Kathi Appelt 
True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp 

Librarians often say that every book is not for every child, but The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp is (The New York Times). Meet Bingo and Jmiah, raccoon brothers on a mission to save Sugar Man Swamp in this rollicking tale and National Book Award Finalist from Newbery Honoree Kathi Appelt.Raccoon brothers Bingo and Jmiah are the newest recruits of the Official Sugar Man Swamp Scouts. The opportunity to serve the Sugar Manthe massive creature who delights in delicious sugar cane and magnanimously rules over the swampis an honor, and also a big responsibility, since the rest of the swamp critters rely heavily on the intel of these hardworking Scouts. Twelve-year-old Chap Brayburn is not a member of any such organization. But he loves the swamp something fierce, and hell do anything to help protect it. And help is surely needed, because world-class alligator wrestler Jaeger Stitch wants to turn Sugar Man swamp into an Alligator World Wrestling Arena and Theme Park, and the troubles dont end there. There is also a gang of wild feral hogs on the march, headed straight toward them all. The Scouts are ready. All they have to do is wake up the Sugar Man. Problem is, no ones been able to wake that fellow up in a decade or four Newbery Honoree and Kathi Appelts story of care and conservation has received five starred reviews, was selected as a National Book Award finalist, and is funny as all get out and ripe for reading aloud.