Honored Books

stuff and n e w s t u f f Honored books

he Randolph Caldecott Medal is awarded annu- and everything—mailboxes, birdhouses, barns, a Tally to the previous year’s most distinguished pickup truck, and even grouchy Mr. Crabtree. picture book for children. The medal is awarded by The box keeps producing yarn and Annabelle the Association for Library Service to Children keeps knitting until one night robbers steal the box (ALSC), a division of the American Library for the archduke—who is furious when he finds the Association. The Caldecott Medal plus recommenda- box empty and tries to destroy it. But, as in all good tions and awards made by other organizations like tales, good triumphs over evil, and the magic box, the Geisel Award (for beginning reader books), the returned to Annabelle, again offers its gifts. Sibert Medal (for informational books), and the Klassen’s illustrations are simply drawn in shades Newberry Medal (for distinguished contribution to of white and sooty gray, save the perfectly styled children’s literature) offer sound guidance on devel- knit stitches in every color. opmentally appropriate book choices for children. In addition, the ALSC offers an annual list of notable Thunder Boy Jr. books in categories that loosely reflect interests and Written by Sherman Alexie and illustrated by Yuyi reading levels from early childhood through age 14. Morales. Hachette Book Group, 2016. ($17.99). The books below offer a sampling of award-win- New York Times Notable Children’s Book, ning books in recent years. 2016

Extra Yarn hunder Boy Jr. is named after his dad—Big Written by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Jon TThunder--that fills the sky in a storm. But Klassen. HarperCollins, 2012. ($16.99) Thunder Boy Jr., called Little Thunder, hates his Caldecott Honor, 2013 name and entic- es the reader to n a cold, snowy day Annabelle finds a box of appreciate his Oyarn of every color—and starts to knit. She justified substi- makes a sweater for herself, her dog, her friend tutions. Perhaps Nate, and his because he has dog too. Her climbed a teacher com- mountain, he plains that the could be named riotously col- Touch the ored garments Clouds. Or are distract- because he mas- ing, but tered his bicycle Annabelle at age 3, he should be called Gravity’s Best Friend. knits on, mak- Little Thunder laments, “I love my dad but I want ing sweaters my own name. What do I do?” Respectful, respon- for everyone sive, and loving, Big Thunder offers his son the

© Texas Child Care quarterly / spring 2017 / VOLUME 40, NO. 4 / childcarequarterly.com power of a new name—Lightning—so together they Illustrations reflect can light up the sky. the urban setting Vibrant color, collage, and mixed media splashes showing people with give a layered, three-dimensional punch to this story different skin colors, of a powerful and inspiring Native American family. abilities, ages, and This book is the first picture book by Alexie, who body types authenti- has won numerous awards, including the National cally and naturally. Book Award for Young People’s Literature. Eventually, CJ and Illustrator YuYi Morales is a 2015 Caldecott Honor Nana arrive at their Book winner for Viva Frida. destination, a soup kitchen, opening Waiting opportunities for Written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes. groups of children to Greenwillow Books, 2016. ($17) see—and feel—the impacts of volunteerism, compas- Caldecott Honor and Geisel Honor, 2016 sion, and altruism.

our toys sit on a window sill, each waiting for They All Saw a Cat Fsomething—the wind, the rain, the moon, and Written and illustrated by Brendan Wenzel. the snow. The fifth toy Chronicle Books, 2016. ($16.99) though, “a rabbit with Caldecott Honor, 2017 stars” isn’t waiting for anything special; he erspective or point of view is an essential com- just looks out the win- Pponent of developing empathy and compassion. dow and waits. A delightful The book, through entry into the simple text and line ability to see drawings colored soft- the world as ly, reflects the joy, dis- another sees it appointment, sadness, focuses on a optimism, and frustra- cat—in the tion shared by chil- eyes of a dren who are so often child, a dog, a challenged to wait, sometimes for the next terrific fox, a fish, a surprise. mouse, and even a flea. Last Stop on Market Street Wenzel’s convincingly illustrates the cat who Written by Matt de la Peña and illustrated by walks “…through the world, with its whiskers, ears, Christian Robinson. G.P. Putnams Sons, 2016. and paws,” that they all see with unique eyes, emo- ($16.99) tions, and interests. The book invites young readers Newberry Award and Caldecott Honor, 2016 to build a framework for understanding that we don’t all see the same object in the same way: The and his grandma take a long bus ride after cat doesn’t change, perspective does. CJchurch on Sundays. CJ, as impatient and curi- ous as any child, peppers the ride with inevitable Finding Winnie: The True Story of questions and complaints. In response, Nana offers the World’s Most Famous Bear observations about what CJ might be grateful for. Written by Lindsay Mattick and illustrated by When CJ comments on the rundown part of town, Sophie Blackall. Little, Brown and Co., 2016. ($18) Nana offers, “when you’re surrounded by dirt, CJ, Caldecott Medal, 2016 you’re a better witness for what’s beautiful.”

© Texas Child Care quarterly / spring 2017 / VOLUME 40, NO. 4 / childcarequarterly.com nce upon a time, a young Canadian soldier Oleaves his home to care for soldiers’ horses in Europe during World War I. At a train depot, he buys an orphaned baby black bear and names it Winnipeg, Winnie, for short. Winnie becomes the mascot for the soldier’s unit and is left in the care of the London Zoo when the soldier and his unit ship out to combat. Years later, A.A. Milne and his son Christopher Robin visit the zoo, where Christopher Robin forms a strong bond with the bear, and his father is inspired to create the much-loved adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh. Cheerful, muted colors, expressive characters, and a whimsical bear combine to make this a book that integrates biographical history, fantasy, and child- like joy to lovers of Milne and those who don’t yet know the Hundred Acre Wood, Piglet, Eeyore, Owl, Tigger and their friend Winne-the-Pooh. n