Caldecott Medal Recipients from 2011 -

A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Erin E. Stead
2011 Caldecott Medal Winner

A Sick Day for Amos McGee is a 2010 children's picture book written by Philip C. Stead and illustrated by Erin E. Stead. Erin Stead won the 2011 Caldecott Medal for her illustrations in the book.


Book Review by Kiera Parrott



Philip C. Stead's charming story about a zookeeper and his animal companions is matched beautifully with the elegant pencil drawings and woodblock printings by his wife, Erin. E. Stead. 


From the very start the reader is drawn in by a warm two-page spread that depicts Amos' bedroom. The action that moves the viewer's eye towards the right- Amos stretching as his day begins and his armoire opened invitingly- is complemented by a series of strong vertical lines. There are the wide yellow stripes of the wallpaper and the thin green stripes on his pajamas. The effect is a sense of being enveloped, or better yet, being hugged. It is a feeling appropriate in a story about mutual affection, genuine kindness, and true friendship.


Amos McGee is an older gentleman (in the truest sense of the term) who lives in a little house sandwiched between two high-rise apartment buildings (a nod to Virginia Lee Burton's The Little House, I presume). Each morning after a bit of oatmeal and tea, Amos heads out in a fresh-pressed uniform to begin his workday at the City Zoo. It is clear from the first glimpse that this zoo is atypical: outside the gate, sitting high in a branch of a tree on the sidewalk, sits a monkey as comfortable as can be; inside the gate we can see a giraffe frolicking on the wide lawn. It doesn't appear that these animals reside in the usual enclosures. Indeed, the animals seem to enjoy a life more akin to a fancy retirement community. 


We discover that Amos spends his days playing chess with the elephant, running races with the tortoise, sitting quietly with the shy penguin, soothing the rhino's runny nose, and reading bedtime tales to the owl. It only makes sense that when Amos comes down with a bad cold and cannot make it to work, his animal friends hop on the bus and take care of him in the same gentle, loving way.


Besides the artfully understated beauty of the story and the characters, A Sick Day for Amos McGee stands out from almost all other picture books I've seen this year for the absolute genius in its visual storytelling. Erin E. Stead does not merely illustrate. She breathes life into an already delightful story while adding many more layers of expression.


Stead's attention to the smallest details is what allows the reader/viewer to experience this book many times over and still discover surprises each time: from the miniature bus stop for the mouse to the tie-wearing bird; from the sweet absurdity of Amos' bunny slippers to the depiction of a penguin donning floaties. 


Even Stead's use of woodblock printing to add texture and a bit of color is thoughtful and well-used. It is apparent throughout the work that each pencil line, each color choice, each wrinkle in Amos' face or in the folds of the tortoises' knees, was deliberate and made with a careful eye and a loving hand. Stead has achieved elegance with an organic heart. There is nothing stuffy or too-precise about her lines. Rather, her remarkable drawing skills clearly allow her to bring an incredible warmth and individual personality to each character. The slightly retro feel of Amos' surroundings (his antique stove and pocket watch, the 1950's-esque bus, the lack of any modern technology) combined with the use of white space give the book a pleasant stillness and leisureliness.


Some books come into existence and it seems as if they have (or should have) always existed. They possess something timeless and fundamental. Perhaps they float in that creative ether, just waiting for the perfect author and artist to bring them to life. A Sick Day for Amos McGee is just such a book.

Caldecott Medal Recipients from 1991 to 2000

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback
2000 Caldecott Medal Winner

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat is the title of a 1999 book by Simms Taback that won the 2000 Caldecott Medal. The main character is Joseph, a 40-something Jewish farmer, who has a little striped overcoat. When it is old, Joseph makes it into a little jacket and so on until he makes it into a button. Then Joseph loses the button and makes a story out of it. The moral of the story is "you can always make something out of nothing."


The story has die-cut illustrations consisting of watercolor and collage. Readers of the story say that Joseph greatly resembles Simms Taback.


Joseph Had a Little Overcoat is based on the Yiddish song I Had a Little Overcoat. Barbara Kiefer, chair of the Caldecott Award Committee, commented, "Vibrant rich colors, playful details, and skillfully-placed die cuts contribute to the books raucous merriment that takes this Yiddish folk song far beyond the simple words."









Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin / Mary Azarian - 1999 Caldecott Medal Recipient

Snowflake Bentley is a book written by Jacqueline Briggs Martin and illustrated by Mary Azarian. Released by Houghton Mifflin, it was the recipient of the Caldecott Medal for illustration in 1999. The book is about Wilson Bentley, the first known photographer of snowflakes.


Review by R. D. Allison:


This children's book, illustrated by Mary Azarian, won the 1999 Caldecott Medal for best illustrations in a book for children. It is the story of Wilson A. Bentley (1865-1931) of Jericho, Vermont, who had a passion for studying snowflakes. Having developed a technique for photographing snowflakes, he spent years collecting and giving lectures in the midst of running his farm: a true farmer-scientist. He even wrote a text called Snow Crystals. He noted the six sidedness of most crystals and a few three-sided. One wonders what he would have said upon hearing that some researchers in the late 1990s had found two identical snowflakes since he had never been able to find two that were alike. This book is a celebration not only of the man but of our love and interest in the natural world. Children will enjoy this book with its magnificent woodcuts immensely.












Rapunzel by Paul O. Zelinsky
1998 Caldecott Medal Recipient

Rapunzel is a book by Paul O. Zelinsky retelling the Brothers Grimm "Rapunzel" story. Released by Dutton Press, it was the recipient of the Caldecott Medal for illustration in 1998.


Book Review by E. R. Bird


The winner of the Caldecott Medal, "Rapunzel" is one of the most lush and beautiful stories ever created for children. Carrying many of the distinctive Zelinsky elements (staggered perspectives, reoccurring background characters, gorgeous lighting, etc.) the book is a joy to look at. Each picture evokes the spirit of the Renaissance, from the first tableau (the husband and wife feeling her pregnant stomach in contentment) to the last (the loving family poses with the cherubim-like children). The text is a little more racy than your average children's picture book.


Zelinsky doesn't shy away from the fact that Rapunzel is pregnant when the witch learns of her illicit relations, though he does legitimize the girl's newfound glow with a hasty "marriage" of the prince to Rapunzel in her tower. Sans priest, no less. The book is also remarkable for the dramatic shift that occurs in the character of the witch. A scowling ghoul in one picture, she transforms into an almost nunlike character when receiving the little Rapunzel baby. One might well ask what happens to the witch after she casts Rapunzel and her prince into the desert, but Zelinsky doesn't feel this is worth discussing.


A perfect book for storytelling, as the pictures are colorful and easy to see from a distance. Would pair well with his other oil painted fairy tale "Rumplestiltskin".








Golem by David Wisniewski
1997 Caldecott Medal Recipient

Golem is a 1996 picture book written and illustrated by David Wisniewski. With illustrations made of cut-paper collages, it is Wisniewski's retelling of the Jewish folktale of the Golem, with real people, real places, and a lengthy one-page background at the end.


The story is set in year 1580 in Prague, and the Jews are being persecuted. Judah Loew ben Bezalel, the town rabbi, can think of nothing more than creating a being out of mud and bringing it to life, using the holy name of God, to protect them. Once the Golem stops the persecution, Rabbi Loew erases the letters on the Golem's head, making the Golem "sleep the dreamless sleep of clay". The ending is ambiguous, ending with the words: "But many say he could awaken. Perhaps when the desperate need for justice is united with holy purpose, Golem will come to life once more." This retelling is one of the few retellings in which the Golem has a name-it is Joseph.


Book Review by Ivy


Golem is a gorgeously illustrated, well-written, and educational tale, with deep connections to Jewish tradition and faith. However, the story is also very sad and distressing, especially for those who are impressionable or sensitive. I suggest that parents review this book carefully, looking through their children's eyes, before sharing it even with teenagers; likewise, I suggest they be prepared for some nearly unanswerable questions.


The book retells the legend of Rabbi Leow and the Golem he created from clay to protect the Jews of Prague during a time of danger for them. Anti-semitic factions within the city were spreading rumors that Passover matzoh was made with the blood of Christian children; this rumor, called the Blood Lie, led to attacks and abuses of the defenseless Jews. Already, the story is a deeply distressing one, too upsetting for the average child. It gets worse, though - the Golem, who calls Rabbi Leow 'Father,' protects and saves the Jews, and then begs the Rabbi not to kill him. Leow does anyway. While the message here is one about the wise use of power, it was mostly lost on our family, since at that point everyone was crying too hard to think at all.


There's no doubt that the book is well presented. It's beautiful, with cut-paper illustrations that seem to spring off the page. However, even these gorgeous pictures cast a pall; they are grim in tone and appearance, at times giving a hellish cast to a story that needed no further embroidering in that department. The novel medium - photographs of cut paper - and the success with which it is used do merit the Caldecott Medal.


However, unlike most Caldecott books, this one is not for casual or entertainment reading, nor is it for children. I can't emphasize this enough. I would never read this book with children younger than 12, or ones unfamiliar with Jewish history; even as it is, I more than half regret sharing it, despite its beauty, depth, and educational value. It provoked some painful questions (in particular, about the cruelty of all people, including Rabbi Leow) and left us all depressed.









Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann
1996 Caldecott Medal Winner

Officer Buckle and Gloria is the name of the 1995 story and main characters of the story by Peggy Rathmann that won the 1996 Caldecott Medal. It talks about a police officer (Officer Buckle) getting a dog named Gloria. Until that time, whenever Officer Buckle tried to tell schools about safety everyone fell asleep.


Then, unbeknownst to Officer Buckle (literally, behind his back), Gloria does tricks to demonstrate safety rules, and Gloria is a big success. When Officer Buckle finds out that the schoolchildren are so enthusiastic because of Gloria, he refuses to teach safety and a huge accident happens. A letter from a sweet girl, named Claire, convinces Officer Buckle to start teaching again. In the end, Officer Buckle and Gloria go to many schools and teach the students about safety together.


Book Review by V. Cappel


Officer Buckle & Gloria is great children's book for all ages. It is about a police officer that gets ignored by the children while he is reciting some important safety rules. But when he retrieves a dog named Gloria things change for Officer Buckle. This book is written by Peggy Rathmann. The new 2001 first lady (Laura Bush loves this book as well. She loves to take this book to schools when she visits.


My favorite part in the book is when Gloria was imitating a safety rule while officer Buckle was telling the safety: SAFETY TIP # 99 DO NOT GO SWIMMING DURING ELECTRICAL STORMS.I also love the part when Gloria did a flip in air in a class room.


I would recommend this terrific children's book to any kid in K- 4 gr.. Part of the book might need to be read to kindergartners and maybe first graders. Second and forth graders would love to read this hilarious book. This book also teaches kids some very important safety rules as well.

Smoky Night by Eve Bunting
1995 Caldecott Medal Recipient

Smoky Night is a 1994 children's book by Eve Bunting. It tells the story of a Los Angeles riot and its aftermath: two people who previously disliked each other working together to find their cats. In the end, the cats teach their masters how to get along. 


The book made the list of One Hundred Books that Shaped the Century compiled by the Staff at the School Library Journal. They added the book to the list as paving the way towards the genre of serious picture books.


David Diaz's acrylic, collage-like illustrating of the tale earned the book the 1995 Caldecott Medal.


Book Review by K. Wilson


Smoky Night tells the story of a young boy and his mother living in one of the neighborhoods where the Los Angeles riots broke out in the early 1990s. As they watch the rioting from their window, the mother discusses candidly the details of what is happening with her son. When their apartment building catches on fire, they must evacuate and move to a shelter for the night. They are forced to interact with their neighbors who are of different races and they learn the importance of focusing on similarities instead of differences. 


This book gives a good overview of what life was like for a child at this moment in history. I would recommend it for ages 11 through 14. The complex issues the story brings up about prejudice and racism would be appropriate for children in this age group who are beginning to analyze moral issues.


The book should be used in a school setting. It would be appropriate to read the book as part of a discussion on racism or race riots. The paintings in the book were made in acrylics on Arches watercolor paper. The backgrounds, which are collages made up of objects related to the story, were created and photographed by the illustrator. The artwork is unique and fits the text perfectly. For example, when in the story the boy views people stealing cereal from the market, the background is a photograph of actual cereal, and when the boy views someone stealing clothes from the dry cleaners, the background is a photograph of clothing on hangers in plastic bags.






Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say
1994 Caldecott Medal Recipient

Grandfather's Journey is a book by Allen Say. Released by Houghton Mifflin, it was the recipient of the Caldecott Medal for illustration in 1994. The story is based on Say's grandfather's voyage from Japan to the United States and back again.


Book Review


Allen Say's book is a sensitive and poignant story of a Japanese man who came to explore America around the turn of the century. Enraptured by the beauty of the country, he brings his bride to California and proceeds to build his life there. At times, however, he grows wistful for his homeland and longs to return. Finally, the desire to return to to his homeland overcomes him and he goes back to the small village where he was born. The years pass, his children grow up and have children, and he begins to long for the beauty of his second home, so he plans a trip. A war errupts, however, and he is never able to revisit the United States.


Beautifully illustrated and sensitively told, Grandfather's Journey demonstrates the strong emotions evoked by one man's love for two countries and two cultures. The story also demonstrates that it is possible to love two countries equally well and to discover that as soon as you are in one, you long for the other. The book also presents a refreshing retelling of Japanese-American relations. The book raises an awareness of the immigrant experience in a tone that is both simple and subtle.








Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully - 1993 Caldecott Medal Winner

Mirette on the High Wire is a children's book by Emily Arnold McCully, which won the Caldecott Medal in 1993.


Mirette lives in a boardinghouse in France. One day her life is changed by a man named Bellini, a famous tightrope walker, who teaches Mirette how to walk on a tightrope.


Book Review by Charles Ashbacher


Confidence in yourself is everything when your occupation is a dangerous one. Generally, once you lose it, getting it back is impossible. In this book, a retired tightrope walker named Bellini has lost his courage and is staying at a boarding house. Mirette is a young girl who works at the boarding house and she watches him walk on a rope that is only a few feet off the ground. She begs him to teach her how to walk the tightrope, but Bellini refuses. Not to be denied, she learns on her own and so he agrees to teach her. They become friends and she learns of his incredible feats. When she asks him why he retired, he tells her of his lost courage. Bellini is eventually persuaded to walk again but his courage fails after he begins. Mirette then comes to his aid, showing him that he can still perform as the Great Bellini.


The theme of this book is an important one for children. Even talented people can lose their confidence and everyone suffers from an occasional lack of confidence. Children, with their zest for life and irrepressible optimism can often be the catalyst for recovery and Mirette proves to be a courageous girl who also exhibits an intense desire to succeed. It is easy to see why this book received awards for excellence.

Tuesday by David Wiesner
1992 Caldecott Medal Recipient

Tuesday is a book by David Wiesner. Released by Clarion Books, it was the recipient of the Caldecott Medal for illustration in 1992.


The story, told in detailed illustrations with only a few captions, concerns frogs who mysteriously rise out of their pond on floating lily pads as the sun sets on a Tuesday evening. The flying frogs invade a nearby village and have a number of encounters with the startled residents before dawn arrives.


The book was later adapted into a short animated film in 2000, and was directed by Geoff Dunbar and produced by Paul McCartney. It was included as part of The Paul McCartney Animation Collection DVD in 2004.


Book Review by Kathy Baldauf


The richly hued and elaborately detailed watercolor illustrations by David Wiesner effectively serve the dual purpose of being the main vehicle for the story, and captivating and entertaining the reader with humorous vignettes. Tuesday is a fanciful story about the mischief that occurs one Tuesday night when frogs get an unexpected surprise as they discover the ability to float in the air on their lily pads.


This sturdy hardcover edition doesn't even contain as many words as the number of double-page illustrations that Wiesner uses to tell his tale. The story begins before the title page with three illustrations set in panels separated and framed by white space, giving it the feel of a graphic novel. Wiesner continues to use graphic novel-like panels to tell the story, occasionally giving the reader a close-up view of the action with a picture-in-picture effect.


The tranquility and realism of Wiesner's rural, small town backgrounds makes the spectacle of flying frogs, and the mischief they make, particularly humorous. Wiesner is very careful in his use of color to indicate the passage of time, a technique that is especially important when the text consists primarily of infrequent updates on the time-of-day.


Although some adult readers may be uncomfortable with the lack of text in this story, the whimsical details of the illustrations could inspire some imaginative conversation about what's happening on each page. The pre-reader will have ample opportunity to interact with this story by explaining what they see in the illustrations. This book is recommended for ages 2 - 6.

Black and White by David Macaulay
1991 Caldecott Medal Winner

Black and White is a book by David Macaulay. Released by Houghton Mifflin, it was the recipient of the Caldecott Medal for illustration in 1991. The book contains four different illustrated stories told at once, two on the left hand page and two on the right. Each story has a distinct artistic style; however, they all share similar characters, themes and plot elements leading the reader to believe that the four stories may or may not be one story told from different points of view. The overall effect is rather similar to that of the film Rashomon.


Book Review by E. R. Bird


I enjoyed this book. Not knowing what to expect, my husband and I read each of the four stories individually. After finishing one we'd start over and begin with another. Macauley should be lauded for the different modes of art he employs, if nothing else. The watercolor illustrations of a boy on a train differ nicely from the pen and ink drawings of the two kids and their crazy parents. Most enjoyable, perhaps, is the series of train station commuters, waiting for the train and slowly going mad.


Kids will enjoy following the escaped criminal (complete with black mask and black & white striped shirt) as he runs from story to story throughout the book. This would not read especially well to a large group of children, seeing as how the pictures are particularly small and difficult to follow from a distance. Also some of these stories lack words altogether. But individual children will enjoy finding new and different details in each of the four tales. Altogether, a fascinating book.

Caldecott Medal Recipients from 1976 to 1979

The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses - Paul Goble
1979 Caldecott Medal Recipient

The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses is a book by Paul Goble. Released by Bradbury Books, it was the recipient of the Caldecott Medal for illustration in 1979.


Book Review by Soaring Heart


What I want to focus on about this book is the high quality, truly amazing artwork. I've never seen anything like this anywhere, surely the artist has a style all his own. I won't retell the story but want to also point out that the pictures actually tell the story without even reading the words. My daughter is only six and I read her the story and asked her questions as I read to see if she could predict what would happen next (she uses picture clues.) She answered the questions correctly.


Most of the pages backgrounds are white which is usually "against the rules" but I believe it was for dramatic effect for the blackness on the few pages that deal with the thunderstorm part of the story.


The moral of story of THE GIRL WHO LOVED WILD HORSES shows us that if we pursue what we truly love long enough and with all our heart we will achieve it. Truly an inspiration, this exceptional book was the winner of the Caldecott Medal for 1979.

Noah's Ark by Peter Spier
1978 Caldecott Medal Recipient

Noah's Ark is a book by Peter Spier. Released by Doubleday, it was the recipient of the Caldecott Medal for illustration in 1978 and a National Book Award for picture books.

Book Review by Alexandros

My 4-year-old son was completely smitten with this book the first time we read it. He loved to look at all the details; the illustrations are wonderful. The book beautifully portrays God's vengeance and God's ultimate love. What struck me was the accuracy of the biblical story that so many of today's Noah's Ark books overlook or twist: - the length of time the flood waters took to recede - enough time for the animals to procreate (especially the bunnies!); - that God chose Noah, not that Noah was some sort of savior who, on his own, saved mankind; - the depravity of humanity (a city on fire); - the mess and smell of animal waste and the hard work to care for the animals - it shows Noah shoveling manure.

I strongly recommend Peter Spier's "Noah's Ark" for anyone who is interested in teaching children biblical truths so often secularized in today's world and also for the beautiful illustrations and details.

Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions by Musgrove and by Leo and Diane Dillon 
1977 Caldecott Medal Winner

Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions is a 1976 children's book written by Margaret Musgrove and illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon. It was Musgrove's first book, but the Dillons were experienced artists and this book won them the second of their two consecutive Caldecott Medals.[(The first was for Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears: A West African Tale.


The book features twenty-six illustrations of native African peoples, each accompanied by a short vignette describing one of the customs of that particular people.


Book Review by Jlind


"Ashanti to Zulu" presents 26 African tribes, from A to Z, and lets children learn something about the culture and customs of each one. Aside from being a learning experience, the book is visually eye-popping; the illustrations are so gorgeous you'll want to blow them up and frame them. The book won a well-deserved Caldecott Medal for the best illustrated children's book of 1977. It's a great book for helping children to learn about some of the peoples of our least-known populated continent, and the pictures will hold the kids mesmerized. It's a volume that belongs on every youngsters bookshelf.

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears: A West African Tale
1976 Caldecott Medal Recipient

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears: A West African Tale is a picture book written for young children, which tells an African legend. In this origin story, the mosquito lies to a lizard, who puts sticks in his ears and ends up frightening another animal, which down a long line causes a panic. In the end, an owlet is killed and the owl is too sad to wake the sun until the animals hold court and find out who is responsible. The mosquito is eventually found out, but it hides in order to escape punishment. So now it constantly buzzes in people's ears to find out if everyone is still angry at it.


The book won a Caldecott Medal in 1976 for its illustrators, Leo and Diane Dillon. The artwork was made using watercolor airbrush, pastels and India ink. The cutout shapes were made by using friskets and vellum cut shapes at different angles.[2] It was the first of their two consecutive Caldecott wins; the second was for Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions.


Book Review by Nancy Paretti


Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears is an African folktale which offers a great lesson to be learned by children. The story is about a mosquito who tells a lie to an iguana and annoys the iguana. This sets off a series of events that affects everyone who lives in the forest and the initiation of daylight.


It is an excellent story for a young reader to learn the consquence of telling lies and the detrimental affect it can have on individuals and/or communities. After reading this story to a child parents should ascertain whether the child understood the lesson of this folktale and emphasize how important it is to always tell the truth.


The illustrations in this book are spectacular. Each page is filled with brigthly-colored pictures that will capture the interest of a young child and keep them reading until the very end. The illustrations also correspond directly to the storyline which will give the young reader the ability to glance at the pictures and help them read the printed words.


This is not only a good story for children, but for adults too. The end offers a humorous reason for why mosquitoes buzz in people's ears, and why people shoo them away. This is definitely a good book to keep in every home and school library.