Portland Elementary Library: Kentucky Bluegrass Award Nominees 3-5

When Papa rabbit doesn’t return from a honey-gathering expedition, Mama moves what’s left of the Watercress family to the basement unit of the Broken Arms, a run-down apartment oak with a suspect owl landlord, a nosy mouse super, a rowdy family of squirrels, and a pair of songbirds who broadcast everyone’s business. Can a dead tree full of annoying neighbors, and no Papa, ever be home?

In Dogtown, a shelter for unwanted canine and robot dogs, an extraordinary bond develops between Chance, a longing three-legged dog, Metal Head, an empathetic robot, and Mouse, their friendly ally, as they strive to find forever homes.

Eleven-year-old Ash McNulty struggles to keep up with her fellow "gifted and talented" classmates, but when her plan to win the Quiz Bowl to show she is still on top backfires, she learns that there are many ways to be special.

Eleven-year-old Katie navigates life as a homeschooler, forms a better understanding of the OCD she experiences, and learns that growing apart from friends is sometimes part of growing up. This book is inspired by the author’s own experience.

This illustrated nonfiction book presents weird and wonderful facts about animals and the humans who study them, explaining the sometimes bizarre things scientists will do in order to understand animals and their behavior.

When a mysterious Little Free Library guarded by a large orange cat appears overnight, eleven-year-old Evan plucks two weathered books from its shelves, never suspecting that his life is about to change.

Fifth grader Penny, who doodles to cope with anxiety, worries that her best friend is drifting away. This is the humorous, heartfelt, and highly illustrated first book in a new middle grade series about friendship, feelings, and finding your people.

Steven Spielberg is the legendary director and producer behind many of the most popular films of all time. Discover where it all began with this exclusive look into his life.

Oliver and Nathan, determined to get to the bottom of their new homeroom teacher's fishy behavior, discover Mr. Aidact is actually an AI robot from a secret experimental program.

This mystery follows Trex, a boy with an experimental implant, Mellie, a reclusive girl training to be a spy, and their adventures together as they're pitted against middle school bullies, their own parents, and an evil, brain-hacking corporation.