Saturday, February 16, 2013

Caldecott Award or Honor Books


Jarrell, R. (1972). Snow white and the seven dwarfs: a tale from the brothers grimm. Illus. by Nancy Ekholm Burkert. Canada: Sunburst Book.

             A fairytale of a young girl who was as white as snow, as red as blood and had hair as black as ebony names Snow White whose mother died and her father remarried.  The stepmother was a beautiful woman and she wanted to be the fairest in the land.  She had a special mirror that helped find out if there was any fairer in the land than she.  As Snow White grows she becomes more and more beautiful which causes a conflict for her stepmother and the mirror.

            This familiar story is well illustrated.  There are fine details in each illustration and even children who cannot read can tell the story using the pictures.  The pictures clearly illustrate the text.  The pictures use the contrast of muted and vivid color to define the features of Snow White and other characters and shows how the characters grow and mature as the story progresses.  The story allows children to see what can happen when you do not obey the rules. This book can be used be to teach the elements of fairy tales.

Genre: Tradition fantasy

Format:  Picture book

Suggested Age or Grade level (s):  Ages 4-8

Awards:   1973 Caldecott Honor
 
 
 
Juster, N. (2005). The hello, goodbye window.  Illus. by Chris Raschka. New York: Hyperion Books for Children.
                            This is the story of a little girl’s visit to Nanna and Poppy’s house. The story is told through the eyes of the child and in her own voice.  She tells of her favorite place in the house, the hello, goodbye window in the kitchen.  There are many other windows in the house but this one is special because it can be many different things and places. The story tells of all the fun things she discovers at the window and of all the adventures seen through the window. 
            This story meets of the criteria for a good picture book. As the story unfolds, it allows children to remember a fun visit to their grandparents or a special friend’s house and think about a favorite palace they may have there. The story also allows the child remember how sad they were to leave that special place even though they were happy to go home to mom and dad.  The illustrations look like the art of a small child.  They allow the reader to imagine the child drawing the pictures as they tell this story. The pictures correctly depict the dialogue in the story. The book cover looks like a small child’s art project and lets the audience see a picture of the author.
 
Genre: Fiction
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade level (s): Ages 3 - 8
Awards:    2006 ALA Notable Books for Children
                 2005 Boston Globe Horn Book Honors
                 2006 Caldecott Medal
                 2005 New York Times Best Illustrated  

Rohmann, E. (2002). My friend rabbit. New York: Roaring Brook Press
             Have you ever had a friend who always ended up in trouble no matter what his intent was?  Well, meet Rabbit he is such a friend.  On this occasion mouse allows him to use his toy plane and it eventually takes the much of the forest animals to retrieve the plane.
            This is a great story for beginning readers.  Easy to understand text and vivid pictures make the story easy to follow.  There is very little text; each page is filled with bright pictures showing the newest animal that rabbit has recruited to help.
Genre:  Fiction
Format:  Picture book
Suggested Age or Grade level (s): Ages 2 - 6
Awards:   2003 ALA Notable Books for Children
                2003 Caldecott Medal
Sendak, M. (1963). Where the wild things are. New York: Harper Collins Publisher

             When Max, a very busy little boy, got in trouble with his mother and was sent “to bed without eating anything”, he sails across the ocean to Where the Wild Things Are.  This story tells of his adventures with the wild things in there forest and how he comes their king.

            Pictures show such detailed illustrations that you can see the striations on the trees and animals.  The cover shows a wild thing asleep as Max’s boat approaches.  Pictures follow the text and can be “read” even if the child can not yet recognize words.  The story shows children how you travel anywhere you want without leaving your room.

 Genre:  Fiction

Format:  Picture book

Suggested Age or Grade level (s):  Ages 3-7

Awards:   1964 Caldecott Medal

                  1963 New York Times Best Illustrated

 
Taback, S. (1999). Joseph had a little overcoat. New York: Penguin Group

            Joseph had an overcoat that is very special to him and when it gets old and worn and he is no longer able to use it as an overcoat he makes it into something else that is smaller but still useful until finally he makes something from nothing.

            This is an exceptional illustrated lyrical book with the add feature of a cutout of each page that allows the audience to try and guess to Joseph has made the overcoat into this time.  This book can be used to teach sequencing.

 Genre:  Realistic Fiction

Format:  Picture Book

Suggested Age or Grade level (s):  Grades 4 - 8

Awards:  2000 ALA Notable

               2000 Caldecott Award

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