1. SHOW ME READER AWARDS 2011-2012

2. Nubs, the True Story of a Mutt, a Marine, & a Miracle Nubs, an Iraqi dog of war, never had a home or a person of his own. He was the leader of a pack of wild dogs living off the land and barely surviving. But Nubs's life changed when he met Marine Major Brian Dennis. The two formed a fast friendship, made stronger by Dennis's willingness to share his meals, offer a warm place to sleep, and give Nubs the kind of care and attention he had never received before. Nubs became part of Dennis's human "pack" until duty required the Marines to relocate a full 70 miles away--without him. Nubs had no way of knowing that Marines were not allowed to have pets. So began an incredible journey that would take Nubs through a freezing desert, filled with danger to find his friend and would lead Dennis on a mission that would touch the hearts of people all over the world.

3. Desert Rose and her Highfalutin Hog When gritty pig farmer Desert Rose finds a gold nugget, just a-lyin’ there in the mud, she decides to buy herself the biggest, fattest hog she can find. But getting that highfalutin hog home in time for the Laredo state fair proves to be more than Rose bargained for. When a cold-hearted coyote, persnickety snake, lethargic Texas longhorn, and a whole host of other southern varmints prove to be unhelpful, Rose must pair up with a shrewd armadillo to get every animal over the river and off to Laredo in time.

4. Finding Lincoln Louis needs to write an essay for school about young Abraham Lincoln. But it's 1951 in Alabama, and African Americans cannot use the public library. Mama says one day soon they'll be able to check out books, but Louis isn't going to wait! When he makes a brave journey into the "whites- only" library, something surprising and wonderful happens - he meets a brave young librarian.

5. Dewey: There’s a Cat in the Library When Librarian Vicki Myron finds a young kitten abandoned in the Spencer Library return box, she nurses him back to health, deciding then and there that he will be their library cat, and naming him, appropriately, Dewey Readmore Books. Dewey loves his new home, but once he discovers the littlest library visitors-who like to chase him, pull his tail, and squeeze him extra tight-Dewey begins to wonder if he's truly cut out for the demands of his new job.

6. Stars Above Us Amanda is afraid of the dark, so her father takes her outside one night to look up at the stars. Still, her room is dark and scary, so Daddy brings home paper and paint to make stars that glow in the dark and pastes them on her ceiling. When he goes away, he tells her that he will be able to see the North Star just as she can. He gives her a puppy called Bear, another name for the Big Dipper. Only when he calls from his military post on the other side of the world do readers understand that Amanda's fear of the dark masks a deeper fear for his safety.

7. Testing the Ice: A True Story About Jackie Robinson An affectionate tribute to Robinson's father's courage and character. In 1955, the family leaves New York City for a lakeside home in an idyllic, woodsy setting in Connecticut. Sharon and her brothers quickly make friends with the neighborhood kids and spend much of their time playing in and around the lake, though she notices that her dad never joins them in the water. Her new friends are awestruck by him and his stories of his breakthrough into the Major Leagues. When he bravely tests the ice so that the children can play on the frozen lake, Sharon realizes that he can't swim.

8. Peace Week in Miss Fox’s Class Miss Fox is tired of hearing her young students quarrel. So she announces Peace Week � no more squabbling for one whole week! The children chime in with their own rules: no fighting, don't say mean things, and help others. Throughout the week each of the little animals gets a chance to practice this new behavior. When Polecat teases Bunny for wearing a bright yellow sweater, instead of poking fun back at Polecat, Bunny admires his sweater. Soon, to their surprise, the animals are finding that it's easy to help others, take turns, and say nice things, even when someone is grumpy to them. Wouldn't it be nice, Squirrel says, if every week could be Peace Week? Home Back

9. Twist of Fate: The Miracle Colt and His Friends A truck careened along the Missouri interstate on a starless night carrying 42 horses destined for a slaughterhouse in Dekalb, Illinois. Suddenly without warning, the truck failed to manage a curve on I-44. Brakes squealed, and the top-heavy trailer lurched and crashed to its side. Twenty-six horses survived that night. Told by Twister, an unborn colt at the time of the accident, Twist of Fate: The Miracle Colt and His Friends portrays the experience of the surviving animals and how they came to live at Longmeadow Rescue Ranch, a haven for neglected animals.

10. Itsy Bitsy & Teeny Weeny One spring, as part of their animal rescue work on Hazel Ridge Farm, Gijsbert (Nick) and Robbyn van Frankenhuyzen find themselves caring for a lamb and an orphaned fawn at the same time. They name the lamb Teeny Weeny and the fawn Itsy Bitsy. Raised as “siblings,“ the two youngsters are inseparable that summer, sharing a playpen in the house, romping together, and just getting into general mischief. As the seasons change, Itsy Bitsy and Teeny Weeny grow into their true selves, away from “Mother” Robbyn and each other. Nature must take its course and the two animals go their separate ways: one back to a life in the wild and the other on to domestic farm life.

11. Minnow and Rose: an Oregon Trail Story When Rose's family reaches a river, they set camp with their wagons for the night on the Oregon Trail. Rose catches sight of some teepees, as well as a Native American girl, when she goes to fetch water. The two girls, Minnow and Rose, form a friendship, as Minnow's father helps the white men make the river crossing. When Rose falls into the river, Minnow pulls her to safety. The two girls celebrate their friendship, finding similarities across a great divide.