Make your voice heard with the first-ever Children's Choice Book Awards! Below is a list of the books, authors, and illustrators nominated in each of five categories: Kindergarten to Second Grade Book of the Year, Third to Fourth Grade Book of the Year, Fifth to Sixth Grade Book of the Year, Favorite Illustrator of the Year, and Favorite Author of the Year. Visit your local library or bookstore and read the nominated books. Then visit www.bookweekonline.com to vote on your favorites! A Children's Choice Book Award will be given to the winner in each category on May 13, 2008, during Children's Book Week. Voting ends May 4, 2008, so start reading today!

Jon Scieszka earned a bachelor's degree from Albion College and a master of fine arts degree from Columbia University. He held a number of teaching positions in the first through eighth grades before taking a year off to develop ideas for children's books. He is the author of several bestselling children's titles, including "The Stinky Cheese Man," which won a Caldecott Honor medal, "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs," the Time Warp Trio, a chapter book series, and a new series for young children entitled Truck Town. Scieszka is the founder of Guys Read (www.guysread.com), a nonprofit literacy organization. In January 2008, Librarian of Congress James H. Billington appointed children's book author Jon Scieszka as the first National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. The position was created to raise national awareness of the importance of young people's literature as it relates to lifelong literacy, education, and the development and betterment of the lives of young people. The National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Program is run by the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress, the Children's Book Council and the CBC Foundation.

Finalist for Kindergarten to Second Grade Book of the Year
	Five Little Monkeys Go Shopping By Eileen Christelow Clarion Books Finalist for Kindergarten to Second Grade Book of the Year ISBN 13: 978-0-618-82161-7 Binding: Hardcover Price: $16.00 Comic mixups occur one-after another when Mama takes the Five Little Monkeys shopping for school clothes. One Little Monkey wants to look at books and toys; then two Little Monkeys go looking for a water fountain; then three friends of the Little Monkeys turn up; and one of the Little Monkeys goes off with them to find a bathroom. Will Mama ever manage to round up all of the Five Little Monkeys?
	Dino-Dinners By Mick Manning and Brita Granstrom Holiday House Finalist for Kindergarten to Second Grade Book of the Year ISBN13: 978-0-8234-2089-6 Binding: Hardcover Price: $16.95 Young dinosaur fans will find out exactly what--or who--was on the prehistoric menu; as well as interesting facts about each dino’s life, size, shape, and eating habits.
	Three Little Fish and the Big Bad Shark By Ken Geist Illustrated by Julia Gorton Cartwheel Books (Scholastic) Finalist for Kindergarten to Second Grade Book of the Year ISBN13: 978-0-439-71962-9 Binding: Paperback Price: $6.99 Mama tells her three little fish that it's time to make their own homes. Jim builds his house of seaweed, but the big bad shark munches it up. Tim builds his house of sand, but the shark crunches it up. It's smart Kim who sets up house in an old sunken ship! A silly story with funny, eye-popping illustrations.
	Frankie Stein By Lola M. Schaefer Illustrated by Kevan Atteberry Marshall Cavendish Corporation Finalist for Kindergarten to Second Grade Book of the Year ISBN13: 978-0-7614-5358-1 Binding: Hardcover Price: $14.99 Frankie Stein comes into the world on a bright, sunny day. He's not at all like his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank N. Stein. They're scary looking. He's cute. They try to make him look like them. They can't. But he does end up being scary--just in his own way! Kevan Atteberry's digital illustrations lend a hand to this family-friendly story perfect for a Halloween read aloud.
	Tucker's Spooky Halloween By Leslie McGuirk Candlewick Press Finalist for Kindergarten to Second Grade Book of the Year ISBN13: 978-0763631819 Binding: Hardcover Price: $7.99 "HE'S SO-O-O-O-O CUTE!" Tucker’s owner always dresses him as something cute for Halloween, like a pumpkin with a little orange hat. But this year Tucker doesn’t want to be cute -- he wants to be spooky! Why does his owner insist that he wear a silly cowboy costume? Looks like it’s time for Tucker to put his paws to the cause and turn into something scary before the trick-or-treaters arrive!
Finalist for Third to Fourth Grade Book of the Year
	Babymouse: Camp Babymouse By Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm Random House Books for Young Readers Finalist for Third to Fourth Grade Book of the Year ISBN: 978-0-375-93988-4 Binding: Hardcover Price: $12.99 Welcome to Camp Babymouse! Two weeks of fresh air, fun, and friendship! Babymouse can't wait for the adventures to start. All that she has to do is relax and make sure she doesn't get lost in the wilderness. What could possibly go wrong, right Babymouse? Uh . . . Babymouse? BABYMOUSE? Uh-oh! Will camp be all that Babymouse dreams of? Or is our brave and fearless camper lost forever?! Find out in the sixth Babymouse adventure: Camp Babymouse!
	Big Cats By Elaine Landau Enslow Publishers, Inc. Finalist for Third to Fourth Grade Book of the Year ISBN13: 978-0-7660-2770-1 Binding: Hardcover Price: $22.60 Lions, tigers, leopards, and jaguars are all big cats, and you would not like to meet them in the dark! They rest during the day but come to life at night to hunt. With a mighty roar, the big cats chase down their prey. Sharp teeth and claws and powerful jaws mean certain doom. Author Elaine Landau tells all about these beautiful hunters: how they hunt, where they live, and what the future holds for the big cats.
	The Richest Poor Kid By Carl Sommer Illustrated by Jorge Martinez Advance Publishing, Inc. Finalist for Third to Fourth Grade Book of the Year ISBN13: 978-1-57537- 025-5 Binding: Hardcover Price: $9.95 Randy was a poor with an old problem, everything he had was old. His rich neighbor Mike had a new bike and new toys, and Mike constantly teased him. Randy desperately wished he was rich so he could buy everything new. He was warned that riches alone don’t bring happiness, but Randy never listened. To Randy’s great delight, his wish came true. Everything he touched turned into gold—even his beloved dog.
	Wolves By Duncan Searl Bearport Publishing Finalist for Third to Fourth Grade Book of the Year ISBN13: 978-1-59716-370-5 Binding: Hardcover Price: $18.95 Dr. Harry Frank brought home a new pet. It wasn’t a dog or cat, however. It was a gray wolf pup from a zoo. In time, the wolf learned to open a tricky door using her paws. Dr. Frank’s dog hadn’t figured out how to do this in six years! Don’t be surprised, though. In the wild, wolves have learned to solve more serious problems than opening doors. Look inside to find out how these clever creatures hunt animals, communicate, and stay safe in some of the coldest places on Earth.
	Monday with a Mad Genius (Magic Tree House Series) By Mary Pope Osborne Illustrated by Sal Murdocca Random House Books for Young Readers Finalist for Third to Fourth Grade Book of the Year ISBN13: 978-0-375-83729-6 Binding: Hardcover Price: $11.99 Jack and Annie are on a mission to save Merlin from his sorrows! Charged with finding the second of four secrets of happiness, the brother-and-sister team travel back in the magic tree house to the period known as the Renaissance. This time, Jack and Annie will need more than a research book and a magic wand. They'll need help from one of the greatest minds of all time. What will they learn from Leonardo da Vinci?
Finalist for Fifth to Sixth Grade Book of the Year
	The Short and Incredibly Happy Life of Riley By Amy Lissiat and Colin Thompson Kane/Miller Book Publishers Finalist for Fifth to Sixth Grade Book of the Year ISBN13: 978-1-933605-50-0 Binding: Hardcover Price: $15.95 This laugh-out-loud picture book will appeal to people – and rats – of all ages. Riley is born happy, and, in his short life, is never anything else. Human beings, on the other hand, are never happy. They want to be someone else, somewhere else, looking like something else (while eating something completely different).
	Beowulf: Monster Slayer By Paul D. Storrie Illustrated by Ron Randall Lerner Publishing Group Finalist for Fifth to Sixth Grade Book of the Year ISBN13: 978-0-8225-6757-8 Binding: Hardcover Price: $26.60 Beowulf is a brave and mighty warrior, known to have the strength of thirty men. At home in Geatland, Beowulf hears about the terrible troubles of his father’s friend, Hrothgar, the king of the Danes. Hrothgar’s land is plagued by Grendel, a vicious monster who attacks the Danes by night. Beowulf sets sail to aid Hrothgar and the Danes. But is Beowulf strong enough to slay the monstrous Grendel? And even if he succeeds, what other dangers lie ahead for the warrior-hero?
	Encyclopedia Horrifica By Joshua Gee Scholastic Inc. Finalist for Fifth to Sixth Grade Book of the Year ISBN13: 978-0-439-92255-5 Binding: Hardcover Price: $14.99 Vampires, ghosts, monsters, and more--ENCYCLOPEDIA HORRIFICA invites you to join our quest for the terrifying truth about all things ghoulish and ghastly. But beware! Surprises lurk at the turn of every page. Discover a time line of ALIEN LIFE on earth--beginning 4 billion years ago! Meet a man recruited by the U.S. government to become a PSYCHIC SUPERSPY. Spend a dark and stormy night with professional GHOSTBUSTERS. And much more!
	Ghosts By Stephen Krensky Lerner Publishing Group Finalist for Fifth to Sixth Grade Book of the Year ISBN13: 978-0-8225-6762-2 Binding: Hardcover Price: $26.60 They glide down darkened halls and staircases. They rattle around abandoned prisons. They pop up in front of loved ones with mysterious messages. You’d think eternal rest would appeal more than haunting some old castle, but ghosts just can’t seem to move on. Why do ghosts do what they do? And why are we fascinated enough to include ghosts in plays, novels, movies, and TV shows? Learn more about the history and pop culture surrounding these spooky creatures.
	When the Shadbush Blooms By Carla Messinger with Susan Katz Illustrated by David Kanietakeron Fadden Tricycle Press Finalist for Fifth to Sixth Grade Book of the Year ISBN13: 978-1-58246-192-2 Binding: Hardcover Price: $15.95 In warm glowing paintings, two Native American girls from different times—the past and the present—live through the seasons, side by side, in the warm embrace of their families. The past is nearly 400 years ago, when the Lenape people lived a traditional life barely touched by European traders. The present is contemporary America, as the Lenape continue to adapt to a changing world but remain close to the land and to each other.
Finalist for Illustrator of the Year
	Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy By Jane O'Connor Illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser HarperCollins Finalist for Illustrator of the Year ISBN13: 978-0-06-054213-9 Binding: Hardcover Price: $16.99 Fancy Nancy is back! And when her family decides to get a dog, she's certain she can be fancier than ever. After all, a papillon—a small, delicate fluffy dog—is the ultimate accessory. But her family wants a large, plain dog. How unglamorous! With Fancy Nancy's trademark humor and warmth, Nancy discovers that real fanciness does not depend simply on appearance but more on a joie de vivre, which is a fancy phrase for having lots of fun.
	Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity By Mo Willems Hyperion Books for Children Finalist for Illustrator of the Year ISBN13: 978-1-423-10299-1 Binding: Hardcover Price: $16.99 Her daddy in tow, Trixie hurries to school to show off her one-of-a-kind Knuffle Bunny to her classmates. But an awful surprise awaits her: someone else has the exact same bunny! With stunning photography and hilarious illustrations, Mo Willems’s sequel to the Caldecott Honor winner Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale is another wonderfully true story that will have the whole family laughing.
	The Three Snow Bears By Jan Brett G.P. Putnam’s Sons Finalist for Illustrator of the Year ISBN13: 978-0-399-24792-7 Binding: Hardcover Price: $16.99 New York Times bestselling author Jan Brett beautifully illustrates the wildlife of the Arctic in The Three Snow Bears.
	Olivia Helps with Christmas By Ian Falconer Simon & Schuster Finalist for Illustrator of the Year ISBN13: 978-1-416-90786-2 Binding: Hardcover Price: $18.99 Everyone's favorite Caldecott honor-winning porcine and #1 Kris Cringle enthusiast is helping to make the season brighter than ever. Christmas is coming, and Olivia is incredibly busy. She has to wait for Santa, make sure dad sets up the tree, wait for Santa, watch mom make the Christmas dinner, wait for Santa, oversee the care with which the stockings are hung and, of course, OPEN HER PRESENTS! Do you see how hard it is to be so helpful during the holidays!
	The Invention of Hugo Cabret By Brian Selznick Scholastic, Inc. Finalist for Illustrator of the Year ISBN13: 978-0-439-81378-5 Binding: Hardcover Price: $22.99 Orphan, clock keeper, and thief, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo's undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery.
Finalist for Author of the Year
	Diary of a Wimpy Kid By Jeff Kinney Abrams Books for Young Readers Finalist for Author of the Year ISBN13: 978-0-8109-9313-6 Binding: Hardcover Price: $12.95 In the first-ever print version of the popular web comic Diary of a Wimpy Kid, author and illustrator Jeff Kinney redefines the middle grade novel with the story of his alter ego Greg Heffley. Greg’s written thoughts are accompanied by simple yet humorous cartoons that describe the perils and plusses of middle school life, where undersize weaklings share the hallways with kids who are taller, meaner, and already shaving.
	Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows By JK Rowling Scholastic, Inc. Finalist for Author of the Year ISBN13: 978-0-545-01022-1 Binding: Hardcover Price: $34.99 The brilliant, breathtaking conclusion to J.K. Rowling's spellbinding series is infused with unforgettable lessons about honor and contempt, love and loss, and right and wrong. While fans will find the answers to hotly speculated questions about Dumbledore, Snape, and you-know-who, it is a testament to Rowling's skill as a storyteller that even the most astute and careful reader will be taken by surprise. (With acknowledgements to Daphne Durham on Amazon.com.)
	Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Titan's Curse By Rick Riordan Disney Book Group Finalist for Author of the Year ISBN13: 978-1-4231-0145-1 Binding: Hardcover Price: $17.95 When the goddess Artemis goes missing, she is believed to have been kidnapped. And now it's up to Percy and his friends to find out what happened. Who is powerful enough to kidnap a goddess? Not only that, but first Percy will have to solve the mystery of a rare monster that Artemis was hunting when she disappeared -- a monster rumored to be so powerful it could destroy Olympus forever.
	Warriors, Power of Three: The Sight By Erin Hunter HarperCollins Finalist for Author of the Year ISBN13: 978-0-06-089201-2 Binding: Hardcover Price: $16.99 The time has come for three kits of ThunderClan—Hollypaw, Jaypaw, and Lionpaw—to become apprentices. Grandchildren of the great leader Firestar, all three possess unusual power and talent. But dark secrets surround them, and a mysterious prophecy hints at trouble to come. The warrior code is in danger of being washed away by a river of blood, and all the young cats' strength will be needed if the Clans are to survive.
	Snakehead (Alex Rider Adventure) By Anthony Horowitz Philomel Books Finalist for Author of the Year ISBN13: 978-0-399-24161-1 Binding: Hardcover Price: $17.99 Alex Rider is back! The Los Angeles Times said Anthony Horowitz has "an Ian Fleming-esque talent for dreaming up timely, imaginative and far-out plots," and the Austin American-Statesman hailed the series as the "perfect read for reluctant youngsters who think books are boring . . . There's no magic, no monsters, no loving recreation of the past in these books, just our present-day world and one extraordinary kid."

The Children's Book Council, Inc. is the nonprofit trade association of United States publishers and packagers of trade books for children and young adults and is the official sponsor of Children's Book Week.