Child/Young Adult, Fiction Picture Books

Caldecott Winners and Honors

Caldecott award

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Note: I occasionally accept review copies from the publisher. Posts written from review copies are labeled. All opinions are my own. Posts may contain affiliate links. I may receive compensation for any purchased items.

The Caldecott Medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children published that year. (Wikipedia, Caldecott Medal)


Caldecott Medal Winners

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2020s

2024 -  Big by Vashti Harrison

  • In Every Life by Marla Frazee 
  • Jovita Wore Pants: The Story of a Mexican Freedom Fighter illustrated by Molly Mendoza, written by Aida Salazar
  • There Was a Party for Langston illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey, written by Jason Reynolds
  • The Truth About Dragons illustrated by Hanna Cha, written by Julie Leung

2023 - Hot Dog by Doug Salati

  • Ain’t Burned All the Bright by Jason Reynolds, illustrated by Jason Griffin
  • Berry Song by Michaela Goade 
  • Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement by Angela Joy, illustrated by Janelle Washington
  • Knight Owl by Christopher Denise

2022 – Watercress by Jason Chin

  • Have You Ever Seen a Flower? by Shawn Harris
  • Mel Fell by Corey R. Tabor
  • Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Floyd Cooper
  • Wonder Walkers by Micha Archer

2021 – We are Water Protectors by Carol Lindstrom

  • A Place Inside of Me: A Poem to Heal the Heart by Zetta Elliott
  • The Cat Man of Aleppo by Irene Latham and Karim Shamsi-Basha
  • Me & Mama by Cozbi A. Cabrera
  • Outside In by Deborah Underwood

2020 – The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander

  • Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris
  • Double Bass Blues by Andrea J. Loney
  • Going Down Home with Daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons

2010s

2019 – Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall

  • Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal
  • A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin
  • The Rough Patch by Brian Lies
  • Thank you, Omu! by Oge Mora

2018 – Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell

  • Big Cat, Little Cat by Elisha Cooper
  • Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Gordon C. James
  • A Different Pond by Thi Bui
  • Grand Canyon by Jason Chin

2017 – Radiant Child: The Story of Youth Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat by Javaka Steptoe

  • Leave Me Alone! by Vera Brosgol
  • Freedom in Congo Square by R. Gregory Christie
  • Du Iz Tak? by Carson Ellis
  • They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel

2016 – Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick

  • Trombone Shorty by Troy Andrews
  • Waiting by Kevin Henkes
  • Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement by Carole Boston Weatherford
  • Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña

2015 – The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat

2014 – Locomotive by Brian Floca

  • Journey by Aaron Becker
  • Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle
  • Mr. Wuffles! by David Weisner

2013 – This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen

2012 – A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka

2011 – A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead; illustrated by Erin E. Stead

2010 – The Lion & the Mouse, illustrated and written by Jerry Pinkney

2000s

2009 – The House in the Night illustrated by Beth Krommes; written by Susan Marie Swanson

2008 – The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

2007 – Flotsam by David Wiesner

  • Gone Wild: An Endangered Animal Alphabet by David McLimans
  • Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom illustrated by Kadir Nelson, written by Carole Boston Weatherford

2006 – The Hello, Goodbye Window illustrated by Chris Raschka and written by Norton Juster

  • Rosa illustrated by Bryan Collier and written by Nikki Giovanni
  • Zen Shorts illustrated and written by Jon J. Muth
  • Hot Air: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Hot-Air Balloon Ride illustrated and written by Marjorie Priceman
  • Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems illustrated by Beckie Prange, written by Joyce Sidman

2005 – Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes

2004 – The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein

2003 – My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann

2002 – The Three Pigs by David Wiesner

  • The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins illustrated by Brian Selznick, written by Barbara Kerley
  • Martin’s Big Words: the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. illustrated by Bryan Collier, written by Doreen Rappaport
  • The Stray Dog by Marc Simont

2001 – So You Want to Be President? Illustrated by David Small, written by Judith St. George

  • Casey at the Bat illustrated by Christopher Bing, written by Ernest Thayer
  • Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type illustrated by Betsy Lewin, written by Doreen Cronin
  • Olivia by Ian Falconer

2000 – Joseph Had a Little Overcoat Simms Taback

1990s


1999 – Snowflake Bentley, Illustrated by Mary Azarian, text by Jacqueline Briggs

  • Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra illustrated by Brian Pinkney Text: Andrea Davis Pinkney
  • No, David! by David Shannon
  • Snow by Uri Shulevitz
  • Tibet Through the Red Box by Peter Sís

1998 – Rapunzel by Paul O. Zelinsky

1997 – Golem by David Wisniewski

1996 – Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann

  • Alphabet City by Stephen T. Johnson
  • Zin! Zin! Zin! a Violin, illustrated by Marjorie Priceman; text: Lloyd Moss
  • The Faithful Friend, illustrated by Brian Pinkney; text: Robert D. San Souci
  • Tops & Bottoms, adapted and illustrated by Janet Stevens

1995 – Smoky Night, illustrated by David Diaz; text: Eve Bunting

  • John Henry, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney; text: Julius Lester
  • Swamp Angel, illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky; text: Anne Issacs
  • Time Flies by Eric Rohmann

1994 – Grandfather’s Journey by Allen Say; text: edited by Walter Lorraine

  • Peppe the Lamplighter, illustrated by Ted Lewin; text: Elisa Bartone
  • In the Small, Small Pond by Denise Fleming
  • Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest by Gerald McDermott
  • Owen by Kevin Henkes
  • Yo! Yes? illustrated by Chris Raschka; text: edited by Richard Jackson

1993 – Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully

  • The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, illustrated by Lane Smith; text: Jon Scieszka
  • Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young
  • Working Cotton, illustrated by Carole Byard; text: Sherley Anne Williams

1992 – Tuesday by David Wiesner

  • Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold

1991 – Black and White by David Macaulay

1990 – Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China by Ed Young

  • Bill Peet: An Autobiography by Bill Peet
  • Color Zoo by Lois Ehlert
  • The Talking Eggs: A Folktale from the American South, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney; text: Robert D. San Souci
  • Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman; text: Eric Kimmel

1980s

1989 – Song and Dance Man, illustrated by Stephen Gammell; text: Karen Ackerman

  • The Boy of the Three-Year Nap, illustrated by Allen Say; text: Diane Snyder
  • Free Fall by David Wiesner
  • Goldilocks and the Three Bears by James Marshall
  • Mirandy and Brother Wind, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney; text: Patricia C. McKissack

1988 – Owl Moon, illustrated by John Schoenherr; text: Jane Yolen

  • Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale by John Steptoe

1987 – Hey, Al, illustrated by Richard Egielski; text: Arthur Yorinks

1986 – The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

  • The Relatives Came, illustrated by Stephen Gammell; text: Cynthia Rylant
  • King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub, illustrated by Don Wood; text: Audrey Wood

1985 – Saint George and the Dragon, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman; text: retold by Margaret Hodges

  • Hansel and Gretel, illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky; text: retold by Rika Lesser (Dodd)
  • Have You Seen My Duckling? by Nancy Tafuri
  • The Story of Jumping Mouse: A Native American Legend, retold and illustrated by John Steptoe

1984 – The Glorious Flight: Across the Channel with Louis Bleriot by Alice & Martin Provensen

  • Little Red Riding Hood, retold and illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman
  • Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang

1983 – Shadow, translated and illustrated by Marcia Brown (Original text in French: Blaise Cendrars)

  • A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams
  • When I Was Young in the Mountains, illustrated by Diane Goode; text: Cynthia Rylant

1982 – Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg

  • Where the Buffaloes Begin, illustrated by Stephen Gammell; text: Olaf Baker
  • On Market Street, illustrated by Anita Lobel; text: Arnold Lobel
  • Outside Over There by Maurice Sendak
  • A Visit to William Blake’s Inn: Poems for Innocent and Experienced Travelers, illustrated by Alice & Martin Provensen; text: Nancy Willard

1981 – Fables by Arnold Lobel

  • The Bremen-Town Musicians, retold and illustrated by Ilse Plume
  • The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher by Molly Bang
  • Mice Twice by Joseph Low
  • Truck by Donald Crews

1980 – Ox-Cart Man, illustrated by Barbara Cooney; text: Donald Hall

  • Ben’s Trumpet by Rachel Isadora
  • The Garden Of Abdul Gasazi by Chris Van Allsburg
  • The Treasure by Uri Shulevitz

1970s

1979 – The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses by Paul Goble

  • Freight Train by Donald Crews
  • The Way to Start a Day, illustrated by Peter Parnall; text: Byrd Baylor

1978 – Noah’s Ark by Peter Spier

  • Castle by David Macaulay
  • It Could Always Be Worse, retold and illustrated by Margot Zemach

1977 – Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions, illustrated by Leo & Diane Dillon; text: Margaret Musgrove

  • The Amazing Bone by William Steig
  • The Contest, retold and illustrated by Nonny Hogrogian
  • Fish for Supper by M. B. Goffstein
  • The Golem: A Jewish Legend by Beverly Brodsky McDermott
  • Hawk, I’m Your Brother, illustrated by Peter Parnall; text: Byrd Baylor

1976 – Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears, illustrated by Leo & Diane Dillon; text: retold by Verna Aardema

  • The Desert is Theirs, illustrated by Peter Parnall; text: Byrd Baylor
  • Strega Nona by Tomie de Paola

1975 – Arrow to the Sun by Gerald McDermott

  • Jambo Means Hello: A Swahili Alphabet Book, illustrated by Tom Feelings; text: Muriel Feelings (Dial)

1974 – Duffy and the Devil, illustrated by Margot Zemach; retold by Harve Zemach

  • Three Jovial Huntsmen by Susan Jeffers (Bradbury)
  • Cathedral by David Macaulay

1973 – The Funny Little Woman, illustrated by Blair Lent; text: retold by Arlene Mosel

1972 – One Fine Day, retold and illustrated by Nonny Hogrogian

  • Hildilid’s Night, illustrated by Arnold Lobel; text: Cheli Durán Ryan
  • If All the Seas Were One Sea by Janina Domanska
  • Moja Means One: Swahili Counting Book, illustrated by Tom Feelings; text: Muriel Feelings

1971 – A Story A Story, retold and illustrated by Gail E. Haley

  • The Angry Moon, illustrated by Blair Lent; text: retold by William Sleator
  • Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel
  • In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak

1970 – Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig

  • Goggles! by Ezra Jack Keats
  • Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse by Leo Lionni
  • Pop Corn & Ma Goodness, illustrated by Robert Andrew Parker; text: Edna Mitchell Preston
  • Thy Friend, Obadiah by Brinton Turkle
  • The Judge: An Untrue Tale, illustrated by Margot Zemach; text: Harve Zemach

1960s

1969 – The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship, illustrated by Uri Shulevitz; text: retold by Arthur Ransome

  • Why the Sun and the Moon Live in the Sky, illustrated by Blair Lent; text: Elphinstone Dayrell

1968 – Drummer Hoff, illustrated by Ed Emberley; text adapted by Barbara Emberley

  • Frederick by Leo Lionni
  • Seashore Story by Taro Yashima
  • The Emperor and the Kite, illustrated by Ed Young; text: Jane Yolen

1967 – Sam, Bangs & Moonshine by Evaline Ness

  • One Wide River to Cross, illustrated by Ed Emberley; text: adapted by Barbara Emberley

1966 – Always Room for One More, illustrated by Nonny Hogrogian; text: Sorche Nic Leodhas, pseud. [Leclair Alger]

  • Hide and Seek Fog, illustrated by Roger Duvoisin; text: Alvin Tresselt
  • Just Me by Marie Hall Ets
  • Tom Tit Tot, retold and illustrated by Evaline Ness

1965 – May I Bring a Friend? illustrated by Beni Montresor; text: Beatrice Schenk de Regniers

  • Rain Makes Applesauce, illustrated by Marvin Bileck; text: Julian Scheer
  • The Wave, illustrated by Blair Lent; text: Margaret Hodges
  • A Pocketful of Cricket, illustrated by Evaline Ness; text: Rebecca Caudill

1964 – Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

  • Swimmy by Leo Lionni
  • All in the Morning Early, illustrated by Evaline Ness; text: Sorche Nic Leodhas, pseud. [Leclaire Alger]
  • Mother Goose and Nursery Rhymes, illustrated by Philip Reed

1963 – The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

  • The Sun is a Golden Earring, illustrated by Bernarda Bryson; text: Natalia M. Belting
  • Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present, illustrated by Maurice Sendak; text: Charlotte Zolotow

1962 – Once a Mouse, retold and illustrated by Marcia Brown

  • Fox Went out on a Chilly Night: An Old Song by Peter Spier
  • Little Bear’s Visit, illustrated by Maurice Sendak; text: Else H. Minarik
  • The Day We Saw the Sun Come Up, illustrated by Adrienne Adams; text: Alice E. Goudey

1961 – Baboushka and the Three Kings, illustrated by Nicolas Sidjakov; text: Ruth Robbins

  • Inch by Inch, by Leo Lionni

1960 – Nine Days to Christmas, illustrated by Marie Hall Ets; text: Marie Hall Ets and Aurora Labastida

  • Houses from the Sea, illustrated by Adrienne Adams; text: Alice E. Goudey
  • The Moon Jumpers, illustrated by Maurice Sendak; text: Janice May Udry

1950s

1959 – Chanticleer and the Fox, illustrated by Barbara Cooney; text: adapted from Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales by Barbara Cooney

  • The House that Jack Built: La Maison Que Jacques A Batie by Antonio Frasconi
  • What Do You Say, Dear? illustrated by Maurice Sendak; text: Sesyle Joslin (W. R. Scott)
  • Umbrella by Taro Yashima

1958 – Time of Wonder by Robert McCloskey

  • Fly High, Fly Low by Don Freeman
  • Anatole and the Cat, illustrated by Paul Galdone; text: Eve Titus

1957 – A Tree is Nice, illustrated by Marc Simont; text: Janice Udry

  • Mr. Penny’s Race Horse by Marie Hall Ets
  • 1 is One by Tasha Tudor
  • Anatole, illustrated by Paul Galdone; text: Eve Titus
  • Gillespie and the Guards, illustrated by James Daugherty; text: Benjamin Elkin
  • Lion by William Pène du Bois

1956 – Frog Went A-Courtin’, illustrated by Feodor Rojankovsky; text: retold by John Langstaff

  • Play With Me, by Marie Hall Ets
  • Crow Boy by Taro Yashima

1955 – Cinderella, or the Little Glass Slipper, illustrated by Marcia Brown; text: translated from Charles Perrault by Marcia Brown

  • Book of Nursery and Mother Goose Rhymes, illustrated by Marguerite de Angeli
  • Wheel On The Chimney, illustrated by Tibor Gergely; text: Margaret Wise Brown
  • The Thanksgiving Story, illustrated by Helen Sewell; text: Alice Dalgliesh

1954 – Madeline’s Rescue by Ludwig Bemelmans

  • Journey Cake, Ho! illustrated by Robert McCloskey; text: Ruth Sawyer
  • When Will the World Be Mine? illustrated by Jean Charlot; text: Miriam Schlein
  • The Steadfast Tin Soldier, illustrated by Marcia Brown; text: Hans Christian Andersen, translated by M. R. James
  • A Very Special House, illustrated by Maurice Sendak; text: Ruth Krauss
  • Green Eyes by A. Birnbaum

1953 – The Biggest Bear by Lynd Ward

  • Puss in Boots, illustrated by Marcia Brown; text: translated from Charles Perrault by Marcia Brown
  • One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey
  • Ape in a Cape: An Alphabet of Odd Animals by Fritz Eichenberg
  • The Storm Book, illustrated by Margaret Bloy Graham; text: Charlotte Zolotow
  • Five Little Monkeys by Juliet Kepes

1952 – Finders Keepers, illustrated by Nicolas, pseud. (Nicholas Mordvinoff); text: Will, pseud. [William Lipkind]

  • Mr. T. W. Anthony Woo by Marie Hall Ets
  • Skipper John’s Cook by Marcia Brown
  • All Falling Down, illustrated by Margaret Bloy Graham; text: Gene Zion
  • Bear Party by William Pène du Bois
  • Feather Mountain by Elizabeth Olds

1951 – The Egg Tree by Katherine Milhous

  • Dick Whittington and his Cat by Marcia Brown
  • The Two Reds, ill. by Nicolas, pseud. (Nicholas Mordvinoff); text: Will, pseud. [William Lipkind]
  • If I Ran the Zoo by Dr. Seuss, pseud. [Theodor Seuss Geisel]
  • The Most Wonderful Doll in the World, illustrated by Helen Stone; text: Phyllis McGinley
  • T-Bone, the Baby Sitter by Clare Turlay Newberry 

1950 – Song of the Swallows by Leo Politi

  • America’s Ethan Allen, illustrated by Lynd Ward; text: Stewart Holbrook
  • The Wild Birthday Cake, illustrated by Hildegard Woodward; text: Lavinia R. Davis
  • The Happy Day, illustrated by Marc Simont; text: Ruth Krauss
  • Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss, pseud. [Theodor Seuss Geisel]
  • Henry Fisherman by Marcia Brown 

1940s

1949 – The Big Snow by Berta & Elmer Hader

  • Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
  • All Around the Town, illustrated by Helen Stone; text: Phyllis McGinley
  • Juanita by Leo Politi
  • Fish in the Air by Kurt Wiese

1948 – White Snow, Bright Snow, illustrated by Roger Duvoisin; text: Alvin Tresselt

  • Stone Soup by Marcia Brown
  • McElligot’s Pool by Dr. Seuss, pseud. [Theodor Seuss Geisel]
  • Bambino the Clown by Georges Schreiber
  • Roger and the Fox, illustrated by Hildegard Woodward; text: Lavinia R. Davis
  • Song of Robin Hood, illustrated by Virginia Lee Burton; text: edited by Anne Malcolmson

1947 – The Little Island, illustrated by Leonard Weisgard; text: Golden MacDonald, pseud. [Margaret Wise Brown]

  • Rain Drop Splash, illustrated by Leonard Weisgard; text: Alvin Tresselt
  • Boats on the River, illustrated by Jay Hyde Barnum; text: Marjorie Flack
  • Timothy Turtle, illustrated by Tony Palazzo; text: Al Graham
  • Pedro, the Angel of Olvera Street by Leo Politi
  • Sing in Praise: A Collection of the Best Loved Hymns, illustrated by Marjorie Torrey; text: selected by Opal Wheeler

1946 – The Rooster Crows by Maud & Miska Petersham

  • Little Lost Lamb, illustrated by Leonard Weisgard; text: Golden MacDonald, pseud. [Margaret Wise Brown]
  • Sing Mother Goose, illustrated by Marjorie Torrey; music: Opal Wheeler
  • My Mother is the Most Beautiful Woman in the World, illustrated by Ruth Gannett; text: Becky Reyher
  • You Can Write Chinese by Kurt Wiese 

1945 – Prayer for a Child, illustrated by Elizabeth Orton Jones; text: Rachel Field

1944 – Many Moons, illustrated by Louis Slobodkin; text: James Thurber

  • Small Rain: Verses From The Bible, illustrated by Elizabeth Orton Jones; text: selected by Jessie Orton Jones
  • Pierre Pidgeon, illustrated by Arnold E. Bare; text: Lee Kingman
  • The Mighty Hunter by Berta & Elmer Hader
  • A Child’s Good Night Book, illustrated by Jean Charlot; text: Margaret Wise Brown
  • Good-Luck Horse, illustrated by Plato Chan; text: Chih-Yi Chan

1943 – The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton

  • Dash and Dart by Mary & Conrad Buff
  • Marshmallow by Clare Turlay Newberry

1942 – Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

  • An American ABC by Maud & Miska Petersham
  • In My Mother’s House, illustrating by Velino Herrera; text: Ann Nolan Clark
  • Paddle-To-The-Sea by Holling C. Holling
  • Nothing At All, by Wanda Gág

1941 – They Were Strong and Good, by Robert Lawson

  • April’s Kittens by Clare Turlay Newberry

1940 – Abraham Lincoln by Ingri & Edgar Parin d’Aulaire

  • Cock-a-Doodle Doo by Berta & Elmer Hader
  • Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
  • The Ageless Story by Lauren Ford

1930s

1939 – Mei Li by Thomas Handforth

1938 – Animals of the Bible, A Picture Book, illustrated by Dorothy P. Lathrop; text: selected by Helen Dean Fish

Which of these books have you read? Do you think children's picture books can be "dated" and become inappropriate for children?

Related posts:

Default ThumbnailCaldecott Corner: David Wiesner A Caldecott Celebration by Leonard Marcus Caldecott Corner: Wintery Miscellany Animals of the Bible, A Picture Book, illustrated by Dorothy P. Lathrop
Reviewed on January 1, 2000
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Rebecca Reid

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Rebecca Reid is a homeschooling, stay-at-home mother seeking to make the journey of life-long learning fun by reading lots of good books. Rebecca Reads provides reviews of children's literature she has enjoyed with her children; nonfiction that enhances understanding of educational philosophies, history and more; and classical literature that Rebecca enjoys reading.

  • Have you picked up on the fact that I have a “thing” for these medal-winners? I’m not quite as versed in the Caldecott world as the Newbery, but I have a few of these in my collection. My thoughts on Arrow to the Sun and Animals of the Bible are basically the same as yours. I, too, love Make Way for Ducklings, but I’m not quite as wild about The Hello Goodbye Window as my kids. And I just received A River of Words from a friend, and I LOVE it! It really is lovely. Any prophecies on 2010’s winner? I think Chalk by Bill Thomson is great, but I fear the whole pictures-only thing has been captured by Wiesner and Rohmann too often. In fact, Wiesner’s new one has been getting some buzz already. My very favorite Caldecott winner is Where the Wild Things Are. I know the award is all about the art, which is remarkable, but this whole book is perfect. The rhythm, the cadence, the feeling, the scene, the pace – it is flawless. Thanks for letting me think about these lovelies!

    Reply

    • Sara C (wordyevidenceofthefact), yeay! I do love the awards thing too so I’m so glad to hear that I’m not just throwing my thoughts off into cyberspace alone. I suspect you’d feel similarly to THEY WERE STRONG AND GOOD. (one Amazon reviewer put it well: “well, they were strong anyway”). I should revisit THE HELLO GOODBYE WINDOW now that my son is older, I think he’ll love the “visiting the grandparents” story. I love the art in that one.

      As for this year’s winner: I’m still only half way through the Cybils nominees (not that the Caldecott will be one of them, but it has been the last few years), but a few stand out already. I think CITY DOG COUNTRY FROG is absolutely excellent, I think it deserves a win, and that’s the one I’m hoping for. Some of those pictures I’d frame on my wall (the winter one where the dog is all alone, so sad and beautiful). Plus a bonus is I love the story. I like CHALK (son likes it very much) and think the art remarkable (but I think you are right that the wordless picture book is kind of overdone shh don’t tell anyone). ART AND MAX (the Weisner one) is just weird. I don’t particularly like it. I know the Caldecott is all about art but I have a hard time, when I read a picture book, separating art from story: it’s for kids after all, and I read it in terms of being (1) a mom and (2) a mom of a 3yr old. I want to find books that both of us like! Maybe older kids would like ART AND MAX more. How old are your kids?

      Reply

      • I totally agree about the art being difficult to separate from the story. Like WTWTA, the best ones do both well. I also most admire those excellent books that are written AND illustrated by the same creative soul. But yes, I read children’s books as a writer, a critic, an appreciator of art/illustration, but also as a mom (daughter is almost 6; son is almost 4). Sometimes I can see where my kids will love a book that I don’t love, and some I like a lot more than my kids. For instance, I haven’t read it with my kids yet, but I think A River of Words will be more my deal than theirs – because I have an existing appreciation for WCW. On the flip side, even though I think The Magic Treehouse books are formulaic and poorly written, my kids LOVE them, and I have grown to appreciate the comfort kids can draw from the simple formulas that are transparent and boring to a more advanced reader.

        Reply

        • Sara (wordyevidenceofthefact), I forgot to mention one of my favorite books from the past year. I don’t think it will win the Caldecott for illustrations but it is so great. LMNO Peas by Keith Baker.

          Reply
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