Teacher Survey of Newbery Books

While doing some research for a paper, I came across this interesting survey... I'm going to take the test and then check how I compare! Mind you, I'm doing this from memory, no looking at the list of titles.

Descriptor/Clue Title

1. Claudia runs away and lives at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art

This is one of the winners I had previously read, I hope to be able to review this gem soon! Maybe I'll read it when I'm home for Christmas break.

2.  An epic type book set in the land of Pyrdain
Ummmm... I know it's by L. Alexander. Can't remember if it is The Book of Three or not.

3.  Poor black sharecroppers and a faithful coon dog

Wooo! Here's one I read for the review. I recommend this book to anyone, even those who aren't particularly fans of the 'dog story' genre.
4.  A mentally disabled younger brother named Charlie
I believe this one to be Summer of the Swans, but again I'm not sure.

5.  Super rats
I haven't the foggiest idea.

6. Her Eskimo name is Miyak

Another one I reviewed and loved! Certainly one I'd consider using in a classroom someday.
7. A 13 year old white boy is forced to join the crew of a slave ship and "dance" the slaves
Well, based off of the description I'm pretty sure this is Slave Dancer.

8.  Mayo Cornelius Higgins
Not a clue.

9.  Will Stanton tries to find the golden harp to awaken the ancient sleepers
I'm thinking that there is a book called The Golden Harp.

10.  Cassie Logan, a girl reared by a proud and independent black family
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry... I'm not entirely sure that's one of the winners.

11.  The secret land of Leslie and Jess

A great book, hard to believe I read it almost a year ago, I still remember it very vividly.
12.  Sixteen heirs to the Sam Westing estate
The Westing Game, haven't read but know the premise.

13.  A 14 year old New Hampshire girl keeps a journal for two years and during this time her father remarries and her best friend dies
A Gathering of Days - look for my review of this one soon!

14. Chesapeake life of Caroline and Louise
I don't know.

15.  A book of poems about life at an imaginary inn run by William Blake

Uhhhh.... Yeah, I've read it. And it's okay. 
16. Dicey, James, Maybeth and Sammy Tillerman
Dicey's Song

17.  Journal writing of Leigh Botts to his favorite author
I don't know. 

18.  Aerin, with the guidance of the wizard Luthe and with the help of the blue sword, wins the birthright due her as the daughter due her as the daughter of a Damarian King
Crap, I don't know, but this one sounds awesome!

19.  A mail-order bride from Maine

Yet, another great read! My review is almost as long as the book!!!
20.  Prince Brat and Jemmy

This is a fun little read. I recommend this for the younger patrons of the Newbery Medal.
21. 16th president "in pictures"
Abraham Lincoln: A Photobiography

22.  Celebration of insect life and insect poetry

Super enjoyable! I wasn't sure about this book, but when I listened to it I found it to be very interesting.

23.  Danish Jews escape/Copenhagen 1943

Still my favorite among the winners! If you only read one of the Newbery Winners this is the one I would recommend.
24.  Jeffrey Lionel was always running

Another of my favorites, haven't reviewed it yet, but this is the first book I stayed up late reading.

25.  A lost beagle, Marry Preston and Judd Travers
Possibly Shiloh?

26.  Aunt May, Uncle Ob, Summer and Cletus

A real short read. Simple, but very nice; not thought-provoking but feel provoking.
27.  Ceremony of Twelve, Jonas and Gabriel
No idea.


So now that I've done the survey I'm looking at the results.

Results of Survey 2 -
Newbery Award Books 72 respondents
Title - Percentage of teachers answering correctly - Did I get it?

1.      From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler                      0         Yes

2.      The High King                                   0                       No (But close)

3.      Sounder                                           51.3                     Yes

4.      Summer of the Swans                      33.3                    Yes

5.      Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH       62.5                No

6.      Julie of the Wolves                           20.8                   Yes

7.      The Slave Dancer                             11.1                    Yes

8.      M.C. Higgins, The Great                  25.0                   No

9.      The Grey King                                   0                       No

10.  Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry          19.4                  Yes

11.  Bridge to Terabithia                          51.3                   Yes

12.  The Westing Game                             11.1                 Yes

13.  A Gathering of Days                          18.0                 Yes

14.  Jacob Have I Loved                            50.0                 No

15.  William Blake's Inn                             0                    Yes

16.  Dicey's Song                                      9.7                   Yes

17.  Dear Mr. Henshaw                            20.8                   No

18.  The Hero and the Crown                          0                No

19.  Sarah, Plain and Tall                         70.8                   Yes

20.  The Whipping Boy                             16.6                  Yes

21.  Lincoln: A Photobiography                   4.1                 Yes

22.  Joyful Noise                                          4.1                 Yes

23.  Number the Stars                             19.4                    Yes

24.  Maniac Magee                                 11.1                     Yes

25.  Shiloh                                                 4.1                    Yes

26.  Missing May                                   2.7                       Yes

27.  The Giver                                            0                     No

Which gives me a 70.4%. Not too bad, all the ones I got wrong are ones I hadn't read yet, so I'm feeling pretty good. Would you be able to do it?

Rabbit Hill, Newbery Winner 1944

I know, it's been a long while since I've written anything, but I've kept pretty busy with school work. Anyway, I took the holiday weekend as an opportunity to breeze through this short work.
Rabbit Hill was written by Robert Lawson who, though a prolific author, isn't very famous today. His only other work that I had heard of was Ben and I. I had seen his illustrations before in The Story of Ferdinand and Mr. Popper's Penguins.
The problem I found with this book is that it is quite obviously dated. Mind you it is still enjoyable in it's own fashion but I have no idea what demographic I recommend it for; I enjoyed it and I think that my brother may begrudgingly find amusement in it, but we also had several of the old talking animal stories read to us as children, far more than I see with my peers or younger children. For instance, I found some of the best bedtime stories in this book:

Raise your hand if you remember this.

 

No one I know has even heard of Uncle Wiggily, whom my young mind believed to be as important as Winnie the Pooh. Turns out Uncle Wiggily was popular in the 1910s - 30s. There was even a school reader!

However, I just cannot think of any child today who is both willing to enjoy a simple story such as Robert Lawson has penned and verbose enough to comprehend the dialogue of the characters.