Caldecott Nods

With awards season looming, I've been trying to skim through as many of the Caldecott possible picks as I can.  In very brief form, here are my takes "thus far":

Blizzard by John Rocco.  Easily a favorite.  Subtle use of line and perspective, added to a universal story, make this one a keeper.  Art fans will enjoy how he hints at transitions and tone with his style, kids will love it for the fold-out map. 

Circle, Square, Moose by Kelly Bingham, illustracted by Paul Zelinsky.  Hysterical.  Truly, just as laugh-out-loud funny, and clever, as the first title.  In a dark world, something this enjoyable should not be missed.

The Farmer & the Clown by Marla Frazee.  Heavily reminiscent of The Arrival by Shaun Tan, this muted, wordless book evokes a sense of the 1930s and has a European sensibility.  Nonetheless, kids really like it, "getting" the premise.

My Grandfather's Coat by Jim Aylesworth, illustrated by Barbara McClintock.  Another detailed book that can yield new discoveries with every read.  I like it, but feel it is too similar to another book with the same theme which won awards a few years back.  Also reminds me of Allen Say's work. 

Gravity by Jason Chin.  I liked this one a lot.  Subtle, clever, artwork that leaps out at you, just a "touch" of education in the mix and a tale you have to read carefully to fully get.  I seem to like it more than some of the kids, unfortunately.  The ones who get it like it, the ones who don't are just confused.  And no, it has nothing to do with the movie. 

My Teacher is a Monster by Peter Brown.  Oh yeah.  A favorite of kids and librarians alike, this one has a complex message that "speaks" to every reader.  A few have said this is a "must read" for every teacher. 

The Pilot and the Little Prince by Peter Sis.  I love Peter Sis.  Tibet Through the Red Box is probably one of my all-time favorites.  I learned a lot in this book, which now has me looking at Antoine de Saint-Expuery's Little Prince through very different eyes.  The problem is that I think he is "too much" for the very young.  If they like his books, great, but this is one of those cases of a picture book for older students (IMHO). 

Quest by Aaron Becker.  Like its predecessor, Journey, Quest is imaginative, rich, beautiful, and a true homage to Harold and the Purple Crayon.  Also similar to the 1990s computer games Myst and Riven, Becker imagines a layered world here, with puzzles and mysteries to be solved.  Another wordless book, astute young readers enjoy trying to figure out the messages inside the messages. 

The Misadventures of Sweetie-Pie by Chris Van Allsburg.  The heavily awarded Van Allsburg may win again with his latest entry, but I found it slightly creepy.  Kids don't see it that way, for the most part, and tend to take the ending as a glass half-full, but my adult sensibilities were shaken by the undertones.  Nice use of color and perspective help draw in the reader, however, and younger students *may* get the cautionary tale about the keeping of pets. T

he Right Word by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Melissa Sweet.  Much like River of Words:  The Story of William Carlos Williams, this is a biography in picture-book form, created by collage.  While I enjoyed River of Words, it has not moved much, and I don't anticipate this one moving much either.  Too simplistic for the older readers who would appreciate it, the pages are far too busy for the younger readers who would get something from the text.   

Telephone by Mac Barnett, Illustrated by Jon Klassen.  Any other year, this one might be the winner.  It takes the simple, classic game of "Telephone" and reinvisions it in a smart, interesting way.  Lots of details and the strong use of shape and line make this one a book you can read over and over.  In a crowded field of powerful picture books this year, however, Telephone may just end up being one we "like a lot."