Kids' Caldecott Club is up and running!
In our first session, we talked about the Caldecott award, and about how the Caldecott committee works. We talked about layers, theme, and tone in story, and what we will look for as we hunt for the most distinguished picture books of 2016.
Here's one - Alan's Big Scary Teeth by Jarvis.
I asked the kids to tell me what kind of tone or mood they predicted it might have.
"Funny."
The Tree in the Courtyard by Jeff Gottesfeld, ill. by Peter McCarty
shows a different tone - historical, poignant.
The Night Gardener by the Fan Brothers
feels mysterious and intricate
Henry and Leo by Pamela Zagarienski
has a soft and ethereal mood.
We're starting with about 28 books this year because we only have so much time.
It would be lovely to absolutely roll in a roomful of books, but considering that we are working with after-school hours, 28 books is perfect.
Our wonderful librarian Martha helped as we evaluated two books with our ballots this week.
First, we examined the cover, jacket flaps, endpapers, copyright page.
We looked for interesting notes about the making of the book.
Next, we "read" the pictures all through, page by page, without words.
We searched for themes, color, mood, point of view, excellent details.
Then, I read the book aloud.
We asked ourselves what the book was about.
We asked what else it was about.
We looked for details to support our ideas,
nuances in text and art, in layout, in font.
We asked ourselves if the text and illustrations wove well together, or clashed.
We asked if the book would appeal to kids, if kids would be excited about that book.
We filled out our ballots and put them in their matching envelopes.
Exciting!
Here are the books we examined this week:
We All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel
I'm utterly wowed by the mind-explosions They All Saw a Cat creates.
I love the details our kids' committee noticed -
like balance in layout, patterns in text that echo in the illustrations,
exuberant differences in perspective throughout this book.
Genius!
The Music in George's Head : George Gershwin Creates Rhapsody in Blueby Suzanne Slade, illustrated by Stacy Innerst
Another wowzer!
Kids pointed out that the illustrations are done in browns and blues,
which seemed fitting considering that it's about Rhapsody in Blue.
They liked the playful hand lettering,
and the way the story begins, crescendos, and ends.
We listened to Rhapsody in Blue as we tidied up.
What a jazzy bright delight!
I love my library!
Stay tuned for updates as our Caldecott Club continues.
I'll post notes on our ballot and criteria next time.
If you're a local friend, you're welcome to join us!
We're meeting Thursdays
at the Jefferson County Library in Port Hadlock
from 3:45-4:45 p.m.
See more info
here.Except on Thanksgiving.
That's reserved for the turkey eating club.
It's Mock Caldecott season!
Beginning November 4,
we'll meet Thursdays
at the Jefferson County Library in Port Hadlock,Washington
from 3:45 - 4:45 p.m.
Get ready to be wowed by beautiful reads,
learn about the Caldecott selection process,
grow your critical thinking skills,
and help choose the stand-out picture books of 2016.
Read more about it here.I'm so honored to get to join our stellar children's librarian
Martha Ashenfelter and the Jefferson County Library
for a second helping of Caldecott Soup.
I'll keep you posted on all the book deliciousness!
A few of the books we'll be looking at:
They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel
They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel: I'm wowed by how this book
plays with visual point of view. Clever in the extreme.
The Storyteller by Evan Turk: Set in Morocco, this layer-upon-layer story is intricate and deep. The illustrations are done in ink as well as indigo and sugared green tea. Striking.
Sam and Jump by Jennifer K. Mann: Soft and sweet, this is a poignant book about loss and connection.
There is a Tribe of Kids by Lane Smith: I love how this book deals with the concept of collective nouns simply and efficiently, but the illustrations tell a deeper story.
Ada's Violin by Susan Hood, illustrated by Sally Wern Comport : This is an amazingly uplifting true story that starts in a garbage dump. Gorgeous illustrations!
Before Morning by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Beth Krommes: Here is another beauty with simple text and visual story that begs to be followed again and again.
I'd rather have a turtle, and I'd rather wear a mock turtle.
I'd rather cook with crockery than be a mockery.
I'd rather party with Mock Caldecotts than with mock halibuts.
And party we did!
- complete with book toothpicks and book inspired snacks:
sunflower seeds (If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson),
honey and bread (Finding Winnie by Lindsay Mattick and Sophie Blackall)
tiny sandwiches (The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone Roach),
pretzel sticks and grape "stones" (Stick and Stone by Beth Ferry and Tom Lichtenheld),
dried mangoes (Mango, Abuela, and Me by Meg Medina and Angela Dominguez).
Voters designed medals for the winning books.
Kids announced both the ALA winners, and our Mock Caldecott winners.
Our committee results:
Our Mock Caldecott Gold Medal : Out of the Woods by Rebecca Bond. 
And then,
honor awards for all eight of our runners up:
The Bear Ate Your Sandwich - by Julia Sarcone RoachMango, Abuela, and Me - by Meg Medina and Angela DominguezA Fine Dessert - by Emily Jenkins and Sophie Blackall Thank You and Good Night - by Patrick McDonnellIf You Plant a Seed - by Kadir NelsonThe Whisper - by Pamela ZagarenskiIn a Village by the Sea - Muon Van and April Chu And then, the entire library voted on the
People's Choice Award. The winner was
Sonya's Chickens by Phoebe Wahl. 
In the book "A Fine Dessert," blackberry fool is made by four families, over four centuries, with different implements.
Our children's librarian Martha Ashenfelter had a brilliant idea.
Why not have our committee make the same dessert
using the same implements?
They loved it!
Delicious!
They ate it up. Every speck. Every lick.
What a sweet finish to a wonderful party.
Thank you, Martha.
Thank you, Mock Caldecott committee.
I hope we can talk and mock Caldecotts again soon.
Religion As a Theme in Picture Books
I read a blog recently that set me wondering and I may be touching a very sensitive “third rail” topic, but here goes. The article mentioned the scarcity of recently published great children’s picture books that have religion as a theme. At the same time I’m reflecting on this, I also read an Op-Ed piece in a New York newspaper written by Naomi Schaefer Riley giving reasons why 20-30 year olds are NOT interested in organized religion. Seems they are marrying later and thus are delaying having children, which for some, is the portal to return to religion, coupled with their mistrust of institutions and a societal stigma that no longer exists, of a lack of affiliation with an organized religion.
Ms. Riley cited in her piece a Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life released in 2012 that found that fully one-third of young people under 30 had no religious affiliation as compared with 9% of those over 65. What changed in thinking between the Greatest Generation, Baby Boomers and the Gen X and Millennial generations? Maybe it’s a question worth asking.
How does ALL of this relate to the picture book? I started going back in time to take a glance at the Caldecott Award and Honor Books given to the best picture books of a given year. I started from 1938 when the Caldecott began to see if religion popped up in these awards with any frequency and, going forward, if a pattern emerged. And I think it did. Maybe it has to do with the age old question: Does art merely reflect what is going on in society or does it, in fact, in some ways shape it? Here are but a few of the titles of winners I found and the years they won. Interestingly enough the list sort of gave my curious question a nod, as the very FIRST Caldecott winner in 1938 was called Animals of the Bible, A Picture Book, illustrated by Dorothy P. Lathrop; text: selected by Helen Dean Fish. And here are some others I noted along the way:
1941 Honor Book
The Ageless Story. By Lauren Ford
1944 Honor Book
Small Rain: Verses from the Bible. Illustrations by Elizabeth Orton Jones; text selected by Jessie Orton Jones
1945 Caldecott Winner
Prayers for a Child. Illustrated by Elizabeth Orton Jones; text: Rachel Field
Honor Book
The Christmas Anna Angel. Illustrated by Kate Seredy; text: Ruth Sawyer
1947 Honor Book
Sing in Praise: A Collection of the Best Loved Hymns; illustrated by Marjorie Torrey; text selected by Opal Wheeler
1960 Caldecott Winner
Nine Days to Christmas; illustrated by Marie Hall Ets; text: Marie Hall Ets and Aurora Labastida
1961 Caldecott Winner
Baboushka and the Three Kings, illustrated by Nicholas Sidjakov; text: Ruth Robbins
1977 Honor Book
The Golem: A Jewish Legend by Beverly Brodsky McDermott
1978 Caldecott Winner
Noah’s Ark by Peter Spier
1985 Caldecott Winner
St. George and the Dragon, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman; text: retold by Margaret
1990 Honor Book
Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman; Text by Eric Kimmel
1997 Caldecott Winner
Golem by David Wisniewski
2003 Honor Book
Noah’s Ark by Jerry Pinkney
Introducing the concept of religion has always been a very sensitive topic for parents, and I fully realize and respect that fact. But I also want to emphasize that children’s literature has historically been used as a vehicle and subject area to introduce religion to those children whose parents do find it helpful. Its use has always, and should be, solely at the discretion of their parents.
But what if parents have difficulty finding wonderful picture books to help them in the area of introducing religion to their child? What then? And why should it be so? As I mentioned before, I think it’s a question worth asking.
I’ve found an article for parents as they wrestle with this question and have provided a reference to it. It can be used as a jumping off spot for those of you out there who are interested in picture books where religion and related topics such as God, prayer, heaven, angels etc. are a theme.
I think it may prove helpful to have a little aid, divine or not, when the topic of religion arises in your picture book age child’s life: Wicks, Don A., Darin Freeburg, and Doug Goldsmith. “Depictions of Religion in Children’s Picture Books.” Journal of Childhood and Religion Volume 4.3 (2013).
