caldecott assignment
TRANSCRIPT
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Kristin Howell May 5, 2015
CHD 203- Child Literature & Language Development
Caldecott and Award Winning Children's Literature Assignment
Caldecott Medal Books
The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend
Written and Illustrated by Dan Santat
About the Author: Dan Santat is the author/illustrator of Sidekicks and the winner of the Silver Medal from the Society of Illustrators for Oh No! (Or How My Science Project Destroyed the World) by Mac Barnett. He is also the creator of the Disney animated hit, The Replacements.
Synopsis: Beekle is an imaginary friend from an island where such friends are born. They play together until a child imagines them and they leave to go an be with that child. Beekle waits but his turn does not come. After waiting, decides to sail to the real world and find a friend. The real world is a strange place and he briefly becomes discouraged during his search. Then he meets a little girl named Alice with whom he shares snacks and funny jokes with. Beekle has finally found his friend.
Personal Opinion: I loved this book! It is about friendship and searching for connection. The illustrations are beautiful.
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This Is Not My Hat
Written and Illustated by Jon Klassen
About the Author: Jon Klassen is a Canadian writer and illustrator of children's books and an animator. He won both the American Caldecott Medal and the British Kate Greenaway Medal for children's book illustration, recognizing the 2012 picture book This is Not My Hat, which he also wrote. He is the first person to win both awards for the same work.
Synopsis: A fish swims around wearing a hat he stole from a bigger fish whom the hat was too small for. He will get away with it because the big fish is asleep at the time and even if he finds out it was the little fish who stole he'll be able to hide by swimming into the tall and seaweed that is close together. But the crab who saw him, told the big fish where the little fish was and in the end, the big fish got his hat back.
Personal Opinion: It was funny but I like it because it teaches children not to take things that do not belong to them and that while it may seem that they might get away with it, misdeeds will catch up to them in the end.
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A Sick Day for Amos McGee,
Written by Philip C. Stead
Illustrated by Erin E. Stead
About the Author: Philip C. Stead is the author of the Caldecott Medal winning A Sick Day for Amos McGee, also named a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2010 and a Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Book of 2010, illustrated by his wife, Erin E. Stead (A Neal Porter Book, Roaring Brook Press, 2010). Philip, also an artist, both wrote and illustrated his debut Creamed Tuna Fish and Peas on Toast(Roaring Brook Press, 2009), which was applauded by School Library Journal for “its wry humor and illustrations worthy of a Roald Dahl creation.”
About the Illustrator: Erin E. Stead is an American illustrator of children's books. She won the 2011 Caldecott Medal for the year's best-illustrated U.S. picture book, recognizing her first publication, A Sick Day for Amos McGee.
Synopsis: Amos McGee works at the city. He has many responsibilities, but always makes time to spend with his animals friends; such as the elephant he plays chess with and the owl he reads to. One day Amos waked up horribly sick and cannot go to work. The animals at the zoo worry about him and miss him. So the decide to catch the bus to Amos's house and visit their sick friend. They play games, read books, and drink tea. Amos begins to feel better and looks forward to returning to work.
Personal Opinion: I like this book because when children get sick and have to home from school they miss their friends, so they can relate to the story Also, it teaches children how to be a good friend to others.
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The Lion & the Mouse
Retold and Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
About the Author: Jerry Pinkney is an American illustrator of children's books. He won the 2010 Caldecott Medal for U.S. picture book illustration, recognizing The Lion & the Mouse, a version of Aesop's fable that he also wrote. He also has five Caldecott Honors.
Synopsis: In this retelling of Aesop's fable, the large and ferocious lion captures a tiny mouse but decides to let him go. Later the lion is captured by hunters and it is the tiny mouse who chews through the net and helps the lion escape. The lion returns to his family and the mouse does the same. The two unlikely friends form a bond.
Personal Opinion: I moderately enjoyed this book. It is wordless and encourages children to interpret the pictures in order to get the story.
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The House in the Night
Written by Susan Marie Swanson
Illustrated by Beth Krommes
About the Author: Susan Marie Swanson is a poet and picture book author who writes with children and their teachers. Her work is featured in The Poetry Friday Anthology and The Poetry Friday Anthology for Science, and her poem “Trouble, Fly” has appeared in a choral setting for children’s choir. Her picture books include The First Thing My Mama Told Me, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book and Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book; and The House in the Night, winner of the Minnesota Book Award and the Caldecott Medal.
About the Illustrator: Beth Krommes was born in 1956 and grew up in Emmaus, Pennsylvania. She received a BFA degree in painting from Syracuse University and a MAT in art education from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. She has worked as a public school art teacher, a manager of a fine handcraft shop, and an art director for a computer magazine. Since 1989, she has been illustrating full-time, focusing on children's books for the last fifteen years.
Synopsis: One night a boy reads a book about a bird and he imagines that he and the bird take flight into the night sky, over the trees and among the moon and the stars. The bird takes him back home where he finishes his book and goes to bed.
Personal Opinion: It is a simple straight-forward book that encourages imagination.
The Hello, Goodbye Window
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Written by Norton Juster
Illustrated by Chris Raschka
About the Author: Norton Juster grew up in Brooklyn, studied architecture at the University of Pennsylvania, and spent a year in Liverpool, England. He taught architecture and planning at Pratt Institute in New York and was Professor of Design at Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, from 1970-1992.He began writing seriously while in the Navy. His first book, The Phantom Tollbooth, was published in 1961. Winner of the George C. Stone Centre for Children's Books Award, it is recognized as a classic and continues to be treasured by children and adults throughout the world. It was made into a feature film by MGM in 1969 and, more recently, into a musical. In 2007, it was produced at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C..
About the Illustrator: Chris Raschka is an American illustrator, writer, and violist. He contributed to children's literature as a children's illustrator. He was U.S. nominee for the biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 2012.
Synopsis: A girl enjoys spending time at the home of her grandparents. Their home has many windows but one window is very special. It is the window into the kitchen where the grandparents can often be found. Greetings are always exchanged at this window. After a visit of fun, food, and music, the little girl goes home and dreams of having her own house with a special window.
Personal Opinion: I enjoyed this book because it reminds me of the days when I would visit my great-grandparent's home. I would definitely recommend this book.
Kitten's First Full Moon
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Written and Illustrated by Kevin Henkes
About the Author: Kevin Henkes was born in 1960 in Racine, Wisconsin. Throughout his childhood, he and his family visited the local public library, making an important ritual out of selecting and carrying home books. Inspired by such illustrators as Crockett Johnson and Garth Williams, Henkes decided at an early age that he would be an artist, and enjoyed frequent visits to the nearby art museum. It was a high school teacher's encouragement of his writing, however, that gave Henkes the idea for his future career.
Synopsis: A kitten sees the full moon for the first time and thinks that it is a bowl of milk which she wants of course. She makes several attempts to get this "bowl of milk" in the sky, but is unsuccessful. The she climbs a tree overlooking a pond which reflects the moon. This causes her to think that she is seeing an even bigger bowl of milk and she dives into to the pond. Sad, hungry and wet, the kitten goes home to find a real big bowl of milk waiting for her.
Personal Opinion: It is a cute story showing how things are not always what they appear to be.
The Man Who Walked Between the Towers
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Written and Illustrated by Mordicai Gerstein
About the Author: Mordicai Gerstein, born November 24, 1935 in Los Angeles, California is an American artist, writer, and film director, best known for illustrating and writing children's books. Gerstein won the 2004 Caldecott Medal for U.S. picture book illustration, recognizing The Man Who Walked Between the Towers (Roaring Brook Press, 2003), which he also wrote.[1] Created in response to the September 11 attacks, it features the story of Philippe Petit's unauthorized high-wire walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center on August 7, 1974.
Synopsis: A street performer named Philippe decides to walk on a rope between the Twin Towers of New York City in 1974 long before they were destroyed. His performance causes quite a show as citizens gasp and the police shout at him with their bullhorns. But Philippe doesn't care, as long as he is up there, he is free. Once he come down, he is arrested and taken to court. The judge orders him to perform in the park for the children, which he does happily.
Personal Opinion: I found it interested and somewhat entertaining. I wasn't around in 1974 but this story causes me to think about where I was when the Twin Towers were destroyed.
My Friend Rabbit
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Written and Illustrated by Eric Rohmann
About the Author: Eric Rohmann is an American writer and illustrator of children's books fromChicago. Born 1957 in Riverside, Illinois, Rohmann is a graduate of Illinois State University and Arizona State University. He won the 2003 Caldecott Medal for U.S. picture book illustration, recognizing My Friend Rabbit, and he was a runner-up in 1995 for Time Flies.
Synopsis: Rabbit and Mouse are friends. Well-meaning, Rabbit seems to have trouble where ever he goes. After gathering an elephant, a hippo, and lots of other animals in order to get Mouse's plane out of the tree, his operation ends in a catastrophe. Somehow they get the plane out of the tree and they jump back in but the rabbit unwitting covers the mouse's eyes and they crash into the tree again. The mouse just sighs knowing that his friend means well.
Personal Opinion: I like this book because children will eventually learn that even good friends may not always be as reliable as they would like them to be. People are not perfect but you have to show them love anyway.
The Three Pigs
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Written and Illustrated by David Wiesner
About the Author: David Wiesner is an American illustrator and writer of children's books, known best for picture books including some that tell stories without words. As an illustrator he has won three Caldecott Medals recognizing the year's "most distinguished American picture book for children"[1] and he was one of five finalists in 2008 for the biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Award, the highest recognition available for creators of children's books.
Synopsis: In this strange rendition of the Tree Little Pigs, the big bad wolf huffs and puffs blows the pigs right out of the story. The ride on a paper airplane and land in other nursery rhymes. They save a dragon from being killed and the cat with his fiddle join the group as well. They all fly home to the brick house made by the last pig. When the wolf shows up, the dragon scares him away. The group then sits down for soup.
Personal Opinion: This story is hilarious. I like how it shows that everyone worked together and that new friends were made.
So You Want to Be President?
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Written by Judith St. George
Illustrated by David Small
About the Author: Judith St. George is an American author, most famous for writing So You Want to Be President? Author and illustrator David Small was awarded the 2001 Caldecott Medal for his illustrations in the book.[1] She has written more than 40 books, most being historical fiction.
About the Illustrator: David Small was born in Detroit, Michigan. He began drawing at two years old and health problems having kept him home for much of his childhood.[1] He attended Cass Technical High School, wrote plays throughout his teenage years, but at age 21 switched to art. He earned a bachelor of fine arts degree at Wayne State University and a master of fine arts degree at Yale University. Small taught art for many years on the college level, ran a film series, and made satirical sketches for campus newspapers. His first book, which he wrote and illustrated, Eulalie and the Hopping Head, was published in 1981.
Synopsis: The book tell interesting facts about various Presidents of the United States. Such fact include the special bath tub made for William Taft, the different pets of the presidents and how many presidents were sons, grandsons and even cousins of other presidents.
Personal Opinion: I found this book very interesting, and informative. A great book for children when teaching them about civics or politics.
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat
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Simms Taback
About the Author: Simms Taback was an American writer , graphic artist, and illustrator of more than 35 books. He won the 2000Caldecott Medal for U.S. picture book illustration, recognizing Joseph Had a Little Overcoat, and was a runner-up in 1998 for There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. Taback graduated from the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Art and served in the United States Army. He was a designer for CBS Records and The New York Times. He was the founder and president of the Illustrators Guild (later the New York Graphic Artists Guild) and taught art at the School of Visual Arts and Syracuse University. Taback designed the first McDonald's Happy Meal box in 1977. He died in 2011 of pancreatic cancer.
Synopsis: Joseph is a clever person who takes old things and makes them new. His overcoat was old and worn so he made a jacket out of it and wore it to the fair. Everyone thought it was fantastic. Eventually the jacket became old and worn so he made a little vest out of it and danced at his nephew's wedding. Soon the little vest became old and worn so he made a scarf out of it wore it when he sang in the men's chorus. Soon Joseph's scarf was old and worn so he made a necktie out and wore it to visit his sister in the city. Eventually the necktie becomes old and worn so Joseph made a handkerchief out of it and used it while he drank his hot tea. The handkerchief got old and worn so Joseph made a button out of it and used it to fasten his suspenders. One day he lost his little button and that was the end of that. So Joseph made a book about how you can always make something out of nothing.
Personal Opinion: An interesting book about using old items to create new things instead of just throwing them away. A fine lesson for children to be resourceful.
Snowflake Bentley
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Written by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
Illustrated by Mary Azarian
About the Author: Jacqueline Briggs Martin is the author of Snowflake Bentley, winner of the 1999 Caldecott Medal, and The Lamp, the Ice, and the Boat Called Fish, an ALA Notable Book, a Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book, Riverbank Review Finalist, Notable Social Studies Trade book and winner of The Golden Kite Award for Illustration.
About the Illustrator: Mary Azarian is an American woodcut artist and children's book illustrator. She won the 1999 Caldecott Medal for U.S. picture book illustration, recognizing Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin. It tells about the life of Wilson Bentley. She lives in Plainfield, Vermont. She produces original prints and has illustrated over 50 books.
Synopsis: William Bentley loved snow more than anything. He thought that snow was as beautiful as butterflies and apple blossoms. He wanted to share them but he couldn't' because he wasn't able to save them. When he receives a telescope as a gift he uses it to look at snowflakes. After figuring out a way to photograph snowflakes because he believed that these photographs would be his gift to the world. People laughed at him but he remained focused. He also used his camera to photograph in all seasons, capturing spider webs and other forms of nature. Snowflakes were always his pride and joy. Over the years his photographs were published in magazines and books.
Personal Opinion: A fantastic telling of William Bentley and his technique of micro-photography to show the beauty and mystery of the unique shapes of snowflakes. I also like this book because it encourages children to follow their dreams regardless of what anybody else says.
Rapunzel
Retold and Illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky
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About the Author: Paul O. Zelinsky (born 1953) is an American illustrator and writer best known for illustrating children's picture books. He won the 1998 Caldecott Medal for U.S. picture book illustration, recognizing Rapunzel. His most popular work is The Wheels on the Bus, a best-selling movable book. Zelinsky had been one Caldecott runner-up in 1985, 1987, and 1995, the latter for Swamp Angel by Anne Isaacs.
Synopsis: A man and wife have a baby after years of being unable to have children. The wife loves to look out the window at the beautiful garden of fruits and herbs. The garden belongs to a sorceress who has enclosed it. The wife becomes fixated on a bed of rapunzel herb and she craved to taste it. She sends her husband to go and get some. He sneaks over the wall and steals some for his wife. She makes a salad and devours it. The next day her husband goes back for more rapunzel, but is caught by the sorceress. He begs her forgiveness and explains that his wife is pregnant and craves the herb. The sorceress agrees to let him take the rapunzel in return for the baby when she is born. When the child is born the sorceress takes her away naming her Rapunzel after the herb. Many years pass and Rapunzel is brought to live in a high tower with no doors. She lets down her long hair to let the sorceress climb up and into the tower. She lives in the tower alone for many years only being visited by the sorceress. One day and prince comes riding by the woods. He hears Rapunzel singing and falls in love with her voice. After seeing the sorceress climb up Rapunzel's hair, the prince follows suit and climbs up too. The two fall in love secretly marry in the tower and continue to meet every night after that, unknown to the sorceress who only visits by day. However during a visit, the sorceress sees that Rapunzel is pregnant and cuts off her hair and throws her out into the wilderness. The prince climbs up the tower looking for her but the sorceress push him off. He survives but it blinded by his fall. Eventually he hears her voice and finds her with his twins that she has given birth to. Her tears of joy fall into his eyes and is sight is restored.
Personal Opinion: It is a classic story, but I think some of the subject matter may be a little advanced for younger children.
Officer Buckle and Gloria
Written and Illustrated by Peggy Rathmann
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About the Author: Margaret Crosby "Peggy" Rathmann is an American illustrator and writer of children's picture books. Rathmann was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, and graduated from the University of Minnesota. She studied commercial art, fine art, and children's book creation in Chicago, Minneapolis, and Los Angeles. Her first book, "Ruby the Copycat, earned Ms. Rathmann the 'Most Promising New Author' distinction in Publishers Weekly's 1991 annual Cuffie Awards."[2]That book was followed by her illustrations of Barbara Bottner's Bootsie Barker Bites and by the self-illustrated Good Night, Gorilla, based on her experiences with gorillas.[citation needed] Officer Buckle and Gloria (1995) won the annual Caldecott Medal for U.S. picture book illustration. Since then she has written two more: Ten Minutes till Bedtime and The Day The Babies Crawled Away, which made the Horn Book Fanfare List of best books of 2003.
Synopsis: Officer Buckle knows more safety tips than anyone. He gives safety speeches at the local school. Nobody pays attention to. Then the police station buyst a police dog named Gloria. Officer Buckle brings Gloria with him when he did his safety speech. Without his knowing, Gloria does all sorts of jumps and twirls behind his back. The children see this and start paying attention and there were no accidents at school. Soon Officer Buckle gets calls to visit other schools and to bring Gloria. Children are clapping and cheering. Officer Buckle things they are cheering because of him, but they aren't. When Officer Buckle realizes that they aren't interested in seeing him he refuses to do anymore shows. Gloria is sent alone to the school but just sits on the stage sad. As a result a big accident happens at school and Officer Buckle realizes that he and Gloria work make a great team and they rejoin for safety speeches.
Personal Opinion: I thought it was a cute story about teamwork.
Smoky Night
Written by Eve Bunting
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Illustrated by David Diaz
About the Author: Anne Evelyn Bunting better known as Eve Bunting, is a Northern Ireland-born American writer of more than 250 books. Her work covers a broad array of subjects and includes fiction and non-fiction books. Her novels are primarily aimed at children and young adults, but she has also written the text for picture books. While many of her books are set in Northern Ireland, where she grew up, her topics and settings range from Thanksgiving to riots in Los Angeles. Bunting's first book, The Two Giants, was published in 1971. Due to the popularity of her books with children, she has been listed as one of the Educational Paperback Association's top 100 authors.
About the Illustrator: David Díaz was born in New York and grew up in southern Florida with his family. He discovered his love for drawing when he was in the first grade while working on a vowel worksheet. His parents were afraid of his love for art because they did not want him to struggle with the uncertainty of being an artist. His mother died when he was sixteen years old. From this tragedy in Díaz's life, he used drawing as a way for an emotional output. In high school, Díaz had an inspiring teacher that was able to lead him to competitions where he won awards for his art. When he got older, Díaz moved to southern California where he became a graphic design artist until he made his own design and illustration business called Diaz Icon.
Synopsis: A little boy and his mom watch from his window at people looting rioting in their neighborhood. People are breaking windows and stealing from various establishments. They wake up the next morning and their apartment is on fire. They run out and go to a shelter in a church hall. The little boy worries about his cat whom he has not seen. After receiving food and rest, he is reunited with his cat, Jasmine. She was brought along with another cat whom she previously had several fights with. Somehow the cats had become friends.
Personal Opinion: I think it a good story about people working together and how if you take the time to get to know someone, you just might make a new friend.
Grandfather's Journey
Written and Illustrated by Allen Say
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About the Author: is an Asian American writer and illustrator. He is best known for Grandfather's Journey, a children's picture book detailing his grandfather's voyage from Japan to the United States and back again, which won the 1994Caldecott Medal for illustration.
Synopsis: The narrator tells the story of how his grandfather left his home in Japan as a young man to go out and see the world. He explored North America on trains and walking for days. He saw mountains, huge building and met people of several nationalities. California was his favorite place. He returns home to Japan to marry his childhood sweetheart and then brings her to America. In later years he missed the land of his childhood and returns to Japan. He swaps stories and laughs with old friends. Many years later his grandchild decides to visit California, inspired by his grandfather's stories. He decides to stay until he too, misses his childhood home. In the end he concludes that he is torn between the two countries. When he is in one country he longs for the other.
Personal Opinion: It is an interesting story about passing experiences down through the generations.
Mirette on the High Wire
Written and Illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully
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About the Author: Emily Arnold McCully is an American writer and illustrator who is best known for children's books. She won the annual Caldecott Medal for U.S. picture book illustration in 1993, recognizing Mirette on the High Wire which she also wrote. In 1976, she published a short story in The Massachusetts Review. It was selected for the O'Henry Collection: Best Short Stories of the Year. Two novels followed: A Craving in 1982, and Life Drawing in 1986. In 2012, McCully published Ballerina Swan with Holiday House Books for Young People, written by legendary prima ballerina Allegra Kent. It has received rave reviews from The New York Times,[1] Kirkus Reviews, and School Library Journal.
Synopsis: During the time of travelling theatre, a girl named Mirette lives in a boarding house in Paris where traveling performers often would stay while on the road. Then a retired high-wire walker named Bellini come to stay but doesn't really tell anyone who he is. Mirette was fascinated when she see him crossing the courtyard on a wire. He initially refuses to teach her but after she demonstrates her diligence to learn and practice, he changes his mind. After an agent come to stay at the boarding house, he recognizes Bellini and tells everyone who he is. Mirette tells Bellini she wants to travel with him and be a part of his act, but Bellini says he can't take her because he is afraid. She is discouraged and Bellini feels bad because he cannot face Mirette if he cannot conquer this fear. Bellini talk to the agent who sets up a show in the streets. He is afraid at first but the Mirette joins him on the wire and both finish the performance. Mirette is announced as his protege and they become a travelling act.
Personal Opinion: I like this book because it teaches children to understand that if they are passionate about something they must keep trying and in the end they can succeed.
Black and White
Written and Illustrated by David Macaulay
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About the Author: David Macaulay (born December 2, 1946) is a British-born Americanillustrator and writer. His most famous works include Cathedral (1973), The Way Things Work (1988) and The New Way Things Work (1998). His illustrations have been featured in popular, nonfiction books combining text and illustrations explaining architecture, design and engineering. He was a 2006 recipient of a MacArthur Fellows Program award and also a recipient of the Caldecott Medal in 1991 for Black and White (1990).
Synopsis: A boy makes his first train ride without his parents. He looks forward to seeing them and thinks about them throughout the trip. The train is delayed due to a herd of cows blocking the tracks. Meanwhile there is a shift between the train ride, and the cows and his home life where his parents are dressed in newspaper.
Personal Opinion: The book is a little confusing to me but I found it interesting.
Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China
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Written and Illustrated by Ed Young
About the Author: Ed Young is a Chinese-born American illustrator and writer of children's picture books. He won one Caldecott Medal for the year's best American picture book and for his lifetime contribution as a children's illustrator he was twice the U.S. nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Award. Young's original art for his books has been the subject of exhibits such as "Journey Without End" at the National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature in Abiline, Texas (2011-2012).
Synopsis: In a Chinese version of Little Red Riding Hood, three children are left alone when their mothers goes to visit their grandmother. A wolf who watches her leave disguises himself as the grandmother and goes to the house acting surprised that the mother is not there. The children who are fooled at first, slowly realize that the grandmother is really the wolf in disguise. He work together to outsmart the wolf and get rid of him. They were safe and at peace. When their mother returned they told her about the incident.
Personal Opinion: This is an interesting twist on the traditional version. I would recommend this book.
Caldecott Honor Books
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Nana in the City
Written and Illustrated by Lauren Castillo
About the Author: Lauren Castillo is an American author and illustrator of children's books. She studied illustration at the Maryland Institute College of Art and received her MFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. She has written & illustrated over 14 books for children, including the critically acclaimed Melvin and the Boy , The Reader by Amy Hest, Happy Like Soccer by Maribeth Boelts, Buffalo Musicby Tracey Fern and What Happens on Wednesdays by Emily Jenkins. Her most recent book, Nana in the City , was awarded a 2015 Caldecott Honor.
Synopsis: A young boy spends an overnight visit with his nana and is frightened to find that the city where she lives is filled with noise and crowds and scary things. But then Nana makes him a special cape to help him be brave, and soon the everyday sights, sounds, and smells of the city are not scary—but wonderful.
Personal Opinion: Beautifully written and lovely illustrations. I think it teaches children how to see things in a different way.
The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky’s Abstract Art
Written by Barb Rosenstock
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Illustrated by Mary GrandPré
About the Author: Barb Rosenstock is the author of narrative nonfiction and historical fiction picture books for children. Her work experiences has been in advertising and marketing before leaving the corporate world to become a mother, teacher, and children's book author.
About the Illustrator: Mary GrandPré is an American illustrator best known for her cover and chapter illustrations of the Harry Potter books in their U.S. editions published by Scholastic. She received a Caldecott Honorcitation in 2015 for illustrating Barb Rosenstock's The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky's Abstract Art. GrandPré, who creates her artwork with paint and pastels, has illustrated more than twenty books and has appeared in gallery exhibitions and periodicals such as The New Yorker, Atlantic Monthly, and The Wall Street Journal.
Synopsis: Young Vasya Kandinsky is bored with constant studying of math and science and history. He is given a paint box from his aunt. As he paints, the colors whisper! He is eager to show off his artwork, but his family does not understand his art. He grows older and ignores the whispers of his noisy paint box until he reaches a point where he can no longer pretend he doesn't hear the colors. Vasya believes that art should make you feel things. He wants to make the world feel. He becomes one of the very first painters of abstract art.
Personal Opinion: A fabulous book about determination as well as art.
Sam & Dave Dig a Hole
Written by Mac Barnett
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Illustrated by Jon Klassen
About the Author: Mac Barnett is a New York Times bestselling author of over 18 books for children, including two Caldecott-Honor-winning collaborations with Jon Klassen: Sam & Dave Dig a Hole and Extra Yarn, which also won the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award and the E.B. White Read-Aloud Award. He writes the Brixton Brothers series of mystery novels and, with Jory John, The Terrible Two.
About the Illustrator: Jon Klassen is a Canadian writer and illustrator of children's books and an animator. He won both the American Caldecott Medal and the British Kate Greenaway Medal for children's book illustration, recognizing the 2012 picture book This is Not My Hat, which he also wrote. He is the first person to win both awards for the same work.
Synopsis: Two boys decide to dig a hole looking for something spectacular. After much digging the grow tired and wake up to find themselves falling until they land on the soft dirt. The realize that the adventure is what is spectacular.
Personal Opinion: What I found interesting was how the illustrations show that the two boy were bypassing all the precious stones in the dirt. But overall this story may not be one of my favorites.
Viva Frida
Written and Illustrated by Yuyi Morales
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About the Author: Yuyi Morales is an award-winning illustrator and author of children's books whose original self-illustrated picture books include Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book and Little Night. Noted for her bright, child-friendly art, Morales has twice won the Pura Belpré Illustrator Award, which honors "Latino authors and illustrators whose work best portrays and celebrates Latino cultural experience in a children's book."
Synopsis: In this picture book, the life of artist Frida Kahlo is told. Frida, plays, dreams and creates. The illustrations take a creative spin inspired by the work of the late Frida Kahlo. The short phrases are accompanied by the Spanish translation.
Personal Opinion: This is a great book to use in art as well as foreign language teaching.
The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus,
Written by Jen Bryant
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Illustrated by Melissa Sweet
About the Author: Jen Bryant is the acclaimed author of many books for young readers, including A RIVER OF WORDS: The Story of William Carlos Williams, illustrated by Melissa Sweet and awarded a Caldecott Honor. A SPLASH OF RED: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin, also illustrated by Sweet, won the 2014 ALA Schneider Family Book Award for Children and was a 2014 ALA Robert F. Sibert Informational Honor Book.
About the Illustrator: Melissa Sweet has illustrated nearly 100 children's books from board books to picture books and nonfiction titles. Her collages and paintings have appeared in the New York Times and Martha Stewart Living, on Madison Park Greetings and Smilebox cards, and on a line of eeBoo toys. She received a Caldecott Honor Medal for a River of Words by Jen Bryantand two New York Times Best Illustrated citations.
Synopsis: Pete Mark Roget is a shy boy. Books are his friends, not other children. He likes words, and likes to put them in lists. His love for words and lists cause him to come up with the idea of organizing these words and finding the right words express what he is thinking. His lists grow until eventually turning into one of the most important reference books of all time.
Personal Opinion: I like this book because it gives a history about how the thesaurus came to be.
Journey
Written and Illustrated by Aaron Becker
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About the Author: Aaron Becker (born 1974) is an American writer and illustrator of children's books. He is best known for his wordless children's book Journey, which received positive reviews in "The New York Times" and "The Wall Street Journal" and a Caldecott Honor in 2014. Quest, the second book in Becker's Journey trilogy, was among a small group of children's books praised by National Public Radio (NPR) in anticipation of the announcement of the 2015 Caldecott Award nominees. Sam Juliano, in his popular "Wonders in the Dark" blog, also remarked on Quest's likelihood of Caldecott attention. Prior to his children's book work, Becker illustrated scenes in children's animated films, including The Polar Express (film) (2004), Cars (film) (2006),Monster House (film) (2006), Beowulf (2007 film), and A Christmas Carol (2009 film).
Synopsis: A lonely girl draws a door on her bedroom wall. It's magical and she uses to escape into a world of adventure. Using a red marker, she makes a boat, balloon, and flying carpet which she uses to travel along her magical journey. When she is captured it is her courage and kindness that sees her through and gets her back home.
Personal Opinion: It is a great book that stimulates the imagination and encourages self-determination.
Flora and the Flamingo
Written and illustrated by Molly Idle
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About the Author: Molly Idle is the author and illustrator of Caldecott Honor winning children's book Flora and the Flamingo and its sequel, Flora and the Penguin. She has been drawing ever since she could wield a pencil at the tender age of 18 months. After graduating from Arizona State University with a BFA in Drawing, Molly accepted an offer to work for DreamWorks Feature Animation Studios. After five years, a number of film credits, and an incredibly good time, she left the studio and leapt with gusto into the world of children’s book illustration. Molly has written and illustrated picture books for Viking Press, Bloomsbury USA, and Chronicle Books, among other publishers.
Synopsis: Through is wordless picture book, children uses their imagination to navigate through the interactive flaps to figure out the emotions of Flora as she tries to gracefully dance with the flamingo.
Personal Opinion: I found this book interesting and entertaining, but not quite as exciting as others.
Mr. Wuffles!
written and illustrated by David Wiesner
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About the Author: David Wiesner is an American illustrator and writer of children's books, known best for picture books including some that tell stories without words. As an illustrator he has won three Caldecott Medals recognizing the year's "most distinguished American picture book for children"[1] and he was one of five finalists in 2008 for the biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Award, the highest recognition available for creators of children's books.
Synopsis: A cat named Mr. Wuffles is uninterested in the toy mice or goldfish. A little spaceship full of aliens is a much more exciting toy for him. However the ship isn't designed for this kind of rough treatment. Between motion sickness and damaged equipment, the aliens are in deep trouble.When the space visitors dodge the cat and take shelter behind the radiator to repair the damage, they make a host of insect friends. The result? A humorous exploration of cooperation between aliens and insects, and of the universal nature of communication involving symbols, “cave” paintings, and gestures of friendship
Personal Opinion: Lots of fun, hilarious and very entertaining.
Creepy Carrots!
Written by Aaron Reynolds
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Illustrated by Peter Brown
About the Author: Aaron Reynolds is a New York Times Bestselling Author of many highly acclaimed books for kids, including Carnivores, Chicks and Salsa, Joey Fly, Private Eye, and the Caldecott Honor winning Creepy Carrots!
About the Illustrator: Peter Brown is an author and illustrator of children’s books. His titles include New York Times bestsellers like The Curious Garden, Children Make Terrible Pets, and Mr. Tiger Goes Wild. Peter’s illustrations for Creepy Carrots!, written by Aaron Reynolds, earned him a 2013 Caldecott Honor.
Synopsis: Jasper Rabbit loves carrots. Crackenhopper Field has the best carrots and Jasper loves to eat as many of them as possible. Then the carrots begin to come to life and follow him, Jasper is frightened. Nobody believes him but he is certain of these creepy carrots. So he devises a plan to build a fence to trap the carrots so they can't get out. It works. Not only for Jasper but for the carrots as well. They happy not to be eaten by Jasper anymore.
Personal Opinion: I really like this book. It is very funny.
Extra Yarn
Written by Mac Barnett
Illustrated by Jon Klassen
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About the Author: Mac Barnett is a New York Times bestselling author of over 18 books for children, including two Caldecott-Honor-winning collaborations with Jon Klassen: Sam & Dave Dig a Hole and Extra Yarn, which also won the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award and the E.B. White Read-Aloud Award. He writes the Brixton Brothers series of mystery novels and, with Jory John, The Terrible Two.
About the Illustrator: Jon Klassen is a Canadian writer and illustrator of children's books and an animator. He won both the American Caldecott Medal and the British Kate Greenaway Medal for children's book illustration, recognizing the 2012 picture book This is Not My Hat, which he also wrote. He is the first person to win both awards for the same work.
Synopsis: A little girl named Annabelle finds a box of yarn and uses it to make herself a sweater. She has extra yarn. She uses it make one for her dog, still there is extra yarn. She ends up making sweaters for everyone in her family, her classmates, her teacher, other animals around town, and hats for some people. Still she has extra yarn, and people wonder if she will run out. People from other places hear about her and come to shake her hand. An archduke who is fond of clothes comes and demands to meet Annabelle. He wants to buy her box of yarn and she refuses to sell it to him. So the archduke hires thieves to break into her house and steal the box. They take it give it to the archduke and sail away back to his castle. When he opened the box it was empty. The archduke furiously threw the box out of the window in the sea. It floated back to Annabelle where she continued knitting and always had extra yarn.
Personal Opinion: I like this book because there is a part where it teaches children that doing mean things to people catches up to you.
Green
Illustrated and written by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
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About the Author: Laura Vaccaro Seeger is a New York Times best-selling author and illustrator and a 2-time winner of the Caldecott Honor Award, winner of the New York Times Best Illustrated Book Award, the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award for Best Picture Book, and a 2-time winner of the Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Award. She is also the recipient of both the Massachusetts Reading Association and the New York Empire State awards for “Body of Work and Contribution to Children’s Literature”. Laura’s paintings have been exhibited at many museums and galleries including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, the Mazza Museum of Picture Book Art, the New York Public Library, and the New York Nassau County Museum of Art.
Synopsis: This is about all everyday things that are green. Plants, animals, paint, food items. Very little words, but extremely expressive illustrations that make words unnecessary.
Personal Opinion: I loved this book! It encourages you to stop, look and appreciate the world around you and just marvel at all the green things around that we pass every day.
One Cool Friend
Written by Toni Buzzeo
Illustrated by David Small
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About the Author: Toni Buzzeo is the acclaimed author of 20 picture books as well as 11 books for educators. After earning a BA and MA in English from the University of Michigan, she worked for a decade as a college and high school English teacher. She then earned an MLIS from the University of Rhode Island and returned to libraries as a school librarian. She was named Maine Library Media Specialist of the Year in 1999 and continued to work as an elementary school librarian while she launched a successful writing career. In 2013, Toni's New York Times best-selling book One Cool Friend, illustrated by David Small, won a Caldecott Honor. It also won the Maine Literary Award for Children's Books from the Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance in the same year. Since her first book, The Sea Chest, won a Maine Lupine Honor in 2003, Toni has received many other awards for her books, including a 2004-2005 Children's Gallery Award, also for The Sea Chest, and the 2012 Time of Wonder award for Lighthouse Christmas. Her books Dawdle Duckling, Little Loon and Papa, and One Cool Friend have been chosen by the Dolly Parton Imagination Library for international distribution to young children. Just Like My Papa, Stay Close to Mama, and Dawdle Duckling have all been Children's Book of the Month Club selections as well.
About the Illustrator: David Small was born in Detroit, Michigan. He began drawing at two years old and health problems having kept him home for much of his childhood.[1] He attended Cass Technical High School, wrote plays throughout his teenage years, but at age 21 switched to art. He earned a bachelor of fine arts degree at Wayne State University and a master of fine arts degree at Yale University. Small taught art for many years on the college level, ran a film series, and made satirical sketches for campus newspapers. His first book, which he wrote and illustrated, Eulalie and the Hopping Head, was published in 1981.
Synopsis: A boy takes a penguin from the aquarium and secretly keeps his in house, letting him sleep in the freezer and swim in the bathtub. When his father finds out, it is revealed that he himself has tortoise from the Galapagos Islands.
Personal Opinion: A funny story. Very enjoyable.
Sleep Like a Tiger
written by Mary Logue
illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski
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About the Author: Mary Logue is a poet, mystery novelist, editor, and author of children's books. She received First Book of Poetry award, Mid-List Press, for Discriminating Evidence. A versatile writer, Mary Logue has established a multi-dimensional presence in the literary world as poet, editor of poetry anthologies, author of mystery novels for adults, and author of children's books that include nonfiction and mystery fiction.
About the Illustrator: Caldecott Honor Medalist Pamela Zagarenski is a brilliant painter of many worlds. As well as illustrating picture books, she creates sculptures and large paintings, which can be viewed at an art gallery in Mystic, Connecticut.
Synopsis: A little girls refused to go to sleep, claiming she is not tired. After washing and putting on her pajamas, her parents tell her about how various animals go to sleep. Her favorite is the tiger. Soon she falls asleep like a tiger.
Personal Opinion: A nice that teaches children about the sleeping habits of animals.
Blackout
Written and Illustrated by John Rocco
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About the Author: John Rocco is an author and illustrator of books for children. He is the winner of the Caldecott Honor for BLACKOUT, as well as the illustrator for Rick Riordan's multimillion copy bestselling series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Kane Chronicles and The Heroes of Olympus. Rocco studied illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design and School of Visual Arts in New York City. He is the author of four acclaimed books for children: Wolf! Wolf!, winner of the Borders Original Voices Award for best picture book; Moonpowder, part of the Original Art Show at the Society of Illustrators; Fu Finds the Way, and Blackout, a New York Times Best Book of the Year and winner of a 2012 Caldecott Honor. Rocco also illustrated Whoopi Goldberg‘s Alice and the covers for Rick Riordan‘s multi-million copy internationally bestselling series Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Kane Chronicles, and The Heroes of Olympus.
Synopsis: During a hot summer night a city-wide blackout occurs. People come outside and a block party ensues under the starry sky. Everything returns to normal when the lights come back on.
Personal Opinion: I like this book because to shows how you can have fun without electricity. The illustrations are very beautiful.
Grandpa Green
Written and Illustrated by Lane Smith
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About the Author: Lane Smith is an American illustrator and writer of children's books which is he is most noted for. Smith has illustrated works by Florence Parry Heide, Judith Viorst, Bob Shea, Dr. Seuss, Jack Prelutsky, Eve Merriam, Roald Dahl and George Saunders. He has both written and illustrated several books, most notably It's a Book (2010) which was a New York Times bestseller for over six months and has been translated into over twenty five languages, Madam President (2008), and John, Paul, George, and Ben (2006). He received his second Caldecott Medal honor for the book Grandpa Green (2012).
Synopsis: A topiary garden depicts the story of life of little boy who grew up to be the great-grandfather of the narrator. From living on a farm to going to war, marrying future wife who he met in a French cafe, to having a family.
Personal Opinion: A very sweet book. I like it's unique use of horticulture to tell the story.
Me...Jane
Written and Illustrated by Patrick McDonnell
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About the Author: Patrick McDonnell is the creator of the daily comic strip Mutts. His picture book about the childhood of Jane Goodall, Me…Jane, won a Caldecott Honor medal in 2012. McDonnell began a career as a magazine illustrator and would frequently include a dog in the background of his illustrations. Moving to Hoboken, New Jersey, he met a group of underground cartoonists such as Peter Bagge and Kazimieras G. Prapuolenis (Kaz), and had some of his earliest drawings appearing in The Village Voice, and as Jerseyana in New Jersey Monthly magazine. A book of his life and work, Mutts: The Comic Art of Patrick McDonnell, was published in 2003 by Abrams Publishing.
Synopsis: This book tells the story of Jane Goodall as a little girl, fascinated with animals and nature, dreaming of living in Africa. She studies, reads, observes all that she can. She falls asleep and wakes up to her dream that has come true.
Personal Opinion: A very inspirational book that teaches children to work hard and follow their dreams
Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave
Written by Laban Carrick Hill
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Illustrated by Bryan Collier,
About of Author: Laban Carrick Hill is the author of more than 25 books, including the 2004 National Book Award Finalist HARLEM STOMP!: A CULTURAL HISTORY OF THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE, a book he researched for more than a decade. He has taught writing at the Solstice MFA in Creative Writing Program at Pine Manor College, Columbia University, Baruch College, St. Michael’s College in Vermont, University of Colombo in Sri Lanka, and the University of Cape Coast in Ghana. DAVE THE POTTER: ARTIST, SLAVE, POET, a picture book poem illustrated by Brian Collier, won a 2011 Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King Illustration Award and the award-winning AMERICA DREAMING: HOW YOUTH CHANGED AMERICA IN THE 60'S won the 2007 Parenting Publications Gold Award. His young adult novel CASA AZUL was selected as a New York Public Library 2006 Book for the Teen Age.
About the Illustrator: Bryan Collier is an American writer and illustrator known best for illustrating children's books. He won both the Coretta Scott King Award, as illustrator, and the Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award for Uptown (Holt, 2000), the first book he both wrote and illustrated. He has won six King Awards as illustrator and he is a three-time Caldecott honor recipient. For his lifetime contribution as a children's illustrator, Collier is U.S. nominee for the biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2014.
Synopsis: This is the story of Dave who was a talented artist, poet and slave in South Carolina in the 1800s. This story is rich in history, hope and resilience.
Personal Opinion: A great book for history or even art class.
Interrupting Chicken
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Written and Illustrated by David Ezra Stein
About the Author: David Ezra Stein attended Parsons School of Design in Manhattan, where he met author Pat Cummings, his mentor and teacher. After graduating from Parsons, Stein found work creating window displays, as a “puppeteer and puppet builder, interior and set-design illustrator,” and cartoonist for The New Yorker, all the while meeting with editors in hopes of catching a break. In 2006, Simon & Schuster published his first book, “Cowboy Ned & Andy,” followed by “Ned's New friend.” Putnam then published “Leaves,” “Monster Hug!” and “The Nice Book.” His latest book, “Pouch!” reached bookstore shelves in September 2009. “The Making of Pouch!” provides a behind-the-scenes look at the book and reveals bits of Stein’s process for determining the medium to use for the pictures; he settled on stencils and watercolors.
Synopsis: A little chicken has a habit of over-excitement and interrupting the bedtime stories, much to the annoyance of his Grandpa Chicken. So then Grandpa Chicken suggests that Little Chicken tell him a story instead. Little Chicken agreed and Grandpa Chicken falls asleep and then Little Chicken does the same.
Personal Opinion: This book made me laugh! I really enjoyed it.
All the World
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Written by Liz Garton Scanlon
Illustrated by Marla Frazee
About the Author: Elizabeth (Liz) Garton Scanlon is an American writer of children's books, primarily picture books in collaboration with other illustrators. Her undergraduate degree was in English and her graduate was in Creative Writing. After helping her daughter put on socks she got the idea for her first book, A Sock Is A Pocket for Your Toes (2004). Five years later in September 2009, her second book All The World was published. It was illustrated by Marla Frazee, and won the Caldecott Award in 2010. In March 2011, Scanlon's third book, illustrated by Arthur Howard, Noodle and Lou, a story following a pair of unlikely friends, a bird and a worm, was released. Following Noodle and Lou came another children's book, Think Big, which is a "lyrical celebration of imagination and creativity in many child-friendly forms — painting, writing, acting, cooking, dancing and more, was illustrated by Vanessa Newton and published by Bloomsbury in Summer 2012." Happy Birthday Bunny was released in January 2013 and was illustrated by Stephanie Graegin.
About the Illustrator: Marla Frazee is an American author and illustrator of children's literature. Marla was awarded a Caldecott Honor for All the World and A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever. She is the author-illustrator of Roller Coaster, Walk On!, Santa Claus the World's Number One Toy Expert, The Boss Baby, Boot & Shoe, and The Farmer and the Clown, as well as the illustrator of many other books includingThe Seven Silly Eaters, Stars, the NYT bestselling Clementine series, and God Got a Dog. Marla teaches at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA, has three grown sons, and works in a small backyard cabin under an avocado tree.
Synopsis: Following a circle of family and friends through the course of a day from morning until night, this book affirms the importance of all things great and small in our world, from the tiniest shell on the beach, to the warmth of family connections, to the widest sunset sky.
Personal Opinion: A great book that encourages children to enjoy the world around them.
Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors
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Illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski
Written by Joyce Sidman
About the Author: Joyce Sidman is an American children's writer. Sidman has published numerous books of poetry for children, including Newbery Medal–nominated Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night (2010, illustrated by Rick Allen); Ubiquitous: Celebrating Nature’s Survivors (2010, illustrated by Beckie Prange), which was named a Best Book of the Year by Publisher’s Weekly and theWashington Post and a Best Children’s book of the Year by Kirkus Reviews; Pennsylvania Center for the Book’s Lee Bennett Hopkins Award–winner Song of the Water Boatman & Other Pond Poems (2005), for which illustrator Beckie Prange was awarded a Caldecott Honor; and Bank Street Best Book of the Year Eureka! Poems about Inventors (2002, illustrated by K. Bennett Chavez). Her chapbook of poems for adult readers, Like the Air (1999), won the New Women’s Voices Award from Finishing Line Press.
About the Illustrator: Caldecott Honor Medalist Pamela Zagarenski is a brilliant painter of many worlds. As well as illustrating picture books, she creates sculptures and large paintings, which can be viewed at an art gallery in Mystic, Connecticut.
Synopsis: Colors of the seasons to life in a fresh light, combining the senses of sight, sound, smell and taste.
Personal Opinion: Very poetic. It makes you reflect on the colors of various things in the environment.
OTHER AWARD-WINNING BOOKS
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Coretta Scott King Book Award Books
Firebird
Written by Misty Copeland
Illustrated by Christopher Myers
About the Author: Misty Copeland is an author, entertainer, and American ballet dancer for American Ballet Theatre(ABT), one of the three leading classical ballet companies in the United States (along with New York City Ballet and San Francisco Ballet). She is the third African-American soloist and first in two decades with ABT, where she has endured the cultural pressure associated with this role.
About the Illustrator: The son of acclaimed author Walter Dean Myers, award-winning illustrator Christopher Myers credits his appreciation of the importance of images to observing the objects and photographs his parents would bring home from auctions and flea markets: “little histories;” “other people's memories that get left behind.” Myers began his children's book career doing research to help his father, and went on to illustrate the elder Myers' Shadow of the Red Moon. In 1998, the two collaborated on Harlem, which was named a Caldecott Honor Book as well as a Coretta Scott King Honor Book. Myers' solo effort, Black Cat, was also a Coretta Scott King Honor Book. In addition to his fine art and illustrative work, Christopher Myers is a clothing designer..
Synopsis: This story is about the relationship between a young dancer and an older dancer and her guiding her on her journey to becoming a ballerina.
Personal Opinion: This is a beautiful and inspiring story.
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Uncle Jed's Barbershop
Written by Margaree King Mitchell
Illustrated by James Ransome
About the Author: Margaree King Mitchell is the author of the Coretta Scott King Honor Book Uncle Jed’s Barbershop, illustrated by James E. Ransome, and Granddaddy’s Gift. She is the creator of the Everybody Has a Dream program, which empowers students in urban and rural areas to shoot for the stars with aspirations for their lives. Margaree lives in Kansas City, KS, where she is a member of the Midwest Children’s Authors Guild.
About the Illustrator: The Children's Book Council named James E. Ransome as one of seventy-five authors and illustrators everyone should know. Currently a member of the Society of Illustrators, Ransome has received both the Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration and the IBBY Honor Award for his book, The Creation. He has also received a Coretta Scott King Honor Award for Illustration for Uncle Jed's Barbershop which was selected as an ALA Notable Book and is currently being shown as a feature on Reading Rainbow. How Many Stars in the Sky? and Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt were also Reading Rainbow selections. PBS's Storytime featured his book, The Old Dog.
Synopsis: As the only black barber in a county of sharecroppers during the 1920s, Uncle Jed traveled for miles to tend to his customers. Saving his money to build his very own barbershop was a dream that had to be postponed because of his generous heart and the Depression. Then one glorious day, on his 79th birthday, Uncle Jed finally opened the doors of his new shop.
Personal Opinion: I found this book to be very inspirational
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(Theodor Seuss) Geisel Award Books
You Are (Not) Small
Written by Anna Kang
Illustrated by Christopher Weyant
About the Author: Anna Kang was born in the Bronx and grew up on Long Island While at USC, Anna directed a short documentary as her thesis film, "not black or white," an irreverent look at media stereotypes of Asian women. Anna participated in the Sundance Institute's prestigious Screenwriters Lab with her first feature script, The Lost Tribe of Long Island, and was also selected to participate in Film Independent's Screenwriters and Directors Labs. Her debut picture book, You Are (Not) Small, won the 2015 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award and was named a Notable Children's Book by the American Library Association.
About the Illustrator:
Synopsis: Groups of bears of various sizes have an argument over who is big and who is small. Then a surprise guest joins the argument and their perception is changed.
Personal Opinion: Short and to the point. This is a great to accompany lessons about size and comparison.
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Mr. Putter & Tabby Turn the Page
Written by Cynthia Rylant
Illustrated by Arthur Howard
About the Author: Cynthia Rylant is the author of numerous distinguished novels and picture books for young readers. In addition to her beginning-reader series: Henry and Mudge, Poppleton, and Mr. Putter and Tabby, as well as her Cobble Street Cousins early-chapter series, she is also the author of the Newbery Medal-winning Missing May, the Newbery Honor Book A Fine White Dust, and two Caldecott Honor-winning picture books.
About the Illustrator: Arthur Howard began his career as an actor, working on stage and screen in everything from television commercials, Broadway and off-Broadway productions, and the Public Broadcasting Service television series Square One. After twenty years in theater, Howard began illustrating Cynthia Rylant's "Mr. Putter and Tabby" series, creating characters that children recognize on sight and enlivening Rylant's text of the adventures of the old man and his cat. In 1996 Howard took another step and began writing and illustrating his own books, including When I Was Five, Serious Trouble, and The Hubbub Above. Covering themes such as friendship, laughter, being a good neighbor, and judging people for their qualities not for their looks, Howard's books have been published around the world, including the United Kingdom, France, and Korea.
Synopsis: A man and his cat enjoy reading their favorite books. He signs up at the library for " Read Aloud with Your Pet at Story Time." Things get interesting when he neighbor brings her dog who is up to his usual tricks."
Personal Opinion: I found this book to be funny and entertaining.
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Waiting Is Not Easy!
Written and Illustrated by Mo Willems
About the Author: Since 2003, Willems has authored numerous books for young children, many of which have garnered significant critical acclaim. The New York Times Book Review referred to Willems as "the biggest new talent to emerge thus far in the 00's"— and to his pigeon character as "one of this decade's contributions to the pantheon of great picture book characters."
Three of Willems' books have been awarded a Caldecott Honor: Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (2004), Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale (2005), and Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity (2008). Recently he has been creating the Elephant and Piggie books, an early reader series about a friendly elephant and pig. Elephant and Piggie books won the Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal in 2008 and 2009, and Geisel Honors in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. In 2010, Willems introduced a new series of books featuring Cat the Cat, also aimed at early readers
Synopsis: An elephant named Gerald has difficulty waiting for a surprise. In the end he realizes that the surprise was worth the wait.
Personal Opinion: I like this book because it helps to teach children that just because they want something, it doesn't mean that they can get it right away.
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5 of My Favorite Books of All Time
Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale
Written and Illustrated by John Steptoe
About the Author: John Steptoe was an award-winning author and illustrator of children's books from New York City. He began working on his first children's book, Stevie, while still a teenager and achieved great success during his tragically short career, encouraging the advancement of African American culture by producing work about the African American experience that children could appreciate. Recipient of two Coretta Scott King Awards and two Caldecott Honors, Steptoe was posthumously honored by the creation of the John Steptoe New Talent Award, an award designated annually by the Coretta Scott King Award Task Force. Steptoe's best known work is Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters, for which he won his second Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award.
Synopsis: Mufaro has two beautiful daughters. Nyasha is kind and considerate, but Manyara is selfish and spoiled. When the king decides to choose a bride from among "The Most Worthy and Beautiful Daughters in the Land," both Mufaro's girls travel to the capital city. But only one can be chosen to marry the king. In the end Manyara, who is beautiful on the inside and out is chosen my the king to be his bride.
Personal Opinion: This is a great book that teaches children to be kind to everyone that they meet.
This book is one of my favorites because when I first read the book it was in elementary school and at that time I didn't see a lot of women of color being presented as beautiful. So for me it represented something positive about me and girls who looked like me.
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The 12 Dancing Princesses
Retold by Freya Littledale
Pictures by Isadore Seltzer
About the Author: Freya Littledale is a published adapter, author, and an editor of children's books. Some of the published credits of Freya Littledale include Peter and the North Wind, Elves and the Shoemaker, The Magic Fish (Easy-To-Read Folktale), and Frankenstein.
About the Illustrator: Isadore Seltzer is a published author and an illustrator of children's books. Some of the published credits of Isadore Seltzer include This Is the Bread I Baked for Ned, The Man Who Tricked a Ghost.
Synopsis: A king wakes up every morning to find his daughters shoes worn out and full of holes. They refuse to tell him what is going on. But he is determined to find out.
Personal Opinion: I like this book because it is full of mystery and magic and secret passage ways. It is definitely the kind of book where you just can't wait to see what happens next.
This book is one of my favorites because it was the first book that I was able to read all by myself. So it has always been close to my heart.
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Ox-Cart Man
Written by Donald Hall
Illustrated by Barbara Cooney
About the Author: Donald Hall is an American poet, writer, editor and literary critic. On June 14, 2006, Hall was appointed as the Library of Congress's 14th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry (commonly known as "Poet Laureate of the United States").Hall served as poet laureate for one year. To date, Hall has published fifteen books of poetry, most recently White Apples and the Taste of Stone (2006), The Painted Bed (2002) and Without: Poems (1998), which was published on the third anniversary of Jane Kenyon's death. Most of the poems in Without deal with Kenyon's illness and death, and many are epistolary poems. In addition to poetry, he has also written several collections of essays (among them Life Work and String Too Short to be Saved), children's books (notably Ox-Cart Man, which won the Caldecott Medal), and a number of plays.
About the Illustrator: Barbara Cooney was an American writer and illustrator of more than 200 children's books, published over sixty years. She won two Caldecott Medals, which are awarded to the year's best-illustrated U.S. picture book, and a National Book Award. Her books have been translated into 10 languages. For her contribution as a children's illustrator, Cooney was the U.S. nominee in 1994 for the biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Award, the highest international recognition for creators of children's books.
Synopsis: This books begins with a journey through the days and weeks, the months, and the changing seasons in the life of one New Englander and his family. The oxcart man packs his goods - the wool from his sheep, the shawl his wife made, the mittens his daughter knitted, and the linen they wove. He packs the birch brooms his son carved, and even a bag of goose feathers from the barnyard geese.He travels over hills, through valleys, by streams, past farms and villages. At Portsmouth Market he sells his goods, one by one - even his beloved ox. Then, with his pockets full of coins, he wanders through the market, buying provisions for his family, and returns to his home. And the cycle begins again.
Personal Opinion: I like this book because it is a great portrayal of a farmer's life in the 19th century. It also shows that everyone in the family has a role to play and they all contribute to the family's survival.
I was a little girl when I first read this book and it became one of my favorites because it caused me to think about where every day things came from. Someone grows the vegetables we eat, and makes the clothes we wear, and so on. I also remember thinking it was sweet when the ox-cart man kissed the ox goodbye when he sold it.
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The Cut-Ups
Written and Illustrated by James Marshall
About the Author: James Edward Marshall, who also wrote as Edward Marshall, was a children's author and illustrator probably best known for the George and Martha series of picture books . Marshall was a friend of Maurice Sendak, who called him the "last in the line" of children's writers for whom children's books were a cottage industry. Sendak said that Marshall was "uncommercial to a fault" and, as a consequence, was little recognized by the awards committees. (As illustrator of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Marshall was a runner-up for the Caldecott Medal in 1989; the "Caldecott Honor Books" may display silver rather than gold seals. He won a University of Mississippi Silver Medallion in 1992.) In 2007 the U.S. professional librarians posthumously awarded him the biennial Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal for "substantial and lasting contribution" to American children's literature.
Synopsis: Two Cut-Ups named Joe and Spud are on the loose, terrorizing the neighborhood while on summer break. They may have met their match when they meet a new friend named Mary Francis Hooley who has her own sports car and a rocket ship.
Personal Opinion: I think this is a great book that will make children laugh.
This was one of my favorite books because I was mischievous just like the kids in the story and I thought that some of the things they did were so funny.
45
Miss Nelson is Missing!
Written by Harry G. Allard
Illustrated by James Marshall
About the Author: Harry Allard was born in Evanston, Illinois. He graduated from Northwestern College in 1943 and then performed active duty in Korea. He then lived in Paris for several years and became so fluent in the language that he got a master's degree and then a Ph.D. in French from Yale in 1973. He taught French at the college level for many years. Upon his arrival in Boston, he met James Marshall, whose art and friendship inspired Allard's first book, The Stupids Step Out. This successful collaboration paved the way for the publication of other Stupids books and the Miss Nelson series. Miss Nelson is Missing was voted one of the most memorable books of the century.
About the Illustrator: James Edward Marshall, who also wrote as Edward Marshall, was a children's author and illustrator probably best known for the George and Martha series of picture books . Marshall was a friend of Maurice Sendak, who called him the "last in the line" of children's writers for whom children's books were a cottage industry. Sendak said that Marshall was "uncommercial to a fault" and, as a consequence, was little recognized by the awards committees. (As illustrator of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Marshall was a runner-up for the Caldecott Medal in 1989; the "Caldecott Honor Books" may display silver rather than gold seals. He won a University of Mississippi Silver Medallion in 1992.) In 2007 the U.S. professional librarians posthumously awarded him the biennial Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal for "substantial and lasting contribution" to American children's literature.
Synopsis: Miss Nelson can't control her crazy classroom because she's just too nice. But when she disappears, her replacement is the hard-as-nails, detention-loving, recess-canceling, homework-overloading substitute teacher Viola Swamp! The kids realize how much they miss Miss Nelson and they'll do anything -- including hiring a private eye -- to solve the mystery of her disappearance and bring her back.
Personal Opinion: A great book for school-aged children.
This book is one my favorites because my class had the reputation of being the rudest class at our school. We were misbehaving just like the kids in this book. That isn't a good thing but that's what was happening. So I enjoyed reading it because it was entertaining and crazy just like my class.