2007 KIND Children's Book Award

Best Picture Book
Buddy Unchained
Written by Daisy Bix
Illustrated by Joe Hyatt
Edina, MN: The Gryphon Press, 2006
24 pages; $15.95 hardcover; ages 4-8

"I have food in my bowl. I have clean water to drink," Buddy tells us in the opening pages of this picture book. "Sometimes I get a treat!" Things weren’t always so rosy, though, when Buddy spent his days on the end of a short chain and his nights in a lonely garage. Buddy’s life turns around when he is rescued by an animal care and control officer, brought to an animal shelter, and soon adopted by a loving family. The simple text and life-like illustrations (based on the artist’s own rescued dog) will help young readers understand why dogs should be part of the family—not exiled to the backyard. A section at the end explains how kids can help dogs who, like Buddy, are neglected or mistreated. 

Best Chapter Book
A Dog's Life: The Autobiography of a Stray
Written by Ann M. Martin
New York: Scholastic Paperbacks, 2005
192 pages; $5.99 paperback; ages 9-12

Former stray dog Squirrel narrates her "memoirs" in this tale that shows the world through the eyes of a dog with no home. Starting with her birth in a garden shed, 10-year-old Squirrel tells of her life—a nomadic journey that is a constant search for food, shelter from the elements, and companionship. This touching depiction of life for a stray dog offers a fresh perspective on the plight of not only homeless animals but also that of neglected pets and wildlife. Those inspired to help homeless pets can check out the author’s tips for getting involved in the cause.

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Honor Books

The Birdman
Written by Veronika Martenova Charles
Illustrated by Annouchka Gravel Galouchko and Stéphan Daigle
Plattsburgh, NY: Tundra Books of Northern New York
32 pages; $17.95 hardcover; ages 4-8

After losing his children in a tragic accident, it seems that Indian tailor Noor Nobi will never again be able to find joy and meaning in life. Then one day, while aimlessly wandering through a market, he happens upon a display of birds, illegally captured from the wild and packed together in tiny cages. He uses his meager savings to buy one, and as he sets the bird free under a large banyan tree, "the emptiness in his heart filled a bit." He resolves to return the following week to purchase more birds to release. Before long, he is known as The Birdman, with people coming each week to watch as the birds he has rescued fly back to freedom. Based in fact and brought to life by vivid artwork, Noor Nobi’s story exemplifies the healing power that can come from helping the helpless.

 

Coo Coo Duckling
Written and illustrated by Christina Das
Ladera Ranch, CA: JuneOne Publishing Hub, 2005
32 pages; $15.95 hardcover; ages 4-8

Skipping past a wooded pond, Elsie hears the "coo, coo, coo" of a duckling stuck in the mud. She frees him from the muck, only to discover his family is nowhere to be found. Rather than "rescuing" the duck by bringing him home, Elsie helps reunite him with his mother and siblings, sending the message that wild babies are rarely lost or abandoned; mom is usually close by. The book’s rhythmic text and rich pastel drawings add to its appeal.

 

Fly, Little Bird
Written and illustrated by Tina Burke
La Jolla, CA: Kane/Miller Book Publishers, Inc., 2006
32 pages; $14.95 hardcover; ages 4-8

This nearly wordless book lets light, bright pictures tell the tale of a young girl who finds and takes home a helpless baby bird. Feeding and reading to the bird, singing along with him and painting pictures of him, the girl bonds with the bird as he learns to fly. When one day her feathered friend flies back into the forest, the girl chases after him with a net—but soon realizes that the bird is best off with his own kind. This book offers the perfect opportunity to teach little ones the three L’s of appreciating wildlife: Look. Listen. Leave them alone.

 

Go to Sleep, Gecko!: A Balinese Folktale
Retold by Margaret Read McDonald
Illustrated by Geraldo Valério
Little Rock: August House Publishers, Inc., 2006
32 pages; $16.95 hardcover; ages 4-8

Grumpy Gecko can’t sleep. The fireflies’ flickering lights are keeping him awake, and Gecko wants Elephant, the village boss, to do something about it. Night after night, Gecko awakens Elephant with his complaints—until finally Gecko comes to understand that the fireflies’ lights serve a purpose. Children will delight in the repetitive, sometimes silly text and the artist’s cool-toned paintings while learning, along with Gecko, that all things in nature are connected. A good choice for story time or bedtime!

Just for Elephants
Written by Carol Buckley
Gardiner, ME: Tilbury House Publishers, 2006
32 pages; $16.95 hardcover; ages 7-12

Carol Buckley follows up Travels with Tarra (a 2006 KIND Honor Book) with Just for Elephants, the true story of Shirley, a former circus and zoo elephant. Upon her arrival at Buckley’s Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee—a place just for elephants—Shirley is immediately recognized by Jenny, another resident elephant. As it turned out, the two had been in the same circus together 23 years earlier, when Jenny was just a baby. This moving account of their reunion shows the deep bonds that develop between these amazing animals and, in exhibiting elephants’ complex social, intellectual, and emotional needs, may cause readers to think twice the next time they see a captive elephant on display.

 

Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship
Told by Isabella Hatkoff, Craig Hatkoff, and Dr. Paula Kahumbu
Photographs by Peter Greste
New York: Scholastic Press, 2006
40 pages; $16.99 hardcover; ages 4-8

The brainchild of 6-year-old Isabella Hatkoff (in collaboration with her father), this book retells the now-familiar true story of baby hippopotamus Owen and his unlikely best friend, a giant tortoise named Mzee. Orphaned by the massive tsunami in 2004 and brought to a sanctuary in Kenya, Owen immediately took a liking to Mzee. Although the 130-year-old tortoise wasn’t sure he wanted to befriend a young hippo, Owen’s persistence paid off and the pair were soon inseparable. Inspirational and heartwarming, this story proves that friendship is a powerful force for all species. For a blog about Owen, Mzee, and other sanctuary animals, as well as a free downloadable e-book and more, visit lafargeecosystems.com.