Annal:2002 Golden Kite Picture Book Text Award

George Hogglesberry, Grade School Alien

Sarah Wilson, Chad Cameron

• 2002 Golden Kite-picturebook text winner
• Score: 10.52

It’s a shaky landing for George Hogglesberry as he begins his first day of school on a new planet. What if nobody likes him? What if his ears fall off at recess? What if he turns into a tomato during the fall play? He never had to worry about any of these things back on Frollop II. But with the help of his gentle new teacher and understanding classmates, George may find that even a boy from across the galaxy can feel at home on planet earth.

Stars in the Darkness

Barbara M. Joosse, R. Gregory Christie

• 2002 Golden Kite-picturebook text honor
• Score: 6.52

In the imagination of a young inner-city boy, police sirens sound like howling wolves, streetlights look like stars, and shots fired by neighborhood gangs sound like those stars cracking the darkness. But when his older brother joins a gang, he can no longer pretend.

With the help of his mother, he comes up with a plan to save his brother and unite his neighbors in a stand for peace. The realistic yet uplifting words of best-selling author Barbara M. Joosse combine with powerful illustrations by award-winning artist R. Gregory Christie in this hope-filled story. One young boy’s courage can make a difference.