The Red Clover Children's Choice Picture Book Award promotes the reading and discussion of the best of contemporary picture books in most of Vermont's elementary schools. Each year over 23,000 K-4 students read or have read to them the 10 nominated books.

Here is a sneak preview of the Red Clover nominees for 2005-06!

Actual Size
written and illustrated by Steve Jenkins

Discusses and gives examples of the size and weight of various animals and parts of animals.

Going North
by Janice N. Harrington
illustrated by Jerome Lagarrigue

A young African American girl and her family leave their home in Alabama and head for Lincoln, Nebraska, where they hope to escape segregation and find a better life.

If Not for the Cat
written by Jack Prelutsky
illustrated by Ted Rand

Presents an illustrated collection of haiku-style poems about different animals.

The Impudent Rooster
adapted by Sabina A. Rascol from a Romanian story by Ion Creanga
illustrated by Holly Berry

Using his amazing swallowing ability, a rooster foils the evil plans of a greedy nobleman and brings back riches to his poor master.

Kitten's First Full Moon
written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes

When Kitten mistakes the full moon for a bowl of milk, she ends up tired, wet, and hungry trying to reach it.

2005 Caldecott Medal winner

Knuffle Bunny
written and illustrated by Mo Willems

Trixie becomes very unhappy when she accompanies her daddy to the laundromat and realizes she has lost her stuffed bunny.

2005 Caldecott Honor book

Miss Birdie Chose a Shovel
by Leslie Connor
illustrated by Mary Azarian

Miss Bridie emigrates to America in 1856 and chooses to bring a shovel, which proves to be a useful tool throughout her life.

Mr. George Baker
by Amy Hest
illustrated by Jon J. Muth

Harry sits on the porch with Mr. George Baker, an African American who is one hundred years old but can still dance and play the drums, waiting for the school bus that will take them both to the class where they are learning to read.

The Red Book
by Barbara Lehman

A wordless story in which a little girl finds a red book in the snow that holds an astonishing surprise.

Skin Again
by Bell Hooks
illustrated by Chris Raschka

Children note that skin color is not as important as what is inside a person for determing who a person really is.