Bluebonnet Books

WHAT DO WE DO AT CARAWAY?

At Caraway the minimum expectation is that students in grades 3-5 read 5 current Bluebonnet Books.  

-These books are introduced in the spring and again in the fall. 

-Any way these books enter the students' brains count: reading, listening to audiobooks, listening to someone else read to them, etc.

-A good goal would be reading 10 Bluebonnet books for 3rd, 12 for 4th, and 15 for 5th.

-Students who read 15 or more books by the January deadline can try out for the Caraway Bluebonnet Team 

-Tracking sheets (distributed spring and fall and also below on this page) should be turned in BEFORE January 17, 2025.

-Bluebonnet books are available through MackinVIA, in the Caraway Library, and at public libraries and bookstores across the state.

2024-2025 Texas Bluebonnet Award 

Master List Annotations

A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga

Resilience, a NASA robot, is built to weather dangerous terrain and dust storms while exploring the planet Mars. As he explores he not only learns to communicate with the satellites and drones with him but to also learn to care. Did the hard working NASA team create a robot with a glitch, or did Resilience develop a brain and a heart on his own?

Caves by Nell Cross Beckerman, Illustrated by Kalen Chock

All over the world, caves wait. Eager to be explored. Watching for wanderers. Will you answer the call? In this gorgeously illustrated book, you will explore the mysterious world of caves. Poetic and engaging, come explore this interesting ecosystem and all the wonderful resources it offers us. At the back are educational resources and tips for those interested in discovering these underground systems.

Daybreak on Raven Island by Fleur Bradley

Tori, Marvin, and Noah are on their 7th grade field trip that is anything but typical. When they miss the ferry to take them back to town they find themselves having to spend the night on the infamous Raven Island, home to a former prison. While on the island they have to deal with a creepy caretaker, a ghost hunting TV crew, and not to mention they find themselves solving a murder. These three will have to work together and unlock the secrets of this legendary island.

How to Stay Invisible by Maggie C. Rudd

Raymond Hurley has never had a place to call home. Moving from town to town makes it hard to make friends and Raymond has learned it’s easier to stay invisible. When his parents abandon him, he has to find a way to survive alone, with nothing but a duffel bag of his stuff and his dog Rosie. How to Stay Invisible is a journey of survival that speaks to friendship, adventure, and the braveness of being seen.

Ice Cream Man: How Augustus Jackson Made a Sweet Treat Better by Glenda

Armand and Kim Freeman, Illustrated by Keith Mallett

“Ice cream! Ice Cream! Come and Taste!” Adults and kids alike can’t resist the call of the Ice Cream Man, but if it wasn’t for the ingenuity of a free Black man named Augustus Jackson born in Philadelphia in 1808, ice cream may have remained a delicious treat for only the wealthy. Gus developed new recipes to make ice cream even creamier. At twelve years old Gus went to work in the kitchen of the White House where he went from kitchen helper to cook in five years. It was here he perfected a recipe for ice cream. From cook to shop owner to ice cream supplier for other stores, Gus creatively solved the problem of keeping the ice cream cold in a time where there was no refrigeration. Read all about Gus and his innovations while you enjoy your favorite flavor of this yummy treat!

Jovita Wore Pants: The Story of a Mexican Freedom Fighter by Aida Salazar,

Illustrated by Molly Mendoza 

All Jovita wants in life is to wear pants. And maybe ride horses like her two brothers and climb trees. But these things are not possible for a girl in Mexico. However, the Cristero War may change Jovita and her way of life. Jovita wore Pants is the true story of a Mexican freedom fighter in the late 1920s.

Ketanji: Justice Jackson’s Journey to the U.S. Supreme Court by Kekla Magoon,

Illustrated by Laura Freeman

Ketanji Brown Jackson is the newest justice of the U.S. Supreme court. Not to mention the first African American woman to do so. Though others tried to dim her light, she continued to shine on and persevere. She continued to help others and succeed in her career by standing up for what was right. An inspiration to many and black history in the making. Go along for the journey from childhood to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Legends of Lotus Island: The Guardian Test by Christina Soontornvat, Illustrated

by Kevin Hong

Plum has always been good with plants and animals. In fact, they have been her only friends beside her grandparents for most of her life. But everything changes when her grandmother shows her the letter from the Guardian Academy inviting her to become one of their students. Unsure at first, Plum makes the decision to make the journey with the other new students to Lotus Island where they will learn to become guardians, shapeshifters with magic that protect nature and all of its creatures. As Plum starts to excel in her classes, she starts to feel like she really belongs. She even makes new friends. But as the final test approaches, Plum gets more and more nervous that she will never be able to shift into guardian form and never become the guardian she believes her mother wished her to be.

New Dragon City by Mari Mancusi

No one thought the apocalypse would be caused by dragons. But that is just how Noah finds himself living in an abandoned hotel in New York City and scavenging for survival. When a scavenging trip gone wrong leads to Noah having a chance encounter with a baby dragon, he begins to question everything he knows to be true. Maybe, they didn’t understand the dragons at all. Maybe, there is a better way forward for everyone.

Odder by Katherine Applegate, Illustrated by Charles Santoso

No one can move like Odder. Her acrobatic antics in the water, as well as her sense of adventure and curiosity, set her apart from the other otters. When Odder is separated from her mother as a young pup, workers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium raise her and release her back into the wild. Later, Odder comes face-to-face with a hungry great white shark and her life takes a dramatic turn. Odder ends up at the Monterey Bay Aquarium once again. This time, however, her injuries may cause her to remain at the aquarium permanently. Will Odder be able to accept her new fate and relinquish her independence? Inspired by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s program which pairs surrogate otter mothers with orphaned otter pups, this lyrical novel in verse is a tale of survival, hope, and the importance of taking care of all Earth’s creatures.

Shermy & Shake, The Not-So-Nice Neighbor by Kirby Larson, Illustrated by Shinji

Fujioka

Shermy and Shake are opposites- Shermy likes to read silently, do puzzles, and organize his books in alphabetical order, and Shake likes to play hockey, eat Toaster Tarts (and get crumbs everywhere!), and make up his own rules to games. When Shake moves in next door, Shermy must adjust his plans for a quiet, relaxing summer and make room for Shake.

Something Like Home by Andrea Beatriz Arango

It’s tough to make friends as the new kid in school and staying at her aunt’s house is okay, but it’s not the same as being in her own space. But Laura Rodríguez Colón has a plan: no matter what the adults say, she will live with her parents again. So when she finds an abandoned puppy she decides that having it trained as a therapy dog will provide the opportunity to visit her parents. Maybe the dog will help them get better and things will finally go back to the way they should be. Or maybe, Laura will discover that sometimes home can be more than one place.

Stars of the Night: The Courageous Children of the Czech Kindertransport by

Caren Stelson, Illustrated by Selina Alko

In this emotionally charged non-fiction work by Caren Stelson, we follow four courageous Jewish children as they escape from the war torn Czechoslovakia to migrate to safety. As Nazi regime marched to Prague, they triggered a chain of unforgivable events. The mothers wrapped their children with one final kiss and hug and sent them off with a final whisper they would never forget. When the children boarded the train with their ticket to life, little did they know they would become refugees. As the war ended, the kids were no longer kids. They returned home to nothing but questions. Why did they survive? How did they survive? In this wonderfully crafted work, we follow one man's journey that made this possible for 669 Czech Children in the Kindertransport. Read this beautifully illustrated story to learn more.

The Cursed Moon by Angela Cervantes

As the Blood Moon rises, Rafael Fuentes (Rafa for short) and his sister, Brianna, are abruptly stopped by their elderly neighbor, Mrs. Martin, desperate to warn them about the dangers of telling scary stories during the Blood Moon. You see, Rafa likes to tell scary stories, really scary stories. In fact, he has a whole notebook filled with them. But Mrs. Martin grabs him and frantically warns “He’s listening. He’s waiting for your story.” Who is she talking about? What is going on? Rafa promises not to tell any stories tonight. Is this a promise he can keep? Find out in this thrilling, chilling tale. Just don’t read it out loud during a Blood Moon but if you do, beware The Caretaker. He’s coming for you.

The Fire, The Water, and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla

How long can you keep a secret when it’s eating you up inside? Maudie McGinn loves spending time with her dad during the summer. But when a tragic event occurs, she finds that her plans are turned upside down. Being neurodivergent makes accepting change even more difficult. But she discovers a new passion in surfing, and she soon makes friends. But, she will have to go back home to her mom and new stepdad. Will she be able to keep her secret or will she have the strength to reveal the hard truth before summer is over? Authentic and real, this story will stay with you long after you finish the last page.

The Ghost of Spruce Point by Nancy Tandon

The Home Away Inn has been in Parker’s family for generations, but when several unlucky and mysterious events lead to money troubles, Parker and his sister, their cousins, and summer friends call a secret, kids-only tree house meeting to save their home away from home. First step in Operation Inn Keepers: Break the curse of an ancient local shipwreck. In between investigating the curse, the friends work together hoping to save the home they love through advertisements, contests, cooking classes and more. When mysterious spooky lights bring paranormal investigators to Spruce Point, will they finally manage to break the curse? And will it be enough to save the Inn they all call home? Join Parker and his family at the Home Away Inn for a spectacular Maine summer full of nature, mystery, ghosts and more. Check out the dust jacket; It glows in the dark.

The Mystery of the Monarchs by Barb Rosenstock, Illustrated by Erika Meza

Where do all the monarchs go in winter? That burning question fueled entomologist (bug scientist) Fred Urquhart and his wife Norah throughout their lives. With the help of curious children, teachers, and nature lovers from Canada, the United States, and Mexico, they capture, tag, and release thousands of butterflies, hoping to finally understand this amazing migration mystery.

Two Tribes by Emily Bowen Cohen

Mia has just begun to get used to her new life living with her mother and step father, and the role their Jewish faith has in their household, when she finds herself thinking about her father and her Muscogee family in Oklahoma and begins to feel like part of herself is missing. Mia devises a plan to visit her father, without telling her mother, and learns to embrace both sides of her identity.

You Are Here: Connecting Flights edited by Ellen Oh

Meet Paul, Jae, Mindy, Lee, Ari, AJ, Natalie, Henry, Camilla, Jane, Khoi, and Soojin. Twelve Asian-Americans all stuck at the same airport at the same time. Each one with different backgrounds and family situations. All dealing with their own struggles but still sharing that common bond of being both Asian and American. What starts as a routine day at the airport turns into chaos starting with an incident at the TSA Checkpoint and ending with a bag of popcorn. Written by twelve bestselling powerhouse Asian American, each chapter includes one story about each character that is woven in such a way that it reads like one story. As you read each chapter and meet each new character, you will see how these 12 kids learn more about themselves and their family, face their fears, stand up to others and all while also helping each other.

Yuck You Suck! Poems about Animals That SIP, SLURP, SUCK by Jane Yolen and

Heidi E. Y. Stemple, Illustrated by Eugenia Nobati 

Read these sippy, slurpy and slimy poems about animals that live around us. Beautifully and colorful illustrated poems with informative morsels about these usual and not-so-usual animals that exist in our world. A glossary is included in the back of the book to explain scientific terms.