Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Award Nominations 2022-2023
Explore the current nominees for the Arkansas Diamond Book Award! The award winner is selected by students in grades K-3. Students must read at least three titles from this list in order to vote. Voting for the 2022-2023 award will take place in May 2023. Stay tuned for more information on how to vote for your favorite. Learn more about this book award through the Arkansas State Library.
 Lizzie Demands a Seat!: Elizabeth Jennings Fights for Street car Rights by Beth Anderson; Illustrated by E.B. Lewis One hundred years before Rosa Parks took her stand, Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jennings tried to board a streetcar in New York City on her way to church. Though there were plenty of empty seats, she was denied entry, assaulted, and threatened all because of her race -- even though New York was a free state at that time. Lizzie decided to fight back. She told her story, took her case to court -- where future president Chester Arthur represented her -- and won! Her victory was the first recorded in the fight for equal rights on public transportation, and Lizzie's case set a precedent. |
 On Wings of Words: The Extraordinary Life of Emily Dickinson by Jennifer Berns; Illustrated by Becca Stadtlander Emily Dickinson, who famously wrote, "Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul," is brought to life in this moving story. In a small New England town lives Emily Dickinson, a girl in love with small things - a flower petal, a bird, a ray of light, a word. In those small things, her brilliant imagination can see the wide world - and in her words, she takes wing. From celebrated children's author Jennifer Berne comes a lyrical and lovely account of the life of Emily Dickinson: her courage, her faith, and her gift to the world. With Dickinsons own iminitable poetry woven throughout, this lyrical biography is not just a tale of prodigious talent, but also of the power we have to transform ourselves and to reach one another when we speak from the soul. |
 Kaia and the Bees by Maribeth Boelts; Illustrated by Angela Dominguez Kaia is the brave type. Like hottest-hot-pepper brave. But there is one thing that scares her: BEES! And right now, thousands of bees live on her roof because Kaia's dad is a beekeeper. Her dad says that the world needs bees and that's why they are beekeepers. But only he goes on the roof, not Kaia -- unless she can find a way to be the brave girl she always says she is. Against a sunny city setting, author Maribeth Boelts and illustrator Angela Dominguez depict Kaia's small courageous steps -- and her tiny insect neighbors -- with great empathy and charm. Buzzing with storytime potential, Kaia and the Bees is an honest and relatable tale about bravery and compassion, as well as the importance of bees to our world. |
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Climbing aboard the New York bound Silver Meteor train, Ruth Ellen embarks upon a journey toward a new life up North-- one she can't begin to imagine. Stop by stop, the perceptive young narrator tells her journey in poems, leaving behind the cotton fields and distant Blue Ridge mountains. Each leg of the trip brings new revelations as scenes out the window of folks working in fields give way to the Delaware River, the curtain that separates the colored car is removed, and glimpses of the freedom and opportunity the family hopes to find come into view. As they travel, Ruth Ellen reads from Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, reflecting on how her journey mirrors her own-- until finally the train arrives at its last stop, New York's Penn Station, and the family heads out into a night filled with bright lights, glimmering stars, and new possibility. |
Overground Railroad by Lesa Cline-Ransome; Illustrated by James E. Ransome|
Captain Swashby loves the sea, his oldest friend. And he loves his life by the sea just as it is: salty and sandy and serene. One day, much to Swashby's chagrin, a young girl and her granny commandeer the empty house next door. All Swashby wants is for his new neighbors to GO AWAY and take their ruckus with them. When Swashby begins to leave notes in the sand for his noisy neighbors, however, the beach interferes with the messages that are getting across. Could it be that the captain's oldest friend, the sea, knows what Swashby needs even better than he knows himself? |
Swashby and the Sea by Beth Ferry; Illustrated by Juana Martine-Neal
 The Oldest Student: How Many Walker Learned to Read by Rita Lorraine Hubbard; Illustrated by Oge Mora 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. 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 learned to read. From Rita Lorraine Hubbard and rising star Oge More comes the inspirational story of Mary Walker, a woman whose long life spanned from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement, and who--with perseverance and dedication--proved that you're never too old to learn.
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 The Couch Potato by Jory John; Illustrated by Pete Oswald Feeling fried? Peel yourself on the couch and meet your new pal-tato! The Couch Potato has everything within reach and doesn't have to move from the sunken couch cushion. But when the electricity goes out, Couch Potato is forced to peel away from the comforts of the living room and venture outside. Could fresh air and sunshine possibly be better than the views on screen?
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 All the Way to the Top: How One Girl's Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything by Annette Bay Pimentel; Illustrated by Nabi Ali This is the story of a little girl who just wanted to go, even when others tried to stop her. Jennifer Keelan was determined to make a change--even if she was just a kid. She never thought her wheelchair could slow her down, but the way the world around her was built made it hard to do even simple things. Like going to school, or eating lunch in the cafeteria. |
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Sticks and Stones by Patricia Polacco On the first day of school, Patricia breaks out in a rash and is called “Cootie” by her classmates. It seems like the year will be a disaster for Patricia until she meets Thom and Ravenne. Each of the friends have their own talent. Thom, with his long legs and graceful manner, loves to dance ballet, earning him the name “Sissy Boy.” Ravenne makes kits and paints on fabric, but she’s so shy that people call her “Her Ugliness.” Thom, Ravenne and Patricia are bullied by their classmates causing the three friends to band together for support. For years after that fateful year, encourage each other to stay true to themselves and achieve success in their passions.
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A New Green Day by Antoinette Portis Who scribbles on the sidewalk with glistening ink? Snail! |
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[Source for book descriptions: GoodReads.com] |
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