Below is the list of Triple Crown nominees for the 2016­2017 School Year. It is divided th​
th​
th
into the 3 sections: Gallery, (3­4​
grade) Crown (3­5​
grade) and Lamplighter (4­5​
grade) 2016­2017 Gallery Book List The Blue Whale​
, by Jenni Desmond, ISBN 978­1592701650, RL5.30. A nonfiction picture book, The Blue Whale draws children into the life and world of this enormous whale by situating facts within a familiar context that is fun and engaging. Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music​
, by Margarita Engle, ISBN 978­0544102293, RL4.20. In early 20th century Cuba, drumming was something for only boys and men. This book tells of Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, a girl so enamored of the drums that she even managed to change her own father’s mind, getting lessons and becoming the first well­known female drummer in Cuba, and the one to open the way for all girls after her to have the chance. Last Stop on Market Street​
, by Matt De La Peña , ISBN 978­0399257742, RL3.30. CJ and his nana have a Sunday morning routine. After church they walk to the bus stop, board the bus, and take a ride. The book follows them on their bus ride one Sunday. CJ wishes he didn’t have to go. He’s envious of his friends who have cars, and who get to go home after church. But every time he complains, his nana points out all the good parts of their day and the blessings they enjoy. Little Elliot, Big City​
, by Mike Curato, ISBN 978­0805098259, RL2.10. Amid the hustle and bustle of the big city, the big crowds and bigger buildings, Little Elliot leads a quiet life. In spite of the challenges he faces, Elliot finds many wonderful things to enjoy―like cupcakes! And when his problems seem insurmountable, Elliot discovers something even sweeter―a friend. Mahalia Jackson: Walking with Kings and Queens​
, by Nina Nolan, ISBN 978­0060879440, RL4.00. Mahalia Jackson went down in history as the Queen of Gospel. This picture book biography follows her life starting in childhood. It highlights her struggles, victories and career as a singer over several decades. She never gave up or let others put her down due to the color of her skin. She paved the way for many other people of color to follow in her successful footsteps. Monster Needs Your Vote​
, by Paul Czajak, ISBN 978­1938063633, RL3.00. Part of the delightful ‘Monster Needs’ rhyming picture book series about a young boy and his friendly, blue­furred monster, this title is about politics and moral causes. Czajak weaves an encouraging and fun tale that will teach children about the voting process and the importance of making their voice heard. My Grandfather’s Coat​
, by Jim Aylesworth, ISBN 978­0439925457, RL4.10. Based on the Yiddish folk song “I Had a Little Overcoat,” this splendid tale chronicles four generations through the a grandfather’s coat, which becomes a jacket, then a vest and so on. A New Friend​
, by Poppy Green, ISBN 978­1481428323, RL3.40. In this first of a charming series about a little mouse and her forest friends, Sophie Mouse must convince her classmates—and herself—that a new student is nothing to fear. Out of the Woods: A True Story of an Unforgettable Event​
, by Rebecca Bond, ISBN 978­0374380779, RL4.80. The true story of a surreal event during a fire that happened to the author’s grandfather in Canada in the early 1900’s. Red​
, by Jan De Kinder , ISBN 978­0802854469, RL3.00. Originally from Belgium, this quiet yet powerful book addresses bullying. When a little girl notices her classmate blushing, her initial amusement turns to regret as a wink, a grin, and a laugh to the others make things much worse. 2016­2017 Crown Book List Africa is My Home: A Child of the Amistad​
, by Monica Edinger, ISBN 978­0763650384, RL5.30. This story is based on a real person,nine­year­old Magulu, who is captured in Africa and sold into slavery in New England. Her life is followed until she, as an adult, becomes a teacher in her beloved homeland. Anna Was Here​
, by Jane Kurtz, ISBN 978­0060564933, RL4.00. Three generations of the Nickel family reunite, when Anna, her mom, dad, and younger sister Isabella, relocate to Oakwood, Kansas. Bluffton: My Summers with Buster Keaton​
, by Matt Phelan, ISBN 978­0763650797, RL2.50. During a typically boring summer in a small town, a vaudeville troupe with various exotic animals, come to stay at a nearby lake. Henry meets Buster Keaton, a real performer a long time ago, and exciting things begin to happen. The Boy on the Porch​
, by Sharon Creech, ISBN 978­0061892356, RL4.00. A young couple inexplicably finds a boy on their porch. John and Marta know they have been chosen to care for the boy and they try to unravel his history. Duke​
, by Kirby Larson, ISBN 978­0545416375, RL3.50. In 1944 Hobie Hanson’s father is flying B­24s in Europe, so Hobie decides to donate his beloved German Shepard to Dogs for Defense in hope it will help end the war sooner. Electrical Wizard: How Nikola Tesla Lit Up the World​
, by Elizabeth Rusch, ISBN 978­0763658557, RL5.30. Always fascinated by this thing called electricity, he eventually proved that AC, not DC, was the wave of the future. Tesla is that often overlooked genius who left a stunning legacy in his field. Friends of Liberty​
, by Beatrice Gormley, ISBN 978­0802854186, RL5.70. Sally Gifford, a Patriot shoemaker’s daughter, tries to maintain her close relationship with Kitty Lawton, the daughter of a Loyalist as pre­Revolutionary war tensions increase and push them apart. Half a Chance​
, by Cynthia Lord, ISBN 978­0545035330, RL4.50. The summer that Lucy’s family moves to a lake house, she spends time taking pictures of her new surroundings. She wants to show her professional photographer dad that she too has the same talent. A Home for Mr. Emerson​
, by Barbara Kerley, ISBN 978­0545350884, RL5.00. Ralph Waldo Emerson grew up in the city but always longed for open fields and still country woods. He wondered if he could turn his love of books, ideas, and people into a life built around these things. Then he began to write.... A Hundred Horses​
, by Sarah Lean, ISBN 978­0062122308, RL4.50. Eleven­year­old Nell must spend her spring break with an aunt and cousins she has never met. While there she learns of a mysterious, wild girl with a strong connection to horses and an uncanny understanding of Nell. The Junction of Sunshine and Lucky​
, by Holly Schindler, ISBN 978­0803737259, RL5.00. Auggie and her grandfather use found objects to transform the appearance of their home and, in the process, change a whole town’s perceptions of beauty and art. 1 of 2 5/20/16, 6:30 PM Book Lists | Triple Crown Awards http://www.triplecrownawards.org/resources/book­lists/2016­20... Mysterious Patterns: Finding Fractels in Nature​
, by Sarah C. Campbell, ISBN 978­1620916278, RL5.20. This captivating photographic collaboration reveals fascinating fractal patterns in nature based on their discovery by scientist Benoit Mandellbrot. The Mystery of Meerkat Hill​
, by Alexander McCall Smith, ISBN 978­0345804587, RL4.80. Precious already knows she wants to be a detective and she hones her skills by helping to find a missing cow that belongs to the family of two new students at her school. On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein​
, by Jennifer Berne , ISBN 978­0811872355, RL4.50. This new biography invites the reader to travel along on a journey of curiosity,laughter, and scientific discovery. The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus​
, by Jen Bryant, ISBN 978­0802853851, RL4.10. This is the story of Peter Mark Roget, creator of Roget’s Thesaurus, which has continually been in print for almost 175 years and is still one of the most widely used reference books. A Snicker of Magic​
, by Natalie Lloyd, ISBN 978­0545552738, RL4.70. When Felicity Pickle and her mom stay with her aunt for awhile after being constantly on the move, Felicity begins to get a sense of family. She also learns what a real friend can be when Oliver sticks by her in good times and bad. Summer of Courage​
, by Karen Pavlicin, ISBN 978­1934617243, RL4.30. While he does not look forward to spending a summer with his grandmother, he learns to accept that faith will help him deal with the changes that life brings starting with his father’s recent death. Originally published in hardback in 2007 as Perch, Mrs. Sackets, and Crow’s Nest it was also a Children’s Crown Award Nominee. Thomas Jefferson Builds a Library​
, by Barb Rosenstock, ISBN 978­1590789322, RL4.80. From a very young age Thomas loved to read and collect books, hundreds first, then thousands. His various collections led to the creation of the world’s largest library, the Library of Congress To Dare Mighty Things: The Life of Theodore Roosevelt​
, by Doreen Rappaport , ISBN 978­1423124887, RL4.80. Even as a boy Teddy had ambitious dreams to change the world. As a man he had the conviction to see his stupendous imaginings brought to fruition. He also became one of the most beloved American presidents. The Year of the Baby​
, by Andrea Cheng , ISBN 978­0544225251, RL3.90. Anna is concerned that her recently adopted baby sister is not thriving, so she and her classmates create a science project that may save the day. 2016­2017 Lamplighter Book List Beyond the Laughing Sky​
, by Michelle Cuevas, ISBN 9780142423059, RL5.40. Ten­year­old Nashville doesn’t feel like he belongs with his family, in his town, or even in this world. He was hatched from an egg his father found on the sidewalk and has grown into something not quite boy and not quite bird. Despite the support of his loving parents and his adoring sister, Junebug, Nashville wishes more than anything that he could join his fellow birds up in the sky. After all, what’s the point of being part bird if you can’t even touch the clouds? Book Scavenger​
, by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman, ISBN 9781627791151, RL5.50. For twelve­year­old Emily, the best thing about moving to San Francisco is that it’s the home city of her literary idol: Garrison Griswold, book publisher and creator of the online sensation Book Scavenger (a game where books are hidden in cities all over the country and clues to find them are revealed through puzzles). Upon her arrival, however, Emily learns that Griswold has been attacked and is now in a coma, and no one knows anything about the epic new game he had been poised to launch. Then Emily and her new friend James discover an odd book, which they come to believe is from Griswold himself, and might contain the only copy of his mysterious new game. Finding Faith in the Field​
, by Benjamin Duane Hylden, ISBN 9781938633591, RL0.00. On a cold April day, Ben Hylden tried on his suit coat for the upcoming school prom, then sped toward nearby Park River, ND, for an appointment. Running late and driving too fast, he lost control of his car on ice, flipped the car and was thrown out the passenger’s door­plunging face first into an icy field. Ben’s face and body were crushed, along with his dreams of being a basketball star. As his battered body lay in the field, Ben’s life seemed to be coming to an end. However, it turned out to only be the beginning of a remarkable journey of faith that showed him glimpses of life beyond this world, and gave him a new perspective on what matters most. Jack: The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk​
, by Liesl Shurtliff, ISBN 9780385755801, RL4.40. All his life, Jack has longed for an adventure, so when giants turn up in the neighbor’s cabbage patch, he is thrilled! Soon Jack is chasing them to a land beyond the clouds, with his little sister, Annabella...The king of the giants has taken something that belongs to them, and they’ll do anything—even dive into a smelly tureen of green bean soup—to get it back. Kid President’s Guide to Being Awesome​
, by Robby Novak and Brad Montague, ISBN 978­0062358684, RL5.50. In his Guide to Being Awesome, Kid President pulls together lists of awesome ideas to help the world, awesome interviews with his awesome celebrity friends. The Shark Rider​
, by Ellen Prager, ISBN 9781938063510, RL5.00. After thwarting the dastardly plans of J.P. Rickerton, Tristan Hunt is having trouble keeping his newfound talents a secret. And if undercover spies and a mysterious illness threatening to expose the secrets of camp weren’t enough, reports of dying fish and disappearing sponge in the Caribbean call Tristan and his friends back into action. Soar​
, by Joan Bauer, ISBN 978­0451470348, RL3.60. Jeremiah is the world’s biggest baseball fan. He really loves baseball and he knows just about everything there is to know about his favorite sport. So when he’s told he can’t play baseball following an operation on his heart, Jeremiah decides he’ll do the next best thing and become a coach. Stubby the War Dog: The True Story of World War I’s Bravest Dog​
, by Ann Bausum, ISBN 978­1426314865, RL7.40. Stubby, the stump­tailed terrier, worked behind enemy lines, and gained military honors along the way. Private Robert Conroy casually adopted the orphan pup while attending basic training on the campus of Yale University in 1917. The Connecticut volunteer never imagined that his stray dog would become a war hero. Almost 100 years later, Stubby’s great deeds and brave heart make him an animal hero to fall in love with and treasure all over again. Untamed: The Wild Life of Jane Goodall​
, by Anita Silvey , ISBN 978­1426315183, RL7.40. Jane Goodall, one of the most recognized scientists in the Western world, became internationally famous because of her ability to observe and connect with another species. She began tirelessly fighting to protect the environment so that chimpanzees and other animals will continue have a place and a future on our planet. Writer to Writer: From Think to Ink​
, by Gail Carson Levine , ISBN 978­0062275295, RL6.50. If you’re interested in writing prose and poetry or just want to be a better and more rounded writer, this book will help you on your creative journey.