By Helen Foster James, Ed.D., Kathleen Krull and Peter Neumeyer, Ph.D.

Since you can't judge a book by its cover, we dove deep inside the pages of dozens and dozens of books to select these winners. From warm baby kisses through first kindergarten steps to middle-school conflict resolution, each of these wonderful books will engage and inspire children.


Gold Award Winners

A Dream of Freedom: The Civil Rights Movement from 1954 to 1968, by Diane McWhorter with a foreward by the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, Scholastic, 2004, $19.95. A comprehensive and compelling account of America's civil rights movement. The Pulitzer Prize-winning author presents a riveting account of this important period of our history.

The Kids' Guide to Working Out Conflicts: How to Keep Cool, Stay Safe, and Get Along, by Naomi Drew, M.A., Free Spirit Publishing, 2004, $13.95. This self-help guide assists 'tweens and teens in understanding that conflict is normal, that it creates stress in our lives, and that it is the source of violence in our schools, our homes and in the world. This resource provides a plethora of strategies for getting along with others and dealing with conflict.

Playing with Stuff: Outrageous Games with Ordinary Objects, by Ferry Piekert and Lars Deltrap, Kane/Miller, 2004, $9.95. Packed with goofy things to do while riding in the car, standing in a long line, or in any situation where boredom threatens. To play Bumple Rumple, Klutz Futz, Furniture Fuddle and over 30 other games, all you and a child need are household items such as old calendars, rolls of toilet paper, a bag of chips, your creativity and this book.

Wake Up Our Souls: A Celebration of Black American Artists, by Tonya Bolden, illustrated by various artists, Harry N. Abrams Inc. and the Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2004, $24.95. The creations of more than 30 African-American artists, from the late 18th century to the present day, are vibrantly reproduced and accompanied by ample biographical and historical background. The paintings are alternately stunning, heart wrenching and exultant.