Browse Items · Children's Picture Book Database at Miami University

Tags: competition

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How do you spell unfair? MacNolia Cox and the national spelling bee

Weatherford, Carole Boston

In 1936, an eighth grader becomes the first African American to win the spelling bee in Akron, Ohio. MacNolia gets a military band send off to the National Spelling Bee in Washington DC with her mother. MacNolia learns about racism and discrimination when she crosses into Maryland and arrives in Washington. She and another black girl are seated away from the other spellers and their families. MacNolia spells word after word with a calm and focused performance. The judges throw a curveball to stump her and MacNolia is determined out. Her triumph is that folks now learn that African American students are as smart as anyone.

Tags

african american, book, community, comparison, competition, discrimination, emotions, epilogue, feelings, foreword, hard work, history, homework, learning, letters, multicultural, newspaper, parents, performance, racism, respect, school, spelling, travel

Strong

Kearney, Rob & Rosewood, Eric

Rob dreams of becoming a champion strongman because his favorite sport was weightlifting. But there are lots of ways to be strong because he had to learn to overcome unkind words and criticisms for how he liked to dress in rainbow clothing with strong, bold colors. He trained hard and lifted huge tires, boulders, sandbags, and cars, so he could become the strongest man in the world. And one day we did just that by lifting a log over this head and was named the strongest person in North America!

Tags

clothing, competition, differences, exercise, friendship, hard work, homosexuality, sports, weightlifting

Different: Just like me

Mitchell, Lori

The visit to Grammie's house is a week away, and April can't wait! She comes across different people who look differently, sense differences, and move differently. Regardless of their differences, April can find ways she is like these other people. Finally, it is time to visit Grammie. Grammie's flowers from her garden are all different, and April is not allowed to pick her favorite flower. April realizes this is like all things and people. She learns to appreciate the differences in all things and people.

Showdown at the food pyramid

Barron, Rex

Once upon a time, a "happy and strong food pyramid" shows people how to eat. But one day, foreign junk food makes its way onto the pyramid. The pyramid starts weighing too much with the junk food included so the pyramid crashed. Healthy foods rightfully take back the food pyramid, allowing some sweets to return to the group.

Tags

author's note, balance, classification, competition, food, fruit, health, nutrition, prevention, rules, symbols, teamwork, variety, vegetables

Tales for very picky eaters

Schneider, Josh

James battles his father on what to eat. James tries the disgusting broccoli, the smelly lasagna, repulsive milk, lumpy oatmeal, and slimy eggs. As James' father suggests very creative alternatives to the food that James doesn't like, he settles for the food that was offered to him originally.

Tags

animals, ball, baseball, birds, careers, chicken, competition, conflict resolution, decision making, dinosaur, dog, feelings, food, frustration, nutrition, parents, peer resistance, rat, refusal skills, sports, verbal communication, worm

Pastry school in Paris: An adventure in capacity

Neuschwander, Cindy

A family and their children travel to Paris and visit a pastry academy. The kids work with others to practice baking. When a situation arises, the kids are called to save the day by making brownies for the competition.

The story of noodles

Compestine, Ying Chang

The Kang family decides to switch up their usual annual cooking contest recipe from dumplings to 'noodles' with the help from their three rambunctious sons.

The princess knight

Funke, Cornelia

Princess Violetta has been raised by her father, King Wilfred, to joust, ride horses, and fight with swords. Despite her small size, Princess Violetta quickly becomes one of the best knights in her father's kingdom, ever surpassing her three older brothers. Princess Violetta learns that before her sixteenth birthday, her father will hold a tournament to win her hand in marriage. Princess Violetta is not about to let a tournament decide her future and she decides to take action.

Tags

animals, birthday, celebration, communication, competition, courage, determination, feelings, fight, frustration, happiness, horse, parents, problem solving, royalty, siblings

Hunter bunny learns to ski

Weaver, Alexis Rae

Hunter Bunny is eagerly awaiting for winter to arrive and is determined to take part in all the activities that come along with it. He visits his fellow animal friends who teach him to ski, skate and snowboard, but with Hunter Bunny's shorter leg, he is unable to be successful. With the help of his best friend Clark, the two find a way for Hunter to be able to ski in the animal ski race. Determined to win, Hunter Bunny practices day and night for the big competition and it pays off in the end when he brings home the first place ribbon.

Tags

accidents, activities, animals, anticipation, challenges, cold, colors, competition, confidence, determination, disability, dreams, encouragement, excitement, exercise, family, feelings, friendship, handicap, helping, learning, parents, practice, preparation, problem solving, protection, rabbit, reading, sadness, safety, seasons, skating, skiing, sledding, sleep, snow, sports, support, surprises, teaching, teamwork, teasing, uniqueness, wind, winter, zoo

The blue ribbon day

Couric, Katie

Ellie and Carrie are best friends in the second grade. They do everything together and this year they are trying out for the soccer team. Carrie does not make the team and feels left out. She finds a new hobby, the science fair.

Tags

challenges, competition, confidence, feelings, friendship, goal setting, hard work, school, science, soccer, sports

The golden rain

Mashiri, Pascal

A young child learns from his mother's stories about decision making and choices. He comes to understand that choices make some people happy and leave some disapointed. The child also realizes that help is sometimes needed for the decision making, but ultimately it is up to the individual.

The giant apple

Scheffler, Ursel

Every year there is a festival where all the farmers bring their biggest vegetables. The same people win the prize for the biggest vegetables every year. The people of Appleville decide they will do everything possible to win. The next year they win the contest and have to eat apples all winter long because that is all they planted.

Tags

celebration, community, competition, farm, food, fruit, nutrition, seasons, vegetables, winter

My rotten redheaded older brother

Polacco, Patricia

Patricia Polacco tells the story about her sibling rivalry with her brother. She wanted to be able to do something better than he could. Eventually, her wish comes true, but not exactly the way she had imagined.

Tags

assertiveness, change, competition, conflict resolution, family, goal setting, grandparents, self esteem, siblings, uniqueness, verbal communication, wish

Stella and roy

Wolff, Ashley

Stella and Roy's little brother have a race with their scooter and tricycle to the popcorn stand. Stella thinks that she is so fast that she can stop and look around at everything during the race. Who do you think wins the race?

Tags

animals, bicycle, biking, birds, competition, crocodile, dog, exercise, fish, food, frog, goal setting, goose, horse, nutrition, plants, reptiles, running, seasons, sharing, skating, spring, transportation, turtle

Iron horses

Kay, Verla

Building a railroad takes a lot of work. Many people must be involved from the planners and politicians in the capital, to the Irishmen and Chinese men building the track out west. When it is finally finished, the track is a wonderful form of transportation.

Tags

author's note, celebration, ceremony, chinese, competition, construction, cooperation, fun, geography, hard work, history, immigrants, irish, mountains, multicultural, rain, rocks, snow, storm, tools, train, transportation, travel, weather

The lady with the ship on her head

Lattimore, Deborah Nourse

When Madame Pompenstane leans over at the beach to gather shells, she does not notice that a tiny ship sails onto her head. Later at the Fancy Dress Ball, she is pleased to win the prize for the Best Headdress.

Tags

beach, beauty, boat, clothing, competition, fantasy, party, transportation

Racing against the odds: The story of Wendell Scott, stock car racing's African-American champion

Weatherford, Carole Boston

Wendell O. Scott made history as the only black driver to win a race in a NASCAR Grand National division. Using secondhand Fords that he fixed up in his garage, he competed in five hundred races in NASCAR'S top division. This is the story of a man who worked full time while racing on the side. A man who didn't just dust the competition, he blazed the trail.

Tags

accidents, alcohol, body parts, car, careers, competition, food, games, history, language, mischief, school, segregation, skating, transportation, war

Runaway radish/ El rabano que escapo

Levy, Janice

It s the Night of the Radishes and don Pedro wants to carve the best radish sculpture in town. But one radish will not cooperate. The Night of the Radishes is an annual festival held on the evening of December 23rd in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Tags

animals, cactus, carving, celebration, competition, donkey, escape, food, instruments, language, market, Mexico, multicultural, restaurant, royalty, running away, sharing, spanish

Dancing in the wings

Allen, Debbie

Sassy uses her unique characteristics and height to become a great ballet dancer. Sassy does not allow bullying from the other students to prevent her from trying out for a summer dance festival. Sassy learns the benefits of perseverence and self-esteem.

Tags

challenges, competition, dancing, depression, determination, dreams, embarrassment, family, feelings, glasses, humor, imagination, individuality, instruments, jealousy, multicultural, performance, persistence, playing, self esteem, stars, theatre, travel

Hattie the bad

Devlin, Jane

Hattie had a reputation for being bad. All her school classmates love her because she does exciting bad things, but her parents don't agree. When her friends aren't allowed to play with her anymore, she decides to be good. But just when she is about to get an award for the Best-Behaved Child ever, she does something that shocks everyone.

Tags

assertiveness, behavior, competition, decision making, excitement, feelings, goal setting, misbehavior, mischief, nonverbal communication, peer resistance, recognition, sadness, self esteem, technology, television

Hip & Hop, don't stop!

Czekaj, Jef

Hip, a turtle from Slowjamz Swamp, and Hop, a rabbit from Breakbeat Meadow, both love to rap. Hip raps very slowly, and Hop raps very slowly. Animals of Slowjamz Swamp and Breakbeat Meadow don't socialize until one day Hip and Hop meet each other when they see a sign for a rapping contest. In this twist of the fable Tortoise and the Hare, Hip and Hop bring the animals of the swamp and meadow together through their performance.

Tags

animals, communication, comparisons, competition, conflict resolution, cooperation, creativity, dancing, decision making, fable, friendship, peer resistance, performance, problem solving, rabbit, reptiles, rhyme, turtle

Meet the planets

McGranaghan, John

Soar into the Solar System to witness the first Favorite Planet Competition, emceed by none other than the former-ninth planet, now known as dwarf planet Pluto. The readers become the judges after the sun can't pick a favorite and the meteors leave for a shower. Who will the lucky winning planet be? Could it be speedy-messenger Mercury, light-on-his-feet Saturn, or smoking-hot Venus? Readers learn all about each planet as Pluto announces them with short, tongue-in-cheek facts. Children will spend hours searching the art for all the references to famous scientists and people of history, space technology, constellations, art, and classic literature.

Tags

author's note, careers, colors, comparisons, competition, critical thinking, day, distance, earth, history, illustrator's note, instruments, moon, night, numbers, order, planet, planets, science, sequence, sizes, space, sun, system, technology, temperature

Little bit & big byte: A day at the beach

Feigh, C

Big Byte, Joy, and Little Bit go to the beach to be with their friends Webster and Kay Board. They all see a couple of nefarious bugs named Vi and Russ who are going surfing. Big Byte and Kay Board want to go with them but Joy and Little Bit warn them that it is too dangerous. When Big Byte and Kay Board find themselves in danger, what will happen? Will Little Bit, Joy, and Webster be able to do anything to help them in this computer age adventure?

Tags

adventures, animals, art, beach, bodies of water, cat, community, competition, computer, dog, five senses, neighbors, ocean, rescue, school, surfing, technology, vocabulary

Recycle every day!

Wallace, Nancy Elizabeth

Through a poster contest at school, Minna and her family discover many ways they can recycle. Many of the other contestants' posters demonstrate ways to recycle, however Minna ultimately wins the contest through her poster that reminds everyone to re-re-remember, re-re-recycle every day.

Roy makes a car: Based on a story collected by Zora Neale Hurston

Lyons, Mary

Roy Tyle is known around town as the best mechanic in Florida. Roy makes it his mission to create a car that will be accident proof. No one in the town believes him, but Roy proves them wrong time and time again. Roy's creativity and perseverance leads to the making of the best cars in the area.

Rockin' reptiles

Calmenson, Stephanie//Cole, Joanna

Allie the Alligator is a typical young girl. She and her two girlfriends have lots of fun together playing games and dressing up. The three of them will do anything to be able to go to the Rockin Reptiles concert, their favorite band. There's a catch though -- only two can go.

Tags

alligator, basketball, bias, biking, boat, challenges, competition, conflict resolution, cooking, dancing, dedication, exercise, family, friendship, fun, games, humor, jumping, moving, music, neighbors, peer resistance, play, relationship, reptiles, selfishness, song, sports, technology, telephone, verbal communication

The mud flat olympics

Stevenson, James

All the animals compete to be the best at the Mud Flat Olympics and then celebrate with ice cream.

Tags

animals, celebration, competition, exercise, food, friendship, nutrition, running, swimming

How tom beat captain najork and his hired sportsman

Hoban, Russell

Tom is always fooling around. His aunt decides to teach him a lesson. She has Captain Najork come to compete with Tom. Tom ends up teaching the captain a lesson by always winning.

Tags

assertiveness, competition, critical thinking, family, learning, play, success

A near thing for captain najork

Hoban, Russell

Tom finds that Captain Najork is not as hard to beat at games after all. Tom wins at more than games.

Tags

competition, conflict resolution, determination, games, imagination, play, recreation, success

Bicycle race

Crews, Donald

There are 12 bikers competing in the bicycle race. Who will win this exciting road race?Practice counting your numbers during this exercise experience!

Tags

bicycle, biking, colors, competition, counting, determination, exercise, numbers, sports

Heroes

Mochizuki, Ken

Donnie is always the bad guy when he plays war with his friends. They think because Donnie is Japanese American that he should be the enemy. When his father and uncle take a trip to school, they prove they can be heroes too.

Calvin crocodile and the terrible noise

Pickett, Carla

A lion tries to tell Calvin the crocodile that he is king. Calvin does not believe him, so they have a contest to see who can make the loudest noise. The lion makes the loudest noise, which cracks the dam and the river floods the land. The crocodile helps the lion so he will not drown.

Tags

animals, assertiveness, competition, conflict resolution, critical thinking, crocodile, decision making, goal setting, helping, lion, noise, nonverbal communication, peer resistance, reptiles, royalty, safety, sounds

Arthur's birthday party

Hoban, Lilliam

Arthur's determination to have the best birthday party and be the best all-around gymnast causes him to be inconsiderate of the feelings of his sister and friends. When Arthur forgets to be fair and have fun at the competition, his younger sister is quick to point out that each chimpanzee has his or her own special skill to be honored with a medal at the birthday competition.

The biggest pumpkin ever

Kroll, Steven

Two mice fall in love with the same pumpkin and each one waters it, fertilizes it, and protects it from the frost. The pumpkin grows into the biggest pumpkin ever, wins the town contest, and is made into a jack-o-lantern that can be seen for miles.

Tags

animals, community, competition, compromise, conflict resolution, decision making, feelings, friendship, garden, mouse, plants, pride, water, weather

Georgie's halloween

Bright, Robert

Herman the cat and Miss Oliver the owl try to convince Georgie to enter the Halloween costume contest, but he is just too shy. His mice friends give him a ribbon for winning their own costume contest.

Tags

animals, birds, cat, clothing, competition, feelings, friendship, ghosts, halloween, holidays, mouse, owl, self esteem, shyness

Applebet: An abc

Watson, Clyde

A girl picks shiny red apples, fills her cart, and takes off to the county fair. Judges at the fair decide who brought the best pumpkins, jelly, and apples. The winner takes the prize.

Tags

animals, autumn, competition, conflict resolution, fair, food, nutrition, rain, seasons, transportation, weather

Something queer in rock and roll

Levy, Elizabeth

A group of young friends start a music group and want to enter a contest. Their dog, Arnold, howls in their song It's a Dog's Life. A boy from another group sabotages them by feeding Arnold so much pizza that he will not howl anymore.

Tags

animals, competition, conflict resolution, deception, dog, food, friendship, music, nutrition, pets, problem solving

The butter battle book

Seuss, Dr.

A grandfather tells his grandson about the bad habit of the Zook people. The Zooks eat their bread with the butter side down. The Zooks and Vooks are separated by a wall, and they always argue about the way things should be done.

Tags

argument, competition, conflict resolution, critical thinking, decision making, differences, family, food, grandparents, nutrition, self esteem, war

Rosie's fiddle

Root, Phyllis

Rosie O'Grady loves being by herself, but people can't stay away when she plays her fiddle. She is so good that they say she could out-fiddle the devil himself!One day, the devil shows up to challenge Rosie to a contest, the devil's golden fiddle for Rosie's soul!

Double-dip feelings

Cain, Barbara S.

When you first started school, were you excited? Were you scared?Did you feel both excited and scared? Feelings can be hard to understand, especially when you have two feelings at the same time. Everyone has feelings at different times for different reasons.

Tags

animals, bravery, change, chicken pox, competition, diseases, dog, embarrassment, exercise, feelings, friendship, happiness, illness, new baby, playing, reading, sadness, school, siblings, stress management, swimming

Sportsercise: A school story about exercise-induced asthma

Gosselin, Kim

This book looks at exercise and how it can induce asthma. It explains that some children may have this problem, but encourages them to participate in physical activities.

Bert and susie's messy tale

Erskine, Jim

Bert, a little boy pig, is sent by his mother to take her chrysanthemums to the flower show. Bert is distracted and plays in the mud. When he gets to the show he breaks the flowers. His mom sends him home with the flowers.

Tags

competition, coping, disobedience, family, parents, peer resistance, plants, refusal skills, responsibilities

The country fair

Tudor, Tasha

One summer, a brother and sister decide to enter the country fair. They enter their calf, gander, and strawberry jam. After a big day of exploring the fair, the children head home. At the end of the week, the children are happy to find that their animals and jam have won awards.

Tags

animals, competition, cow, decision making, excitement, fair, family, feelings, goose, happiness, seasons, siblings, summer

Our little league

Solomon, Chuck

At 3:15 PM on Thursday, the Little Mets meet in the park to practice for their upcoming baseball game against the Bombers. They practice running, sliding, hitting, and fielding. Against the Bombers, the Little Mets fall behind early but rally to make the game exciting.

Tags

baseball, competition, exercise, park, running, sports, teamwork

The great bunny race

Feczko, Kathy

Every year, the bunnies have a race, and every year, Boomer Bunny wins. This year, Toby wants to win the race, but he thinks he is too slow. With the encouragement from Darby Duck, Toby enters the race, wins the race, and becomes the fastest bunny of all.

Tags

animals, birds, competition, determination, duck, encouragement, exercise, rabbit, running

Rabbits on roller skates

Wahl, Jan

Rabbits skate into all sorts of mischief. They go over bridges, down hills, and through water as they dodge the police and end up at Championship Skate Night.

Tags

adventures, animals, competition, exercise, mischief, performance, rabbit, skating

Joshua's masai mask

Hru, Dakari

When Joshua is pressured by his parents to play his African instrument in the school talent show, he is embarrassed because it is not as cool as the rap his friends will do. His uncle then gives him a magical mask which makes Joshua seem cool to other people. When he realizes he would rather make music with his Kalimmba, he is a hit at the talent show.

Tags

african american, competition, embarrassment, empathy, fable, family, instruments, magic, music, parents, performance, school

Miss flora mcflimsey's easter bonnet

Mariana.

A little girl dresses up her dolls to go to an Easter party but did not have anything for Miss Flora. A sweet rabbit notices she is crying and finds a solution. He has his aunt make Miss Flora a new bonnet. She wins a prize for the most original costume.

Tags

animals, clothing, competition, dolls, easter, feelings, friendship, helping, holidays, party, play, rabbit, sadness, self esteem, verbal communication

The fast sooner hound

Bontemps, Anna//Conroy, Jack

A railroad man's dog outruns the trains and makes even the fastest train look slow. The Roadmaster will not let the dog ride in the cab with his owner until he races and beats The Cannonball.

Tags

animals, assertiveness, competition, confidence, conflict resolution, decision making, dog, pets, train, transportation, travel

Mine's the best

Bonsall, Crosby

At the beach, two little boys argue over whose balloon is better, even though they are essentially the same. In the end, their balloons are completely deflated because of the abuse they have taken from the two little boys. When a girl teases them with her ballon, they pull together in defense of each other.

Tags

accidents, assertiveness, competition, conflict resolution, play, teamwork

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