Sunday, June 30, 2013

Caldecott Challenge 2013 - the final 6!

So... this is it. These are the last 6 books of the Caldecott Challenge.

I feel like I should have something profound to say here at the end.
Hmmm......

....maybe it's not really the end, I'm just all caught up until 2014.


Tonight I will be in a room full of librarians and book lovers celebrating these fabulous books:



2013 Medal Winner:

This Is Not My Hat
by Jon Klassen




2013 Honor Books:

Creepy Carrots!
illustrated by Peter Brown
written by Aaron Reynolds 


Extra Yarn
illustrated by Jon Klassen
written by Mac Barnett




Green
by Laura Vaccaro Seeger 


One Cool Friend
illustrated by David Small
written by Toni Buzzeo 




Sleep Like a Tiger
illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski
written by Mary Logue



Caldecott Challenge Total 1938-2013: 316







psst.... did you see? Two more cats!

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Caldecott Challenge 2011-2012

I can hardly believe I am 6 books away from the end of my Caldecott Challenge, AKA #nerdcott, a 2012 New Year's Challenge to read all 316 Caldecott Award and Honor books.

Tomorrow evening I will be attending the 75th Annual Newbery & Caldecott Award Banquet.
I can not think of a more perfect way to celebrate!
 

2011 Medal Winner:
A Sick Day for Amos McGee
illustrated by Erin E. Stead
written by Philip C. Stead



2011 Honor Books:

Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave
illustrated by Bryan Collier
written by Laban Carrick Hill 




Interrupting Chicken
by David Ezra Stein





2012 Medal Winner:
A Ball for Daisy
by Chris Raschka



2012 Honor Books:

Blackout
by John Rocco 



Grandpa Green
by Lane Smith 



Me...Jane
by Patrick McDonnell



Caldecott Challenge Total 1938-2012: 310



pssst... there is an awesome five, and one more Caldecott cat. Did you see them?

Friday, June 28, 2013

Caldecott Challenge 2008-2010

And so begins the rise of online videos being used to promote books and authors.
How quickly things change and become the norm.
It's hard to remember that I didn't always use book trailers and author interviews when promoting books with kids.

When this post goes live, I will be in Chicago for the ALA Annual Conference. 
I can't wait to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Caldecott Award after reading all 316 winners and honor books.


Oh... and...
Yes, there were cats:



And some fabulous fives:




2008 Medal Winner:
The Invention of Hugo Cabret  
by Brian Selznick



2008 Honor Books:

Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad
illustrated by Kadir Nelson
written by Ellen Levine 


First the Egg
by Laura Vaccaro Seeger 



The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain
by Peter Sís 



Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity
by Mo Willems





2009 Medal Winner:
The House in the Night  
illustrated by Beth Krommes
written by Susan Marie Swanson



2009 Honor Books:

A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever
by Marla Frazee




How I Learned Geography
by Uri Shulevitz 

A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams
illustrated by Melissa Sweet
written by Jen Bryant


2010 Medal Winner:
The Lion & the Mouse
by Jerry Pinkney


Honor Books:

All the World
illustrated by Marla Frazee
written by Liz Garton Scanlon 








Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors
illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski
written by Joyce Sidman



Caldecott Challenge Total 1938-2010: 303






Thursday, June 27, 2013

Caldecott Challenge 2004-2007

2004 was the first year I paid attention to the day that the ALA awards were announced.
It was my first year as a school librarian, and the first year I celebrated the announcement with students in any way.

From this point on in the challenge, I have strong connections and memories with almost every single book. Each year of titles feels like looking at an old photo album with a flood of feelings from first reads rushing back.

In the fall of 2003 I remember reading Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus to every class Kindergarten through 6th grade months before the awards were announced because I loved it that much. It was unique and funny and a riot to read out loud. And then I remember that amazing feeling early 2004 when a book I loved was honored by the committee.

The feeling was powerful - I suddenly felt such ownership in the award just by being a librarian who reads and loves picture books.

2004 was also the year that I remember seeking out The Man Who Walked Between the Towers, a title that was new to me, being utterly blown away and thinking, "Yes, of course this was the one!" 

Reading these titles again for the challenge with the 75th anniversary celebration in Chicago coming in just a few days, has me thinking of each year's committee deliberating, debating, and defending each of these books with such care and professionalism.

...Oh, and also cats.



2004 Medal Winner:

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers
by Mordicai Gerstein

2004 Honor Books:

Ella Sarah Gets Dressed
by Margaret Chodos-Irvine 

What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? 
illustrated and written by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page 

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus
by Mo Willems


2005 Medal Winner:
Kitten's First Full Moon  
by Kevin Henkes


2005 Honor Books:

The Red Book 
by  Barbara Lehman 

Coming on Home Soon
illustrated by E.B. Lewis
written by  Jacqueline Woodson 

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale 
 illustrated and written by Mo Willems

2006 Medal Winner:
The Hello, Goodbye Window  
illustrated by Chris Raschka 
written by Norton Juster

2006 Honor Books:

Rosa 
illustrated by Bryan Collier
written by Nikki Giovanni 



Zen Shorts 
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


2007 Medal Winner:
Flotsam 
by David Wiesner

2007 Honor Books:

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



Caldecott Challenge Total 1938-2007: 291



Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Caldecott Challenge 2000-2003

Out of the 17 book from 2000-2003, 10 of them had cats somewhere in the illustrations.
Meow-za! That's more than half!

I wish I had been keeping an accurate record from the start. I also wish that I would have kept track of dogs appearing illustration. I would love to know definitively which is more common in Caldecott award winning illustrations, dogs or cats.

The world just doesn't have enough dog vs. cat competitions.

As a cat-person who now owns a very sweet dog, I feel conflicted about which team I would cheer for.

However my gut says cats rule the Caldecotts.




Caldecott Medal and Honor Books 2000-2003

2000 Medal Winner:
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat  
by Simms Taback (Viking)



2000 Honor Books: 

A Child's Calendar 
 illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman
written by John Updike 


Sector 7  
by David Wiesner 


When Sophie Gets Angry-Really, Really Angry  
by Molly Bang 


The Ugly Duckling 
by Jerry Pinkney 


2001 Medal Winner:
So You Want to Be President? 
illustrated by David Small, 
written by Judith St. George (Philomel)


2001 Honor Books: 

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 


2002 Medal Winner:
The Three Pigs 
by David Wiesner


2002 Honor Books:

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


2003 Medal Winner:
My Friend Rabbit  
by Eric Rohmann


2003 Honor Books:

The Spider and the Fly
illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi
written by Mary Howitt 

Hondo & Fabian 
by Peter McCarty 

Noah's Ark
by Jerry Pinkney

Caldecott Challenge Total 1938-2000: 275