This document provides summaries for 20 children's books nominated for the 2013 Monarch Award. Each summary is 1-2 sentences and describes the key elements and topic of the book such as the characters, plot, or historical facts covered. The books cover a wide range of genres from fables and rhyming stories to biographies and cumulative tales.

1. The 2013 Monarch Award
Illinois’ Grades K-3 Readers’ Choice Award
Sponsored by the Illinois School Library Media Association
Naomi Mellendorf
Library Information Specialist
Robert Crown Elementary School
Wauconda, Illinois

2. Ant and Grasshopper
by Luli Gray
While he stocks up for the
winter, Ant is annoyed by
Grasshopper's singing and
dancing all summer long, but
soon realizes there is value in
having fun.
Naomi Mellendorf, District #118, December 2012

3. Lousy Rotten Stinkin’ Grapes
by Margie Palatini
Retells the fable of a
frustrated fox that, after
many tries to reach a
high bunch of grapes,
decides they must be
sour anyway.
Naomi Mellendorf, District #118, December 2012

4. Where in the Wild? Camouflaged Creatures
Concealed…and Revealed
by Nic Bishop
Poems with clues prompt readers to guess the identities of
ten camouflaged animals, revealed in gatefolds, and fact
pages present information on each species, discussing
their camouflage and life cycles.
Naomi Mellendorf, District #118, December 2012

5. Pop! The Invention of Bubble Gum
by Meghan McCarthy
A collection of amusing
historical facts on the
invention of bubble gum.
Naomi Mellendorf, District #118, December 2012

6. Clemente!
by Willie Perdomo and Bryan Collier
A little boy named Clemente is
proud to learn about the life,
career, and charitable work of
his namesake, baseball great
Roberto Clemente, the first
Latin American player inducted
into the Hall of Fame.
Naomi Mellendorf, District #118, December 2012

7. Bink & Gollie
by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee
Two roller-skating best friends--
one tiny, one tall--share three
comical adventures involving
outrageously bright socks, an
impromptu trek to the Andes,
and a most unlikely marvelous
companion.
Naomi Mellendorf, District #118, December 2012

8. The Big Fat Cow that Goes Kapow
by Joanne Ryder
Ten funny rhyming stories
for beginning readers.
Naomi Mellendorf, District #118, December 2012

9. How Rocket Learned to Read
by Tad Hills
A little yellow bird
teaches Rocket the
dog how to read by
first introducing him
to the alphabet.
Naomi Mellendorf, District #118, December 2012

10. That Cat Can’t Stay
by Thad Kramesky
A dad's patience is pushed to the
limit by his cat-loving wife and her
penchant for adopting stray cats,
but after he gives in to the first
one, four more take over his
favorite chair and he decides it is
time to adopt a puppy from the
pound.
Naomi Mellendorf, District #118, December 2012

11. Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes
by Andrew Clements
Pete the cat moves,
grooves, and sings
while exploring the
different parts of
school.
Naomi Mellendorf, District #118, December 2012

12. Even Monsters Need Haircuts
by Matthew McElligott
At night under a full moon,
a boy operates a barber
shop full of monsters.
Naomi Mellendorf, District #118, December 2012

13. A Sick Day for Amos McGee
by Philip C. Stead
Zookeeper Amos McGee,
who is adored by all the
animals, gets some
unexpected guests while
home sick one day.
Naomi Mellendorf, District #118, December 2012

14. The Circus Ship
by Chris Van Dusen
A circus ship has an accident
off the coast of Maine which
leaves the animals stranded,
but they are soon taken in by
the citizens of a small island
who grow fond of the new
residents and fight to protect
them.
Naomi Mellendorf, District #118, December 2012

15. Art & Max
by David Wiesner
Max wants to be an artist
like Arthur, but his first
attempt at using a
paintbrush sends the two
friends on a whirlwind trip
through various media, with
unexpected consequences.
Naomi Mellendorf, District #118, December 2012
Naomi Mellendorf, District #118, December 2012

16. We Are in a Book!
by Mo Willems
Piggie realizes that she and Gerald
the elephant are in a book and that
she can make the reader say words,
but when Gerald comes to
understand the danger of the book
ending, Piggie comes up with a
solution to get the reader to keep
reading.
Naomi Mellendorf, District #118, December 2012

17. Frankie Pickle and the Closet of Doom
Eric Wight
Frankie Piccolini has a vivid
imagination when it comes
to cleaning his disastrously
messy room, but eventually
even he decides that it is
just too dirty.
Naomi Mellendorf, District #118, December 2012

18. Blackout
by John Rocco
Neighbors gather on the roof
after the power goes out on
a hot night in the city and
start having so much fun not
everyone is happy when the
lights go back on.
Naomi Mellendorf, District #118, December 2012

19. Night Flight : Amelia Earhart Crosses the Atlantic
by Robert Burleigh with paintings by Wendell Minor
An account of Amelia
Earhart's dangerous 1932
flight across the Atlantic
Ocean from Newfoundland
to Ireland, in which she
survived bad weather and
a malfunctioning airplane.
Includes a brief biography
of the aviator.
Naomi Mellendorf, District #118, December 2012

20. The Cazuela that the Farm Maiden Stirred
by Samantha R. Vamos and illustrated by Rafael López
A cumulative tale of a farm
maiden who, aided by a group
of animals, prepares "Arroz con
Leche," or rice pudding.
Includes recipe and glossary of
the Spanish words that are
woven throughout the text.
Naomi Mellendorf, District #118, December 2012