If you find a contender for the Caldecott

[Kristen]

If you find a book with exceptional illustrations and a great story let us know so that we can take a look at it too. So what have you found so far that was published in 2009?

[Alyson]

I really like Red Sings from Treetops A Year in Colors

[Kristen]

Great! I added it to the bookshelves. Thanks for the imput Alyson. :D
Anyway I am going to try and get this from the library, it looks like it has received a lot of attention. Let me know if you find more and feel free to add them to the bookshelves.

[Alyson]

We are trying to add books to a Caldecott Hopeful shelf on our library page. Nothing you don't have up though.

[Kristen]

There were a couple there that I didn't have so I added 'em. Thanks for the link!

[Leslie]

How about:
"Once Upon a Twice" with moody, beautiful night time illustrations by Barry Moser? It also has a terrific read-aloud poetry text.

And

"Tales from Outer Suburbia" by Shaun Tan? Drole, edgy illustrations of quirky, amusing story vignettes?

Both these have multiple starred reviews and appear on more than one Best of 2009 blogger and reviewer lists. Seem like worthy contenders.

[Margaret]

I just received this book and it is beautiful. So simple but such a thoughtful treatment of a "counting" book. Unusual and charming.
Zero Is The Leaves On The Tree

[Kristen]

Margaret wrote: "
I just received this book and it is beautiful. So simple but such a thoughtful treatment of a "counting" book. Unusual and charming.
Zero Is The Leaves On The Tree"

I am requesting it from the library right now.

[Cynthia]

I just discovered "Tsunami!" by Kimiko Kajikawa, with illustrations by Ed Young. I've already posted a review here, so I'll keep this brief: this is a _beautiful_ picture book for young children, and really deserves to win a Caldecott! It's a retelling of a Japanese folktale, and I can't recommend it highly enough!

[Kristen]

Cynthiap_1228 wrote: "I just discovered "Tsunami!" by Kimiko Kajikawa, with illustrations by Ed Young. I've already posted a review here, so I'll keep this brief: this is a _beautiful_ picture book for young children, ..."

I loved Tsunami. It is probably my pick for the Caldecott this year. I'm so glad you liked it too.

[Deb (Readerbuzz)]

From School Library Journal:
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/b...

The article mentions six possibilities:
All in a Day by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Nikki McClure
One Beetle Too Many by Kathryn Lasky, illustrated by Matthew Trueman
Tsunami! by Kimiko Kajikawa, illustrated by Ed Young
Dinotrux by Chris Gall
A Curious Collection of Cats by Betsy Franco, illustrated by Michael Wertz
Chicken Little by Rebecca and Ed Emberley

[Deb (Readerbuzz)]

From the Allen County Public Library in Ft. Wayne, IN:
http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/children/mc...

Our Abe Lincoln, written by Jim Aylesworth, illustrated by Barbara McClintock
The Day-Glo Brothers: The True Story of Bob and Joe Switzer’s Bright Ideas and Brand New Colors by Chris Barton, illustrated by Tony Persiani
Butterflies and Moths, by Nic Bishop
Pelé, King of Soccer / Pelé, el rey del fútbol by Monica Brown, illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez
The Curious Garden, by Peter Brown
Redwoods, by Jason Chin
Mermaid Queen by Shana Corey, illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham
Dinotrux, by Chris Gall
14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy, illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez
Boo to You! by Lois Ehlert
Chicken Little, by Rebecca and Ed Emberley
Billy & Milly, Short & Silly by Eve B. Feldman, illustrated by Tuesday Mourning
Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11, by Brian Floca
Dinothesaurus: Prehistoric Poems, by Douglas Florian
Tillie Lays an Egg by Terry Golson, illustrated by Ben Fink
Hello, Baby! by Mem Fox, illustrated by Steve Jenkins
A Book, by Mordecai Gerstein
Most Loved in All the World: A Story of Freedom by Tonya Cherie Hegamin,illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera
John Brown: His Fight for Freedom, by John Hendrix
Birds, written by Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek
City I Love, by Lee Bennett Hopkins, illustrated by Marcellus Hall
The Negro Speaks of Rivers, written by Langston Hughes, illustrated by E. B. Lewis
Tsunami! written by Kimiko Kajikawa, illustrated by Ed Young
One Beetle Too Many: The Extraordinary Adventures of Charles Darwin, written by Kathryn Lasky, illustrated by Matthew Trueman
Applesauce Season, by Eden Ross Lipson, illustrated by Mordecai Gerstein
Machines Go To Work, by William Low
Jeremy Draws a Monster, by Peter McCarty
Only a Witch Can Fly by Alison McGhee, illustrated by Taeeun Yoo
Listen to the Wind: The Story of Dr. Greg and Three Cups of Tea, written by Greg Mortensen, illustrated by Susan L. Roth
Amiri & Odette: A Love Story, by Walter Dean Myers, illustrated by Javaka Steptoe
Lousy Rotten Stinkin’ Grapes by Margie Palatini, illustrated by Barry Moser
Higher! Higher! by Leslie Patricelli
The Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan
The Lion & The Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld
A Whiff of Pine, A Hint of Skunk, by Deborah Ruddell, illustrated by Joan Rankin
All in a Day, written by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Nikki McClure
All the World, by Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Marla Frazee
Button Up! Wrinkled Rhymes, by Alice Schertle, illustrated by Petra Mathers
Robot Zot! by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by David Shannon
Coretta Scott, written by Ntozake Shange, illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors, written by Joyce Sidman, illustrated
by Pamela Zagarenski
All God's Critters, written by Bill Staines, illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Mama Says: A Book of Love for Mothers and Sons by Rob D. Walker, illustrated by Leo & Diane Dillon
Alfred Nobel: The Man Behind the Peace Prize, by Kathy-Jo Wargin, illustrated by Zachary Pullen
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed, by Mo Willems
Gertrude is Gertrude is Gertrude is Gertrude, written by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Calef Brown
Hook, by Ed Young

[[deleted user]]

Yes, I second "Once Upon a Twice." Anne

[Franki]

I LOVE Otis by Loren Long. It is my hope for the Caldecott this year.

[[deleted user]]

My vote is for The Lion & The Mouse by Jerry Pinkney.

[Caren]

My vote goes to "The Lion & The Mouse" by Pinkney.
Honor votes go to "Duck! Rabbit!" by Krause
"Hello, Baby!" by Mem Fox
and to:"Red Sings from the Treetops: A Year in Colors",
by Sidman

[Lisa]

I love this book as a contender, it is so well done with lots of whimy. One strength is that while one double page spread is very full it does not overwhelm with busyness they very next page has a simple illustration. The Duchess of Whimsy

[Caren]

Franki wrote: "I LOVE Otis by Loren Long. It is my hope for the Caldecott this year."

I think "The Lion in the Mouse" should win, but I agree that "Otis" should be considered.

So many could be Honors.

[8383WB]

Attended a Mock Caldecott workshop in Northeast MA. yesterday. The honor was "Princess Hyacinth" (illus. by Lane Smith) and winner was "Lion and the Mouse." Other "faves" were "Otis," "A Penguin Story" and "Duck! Rabbit!"

[Lisa]

Our local library had a Mock Caldecott last weekend. The Lion and the Mouse was our winner. Duchess of Whimsy was our honor book. We also had great feedback on Otis, Red Sings from the Treetops and A Penguin Story.

We had the honor of having the director of our library who is sitting on the real Caldecott committee this year in attendance.

He was able to discuss the process a bit, having also served 10 years ago, but didn't answer any specific questions pertaining to this year's selection or discussion to this point. He was able to point out a few books that he personally likes (Red Sings..., Once Upon a Twice and Penguin Story). He did say that The Lion and the Mouse is his personal favorite this year.

[Hilary]

Has anyone had a chance to look at A Book of Sleep by Il Na? I just read a starred review in the 11/09 SLJ and ordered it for my library. Judging by the cover and cover only, it seems like it has a lot of potential. I was curious if anyone else has looked at the whole book and what they think. I'm obviously not going to get a chance to see it before Monday:)
I plan to spend part of my evening looking at the books on our list so I can vote. So far I think Otis has a real chance of taking it. I loved the Virginia Lee Burtonesque illustrations. I thought they were a nice tip of the hat to those classics, while still managing a modern touch that are the illustrators own creation.

[Lisa]

I thought that the The Curious Garden by Peter Brown was also very "Virginia Lee Burtonesque". I liked it and Otis both. It will be interesting to see if the committee goes for a nostalgic feel and chooses one of those or for something quite different and adventurous like The Lion and the Mouse.

[8383WB]

From Il Sung Na's website, it looks like the illustrator, though from South Korea, is living in the UK and the book might have been published there. To be considered for the Caldecott, the book must have been published in the US first, and the illustrator must be residing in the US. Not sure if A Book of Sleep would qualify for the Caldecott; but it does have intriguing illustrations.

[Hilary]

8383WB wrote: "From Il Sung Na's website, it looks like the illustrator, though from South Korea, is living in the UK and the book might have been published there. To be considered for the Caldecott, the book mu..."

Of course, I realized this after I posted! That's what I get for not doing my homework first:) It figures, my favorites each year are always the Brits...

[Melissad]

The Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library in Evansville, IN held our Mock Caldecott Program this morning. Our winner was "The Lion and the Mouse". We selected one honor book which was "The Negro Speaks of Rivers".
The Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library in Evansville, IN held our Mock Caldecott Program this morning.
Our winner was "The Lion and the Mouse" a wordless picture book by Jerry Pinkney.
We selected one honor book which was "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" written by Langston Hughes and illustrated by E.B. White.

Other favorites included…
Redwoods by Jason Chin
All the World by Liz Garton Sanlon & illustrated by Marla Frazee
Chicken Little by Rebecca Emberly and Ed Emberly
Coretta Scott King by Ntozake Shange & illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Crow Call by Lois Lowry & illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline
Hook by Ed Young
Moonshot by Brian Floca
My People by Langston Hughes & photos by Charles R. Smith, Jr.
The Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan

Melissa at EVPL