Contact: Arun Toke, editor; e-mail: ; tel. (541) 342-4956

A good book opens the world to us, and can fundamentally change our perspective. Through reading, we explore other cultures, learn new languages, and appreciate the natural world. We can learn to avoid stereotypes and biases and find positive role models from both genders and communities of color.

Our 2005 Skipping Stones Honor Award winners promote cooperation, peacemaking, environmental protection, and offer compelling learning experiences for parents, teachers, and children.

Our thanks to all the educators, students, parents and interns who helped us select the winners from an awesome array of wonderful books and films.

Ecology / Nature Books
Promote an understanding of natural systems; specific species or habitats; human, plant and animal relationships; resource conservation, environmental protection and restoration efforts; community projects and sustainable living.

Everglades Forever
by Trish Marx, photos by Cindy Karp.
Grades 3-7. $17.95.
Lee and Low Books, www.leeandlow.com

Garden of the Spirit Bear
by Dorothy Patent, illustr. Deborah Milton.
Elem. grades. $16.
Clarion Books, www.clarionbooks.com

Owls
by Sandra Markle.
Elem. grades. $25.26.
Lerner Publishing Group, www.lernerbooks.com.

The Sea, The Storm, and the Mangrove Tangle
by Lynne Cherry.
Elem. grades. $16.
Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, www.fsgkidsbooks. com.

Priceless: The Vanishing Beauty of a Fragile Planet
by Bradley T. Greive, photos by Mitsuaki Iwago.
All Ages. $18.95.
Andrews McMeel Publishing, www.andrewsmcmeel.com.

Tree Of Life: The Incredible Biodiversity of Life on Earth
by Rochelle Strauss, illustr. Margot Thompson.
All ages. $16.95.
Kids Can Press. www.kidscanpress.com.

Multicultural & International Books
Focusing on ethnic diversity and intercultural or global relationships, these books build bridges of communication, understanding, social justice and peace.

Ayat Jamilah: Beautiful Signs
br Sarah Conover and Freda Crane.
Middle grades. $19.95.
Eastern Washington University Press, ewpress@ewu.edu.

A Shelter in Our Car
br Monica Gunning.
Elem. grades. $16.95.
Children's Book Press, www.childrensbookpress.org.

Becoming Naomi Leon
br Pam Muņoz Ryan.
Middle grades. $16.95.
Scholastic, Inc., www.scholastic.com

Chanda's Secrets
br Allan Stratton.
Upper grades, $8.95 (pb), $19.95 (hc).
Annick Press, Canada, www.annickpress.com.

Hana's Suitcase
br Karen Levine.
Elem. and middle grades. $15.95.
Albert Whitman and Co, www.albertwhitman.com.

Land of Morning Calm: Korean Culture Then and Now
br John Stickler, illustr. Soma Han.
Elem. grades. $16.95.
Shen's Books. www.shens.com.

Rattlesnake Mesa: Stories from a Native American Childhood
br Ednah New Rider Weber, photos: Richela Renkun.
Middle grades. $18.95.
Lee and Low Books, www.leeandlow.com.

Selavi: That is Life
br Youme Landowne. Picture book. $17.95.
Cinco Puntos Press, www.cincopuntospress.com.

The Power of One
br Dennis Brindel Fradin and Judith Bloom Fradin. Middle grades, $18.
Clarion Books, www.clarionbooks.com.

The Good Rainbow Road
br Simon J. Ortiz, illustr. Michael Lacapa.
Elem. grades and up. Trilingual. $16.95.
University of Arizona Press, www.uapress.arizona.edu.

Walking On Solid Ground
br Shu Pui Cheung, Shuyuan Li, Aaron Chau and Deborah Wei.
Elem. and middle grades. $12.95.
Philadelphia Folklore Project, www.folkloreproject.org.

Teaching Resources & Educational Videos/DVDs
Educators will find these resources extremely helpful in their work with students to develop multicultural and nature awareness.

Let's Get Real, DVD & teacher's guide
br Debra Chasnoff, Helen Cohen and Kate Stilley.
Middle grades. $99-$249.
Women's Educational Media, www.womedia.org.

What Do You Believe?: The religious and spiritual lives of American teenagers, DVD with teacher's guide
br Sarah Feinbloom.
Middle and upper grades. $99.
New Day Films, www.newday.com

The Kid's Guide to Working Out Conflicts
br Naomi Drew, M.A.
Middle grades. $13.95.
Free Sprit Publishing, www.freespirit.com.

Dharma, Color, and Culture
br Hilda Gutierrez-Baldoquin.
Grades 10 to adults, educators. $16.
Parallax Press, www.parallax.org.