Japanese
• Make a map of the air and sea battles in the
  Pacific during WWII. Mark each with its date and
  other relevant information.

5 Fact Questions 1. Tell how Michaels family
decided to make their trip. 2. What creatures did
Kensuke protect on the island? 3. How did Michael
become ill? 4. What is the name of Michaels
familys boat? 5. What sport did Michael play?
5 Questions for Discussion 1. What person would
you most want to be with on a deserted island?
Why? 2. What items would you most want if you
were stranded on an island? 3. What do you think
of Kensukes decision not to allow Michael to
leave? 4. Why did Kensuke never want to leave the
island? 5. Did Michael change by the end of the
book?
26
Macaroni Boy

• Read-alikes
• Six days in October the stock market crash of
  1929 by Karen Blumenthal.
• Dust by Arthur Slade
• Franklin D. Roosevelt letters from a mill town
  girl by Elizabeth Winthrop.
• Hannah Divided by Adele Griffin
• Saving Grace by Priscilla Cummings
• The ghost and Mrs. Hobbs by Cynthia DeFelice
• Joshuas Song by Joan Hiatt Harlow

27
Macaroni Boy
5 Fact Questions 1. Name the members of Mikes
extended family 2. During what year did the story
take place? 3. Tell something you know about the
Great Depression 4. What was Mikes job at the
family warehouse? 5. What pieces of information
did Joseph receive from his father that helped
the boys solve the mystery? 5 Questions for
Discussion 1. Were Mikes dad and his principal
fair to Mike? 2. What do you think of the ways
Mike dealt with Andy Simms? 3. How do you think
the Great Depression affected families? 4. Do you
think its okay for Mike to use Old Sneaky as a
guinea pig for the poison? 5. Find out about
the CCC what were its accomplishments during the
Depression?

• Snacks Macaroni and cheese ice cream/soda
  floats applesauce
• Activities
• Learn about rats
• Write letters to President Roosevelt telling him
  about the Depression and making suggestions for
  improvements
• Run a canned goods drive and donate the proceeds
  to a homeless shelter
• Find out what different foods cost in 1933 Play
  The Price is Right and see if students can guess
  what things cost now and what they cost then.

28
Thunder from the Sea

• Readalikes
• Star in the Storm by Joan Hiatt Harlow
• Hugger to the rescue by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent
• Rescue dogs by Judith Janda Presnall
• Notes from a Liar and Her Dog by Gennifer
  Choldenko
• Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
• When Mack Came Back by Brad Strickland

29
Thunder from the Sea

• Snacks goldfish, molasses buns, biscuits with
  blackberry jam,
• Activities
• Find out about tidal waves what causes them and
  what are some famous ones? Create a brochure to
  help people prepare for tidal waves/flooding
• Find out about Newfoundland send postcards to
  friends telling them about the island
• Research dogs and tidal waves find out how
  animals may have special senses to help them
  detect tidal waves early.
• Encourage everyone in school to have ID tags for
  their pets Partner with a local vet or petstore
  to order the tags.
• Practice some jannie talk of your own!

5 Fact Questions 1. How did Tom find his dog? 2.
Where and when does the story take place? 3. Whom
does Tom teach to read? 4. What spelling mistake
does Bert make that gets Tom laughing? 5. What
object of Toms does Bert damage in their
fight? 5 Questions for Discussion 1. Discuss how
Bert changes over the course of the novel. 2. Is
reading be an important skill, even in a fishing
village like Toms where everyone makes a living
at sea? 3. Tom is adopted from an orphanage from
the novel, what does Tom want from his new life?
Do these seem to be important needs? 4. Tom has
several worries about belonging in his new life
and family. What are they, and do you think they
are important? Can you think of anything that
kids today worry about in their own families? 5.
Tom experiences an earthquake, a tidal wave, and
a blizzard in the story. What advice or items
seem to be most important to Toms survival? Do
you have any advice to give Tom to help him
through the story?
30
The Warriors

• Read-alikes
• Sports Stories
• Million Dollar series by Dan Gutman
• Throwing Smoke by Bruce Brooks
• Travel Team by Mike Lupica (for older)
• The Gorillas of Gill Park by Amy Gordon
• Millicent Min, Girl Genius by Lisa Yee
• Yours truly, Skye O'Shea by Megan Shull.
• Rosie in Chicago play ball! by Carol Matas
• Summerland by Michael Chabon
• Boarding School Stories
• My Life as a Boarding School Brat by Amy
  GordonPeppermints in the Parlor by Barbara
  Wallace
• The Education of Patience Goodspeed by Heather
  Vogel Frederick
• Charlie Bone series by Jenny Nimmo
• The Austere Academy by Lemony Snicket
• Witch Week by Diana Wynne Jones

31
The Warriors

• Snacks corn soup, fry bread
• Activities
• Research the history of lacrosse find out the
  rules of the game and, if possible, play a few
  games. Invite the PE teacher or local lacrosse
  player to talk to students about the game.
• Design team jerseys have each student design a
  jersey with colors, team name and number.
• Research other Native American games Divide into
  teams and play a few together.
• Be storytellers encourage children to tell their
  own family stories or research folktales to tell
  to their classroom, to younger children, or to
  parents. (This has been a great experience in
  several schools!)

5 Fact Questions 1. To what native American tribe
does Jake belong? 2. Where does Jake move with
his mother? 3. What do all the Warriors do after
a game? 4. Why does Jake dislike his coach? 5.
5 Questions for Discussion 1. Why is Jakes
final lacrosse game successful? 2. What advice
or stories does Grampa Sky share with Jake that
helps him? How does it help? 3. How many of you
play a sport? What makes a good coach? A less
successful one? 4. Describe Jakes feelings
toward his coach how do they change as the story
evolves? 5. Have you ever moved to a new place or
started a new activity that you felt was
challenging, even lonely? Give Jake some advice
about doing something new.