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2003 KIND Children's Book Award Recipients
Best Picture Book
Jasper's Day
Written by Marjorie Blain Parker
Illustrated by Janet Wilson
Toronto: Kids Can Press, 2002
32 pages, $15.95 hardcover; Ages 4-8
Riley's family bids a tender farewell to an old friend-their beloved golden retriever. Having watched Jasper grow weak and tired from cancer, and having made the difficult decision to have him euthanized, the family now concentrates on making their last day together a very special one. Beautifully illustrated snapshots of the day's small pleasures-filled with cherished treats, favorite places, and extra hugs-are perfect for addressing such topics as pet loss, grief, the bond between people and their companion animals, and euthanasia as a way of alleviating a dying pet's pain. For teaching activities, see www.marjorieblainparker.com/work1.htm.
Best Chapter Book
Because of Winn-Dixie
By Kate DiCamillo
Cambridge: Candlewick Press, 2000
182 pages, $15.99 hardcover; Ages 9-12
From the steamy little town of Naomi, Florida, comes a humorous, heartwarming, and superbly crafted story of a motherless girl and the "ugly" dog she makes her own. Laugh-out-loud funny-and bolstered by a quirky cast of small-town misfits-this new classic offers great lessons in acceptance, friendship, commitment, and understanding.
Best Book for Young Adults
Straydog
By Kathe Koja
New York: Frances Foster Books, 2002
112 pages, $16 hardcover; Ages 4-8
Meet Rachel, a bright, sensitive, high school student-and an angry loner-who wonders, "What do you do when you're too smart for the freaks but too much of a freak for the smart kids? When there's no table in the lunchroom for ones like you?" Rachel's creative writing provides one outlet for her biting observations and emotions. Volunteering at an animal shelter provides another. There, she meets a feral dog-a beaten, injured, collie mix whom she is convinced she can socialize. Smartly written in a way that captures the essence of awkward adolescence, this diary-like chronicle promotes appreciation of shelters, empathy for unwanted animals, and insight into the life of a stray.