Monarch Award: Illinois’ K-3 Readers’ Choice Award

2015 Master List

Sponsored by theIllinois School Library Media Association

2014 Monarch Award Winner

Nic Bishop Snakesby Nic Bishop

Nic Bishop captures the scary, scaly world of snakes with expert photography.

A Little Book of Slothby Lucy Cooke

Photography captures the world of sloth in a sanctuary devoted to saving the much maligned animal.

Prudence Wants a Petby Cathleen Daly

Illustrated by Stephen Michael King

Prudence wants a pet so much that she adopts a branch, a twig, a tire, and even a shoe named Formal Footwear; but none is a suitable pet for Prudence.

The Day the Crayons QuitBy Drew Daywalt

Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers

Poor Duncan just wants to color. But when he opens his box of crayons, he finds only letters, all saying the same thing: We quit!

The Princess and the Pigby Jonathan Emmett

Illustrated by Poly Bernatene

When a new baby princess accidentally changes places with a piglet, both of their lives are forever changed.

Penny and Her Marbleby Kevin Henkes

Penny feels guilty after taking a beautiful blue marble that she sees in Mrs. Goodwin’s grass, but gets a pleasant surprise when she goes to return it the next day.

Miracle Mud: Lena Blackburne and the Secret Mud That Changed Baseballby David A. Kelly

Illustrated by Oliver Dominguez

This is the true story of how Lena Blackburne discovered a mud from a riverbank which changed the game of baseball forever.

Frog & Fly: Six Slurpy Storiesby Jeff Mack

Through a series of easy-to-read scenes, Frog always gets the better of Fly. In the end, Fly has the last word.

Me…Janeby Patrick McDonnell

Hiding her stuffed toy chimpanzee, young Jane Goodall observes nature, reads Tarzan books, and dreams of living in Africa and helping animals.

Take Me Out To the Yakyuby Aaron Meshon

A little boy’s grandfathers, one in America and one in Japan, teach him about baseball and its rich varying cultural traditions.

Over and Under the Snowby Kate Messner

Illustrated by Chrisopher Silas Neal

Under the snow is a secret world of squirrels and snow hares, bears and bullfrogs, and many other animals who live through the winter safe and warm under the snow.

Helen’s Big World: The Life of Helen Kellerby Doreen Rappaport

Illustrated by Matt Tavares

Helen Keller taught the world that her life was not small, but bigger than anyone imagined. And even though she could not see and could not hear, people listened.

Creepy Carrots!by Aaron Reynolds

Illustrated by Peter Brown

The carrots that grow in Crackenhopper Field are the fattest and crispiest around and Jasper Rabbit cannot resist pulling some to eat each time he passes by, until he begins hearing and seeing creepy carrots wherever he goes.

Jimmy the Joey: the True Story of an Amazing Koala Rescue

by Deborah Lee Rose and Susan Kelly

This is the true story of a koala injured on a road in Australia and how a team of rescuers nurtures him back to health.

Look Out, Jeremy Bean! by Alice Schertle

Illustrated by David Slonim

Jeremy Bean comes up with unusual solutions to problems he confronts.

Like Bug Juice on a Burgerby Julie Sternberg

Illustrated by Matthew Cordell

As the days go on, nine-year-old Eleanor realizes that maybe being at summer camp isn’t so bad after all, and is full of special surprises.

Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousinby Duncan Tonatiuh

Two cousins, one in Mexico and one in New York City, write to each other and learn that even though their daily lives differ, at heart the boys are very similar.

If I Built a Houseby Chris Van Dusen

Imaginative Jack describes the kind of house he would build – one with a racetrack, a flying room, and a gigantic slide.

Mo Willems Presents That Is Not a Good Idea!by Mo Willems

One day, a very hungry fox meets a very plump goose. A dinner invitation is offered. Will dinner go as planned?

Each Kindnessby Jacqueline Woodson Illustrated by E.B. Lewis

When Ms. Albert teaches a lesson on kindness, Chloe realizes that she and her friends have been wrong in making fun of new student Maya’s shabby clothes and refusing to play with her.