Prairie Bud Nominees 2009-2010

Cressida Cowell

Emily Brown's rabbit, Stanley, is NOT FOR SALE. Not even to her Most Royal Highness Queen Gloriana the Third. Not even for all the toys Emily Brown could ever desire. So when naughty Queen Gloriana steals “Bunnywunny” away, Emily Brown sets out to get him back. Along the way, she shows the queen how to love a special toy of her very own.

Grade Level: K-2
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children

Beverly Donofrio

MARY LIVED IN A BIG HOUSE with a very little mouse. The mouse lived in a little house inside of a very big house, with Mary. Even though Mary has been warned to stay away from mice — and Mouse has been warned to steer clear of people — the two can't help but peek at one another. Side by side, they grow up, go to college, get married, and have children of their own — Maria and MouseMouse. And then one day, Maria and MouseMouse do something surprising… something their parents never did. They actually come nose-to-nose and speak to one another!

Grade Level: K-2
Publisher: Random House Children's Books

Eric Kimmel

Stormy Kromer is an engineer who loves driving trains. But he has one problem: he can't find the right hat for a railroad man. He tries a derby, a cowboy hat, and a fireman's hat. Nothing works. Stormy tells his wife, Ida, not to worry, he'll figure out something. But Ida isn't worrying — she's thinking. If only Stormy would listen… Brought to life by Andrea U'Ren's colorful paintings, this spirited story is loosely based on the actual creation in 1903 of the hat still used by railroad workers today.

Grade Level: K-2
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Darrin Lunde

My name is Bumblebee Bat. I may be small, but I'm a great flyer. I live in a secret cave with my brothers and sisters. Want to know more? Then open this book and fly with Bumblebee Bat into the night. A series of questions and answers introduce children to the life and habitat of the exotic and endangered Bumblebee Bat. Scientifcally accurate illustration make these exotic animals accessible to young readers. Back matter includes additional child-friendly facts.

Grade Level: K-1
Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc.

Alan Madison

IT'S HARD TO BE VELMA entering first grade. That's because everyone has marvelous memories of her two older sisters, who were practically perfect first graders, and no one even notices Velma. But all that changes on a class trip to the butterfly conservatory, a place neither of her sisters has been. When a monarch roosts on Velma's finger and won't budge for days — no one will ever forget it… or her!

Grade Level: K-2
Publisher: Random House Children's Books