Newbery 2000

Bud, Not Buddy
Author: Christopher Paul Curtis
Genre: Historical Fiction
Plot: Bud runs away from his foster family to try to find his father.
Verdict: Great story
My rating: 4 stars


Getting Near to Baby
Author: Audrey Couloumbus
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Plot: Two sisters contemplate the death of their baby sister on their aunt's roof.
Verdict: Quite sad
My rating: 3 stars


Our Only May Amelia
Author: Jennifer L Holm
Plot: May Amelia is a tom boy in a family with all brothers
Verdict: Use quotation marks, Jennifer L. Holm!
My rating: 1 star


26 Fairmount Avenue
Author: Tomie dePaola
Plot: Tomie's parents are building a new house.
Verdict: Humorous biography
My rating: 5 stars

I was pleasantly surprised by Bud, Not Buddy.  The character of Bud is a well developed and interesting as he runs away from his abusive foster family during the Great Depression in search of his father.  I loved the scene with the "fake family" and also the whole jazz band which Bud runs into at the end of the book.  Getting Near to Baby is a sad story told in flashbacks about two sisters who have lost their baby sister.  I could not stand Our Only May Amelia because all of the dialogue omits quotation marks, which drove me crazy.  I may try the audio version later but I wasn't terribly intrigued by the book.

Last, but not least, we have Tomie dePaola's autobiographical novella 26 Fairmount Avenue.  I was introduced to this book in my undergrad student teaching.  I have read all eight books in this series.  Tomie was definitely a precocious child.  I think my favorite story was when he went to see Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.   It is a very short read with illustrations so it is a great read for children and a good beginner chapter book.