Caldecott Award Winning Book #5

Snowflake Bentley

by Jacquline Briggs Martin

illustrated by Mary Azarian

Snowflake Bentley won the Caldecott Medal for 1999. It is the story of Wilson Bentley, who from the time he was a small boy in Vermont loved snow "more than anything else in the world." He was saddened because he loved snowflakes but he could not share them. He used a microscope and tried to draw the snow crystals, but they would always melt before he could finish. He saw that no two snowflakes were the same. His parents bought him a camera with a microscope for him to try to photograph snowflakes. He spent many years perfecting his methods until he had beautiful pictures of snowflakes. Willie loved the beauty of nature and took pictures in all seasons. He wrote about snow and published his pictures in magazines. Everyone began calling him "the Snowflake Man." I thought this story was interesting and would be best suited for older primary students. It is a good way to give children insight into a man who had not only a scientist's vision and perseverance, but a strong passion for the wonders of nature.

Caldecott Award Winning Book #4

The Man Who Walked Between The Towers

by Mordicai Gerstein

This book won the Caldecott Medal for 2004. The story is set in 1974 and is about a young French aerialist, Phillipe Petit. Just as the World Trade Center was being completed, Phillipe threw a tightrope between the two tours and spent almost and hour walking, dancing, and performing tricks a quarter of a mile in the sky. Petit's high wire walk has remained part of the history of the World Trade Center and New York City. The ink and oil paintings are lovely. I think part of the allure of this book is the interesting story of what Phillipe found the courage to do and the illustrations of the towers as they stood from 1974 until the terrorist attacks of 9/11. The story tells how he is arrested and how the judge sentences him to perform in the park for the children of the city. The end of the book says and shows that the towers are now gone, "But in memory, as if imprinted on the sky, the towers are still there. And part of the memory is the joyful morning, August 7, 1974, when Philippe Petit walked between them in the air." This part of the story made me emotional as I recalled watching the towers fall on 9/11 and all the lives that were lost.

Caldecott Award Winning Book #3

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale

by Mo Willems

This book by Mo Willems was a Caldecott Honor book for 2005. The images in this book are a melding of hand-drawn ink sketches and digital photography in a computer. One day Trixie goes on an errand with her daddy to the laundromat. She helps her daddy put the laundry into the machine and puts the money into the washing machine. If you follow the pictures closely, you realize that Trixie has accidentaly put her favorite stuffed bunny in the washing machine. They leave the clothes washing and begin to walk home. Trixie realizes she has left her stuffed bunny and tries to tell her daddy (though she doesn't speak words yet). Trixie tries to tell her daddy, but he doesn't understand her, so she becomes hysterical and starts screaming and crying all the way. As soon as they get home, Trixie's mom asks where Knuffle Bunny is. The whole family hurries back to the laundromat to search for Knuffle Bunny. Trixie's daddy finally finds him in the very back of the washing machine. Trixie is so exctied when they find him that she yells, "KNUFFLE BUNNY!" These are her first words. I love the pictures in this story. They are very unique because the background looks real and the people look like cartoons. I have found that children are really caprivated by the pictures. Most children can relate to this story because they have a favorite stuffed animal or toy that why would be upset if they lost.

Caldecott Award Winning Book #2

Click, Clack Moo: Cows That Type

by Doreen Cronin

pictures by Betsy Lewin

This book was a Caldecott Honor Book for 2001. The story begins telling about Farmer Brown's problem. His cows like to type and all day long he hears the sounds click, clack, moo. The cows start typing messages demanding things like electric blankets because the barn is very cold at night. One day the cows went on strike and left a typed note saying that the barn is closed and there would be no milk today. Then the hens start making demands. The farmer gets mad and types his own message refusing the requests. The cows type a final note saying that they will exchange their typewriter for electric blankets. Farmer Brown thinks this is a fair compromise and leaves the blankets by the barn door as requested and waits for Duck to come with the typewriter. The next morning the ducks get in on the action by typing a note requesting a diving board. The final picture shows a duck diving off a diving board into the pond. The pictures are done with watercolors and definitely add a lot to the humor of the story. Children love to listen to this story read aloud and always laugh when they see the funny pictures.

Caldecott and Newbery Awards

The Caldecott and Newbery Awards are both awarded by the Association for Library Service to Children, which is a division of the American Library Association. The Caledecott Medal is named after the English illustrator Randolph Caldecott and is awarded each year "to the artist of the most distinguished picture book for children published in English in the United States during the preceding year." The Newbery Medal is named after the English bookseller John Newbery and is awarded each year "to the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children published in English in the United States during the preceding year." The first Newbery Award was given in 1922. In 1938, the American Library Association began presenting the Caldecott Award. The Caldecott Medal was established as a sister award to the Newbery Medal. When the ALA began giving the Caldecott Medal annually to a picture book and illustrator, it showed their importance in children's literature.

Newbery Award Winning Book #2

Show Way

by Jacquelinne Woodson

illustrated by Hudson Talbott

This story begins by telling how Soonie's great-grandma was sold when she was seven from Virginia to a plantation in South Carolina (without her ma and pa). All Soonie had with her was some muslin that ma had given her, two sewing needles, and some red thread. Big Mama, who raised Soonie and many other slave children told them stories of growing up and "getting themselves free." Big Mama also taught Soonie how to sew and make Show Way quilts. Throughout the story, Soonie's family makes SHOW WAYS, quilts with secret meanings that are maps ro freedom. Her family tells stories of bravery that inspire courage. Each generation passes on to the next the belief that there is a road to a better place. This was a touching story about slavery and the courage of Soonie and her family through the generations. The illustrations are colorful and are simply magnificent. I would definitely recommend this story to all teachers to read to children for them to understand more of our country's history and the obstacles that many black people have overcome throughout the years.

Children's Book Produced as a Feature Film #3

Charlotte's Web

by E.B. White

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story. I hadn't read it since I was a little girl and had forgotten many of the details of the story. After finishing the story, I was inspired to begin reading it aloud to my kindergarten students. They loved it. We will be watching the movie on the last day of school. This is a story about true friendship. Fern raises Wilbur, who is the runt of the litter. When he is old enough, Fern's father insists he be sold. Wilbur ends up at Fern's uncle's farm. The Zuckerman's put Wilbur in the barn cellar where we meet all kinds of interesting animal characters. Wilbur is befriended by a spider named Charlotte who has spun a web at the front of the barn. When it becomes evident that Wilbur will likely be killed and eaten for Christmas dinner, Charlotte knows she must come up with a plan to save his life. After much thought, she decides to write words in her web to impress Zuckerman. The messages include SOME PIG, TERRIFIC, and RADIANT. The messages bring fame to the Zuckerman's and help secure Wilbur's future. In the end, Charlotte has saved Wilbur's life, but her time grows short, and she dies. Wilbur protects the egg sac that Charlotte left and finds comfort in meeting many of Charlotte's children and grandchildren over the years. This is a classic story that will be enjoyed by many children for years to come.