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The students' favorite books this year seemed to have quite a lot of action, Stuckenschneider added. "Like 'Boys of Steel,' which received the most votes in the Middle Pick category."
This nonfiction picture book was a Book Buzz Pick in September 2008 and told the story of the creators of the comic book hero, "Superman."
About the Poll
Annually, young readers have the opportunity to cast votes for the Book Buzz Books that were recommended from September through August, a total of 36 books in three age categories. Ballots are sent to area school and students vote for the Book Buzz Book they've read in their age division. Ballots also are published in The Missourian and online.
A winning title is chosen in each age category - Youngest, Middle and Oldest Pick, with the Golden Hive Award going to the book that receives the most votes overall.
Dawn Kitchell, who manages the Book Buzz project with Stuckenschneider, said the release of movies tied to Book Buzz Picks seems to catapult the books to victory.
"The same thing happened in 2006 with the release of the movie, 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,' from 'The Chronicles of Narnia' series," Kitchell said. "The book was one of Newsbee's Picks that year, and it won the Book Buzz Book of the Year."
Synopsis of the Winning Picks
Ê"The Tale of Despereaux" features an adorable runt of a mouse with overlarge ears and dreams to match. Despereaux Tilling doesn't eat books, he reads them; he's attracted to light and music, and he's in love with the castle beauty, Princess Pea.
Despereaux's feelings for the princess land him in the dungeon where rats reign supreme, and pathetic Miggery Sow delivers meals to the jailer. Terrified, Despereaux bravely faces down the evil rat Roscuro who sets a terrible plan in motion to reap revenge on Princess Pea.Ê
"The Tale of Despereaux" is a modern-day fairy tale with edgy illustrations by Timothy Basil Ering.
Ê
In "The Little Engine That Could" by Watty Piper the happy green train is having a banner day. Chugging along, its cars are filled with a "jolly load" for the "good little boys and girls on the other side of the mountain."
Suddenly, fate throws a wrench in the works, and the train comes to an abrupt halt. How are the toys and dolls going to get to the good little children?
When all seems hopeless, an unlikely hero appears, a little blue engine with a motto we'd all be wise to adopt - "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can."
Another book that features a theme of determination is "Boys of Steel, the Creators of Superman" by Marc Tyler Nobleman.
As a high school student during the Depression, Jerry Siegel was unpopular and couldn't succeed. He found refuge by reading comic books and watching motion pictures about the superheroes of the day - Tarzan, Flash Gordon and others. At night he'd escape to his room to write stories.
Another teen, Joe Shuster, was an outcast too. He was small like Jerry and equally as quiet. Joe's hobby was drawing.
When Jerry and Joe combine forces to create comic books about a superhero with an "S" on his chest, editors at big publishing companies laugh them out the door. But Jerry and Joe get the last laugh in this inspirational book.
Following is a run-down of this year's Book Buzz Winners:
Youngest Pick
First Place, "The Little Engine That Could" by Watty Piper.
Second Place, "The Pencil" by Allan Ahlberg.
Third Place, "Bats in the Library" by Brian Lies.
Fourth Place, "Lester Fizz, Bubble Gum Artist" by Ruth Spiro.
Middle Pick
First Place, "Boys of Steel" by Marc Tyler Nobleman.
Second Place, "McCumber McGee and the Lunch Lady's Liver" by Patrick Loehr.
Third Place, "Billy Twitters and His Blue Whale Problem" by Mac Barnett.
Fourth Place, "Crocodile Safari" by Jim Arhosky.
Oldest Pick
First Place, "The Tale of Despereaux" by Kate DiCamillo.
Second Place, "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix.
Third Place, "The Last Leopard" by Lauren St. John.
Fourth Place, "Freedom Train" by Evelyn Coleman.
