Caldecott Medal and Honor Books 2017

 

2017 Caldecott Medal and Honor books

 

Caldecott Medal

Radiant Child, the Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat written and illustrated by Javaka Steptoe

From the Amazon description: “Jean-Michel Basquiat and his unique, collage-style paintings rocketed to fame in the 1980s as a cultural phenomenon unlike anything the art world had ever seen. But before that, he was a little boy who saw art everywhere: in poetry books and museums, in games and in the words that we speak, and in the pulsing energy of New York City. Now, award-winning illustrator Javaka Steptoe's vivid text and bold artwork echoing Basquiat's own introduce young readers to the powerful message that art doesn't always have to be neat or clean--and definitely not inside the lines--to be beautiful.”

 

You can listen to the book read by the author here (although he doesn’t read it word for word perfectly): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAxpNb6U8Fo

 

Javaka Steptoe, the author and illustrator of this book, was born and raised in Brooklyn. I thought I recognized the Steptoe name. His father, John Steptoe, illustrated two books that were given the Caldecott Honor – The Story of Jumping Mouse, and Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters. So it looks like Javaka is carrying on the family tradition. It is said that he was often a model for his father’s book illustrations. Javaka’s award-winning book, Radiant Child, also received the Americas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature and the Coretta Scott King Book Award from the American Library Association.

 

My opinion: Basquiat was a Brooklyn-born Haitian-Puerto Rican artist whose first public exhibit was in 1980 when he was only 20 years old. Basquiat’s mother is attributed with fostering his love for art, but she suffered from mental illness. Despite this difficult time in his life, he doesn’t let go of his dreams. In his paintings, he puts a crown on his mother as a sign of honor and value. His collage paintings are bright and bold and reflect his heritage. Sadly, he struggled with drug addiction and died at the age of 27.  As you look at any of Basquiat’s art, watch for certain motifs he used throughout his works: a crown represented power or strength and for those who needed to be respected. Eyes represented remembering or understanding. Cars, trucks, and airplanes represented his childhood and a car accident that badly injured him.

 

Author/illustrator Steptoe grew up in the same part of New York City as Basquiat and so was exposed to his work in high school. He even went to one of Basquiat’s art shows. This inspired Steptoe to believe that even he, a young African American artist, had a chance for success. Steptoe used pieces of discarded wood from old Brooklyn Museum exhibit materials, the dumpsters of Brooklyn brownstones, on which to create his illustrations. While I am not personally a fan of modern art, I have lived outside New York City for a time so this book was of interest to me. I have friends who were also born and raised in Brooklyn, and this book gives me a little more understanding of their world.

 

Caldecott Honor books

 

LEAVE ME ALONE! written and illustrated by Vera Brosgol

From the Amazon description: “an epic tale about one grandmother, a giant sack of yarn, and her ultimate quest to finish her knitting. One day, a grandmother shouts, "LEAVE ME ALONE!" and leaves her tiny home and her very big family to journey to the moon and beyond to find peace and quiet to finish her knitting. Along the way, she encounters ravenous bears, obnoxious goats, and even hordes of aliens! But nothing stops grandma from accomplishing her goal―knitting sweaters for her many grandchildren to keep them warm and toasty for the coming winter. Vera Brosgol's slyly clever and unexpectedly funny modern folktale is certain to warm even the coldest of hearts.”

 

Listen to the book read here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFqfFbXRrrA

 

Vera Brosgol is a young Moscow-born artist who moved to the United States when she was five. She has worked on animation projects as well as written graphic novels. LEAVE ME ALONE! is her first picture book and reflects her love of knitting.

 

My opinion: In addition to being a Caldecott Honor book, LEAVE ME ALONE! also was named A New York Times Notable Children’s Book, the National Public Radio Best Book of 2016, the Horn Book Best Book of 2016, and the Huffington Post Best Picture Book of 2016. This book is a modern folktale that will definitely appeal to those who long for some time alone; you know, those introverts among us. Or even for those who love to knit!

 

Freedom in Congo Square by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by R. Gregory Christie.

From the Amazon description: “This poetic, nonfiction story about a little-known piece of African American history captures a human's capacity to find hope and joy in difficult circumstances and demonstrates how New Orleans' Congo Square was truly freedom's heart.
Mondays, there were hogs to slop,
mules to train, and logs to chop,
Slavery was no ways fair.
Six more days to Congo Square.
As slaves relentlessly toiled in an unjust system in 19th century Louisiana, they all counted down the days until Sunday, when at least for half a day they were briefly able to congregate in Congo Square in New Orleans. Here they were free to set up an open market, sing, dance, and play music. They were free to forget their cares, their struggles, and their oppression. This story chronicles slaves' duties each day, from chopping logs on Mondays to baking bread on Wednesdays to plucking hens on Saturday, and builds to the freedom of Sundays and the special experience of an afternoon spent in Congo Square. This book includes a forward from Freddi Williams Evans (freddievans.com), a historian and Congo Square expert, as well as a glossary of terms with pronunciations and definitions.”

 

You can listen to the story being read here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ciW_a94yVs

 

Carole Boston Weatherford is an African-American author who began writing poetry at a very young age, being inspired by Dr. Seuss and Langston Hughes. She feels her calling is "to mine the past for family stories, fading traditions and forgotten struggles." She also wrote Box: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom which is a Newbery Honor book. Many of her books reflect her desire to present the truth about people and events of her heritage. Other fine examples of her work are Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-ins, and Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom, both of which I own and love.

 

R. Gregory Christie is a highly regarded illustrator, winning many awards for his work. He also illustrated Book Itch! Freedom, Truth & Harlem's Greatest Bookstore, and Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U. S. Marshal  which I also own. Christie actually has a bookstore very near me. I might just have to go!

 

My opinion: In this book, couplets count down the days of the week until Sunday. Although the book does present the harsh lives of slavery, it is appropriate still for younger children. A definite contrast is portrayed between the labored life during the week of the slaves and the exuberant dance and music of the freedom of Sunday afternoons. The author notes that jazz originated from the African rhythms first celebrated in Congo Square.

 

Du Iz Tak? written and illustrated by Carson Ellis.

From the Amazon description: “Du iz tak? What is that? As a tiny shoot unfurls, two damselflies peer at it in wonder. When the plant grows taller and sprouts leaves, some young beetles arrive to gander, and soon—with the help of a pill bug named Icky—they wrangle a ladder and build a tree fort. But this is the wild world, after all, and something horrible is waiting to swoop down—booby voobeck!—only to be carried off in turn. Su! With exquisitely detailed illustrations and tragicomic flair, Carson Ellis invites readers to imagine the dramatic possibilities to be found in even the humblest backyard. Su!”

 

You can listen to the book being read here exactly as written: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXfUyZEuz1A

 

And you can listen to the book being read here by a grandfather for his grandchildren, complete with his version of the translation of the words: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhNhyv7BThk

 

Carson Ellis, the author and illustrator of this book, is a Canadian-born American illustrator. She has illustrated children’s picture books, album art for folk art bands, and even wallpaper! She also is the illustrator for some of the Mysterious Benedict Society series titles.

 

My opinion: The fun thing about this book is that it is written in an imaginary bug language. The story tells of the microcosm of a small square in the insect world as season changes to season over time. This would make a fun read before an ecosystem study of the backyard. The adorable illustrations are done in gouache and ink, with lots of detail and yet a lot of open white space. A nonfiction book that comes to mind to go along with this would be Backyard by Donald Silver, part of the One Small Square series. Honestly, at first I didn’t like Du Iz Tak?, but the more I read it, the more delightful I find it. A made-up language of bugs? Why not? After all, we praise Tolkien for his imaginary world and language; why not one about bugs for children?

 

They All Saw a Cat written and illustrated by Brendan Wenzel.

From the Amazon description: “the cat walked through the world, with its whiskers, ears, and paws . . . In this glorious celebration of observation, curiosity, and imagination, Brendan Wenzel shows us the many lives of one cat, and how perspective shapes what we see. When you see a cat, what do you see?”

 

You can listen to the story being read here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJ4OjYER_nk

 

And here’s a cute song created about the book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zt_kCPXyHPc

 

Brendan Wenzel is from upstate New York. He is a committed conservationist and works with organizations who seek to protect wild places. His picture books seem centered around animals and critters, and he often portrays a message about perspective and differing viewpoints.

 

My opinion: The illustrations in this book are a variety of colored pencil, oil pastels, acrylic paint, watercolor, charcoal, Magic Marker, good old number 2 pencils, and even a MacBook. And yet, it all comes together delightfully and actually appropriately since his message in the book is one of the diversity of perspective each of us has. The repetitive phrasing is perfect for little ones to enjoy. Also interesting is the introduction to the varying vision capabilities of animals. A nice nonfiction book to accompany this would be Eye to Eye: How Animals See the World by Steve Jenkins.