AND WE HAVE A WINNER!

Wow! That was fast! The Texas Bluebonnet winner was announced today and I am thrilled with the results. 63,331 students voted and first place was a clear winner with 11.99% of the vote!

 

 The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read 

by Rita Lorraine Hubbard; illustrated by Oge Mora is the winner! This inspirational biographical book proves you are never too old to learn. In 1848, Mary Walker was born into slavery. At age 15, she was freed, and by age 20, she was married and had her first child. She was given a Bible at a young age but could not read it. She did look at it and had friends note special life events in it. By age 68, she had worked numerous jobs, including cooking, cleaning, babysitting, and selling sandwiches to raise money for her church. At 114, she was the last remaining member of her family. And at 116, she finally learned to read by taking classes in her assisted living home.

 

You can hear the book read out loud here.

 

 

 

Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera by Candace Fleming; illustrated by Eric Rohmann came in second with 10.14% of the vote.

Act (Click #3), a graphic novel by Kayla Miller came in third with 9.61% of the vote. 

Congratulations to the winners - though it's the kids, teachers, and librarians who read the books that are the true winners.