2018 Caldecott Medal and
Honor books
Caldecott Medal
Wolf in the Snow written and illustrated by Matthew Cordell
From the Amazon description: “A girl is
lost in a snowstorm. A wolf cub is lost, too. How will they find their way home?
Paintings rich with feeling tell this satisfying story of friendship and trust.
Here is a book set on a wintry night that will spark imaginations and warm
hearts.”
You can listen to the book being read here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIdyzXrHqTM
This is the best one I could find. Seems like a
teacher doing the story. The book is almost a wordless book, and she lets the
pictures tell the story.
And a video of the author telling more about
the book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrINnl8S0Qg
Matthew Cordell is an American author/illustrator
of children’s picture books, poetry and novels. In addition to receiving the
Caldecott Medal for this book, he has also been honored with the Best of the
Year selections by the New York Times, the Washington Post, and The Boston
Globe. He has worked with other authors such as Gail
Carson Levine, Philip C. Stead, and Rebecca Kai Dotlich. Another book he
wrote that looks interesting to me is Hello Neighbor!: The Kind and Caring
World of Mister Rogers. I’ve requested that one from my public library.
My opinion: This is a satisfying story of friendship, a
frightening situation resolved by helping one another. The book is almost
completely wordless except for some “sound” words like Bark! or howl… which
actually provide a good opportunity to talk about a very big word:
onomatopoeia. Because the book is mostly wordless, it appeals to little ones. I
can imagine how reading this book to my little 2 ½ year old grandson would be
enjoyable. He would probably copy the way I read those words. The book lets the
pictures tell the story, so “reading” it is different each time. Then young
children can also develop their own version of the story. The illustrations
were created with pen and ink with watercolor. Two interesting features of this
book are the five full-page wordless illustrations set before the title page,
which introduce to the reader the characters of the little girl, her family,
and the wolves. Also, behind the dust jacket on the actual front and back
covers are more vignettes of illustrations that further enrich the story line.
I’ve never noticed an author do this before. Although the book seems like it
would be best for very young children, I noticed one person on an Amazon review
stated that she used this book with a class of older autistic students to help
them develop and practice their story-telling skills. The story features many
emotions a young child feels in frightening situations but ends with family,
safety, warmth.
Caldecott Honor books
Big Cat, Little Cat written and illustrated by Elisha Cooper
From the Amazon description:
There was a cat
who lived alone.
Until the day
a new cat came . . .And so a story of friendship begins, following the two cats
through their days, months, and years until one day, the older cat has to go.
And he doesn’t come back. This is a poignant story, told in measured text and
bold black-and-white illustrations about the act of moving on.
You can listen to the story here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUopy9-lz_w
Elisha Cooper, the author and illustrator, has written
nonfiction books as well as children’s picture books. He was a Maurice Sendak
Fellow in 2016, a residency program for illustrators. He also won the Robin
Smith Picture Book Prize in 2020. Many of his picture books have one-word
titles. Interesting!
My opinion: The black line drawings on white background
as well as the very simple text are perfect for this story which gently tells
of the normal life cycle of animals. At the beginning, the black cat is the
little one, but after the big white cat “goes away,” the black cat is then the
big cat and he gains a new friend, a little white cat. I think unless a child
has experienced the loss of a pet, the concept would be a little above a little
one’s head. But if your family has experienced this kind of loss, this book
could be reassuring and bring understanding and hope.
And now I’m going down “rabbit trails” to request other
books by this author/illustrator from my public library! As much as I love and gravitate
to the older books, I am finding some delightful newer illustrators and
enjoying their books very much!
Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut written by Derrick Barnes and illustrated by Gordon C. James
From the Amazon description: The barbershop
is where the magic happens. Boys go in as lumps of clay and, with princely
robes draped around their shoulders, a dab of cool shaving cream on their
foreheads, and a slow, steady cut, they become royalty. That crisp yet subtle
line makes boys sharper, more visible, more aware of every great thing that
could happen to them when they look good: lesser grades turn into As; girls
take notice; even a mother’s hug gets a little tighter. Everyone notices.
A fresh cut makes boys fly. This rhythmic, read-aloud title is an
unbridled celebration of the self-esteem, confidence, and swagger boys feel
when they leave the barber’s chair—a tradition that places on their heads a
figurative crown, beaming with jewels, that confirms their brilliance and worth
and helps them not only love and accept themselves but also take a giant step
toward caring how they present themselves to the world. The fresh cuts. That’s
where it all begins. Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut is a high-spirited, engaging salute to the beautiful,
raw, assured humanity of black boys and how they see themselves when they
approve of their reflections in the mirror.
You can listen to the story read by the author
here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkkBGf2aALw
Derrick Barnes is the first African-American
male creative copyrighter hired by Hallmark Cards. He also won the Kirkus prize
twice, the first to do so. Barnes has also written novels for middle school
age. His goal for writing as stated in an interview is “that there aren't enough books about kids of color by people
of color. ‘I want to leave behind a body of work my children can be proud of,
but I also want to change how children see themselves in this world. I want to
thwart those negative images and make sure they know they are loved.’"
Gordon C. James, illustrator, is an
African-American artist of both children’s books and fine arts. His work is
rich in color and beautiful captures the spirit of his heritage. I have another
book illustrated by him, Campy: The Story of Roy Campanella.
My opinion: This book, Crown: An Ode to the
Fresh Cut, not only is a Caldecott Honor book, but also is a Newbery Honor
Book, a Coreta Scott King Author Honor Book, a Coretta Scott King Illustrator
Honor Book, an Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award Boook, an Ezra Jack Keats New
Illustrator Honor Book, and a Society of Illustrators Gold Medal Book. Wow!
That’s amazing and not the usual. The oil paintings are bright and colorful and
nicely capture the emotions of the story. What young boy doesn’t feel more
grown up being in a barber chair and enjoying the attention, as well as that
new confidence feeling after a good cut? The only thing I didn’t appreciate was
the boy’s confidence that his new haircut would get him some attention from a
cute girl in school. I understand that but not sure I would want my
five-year-old grandson to be encouraged about that. 😊
A Different Pond written by Bao Phi and illustrated by Thi Bui
From the Amazon description: ” an
unforgettable story about a simple event - a long-ago fishing trip. Graphic
novelist Thi Bui and acclaimed poet Bao Phi deliver a powerful, honest glimpse
into a relationship between father and son - and between cultures, old and new.
As a young boy, Bao and his father awoke early, hours before his father's long
workday began, to fish on the shores of a small pond in Minneapolis. Unlike
many other anglers, Bao and his father fished for food, not recreation. A
successful catch meant a fed family. Between hope-filled casts, Bao's father
told him about a different pond in their homeland of Vietnam. Thi Bui's
striking, evocative art paired with Phi's expertly crafted prose has earned
this powerful picture books six starred reviews and numerous awards.”
You can listen to the story here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=td59o8PUKjY
Bao Phi, the author, is a performance poet, a
Vietnamese-American, who grew up in Minneapolis. His published works are mainly
poetry, and A Different Pond is his first children’s book.
Thi Bui, the illustrator, is a
Vietnamese-American graphic artist who came to the United States in 1978 as
part of the “boat people fleeing from Southeast Asia. All of her work reflects
her heritage.
My opinion: This book is an immigrant story
which celebrates family history and helps a child reader to understand a sense
of family heritage and better understand his parents’ experiences. The
illustrator used photos of Bao’s family from his childhood to realistically
portray the Vietnamese immigrant’s home of the story with graphic-style
illustrations. The sweet relationship between father and son is beautiful as
they share the experience of fishing together. I was hoping there would be a
little more information given by the father about his own childhood on “a
different pond,” and was disappointed about that. One reviewer said the book is
an “important opportunity for empathy and gratitude.”
I agree.
Grand Canyon written and illustrated by Jason Chin
From the Amazon description: “Rivers
wind through earth, cutting down and eroding the soil for millions of years,
creating a cavity in the ground 277 miles long, 18 miles wide, and more than a
mile deep known as the Grand Canyon. Home to an astonishing variety of
plants and animals that have lived and evolved within its walls for millennia,
the Grand Canyon is much more than just a hole in the ground. Follow a father
and daughter as they make their way through the cavernous wonder, discovering
life both present and past. Weave in and out of time as perfectly placed
die cuts show you that a fossil today was a creature much long ago, perhaps in
a completely different environment. Complete with a spectacular double
gatefold, an intricate map and extensive back matter.”
Listen to the book read here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtQYZ1fsGnQ
And an interview with the author here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dt77y2eIpk
My opinion: The illustrations are done in pen
and ink, watercolor, and gouache. The book features a beautiful foldout double
page which displays the grandeur of the Grand Canyon. Also throughout the book are
several cutouts to explore. The book is obviously full of evolutionary content
on almost every page, so that’s an issue for me. It is a beautiful book though
to show the beauty of this national treasure. And an unusual nonfiction Caldecott
book when most seem to be fictional. I do like another nonfiction book by Chin
entitled Gravity, which is a simple explanation on the topic.
