Kids' Corner

Since 1938 the American Library Association has presented the Caldecott Medal to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children published in the United States during the previous year.  The winner is announced every January and there is often much speculation leading up the announcement.  The following books have received a lot of buzz as possible Caldecott winners and the Henrietta Library owns them all.  Check them out and decide who you think should win!

A Ball for Daisy by Christopher Raschka A wordless picture book about all the fun a dog can have with her ball. “Raschka conveys a bevy of canine moods (ecstatic, expectant, downtrodden) with brush strokes reminiscent of calligraphy, while the red ball adds striking contrast.” – Publisher’s Weekly

Blackout by John Rocco When a busy family's activities come to a halt because of a blackout, they find they enjoy spending time together and not being too busy for once. “A common event to be sure, but Rocco's gorgeous illustrations, full of shadows and silhouettes, illuminate it and make it glow.” – The Washington Post

Blue Chicken by Deborah Freedman An enterprising chicken attempts to help an artist paint the barnyard and accidentally turns the whole picture blue. "Breathtakingly beautiful meta-illustrations will draw many eyes to this tale of a curious chicken who spills some paint... Delicate and durable, visually sophisticated yet friendly: simply exquisite." – Kirkus Reviews

Bone Dog by Eric Rohmann Gus doesn't feel like doing much after his dog Ella dies. He doesn't really even feel like dressing up for Halloween. But when Gus runs into a bunch of rowdy skeletons, its Ella—his very own Bone dog—who comes to his aid. “It's not often that a book can be described by two almost opposite words, but Bone Dog is just such a book: tender and creepy, sweet and spectral, winsome and just a bit weird.” – The Washington Post

Brother Sun, Sister Moon by Katherine Paterson, illustrated by Pamela Dalton Artwork and verse alike give a nod toward the Europe of centuries past in this reimagining of Saint Francis's song of thankfulness and praise, which dates to the 1220s. “Dalton's extraordinary images, made with papercuts and watercolor lain on a black background, have the same stately rhythm, repetition and beauty as the text.” – Kirkus Reviews

Grandpa Green by Lane Smith A child explores the ordinary life of his extraordinary great-grandfather, as expressed in his topiary garden. “Visually intriguing and emotionally resonant, this is a book to pore over and talk about. With each subsequent reading, it offers new layers of meaning and visual connections.” – School Library Journal

Heart and Soul:  The Story of America and African Americans by Kadir Nelson A simple introduction to African-American history from Revolutionary-era slavery up to the election of President Obama. “Nelson effectively creates a voice that is at once singular and representative. A tour de force in the career of an author/artist who continues to outdo himself.” – Horn Book

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen A bear almost gives up his search for his missing hat until he remembers something important. “I Want My Hat Back is a marvelous book in the true dictionary sense of marvel: it is a wonderful and astonishing thing, the kind of book that makes child laugh and adult chuckle, and both smile in appreciation.” – New York Times

Little White Rabbit by Kevin Henkes As he hops along, a little rabbit wonders what it would be like to be green as grass, tall as fir trees, hard as rocks, and flutter like butterflies. “Bold lines, expressive movement, and the springtime palette of pink, blue, and lush woodsy greens will delight the child’s eye.” – Horn Book

Me… Jane by Patrick McDonnell Holding her stuffed toy chimpanzee, young Jane Goodall observes nature, reads Tarzan books, and dreams of living in Africa and helping animals. “This remarkable picture book is one of the few that speaks, in a meaningful way, to all ages.” - Booklist

Naamah and the Ark at Night by Susan Campell Bartoletti, illustrated by Holly Meade Rhyming text tells of Naamah, wife of Noah, who sings to her husband, her sons and their wives, and to the animals to sleep at night. “Lovely and lyrical...Bartoletti and Meade take a most familiar story and make it breathtakingly new.” - Booklist

A Nation’s Hope by Matt de la Pena, illustrated by Kadir Nelson On the eve of World War II, African American boxer Joe Louis fought German Max Schmeling in a bout that had more at stake than just the world heavyweight title. “Spare, evocative verse melds with the eloquent illustrations to create palpable energy around the fight and Louis's struggle to the top.” – Publisher’s Weekly

Perfect Square by Michael Hall A perfect square that is perfectly happy is torn into pieces, punched with holes, crumpled, and otherwise changed but finds in each transformation that it can be something new, and just as happy. “… both effortless and utterly appropriate for a book that begs for reams of colored paper, rooms full of imaginative hands, and a whole lot of clapping and giggling.” – The Washington Post

Queen of the Falls by Chris Van Allsburg Recounts the stunt performed by sixty-two-year-old retired charm school instructor Annie Edson Taylor, who went over Niagara Falls in a wooden barrel in an effort to gain fame and fortune. “This illustrated biography climaxes beautifully with a double-page spread of the great falls, a tiny barrel bobbing in the current, and a powerful one-line text: '"Oh, Lord," she whispered, and then she was gone.’” – Horn Book

Swirl by Swirl by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Beth Krommes With simplicity and grace, Krommes and Sidman not only reveal the many spirals in nature—from fiddleheads to elephant tusks, from crashing waves to spiraling galaxies—but also celebrate the beauty and usefulness of this fascinating shape. “Krommes' dense and richly colored scratchboard illustrations, with their closely packed and neatly labeled creatures, plants and natural phenomena, create a feeling of abundance and profusion, with so many parts of the world nestled together in swirls and spirals.” – Kirkus Reviews

Where's Walrus? by Stephen Savage In this wordless picture book, follow Walrus on a happy-go-lucky spree through the big city, as he tries on different hats to disguise himself from the chasing zookeeper. “Intelligently illustrated, the book leaves readers to wonder if Walrus' adventures were all mischievous spontaneity, or did he wittingly go astray? Refreshing, captivating, elegant and witty.” – Kirkus Reviews

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick Ben and Rose wish their lives were different. Set fifty years apart, their two stories – Ben’s told in words, Rose’s in pictures – weave back and forth on a spectacular journey. “Engrossing, intelligent, beautifully engineered and expertly told in word and image.” – New York Times Book Review