Since 1937, the Caldecott Medal has been awarded to the artist of the most distinguished picture book of the year. The award was named in honor of Randolph J. Caldecott, a nineteenth-century English illustrator. Caldecott books are marked with a bronze emblem that reads, “Awarded annually by the Children’s and School Librarians Sections of the American Library Association.” Books noted for worthy attention but not receiving the award are considered Caldecott Honor Books.
Below are a couple of reviews of Caldecott books and Caldecott Honor books. Check them out! To find a list of award winners dating back to 1938 click here.
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
Interest Level: 3-6
Reading Level: 5.6
Hugo Cabret is alone after his father’s tragic death and the disappearance of his uncle. He lives in secret in a Paris train station and steals to meet his needs for food. He maintains his anonymity by continuing his uncle’s job at the train station checking and fixing the station’s clocks each night. His work doesn’t end after he’s done with the clocks. A broken automaton left behind by his father must be fixed. It’s really the only thing he has left from his father and once fixed it will write a message. Hugo must find out what the message says. How will he get it fixed and who will help him?
This book was an excellent pick. Its unique format of a novel with words and pictures, along with continuous suspense made it a quick read. It’s tough to put down.
Reviewed by: Julie Weideman
Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
Interest Level: K-3
Reading Level: 2.1
Have you ever wanted to change the ending of one of your favorite stories? That is exactly what Little Chicken wants to do. A very tired Papa Chicken is trying to put Little Chicken to bed by reading him a bedtime story, but empathetic Little Chicken just can’t bear to see anyone put in harms way. He wants to warn Hansel & Gretel about the witch in the woods, tell Little Red Riding Hood not to talk to strangers, and let Chicken Little know that it was just an acorn, not the sky, that was falling. So, he keeps interrupting the story being told and gives the ending a twist that satisfies him instead…but this doesn’t make him any more sleepy.
I was particularly impressed with the author’s ability to illustrate the story with his own style, as well as to depict a familiar image for each of the traditional bedtime stories. This is just a fun story to share with children and the fantastic illustrations make it all the more enjoyable and worthwhile.
Reviewed by: Tiffany L. Braunel
Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes
Interest Level: K-3
Reading Level: 2.7
A cute little kittten sees her first full moon and thinks it’s a bowl of milk. She tries to lick it, but ends up with a bug on her tongue. Then she tries jumping off the porch to reach the bowl of milk, and ends up hurting herself. She climbs a tree and sees a huge bowl of milk in the pond. She runs to the pond and leaps in, but only ends up being “wet and sad and tired and hungry.” She goes home, only to discover a real bowl of milk sitting on the porch just for her. What a night!
The illustrations are simple and done in gray tones, thickly outlined in black. I liked the originality of the story idea. I had never considered what a kitten might think about a full moon in the sky. It's a book that my little cousin never tires of reading.
Reviewed by: Polly J. LaMontagne