Extensive Reading Foundation: Language Learner Literature Awards 2015. Winners

This year’s winners were announced at the Extensive Reading World Congress 3: Sept. 18-20, 2015, Dubai, UAE. http://erfoundation.org/erwc3/

Winner: The Leopard and the Monkey
Retold by: Richard Northcott
Illustrator: Cristiano Lissoni
Publisher: Helbling Languages
ISBN: 9783852727813

Judges’ comment: The book presents an African folktale with a simple yet compelling narrative without over-selling humor or morals. It has a simple cast of characters which will be easy for young children to follow. The vocabulary is controlled and appropriately limited, but there is enough variation in sentence type to make the reading, especially reading aloud, entertaining and dramatic. The illustrations and layout are attractive and distinctive.

Online voter’s comment: This book is really funny and entertaining. The story might seem a little nonsensical to those not familiar with folktales but the wonderful images make it accessible to all. Visually astounding!

Finalist:
Granny Fixit and the Monkey
Author: Jane Cadwallader
Illustrator: Gustavo Mazali
Publisher: ELI Publishing
ISBN: 9788853613233

Category: Young Learners

Winner:
Backstage Pass
Author: Lesley Ito
Illustrator: Alice Carroll
Publisher: Atama-ii Books
ISBN: 9781941140345

Judges’ comment: This book brings the popular choose-your-own-adventure style to graded readers. The story focuses on a young music fan and an adventure that takes place when their favorite band comes to town. The reader makes choices on which page to turn to next on every second or third page. With 8 different possible endings there are numerous opportunities for re-reading, leading to even more natural meetings with key vocabulary at the reader's level. The book is easy to read, with a theme that many 11-15 year olds will identify with, and has comic style full-page color illustrations throughout.

Online voter’s comment: This book was perfect for my low-level reluctant reader students. The beautiful images on every page help students understand the story and the vocabulary was right at their level. A great read and the multiple ending style is highly conducive to group discussion.

Finalists:
A Land of New Hope
Authors: Jocelyn Potter and Andy Hopkins
Illustrator: Lizzy Stewart
Publisher: Pearson Education
ISBN: 9781447944430

Life in the Desert / The Stubborn Ship
Author: Paul Mason
Illustrator: Andy Elkerton
Publisher: Macmillan Education
ISBN: 9780230460454

Category: Adolescents and Adults: Beginner

Winner:
Merlin
Author: Janet Hardy-Gould
Illustrator: Ollie Cuthbertson
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 9780194249744

Judges’ comment: Merlin would be a good beginner book for a student moving up to this level for the first time…. Not so overwhelming. Some of the new words are quite difficult for this level, but their meanings are provided on the same page. This is a story of magic and students seem to be very interested in this type of genre. The whole story is written in present simple, making it simpler to follow for new beginner level students. The story characters are introduced at the beginning, and the drawings are eye-catching, which are quite helpful in understanding the story.

Online voter’s comment: This book combines advice for dealing with bullies, a topic of high interest in schools today, with the attraction of magic. Many people are already familiar with Merlin stories from television and movies, so they are likely to have background for making connections. Some of the character names will pose some difficulty, but pronunciation is given in the sidebars, so the difficulty will not be insurmountable.

Finalist:
The Canterbury Tales
Author: Geoffrey Chaucer
Retold by: Michael Lacey Freeman
Illustrator: Simone Massoni
Publisher: ELI Publishing
ISBN: 9788853617439

Category: Adolescents and Adults: Elementary

Winner:
The Bookshop
Author: Denise Kirby
Illustrator: Paul Fisher Johnson
Publisher: Hueber ILTS
ISBN: 9783191029944

Judges’ comment: The writing is simply wonderful: one of the judges actually had to read it twice because the first time she was just taken by the story, and couldn’t be a judge, just a reader. One of the reasons this book is remarkable is that the vocabulary is simple and yet it feels deep thanks to the detailed description of characters, places and emotions. In addition, the themes are powerful. It's just wonderful how the young and the old meet around books, and find ways to be better people through their interactions. Last but not least, we found it easy to connect with both characters, and the ending actually made us laugh.

Online voter’s comment: As a class we liked the element of mystery in this story. Lucy had her own adventure through Will's story. The pictures also helped us understand the story. We could visualize the dark and dusty bookshop. We read this book as a read aloud and put the pictures underneath a document camera. The pictures helped our class make inferences about the story. Many of the students didn't like the portrayal of Miss Rumble. However it was a great opportunity for us to unpack an antagonist character.

Finalists:
Hunter in the Darkness
Author: Ramy Habeeb
Illustrator: Alice Carroll
Publisher: Atama-ii books
ISBN: 9781941140352

Sharks Author: Izabella Hearn with Alex Hearn
Illustrator: David Shephard
Publisher: Pearson Education
ISBN: 9781447954316

Kilimanjaro
Author: Margaret Johnson
Illustrator: Redbean Design Pte Ltd
Publisher: National Geographic Learning/CENGAGE Learning
ISBN: 9781424048753

Judges’ comment: Good storyline and characterization. People are set against each other, the elements, and their own personal challenges as they struggle to reach the top. The simple, descriptive language and illustrations supporting the text will keep the reader turning the pages to find out what happens next.

Online voter’s comment: What I liked most was the spiritual part, Alison's thoughts and feelings, were so well integrated into all the action and dynamism of the story. At the beginning, the character spoke about her problems and her family, the plot reached the climax and at the end all her problems were solved as she started to see life in a new way. People mostly think the climax is the greatest moment, but I felt so great when she got at peace with herself and the others through this journey to save a life.

Finalists:
Amelia Earhart
Author: Janet Hardy-Gould
Illustrator: Simon Gurr
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 9780194237956

Mystery in New Orleans
Author: Gina D. B. Clemen
Illustrator: Ivan Canu
Publisher: Black Cat
ISBN: 9788853014153

Category: Adolescents and Adults: Upper Intermediate & Advanced

Winner: Checkmate Author: Malorie Blackman
Retold by: Karen Holmes
Illustrator: Jonathan Davies
Publisher: Pearson Education
ISBN: 9781447930600

Judges’ comment: Karen Holmes retells Marlorie Blackman’s novel with realistic dialogue that reveals the complexity of these modern characters, caught in a tension-filled conflict between their own histories and the political realities of living in a society where people are often judged unfairly. Although the intertwining of the narrative voices of the characters may be disconcerting for some readers at first, the interplay of characters respects the intelligence of the reader and stimulates reflection on significant current issues. You’ll want to read it all in one sitting!

Online voter’s comment: This is a powerful story which can go a long way in helping students understand about the cycle of pain and suffering caused by racism.

Finalists:
The Confession
Author: John Grisham
Retold by: Fiona Beddall
Illustrator: Paul Davidson
Publisher: Pearson Education
ISBN: 9781447954330

Wuthering Heights
Author: Emily Brontë
Retold by: Peter Viney
Illustrator: Classical Comics
Publisher: Garnet Education
ISBN: 9781782602293