LibLaura5

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

Read earlier Caldecott Challenge Posts

What's the Caldecott Challenge?

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

Read earlier Caldecott Challenge Posts

What's the Caldecott Challenge?

Monday, June 24, 2013

Caldecott Challenge 1996-1999

Almost half the titles from 1996-99 included a cat somewhere in the illustrations - that's a lot more Caldecott Cats for the list.

So why am I even looking for cats in Caldecott books? Good question.
When I started the Caldecott Challenge, I started taking photos of the cover and a favorite illustration.

I put the first decade together into a slideshow:

I started noticing that many of the illustrations I was drawn to and photographed included a cat.

So I started actively looking for cats...and found a lot of them.
Some of the cats are characters, but often they are just part of the background.

I know that there are many I have missed, but I have enjoyed the hunt.

My other "mini-obsession" (as the lovely Melissa Techman recently called it) is searching for the number 5. I look for the number 5 everywhere, and there have been a few good finds among the Caldecotts. Including these two from The Gardener and No, David!