Search Results for: blog the caldecott medal and the man for whom it was named

The Snowy Day – Ezra Jack Keats

I know other parts of the country are seeing signs of spring, but here in Colorado we can expect another couple months of snow. I want to share one of my favorite books about snow with you. The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats, received the Caldecott Award in 1963. I remember the book from my own childhood. The illustrations are unique. One of Keats techniques was to blend collage with gouache (an opaque watercolor mixed with art gum. His illustrations capture the magic of how snow can transform a neighborhood into beauty, softness, and mystery. Keats set new ground … Continue reading →

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale – Mo Willems

Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity by Mo Willems recently won a Caldecott Honor. It’s the sequel to Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale which also won a Caldecott Honor in 2005. The books are both illustrated with drawings on top of black and white photographs. According to Willems website, he pronounces “Knuffle” with a hard “K” The word “knuffle” is Dutch for snuggle. In Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale the reader meets a little girl named Trixie. She’s old enough to walk, but not yet talking. The book shows Trixie and her daddy walking through the neighborhood to … Continue reading →

2008 Caldecott Winners

The big news in Children’s Literature this week was the announcement of the Caldecott and Newbery Medal winners. I’m sure Tristi and will be reviewing all of them in detail soon. Today I’ll tell you about the Caldecott winners. The Caldecott Medal is awarded to the most distinguished American picture book for children. This year, the award went to The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. The pencil illustrations tell a great deal of the story in this 544 page book. It’s the story of an orphan and inventor living in a Paris train station. The Invention of Hugo … Continue reading →

Book Awards: The Nobel

The Nobel Prize is one of the most coveted honors that can be received. The mere thought of being a Nobel winner sends chills down aspirants’ spines and makes them drift off into lovely daydreams . . . yes, I’ve had those daydreams and I know what they look like. Once you are chosen to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature, you know that you have truly made your mark on the whole world, and not just a small portion of it. When Alfred Nobel outlined the criteria for nominees for this award, he said, in part, that the prize … Continue reading →

Book Awards: The Whitneys

As you browse your library or bookstore, you’ll see various logos on the covers of the books – winner of the Caldecott, winner of the Newbury, winner of the Christy – the list is endless. Jaime Egan did a marvelous series on the Caldecott Medal and another on the Newbury last year, and I thought it would be interesting to take a look at other awards that are available in the literary world. That way, when you see one of those logos, you’ll know why that book is being honored and what made it so special. I’m going to start … Continue reading →

Henry the Sailor Cat – Mary Calhoun

Henry was a beautiful Siamese cat. He watched, jealous, as The Man and The Kid got ready to go out on the boat. “Cats don’t like water,” The Man said. Henry begged to differ. Left alone on dry land with The Woman couldn’t possibly compare to the adventure of going out to sea. He wanted to see the dolphins and the fish the humans were always talking about. Taking the first opening he saw, Henry slipped down into a hatch on the boat. He was a feline stowaway! As the boat drifted away from the dock, Henry enjoyed the sensation … Continue reading →

The John Newbery Medal

Here we go, readers, on another adventure in children’s books. For those of you who read my reviews on the Caldecott Medal winners, you may enjoy this series even more. The Newbery Medal has been awarded every year since 1922 (16 years before the Caldecott Medal) to “the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children” — to quote the Association for Library Service to Children (a division of the American Library Association). It became the first children’s book award in the world. Although John Newbery was a British publisher and bookseller, he is often credited with … Continue reading →

Winners of the Caldecott Medal: 2003-2006

Come read the books deemed worthy of the Caldecott Medal! I am giving a brief synopsis of each book along with a comment about the artwork here and there. I am also including lists of the Honor winners for each year. I hope you enjoy my series. Comments are welcomed!! 2003 “My Friend Rabbit” by Eric Rohmann “My Friend Rabbit” is about a little mouse and his friend named Rabbit. It seems that no matter what rabbit does, he is always getting into some kind of mischief. In this story, he gets his toy airplane stuck in a tree and … Continue reading →

Winners of the Caldecott Medal: 1998-2002

For more information about the origins of the Caldecott Medal, please see The Caldecott Medal and the Man for Whom it was Named. I am giving a brief synopsis of each book along with a comment about the artwork here and there. I am also including lists of the Honor winners for each year. I hope you enjoy my series. Comments are welcomed!! 1998 “Rapunzel” by Paul O. Zelinsky In this retelling of the classic tale, Paul Zelinsky really creates a believable story that a girl could have hair strong enough for someone to climb up it. Her hair is … Continue reading →

Winners of the Caldecott Medal: 1993-1997

Come read the books deemed worthy of the Caldecott Medal! I am giving a brief synopsis of each book along with a comment about the artwork here and there. I am also including lists of the Honor winners for each year. I hope you enjoy my series. Comments are welcomed!! 1993 “Mirette on the High Wire” by Emily Arnold McCully There was a widow named Madame Gateau who ran a boardinghouse. She and her daughter Mirette always made sure that their guests were comfortable. But one day a stranger appears and Mirette becomes fascinated with his unusual talent. Will Mirette … Continue reading →