Caldecott Challenge - Year 2009

I've been busy pulling all the Caldecott books out of my library this week and it just reminds me of the many amazing books available to us all. This week I even spent time talking about the importance of the award as well as sharing as many books as I can with my third grade students. Next week I'm going to give them the opportunity to choose their favorite book that they think will win the Caldecott Award. They are so excited!

Caldecott Medal Winner 2009

A House in the Night illustrated by Beth Kromes and written by Susan Swanson
A sweet story about a little house in the night. The text is simple and the author was inspired to write this pattern book based on book, The Oxford Nursery Rhyme Book. The illustrations are scratchboard and watercolor in black and white with effects of gold color throughout the story. A wonderful preschool book. ***

Honor Books:
A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever by Marla Frazee
This comic like type book has illustrations that are made from gouche and black prismacolor with text lettering. The story is a simple one about two boys who have the best week ever together during their summer vacation. They learn all about nature, eat banana waffles and play lots of video games. They miss their parents and want to travel to Antartica. A sweet story about friendship and what it really means to be a kid.

How I Learned Geography by Uri Shulevitz I remember when this book first came out. It is a simple book about a young boy and the hours he spends studying his father's world map. He escapes his refugee life for a short time. This story is based on the author's childhood in Kazakhstan where he lived as a Polish refugee during World War II. A powerful short story with the illustrations done in pen and ink, watercolor as well as collage. I think what this story conveys the most is the power of the imagination. Well done. ****

A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams illustrated by Melissa Sweet and written by Jen Bryant This is a picture book biography of William Carlos Williams who traces his childhood events that lead him to become a doctor and poet. It is an extremely creative account of his life through his own poems with stunning mixed media illustrations. The illustrations consist of watercolor, collage and mixed media. The unique artwork leaves room for much interpretation of his poems as well as the life he lived. ****