Crazy Hair Day
(Barney Saltzberg, Candlewick $15.99 Score:) Stanley Birdbaum got all ready for Crazy Hair Day in his school, only to discover when he got there that it was School Picture Day! What can poor Stanley do? It’s not Stanley but his best friend and classmates who find a memorable solution—a photo finish! 5–8.

Age: Early School Years. Award Year: 2004.

Evie & Margie
(Bernard Waber, Houghton Mifflin $15 Score:) How can two best friends both play Cinderella in the school play? Waber manages to pack in enough humor with the pain of jealousy to make this entertaining as well as thought-provoking. 6 & up.

Age: Early School Years. Award Year: 2004.

The Best Class Picture Ever!
(by Denis Roche, Scholastic $15.95 Score:) Class 202 has no permanent teacher, their class pet is missing, and it’s picture day! A lively slice of life from a second grade group that finds their pet and a new teacher. 6–9.

Age: Early School Years. Award Year: 2004.

Beverly Billingsly Takes a Bow
(by Alexander Stadler, Harcourt $16 Score:) Beverly dreamed of becoming a star, but at try-outs for the class show, she freezes. But never mind. Beverly, encouraged by her father, determines to be the best shrub in the show. She not only succeeds, she saves the show! 4–8.

Age: Preschool,Early School Years. Award Year: 2004.

Unique Monique
(by Maria Rousaki/illus. by Polina Papanikolaou, Kane Miller $15.95 Score:) Day after day Monique tries new ways to look unique despite her uniform—ways that bother the teacher and inspire her friends. One day she gets a new look that the school can’t ban . . . orthodontists are going to love this one! 8 & up.

Age: Early School Years. Award Year: 2004.

Museum Trip
(by Barbara Lehman, Houghton Mifflin $15 Score:) A wordless gem of an adventure. On a class trip to the museum, a boy gets separated from his group. While looking for them, he finds his way into a small room. There he finds a collection of mazes on display and is transformed to fit into the mazes. As the young reader finds the path through the mazes he and the boy save themselves and leave the museum triumphant. In fact, the young hero of the story and the museum guard both wear the same golden medal. Another winner from the author of The Red Book. 5 & up.

Age: Preschool,Early School Years. Award Year: 2007.