Another impressive Caldecott Medal winner. It took the 2025 award for illustration (by Rebecca Lee Kunz.)
Two-year-old Chooch do66th book read in 2025
Another impressive Caldecott Medal winner. It took the 2025 award for illustration (by Rebecca Lee Kunz.)
Two-year-old Chooch does his best to “help” around the house, always messing something up. Sissy, his older sister, must learn how to deal with it. The whole family jumps in to explain and teach Sissy to make room for a younger sibling.
I remember that struggle with my younger sister!
The family is Cherokee, as is the author, and the reader learns many Cherokee words, with their pronunciations provided. ...more
Winner of the Caldecott Honor Illustrator Award for 2025. Illustrator C G Esperanza used oils on watercolor paper in an extravag53rd book read in 2025
Winner of the Caldecott Honor Illustrator Award for 2025. Illustrator C G Esperanza used oils on watercolor paper in an extravagant array of bold hues that create right along with the story of a young girl whose father takes her on a morning horseback ride through the dawn.
The story is a celebration of Black joy and a father spending special time with his daughter.
I felt that joy as I read. Lots of girls dream of being a cowboy in their early years. I was one. ...more
Many serious readers say that they read mysteries as a palate cleanser. I do that as well. I also keep a couple picture books on49th book read in 2025
Many serious readers say that they read mysteries as a palate cleanser. I do that as well. I also keep a couple picture books on the shelf and they serve a similar purpose.
My mother and grandmother read picture books to me when I was small. (I think that is partially how I learned to read.) I read picture books to my sons and grandchildren, but they are all grown. Now I read them to myself and especially study the pictures.
BIG won the 2024 Caldecott Medal, awarded to the illustrator who is not always the author. In this case, Vashti Harrison did both the illustrations and the text.
Due to all kinds of cultural markers, but specially fashion, the weight loss empire, and such ridiculous sayings as “a woman can never be too thin or too rich”, having a big body is considered bad.
In this story, a girl is encouraged as a baby and toddler to grow big. In fact, she was praised when she ate all her food. Then she went to school, her body kept growing, until she was too big: for the swings, for a part in a pageant about flowers, etc. This was puzzling and hurtful.
The story goes on to tell the ways she moved through her depression about being big to deciding she liked the way she was. She enjoyed her imaginative, compassionate, smart, and funny ways.
Just about perfect for me who has always stressed about my weight, even though I am probably quite average. Now I need a book called OLD! ...more
Maurice Sendak won the Caldecott Medal in 1964 for this iconic picture book. Of course, I have read it before. In fact, I read it countless times to mMaurice Sendak won the Caldecott Medal in 1964 for this iconic picture book. Of course, I have read it before. In fact, I read it countless times to my sons when they were small.
I had to read it one more time because the love of Max’s mother who had his dinner waiting in his room when he came back from his adventure is my favorite page. Mothers do love their wild children! ...more
[For my followers who have not heard about My Big Fat Reading Project, here is a brief summary: I read a list of books from every year I have lived in[For my followers who have not heard about My Big Fat Reading Project, here is a brief summary: I read a list of books from every year I have lived including the Top 10 bestsellers of the year, the major award winning books, and a self-selected list of other titles by authors I admire. Currently I am reading from my list for 1966.]
Always Room for One More won the Caldecott Medal in 1966, a prize that awards the illustrators of picture books for children. It is based on a Scottish folktale passed on to the author by her grandfather. Nonny Hogrogian is the illustrator who won the award.
I remember the title from when I was a kid, but I thought it was a TV show. Searching the web, I learned that there was a 1952 movie with that title, starring Cary Grant, about a couple who takes in foster kids. If it was shown on TV later, it would have been the kind of thing approved by our parents.
In any case, the book uses the lyrics from the Scottish folksong based on the folktale, the illustrations are pen and ink with washes of color, and the folksong is included at the end with the musical notation. I was happy to find out I can still sight read a line of notes on the treble staff, so I could sing the book! ...more
Amos McGee is a zookeeper, a good one, who always spends time each day with his special friends: the elephant, the tortoise, the penguin, the rhinocerAmos McGee is a zookeeper, a good one, who always spends time each day with his special friends: the elephant, the tortoise, the penguin, the rhinoceros, and the owl. Each one has its own quirks.
One day Amos wakes up with a cold and decides to take a sick day. His favorite animals come to visit, spend the day and night with him.
Unlikely that animals could take the bus to visit Amos, but a lovely story about the relationship between a human and animals.
The illustrations are by the author's wife, Erin E Stead, made by woodblock printing techniques and pencil. The book was awarded the Caldecott Medal for illustration in 2011. Once again my swinging moods were comforted by a picture book....more
I continue the self-created therapy of reading picture books to counter balance the insane state of today's world.
The Lion and the Mouse is a true picI continue the self-created therapy of reading picture books to counter balance the insane state of today's world.
The Lion and the Mouse is a true picture book. It is almost wordless. The only words are animal sounds. It is base on an Aesops fable of the same title and was awarded the Caldecott Medal for illustration in 2010.
The moral: no act of kindness is ever wasted. One of the best morals.
A lion saves a mouse from an attacking owl. Later some poachers trap the lion. The mouse returns to chew through the ropes of the trap and frees the lion.
The drawings are vibrant and do tell the story....more
This won the Caldecott Medal in 2007. David Wiesner is the creator and illustrator.
The wonder of this picture book is that it has no words! The storyThis won the Caldecott Medal in 2007. David Wiesner is the creator and illustrator.
The wonder of this picture book is that it has no words! The story is told by the illustrations alone. A story about a boy who finds an underwater camera washed up on the shore of his local beach and makes discoveries both fanciful and unusual when her gets the film he found in the camera developed. I read through it several times, seeing more each time I did.
When I used to read picture books to my young grandchildren (who are all grown up now), I would ask them to pay attention to the illustrations and tell me what they saw after I read them the words. Oh my, they saw more than I did.
My eldest grandchild never lost her love of illustration. When she was in grade school she told me she only liked to read books that also had illustrations. She grew up to be an artist!...more
Continuing my perusal of the Caldecott Medal winners. This one garnered the prize in 2006. Norton Juster was, among other things, a writer of books foContinuing my perusal of the Caldecott Medal winners. This one garnered the prize in 2006. Norton Juster was, among other things, a writer of books for children. He wrote The Phantom Tollbooth, a great use of portals and word play.
The Hello, Goodbye Window is an ode to grandparents through a child's view. Window as portal in two directions. The Caldecott is an illustrator's award, so when I read these books I focus on the pictures, on how they tell the story and convey the emotions. Chris Raschka does just that....more
This 2004 Caldecott Medal winner is perhaps for older children than the little ones to whom picture books are usually read. The wonderful drawings do This 2004 Caldecott Medal winner is perhaps for older children than the little ones to whom picture books are usually read. The wonderful drawings do tell the story, however.
In 1974, the young French aerialist Phillippe Petit walked his tightrope back and forth between the nearly completed twin towers of the World Trade Center. In his book, Mordicai Gerstein captured all the drama and danger of Petit's feat.
In 1974, I was still nursing my second son. Lost in the baby zone, as my girlfriends and sisters called it. Wondering if my marriage could be saved. (It could not.)
In 2001, I watched on TV, along with everyone else, as those towers crumbled, over and over. I can still call up those images in my mind.
But it was not until I read Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann in 2010, that I learned about Phillippe Petit's amazing feat. Reading that book gave me a way to make just a bit of sense of it all.
Reading this picture book at the end of 2022 was a study for me concerning the amount of things I either failed to notice or failed to integrate into my understanding of this world as I passed through it in my younger years. And that is why I read, why I revere writers....more
Kevin Henkes's Caldecott Medal winner of 2005, features a tiny kitten who see her first full moon and thinks it is a bowl of milk.
Off she goes in searKevin Henkes's Caldecott Medal winner of 2005, features a tiny kitten who see her first full moon and thinks it is a bowl of milk.
Off she goes in search of a drink, having her little adventures, each one ending with the words "Poor Kitten!" The drawings in black, gray and white evoke the night. Finally she returns home to find a bowl of milk on her porch.
I have had many kittens who grew up to be beloved cats. But when I realized I had moved to coyote land and lost three cats to those predators, it was time to stop having cats. I can't bear to keep an animal inside a house with no chance to run, climb and have adventures outside. Now I enjoy them in books....more
Perhaps I am too much grown up and too old to read picture books. The first time I read The Three Pigs, David Wiesner's retelling of the story, I did Perhaps I am too much grown up and too old to read picture books. The first time I read The Three Pigs, David Wiesner's retelling of the story, I did not get it at all. At all!
Since he won a Caldecott Medal for it in 2002, I gave it another try. What I had overlooked was a key word: "retelling."
On the second read I found it brilliant as a message to kids that every story, no matter how old and how often told, can be told again and changed!
I am thankful for picture books. After hours and days of intense reading, I can pick up a picture book and "read" it to myself. The pictures tell the I am thankful for picture books. After hours and days of intense reading, I can pick up a picture book and "read" it to myself. The pictures tell the story even more than the sparse words, and like the mouse in this one, I find my mind soaring away.
My Friend Rabbit won the Caldecott Medal in 2003. I hope everyone has a friend like Rabbit!...more
Carole Lindstrom and illustrator Michaela Goade won the 2021 Caldecott Medal for this picture book. It celebrates the Standing Rock Sioux protest agaiCarole Lindstrom and illustrator Michaela Goade won the 2021 Caldecott Medal for this picture book. It celebrates the Standing Rock Sioux protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Both author and illustrator are of Native American descent. The illustrations are stunning with the pipeline represented by a black snake and the natural world in brilliant colors. Children and their elders are portrayed working together to save their environment.
A strong and positive way to teach children about what it takes to protect our natural world and explain how water connects us all....more
The Caldecott Medal is an illustrator's award for picture books meant for younger children.
In this colorful story, a young boy is invited to tea by tThe Caldecott Medal is an illustrator's award for picture books meant for younger children.
In this colorful story, a young boy is invited to tea by the King and Queen. He asks if he may bring a friend and they say of course! He brings a giraffe. A lovely time is had by all.
Next he is invited for six more days in a row and brings a different animal, or three, each time. The royal figures love every one.
The illustrations by Beni Montressor, exhibit a color scheme of many shades of purple, yellow, red and orange. A true feast for the eyes!...more
Continuing my survey of Caldecott Medal winners, this picture book won in 2000. Illustrated by David Small in political commentary style, it covers 42Continuing my survey of Caldecott Medal winners, this picture book won in 2000. Illustrated by David Small in political commentary style, it covers 42 Presidents of the United States from George Washington to Bill Clinton. As it says on page 16, "Presidents have come in all shapes and sizes." James Madison was 5 ft 4 in and only 100 pounds. William Howard Taft was 300 pounds.
Some of the facts about these men are a bit thinly glossed over but the author took a serious subject and injected some humor into what, in these current times, has become awfully serious.
I got the book from the library but I might buy a copy. It makes a handy reference for who was President when. ...more