Volunteer State Book Award Primary Division

Ocean Sunlight: How Tiny Plants Feed the Seas by Molly Bang and Penny Chisolm From tiny aquatic plants to the biggest whale or fish, this book presents a picture of the life within our wondrous oceans

Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham; Illustrated by Paul Zelinsky Moose is terribly eager to play his part in Zebra's alphabet book, but when his letter passes him by, Moose behaves rather badly until Zebra finds a spot for him.

A Is for Musk Ox by Erin Cabatingan; Illustrated Matthew Myers Musk Ox takes over an alphabet book, explaining to his friend Zebra why almost every letter can be used to describe musk oxen.

Charlie the Ranch Dog by Ree Drummond; Illustrated by Diane deGroat. While Charlie, a sleepy basset hound, tells about the busy life of a ranch dog, his best friend Suzie, a Jack Russell terrier, is getting the work done.

Not a Buzz to be found: Insects in Winter by Linda Glaser; Illustrated by Jaime Zollars This book shows how twelve different insects survive during the cold winter months.

Lost and Found by Bill Harley; Illustrated by Adam Gustavson Justin has lost the hat his grandmother made for him, and if he is to find it in time for her visit he will have to go talk to Mr. Rumkowsky, the gruff old school custodian in charge of the Lost and Found.

Charley’s First Night by Amy Hest; Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury Henry shows in new puppy Charley around the house, and even though Henry's parents say that the pet will sleep in the kitchen, the rules might change when Charley begins to cry.

Nasty Bugs: Poems Lee Bennett Hopkins (ed.); Illustrated by Will Terry A collection of creepy, crawly poems about bugs that includes information about each creature.

My First Day: What Animals Do on Day One by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page Newborn animals describe things they did on the day they were born. Includes facts about each species featured in the book.

Neville by Norton Juster; Illustrated by G. Brian Karas. When a boy and his family move to a new house, he devises an ingenious way to meet people in the neighborhood.

Senorita Gordita By Helen Kettman; Illustrated by Will Terry This book resets the tale of the Gingerbread boy in the southwest, where the scrumptious Gordita eludes her pursuers until she meets a clever owl. Includes glossary of Spanish terms and a Gordita's recipe.

This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen A tiny fish wearing a blue hat hopes not to wake up the trouble that might be following close behind him.

It's a Tiger! by David LaRochelle; Illustrated by Jeremy Tankard A child imagines that he is in a story where he encounters a tiger at every turn.

On My Way to the Bath by Sarah Maizes; Illustrated by Michael Paraskevas. Livi imagines herself as a snake, a gymnast, a rock star, and more as she tries to avoid taking a bath.

These Hands by Margaret Mason; Illustrated by Floyd Cooper An African American man tells his grandson about a time when, despite all the wonderful things his hands could do, they could not touch bread at the Wonder Bread factory.

Creepy Carrots! by Aaron Reynolds; Illustrated by Peter Brown. The carrots that grow in Crackenhopper Field are the fattest and crispiest around. Jasper Rabbit cannot resist pulling some to eat each time he passes by, until he begins hearing and seeing creepy carrots wherever he goes.

Tales for Very Picky Eaters by Josh Schneider A father tells outlandish stories while trying to get his young son, who is a very picky eater, to eat foods he thinks he will not like.

Memoirs of a Goldfish by Devin Scillian; Illustrated by Tim Bowers A goldfish gives a personal account of his experiences while swimming around his bowl as it slowly fills with fish and other accessories, only to realize when he is relocated for a cleaning how much he misses them.

Balloons over Broadway by Melissa Sweet This is the biography of puppeteer Tony Sarg, the man who first invented the helium balloons that have become the trademark of the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

A Storm Called Katrina by Myron Uhlberg; Illustrated by Colin Bootman. When flood waters submerge their New Orleans neighborhood in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, a young cornet player and his parents evacuate their home and struggle to survive and stay together