Books read - July 2013

Sing Mother Goose

It appears I didn’t read as much in July, but in actuality, I did read a lot. I just read more novels than previous months.

One notable point of interest.  Brindi and I finished the Caldecotts!  The last book, Sing Mother Goose, arrived on July 31.  Now on to other awards.  Brindi is focusing on the Coretta Scott King Illustrator awards.  I am as well, by default.  I’m also working on my other lists. 

July 2013 Books read

1. Janis Joplin: Rise Up Singing by Angel, Ann
2. On the Jellicoe Road by Marchetta, Melina         
3. Pirate's Bride by Vinet, Lynette
4. Bambino the Clown by Schreiber, Georges
5. The Lions of Little Rock by Levine, Kristin
6. Pierre Pidgeon by Kingman, Lee
7. Little Lost Lamb by MacDonald, Golden
8. Vincent Van Gogh: Portrait of an Artist by Jordan, Sandra
9. Jimi: Sounds Like a Rainbow: a Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix by Golio, Gary
10. Puss in Boots by Brown, Marcia
11. The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher by Bang, Molly
12. Peace, Locomotion by Woodson, Jacqueline
13. In the Forest by Ets, Marie Hall
14. The Robber Bride by Knight-Catania, Jerrica
15. America's Ethan Allen by Holbrook, Stewart Hall
16. Doll Bones by Black, Holly
17. Lady Iona's Rebellion by McFalls, Dorothy
18. Feather Mountain by Olds, Elizabeth
19. The Marriage List by McFalls, Dorothy
20. Mother Goose and the Nursery Rhymes by Reed, Philip
21. The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Selznick, Brian
22. Almost Perfect by Domning, Denise
23. Her Sudden Groom by Gordon, Rose
24. The Bremen-Town Musicians by Plume, Ilse
25. Red, White, and Boom! by Wardlaw, Lee
26. The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog! by Willems, Mo
27. Happy 4th of July, Jenny Sweeney! by Kimmelman, Leslie
28. Fourth of July, Sparkly Sky by Haley, Amanda
29. His Yankee Bride by Gordon, Rose
30. Gillespie and the Guards by Elkin, Benjamin
31. Baboushka and the Three Kings by Robbins, Ruth
32. The Way to Start a Day by Baylor, Byrd
33. The Angry Moon by Sleator, William
34. Fly High, Fly Low by Freeman, Don
35. Houses from the Sea by Goudey, Alice E.
36. Seashore Story by Yashima, Taro
37. The Contest by Hogrogian, Nonny
38. Mister Penny's Race Horse by Ets, Marie Hall
39. Tom Tit Tot: An English Folk Tale by Ness, Evaline
40. The Sun Is a Golden Earring by Belting, Natalia
41. The Golem: A Jewish Legend by McDermott, Beverly Brodsky
42. Pop Corn and Ma Goodness by Preston, Edna Mitchell
43. Marguerite De Angeli's Book of Nursery & Mother Goose Rhymes by Angeli, Marguerite de
44. The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins by Kerley, Barbara
45. Castle by Macaulay, David
46. Nine Days to Christmas: A Story of Mexico by Ets, Marie Hall
47. Snow-White and the Seven Dwarfs: A Tale from the Brothers Grimm by Grimm, Jacob
48. Tibet: Through the Red Box by Sís, Peter
49. The Day We Saw the Sun Come Up by Goudey, Alice E.
50. Just Me by Ets, Marie Hall
51. Ape in a Cape: An Alphabet of Odd Animals by Eichenberg, Fritz
52. Hosie's Alphabet by Baskin, Leonard
53. Three Jovial Huntsmen by Jeffers, Susan
54. The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night by Spier, Peter
55. One Wide River to Cross by Emberley, Barbara
56. Hildilid's Night by Ryan, Cheli Duran
57. In the Forest: A Nature Trail Book by Pledger, Maurice
58. Lion by Bois, William Pène du
59. Fish for Supper by Goffstein, M.B.
60. The House That Jack Built by Frasconi, Antonio
61. Trixie Ten by Massini, Sarah
62. Courting Miss Lancaster by Eden, Sarah M.
63. Monsters Love Colors by Austin, Mike
64. Big Bear, Little Brother by Norac, Carl
65. Alphasaurs and Other Prehistoric Types by Werner, Sharon
66. Pedro and Me: Friendship, Loss, and What I Learned by Judd Winnik
67. This Monster Cannot Wait! by Barton, Bethany
68. Take Me to Your BBQ by Duval, Kathy
69. Electric Ben: The Amazing Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin by Byrd, Robert
70. Uptown by Collier, Bryan
71. Nugget and Fang: Friends Forever--or Snack Time? by Sauer, Tammi
72. Bear and Bee by Ruzzier, Sergio
73. Rabbit and the Not-So-Big-Bad Wolf by Escoffier, Michaeel
74. Black Cat by Myers, Christopher
75. Rap A Tap Tap by Dillon, Leo
76. That Is Not a Good Idea! by Willems, Mo
77. Who's on First? by Abbott, Bud
78. Sing Mother Goose by Wheeler, Opal
79. The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf by Harper, Molly
80. Hellfire by Gabaldon, Diana        
81. All in the Morning Early by Leodhas, Sorche Nic 
82. How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf by Harper, Molly

Thoughts on reviewing Caldecott books

When picture books are evaluated for the prestigious Caldecott award, the standards used are different from normal, everyday review criteria.  This is understandable, as the award is given to the illustrator of the book.

The criteria for the Caldecott award committee is as follows:

Criteria

1. In identifying a “distinguished American picture book for children,” defined as illustration, committee members need to consider:

a. Excellence of execution in the artistic technique employed;

b. Excellence of pictorial interpretation of story, theme, or concept;

c. Appropriateness of style of illustration to the story, theme or concept;

d. Delineation of plot, theme, characters, setting, mood or information through the pictures;

e. Excellence of presentation in recognition of a child audience.

2. The only limitation to graphic form is that the form must be one which may be used in a picture book. The book must be a self-contained entity, not dependent on other media (i.e., sound, film or computer program) for its enjoyment.

3. Each book is to be considered as a picture book. The committee is to make its decision primarily on the illustration, but other components of a book are to be considered especially when they make a book less effective as a children’s picture book. Such other components might include the written text, the overall design of the book, etc.

Note: The committee should keep in mind that the award is for distinguished illustrations in a picture book and for excellence of pictorial presentation for children. The award is not for didactic intent or for popularity.

But how does this affect the reviewer?  Recently, my coworker Brindi and I challenged ourselves to read all 316 Caldecott winners and honors.  I’m still waiting for the final two books to arrive at my library.  While reading the books, I kept the official criteria in mind; however, I was also looking at them from a librarian’s perspective.  Due to this, the popularity of the book with my young patrons is important.  I felt it was also important to consider when the book was published.  During the seventy-five years that the Caldecott award has existed, publishing and illustration techniques have evolved.  Additionally, what words and ideas which were once considered acceptable have since become objectionable, such as referring to a Native American as a redskin. 

When I read a Caldecott book, I considered the following conditions:

• Artistry
• Audience
• Original publication date
• Overall appeal
• Readability of text (both the font and the story itself)

I also keep in mind the official Caldecott criteria. Ultimately, I rate a book on today’s standards.  While I might find a book fantastic considering when it was published, if it doesn’t hold up to the test of time, it will be rated lower.

A few of my (least) favorite (Caldecott) things!

As I mentioned in my post yesterday, my coworker Brindi and I have been reading the Caldecott winners and honors.  Our goal? Read all 316 titles this year.  We had previously read several, but only a small fraction.  This task has not been easy.  We aren’t quite finished, as we are still waiting on two titles to arrive at our library.  Hopefully soon!

Excluding the two titles left to read, here is the list of my least favorites.  The list was compiled by reviewing the ratings I gave each title on GoodReads.com.  The list is ordered alphabetically by title.

Disliked (1 star)

• Black and White by David Macaulay – 1991 winner
• The Christmas Anna Angel by Ruth Sawyer; illustrated by Kate Seredy – 1945 honor
• Fish for Supper by M.B. Goffstein – 1977 honor
• The Forest Pool by Laura Adams Armer – 1939 honor
• The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses by Paul Goble – 1979 winner
• The Golem: A Jewish Legend by Beverly Brodsky McDermott – 1977 honor
• The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher by Molly Bang – 1981 honor
• Hawk I'm Your Brother by Byrd Baylor; illustrated by Peter Parnall – 1977 honor
• Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present by Charlotte Zolotow; illustrated by Maurice Sendak – 1963 honor
• Outside Over There by Maurice Sendak – 1982 honor
• Play with Me by Marie Hall Ets – 1956 honor
• Pop Corn and Ma Goodness by Edna Mitchell Preston; illustrated by Robert Andrew Parker – 1970 honor
• Shadow by Blaise Cendrars; illustrated by Marcia Brown – 1983 winner
• The Storm Book by Charlotte Zolotow
• A Visit to William Blake's Inn: Poems for Innocent and Experienced Travelers by Nancy Willard
• Wheel on the Chimney by Margaret Wise Brown

A few of my favorite (Caldecott) things!

My coworker Brindi and I have been reading the Caldecott winners and honors.  Our goal? Read all 316 titles this year.  We had previously read several, but only a small fraction.  This task has not been easy.  We aren’t quite finished, as we are still waiting on two titles to arrive at our library.  Hopefully soon!

Excluding the two titles left to read, here is the list of my favorites.  The list was compiled by reviewing the ratings I gave each title on GoodReads.com.  The list is ordered alphabetically by title.

Loved (5 stars) 

• Anatole by Eve Titus; illustrated by Paul Galdone – 1957 honor
• Creepy Carrots! by Aaron Reynolds; illustrated by Peter Brown – 2013 honor
• Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems
• Frederick by Leo Lionni – 1968 honor
• The Gardener by Sarah Stewart; illustrated by David Small – 1998 honor
• Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say – 1994 winner
• Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine; illustrated by Kadir Nelson – 2008 honor
• The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney – 2010 winner
• The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein – 2004 winner
• Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport; illustrated by Bryan Collier – 2002 honor
• Noah's Ark (Caldecott Honor Book) by Jerry Pinkney – 2003 honor
• Olivia by Ian Falconer – 2001 honor
• Prayer for a Child by Rachel Field; illustrated by Elizabeth Orton Jones – 1945 winner
• Sleep Like a Tiger by Mary Logue; illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski – 2013 honor
• The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
• So You Want to Be President? by Judith St. George
• The Stray Dog by Marc Simont
• A Very Special House by Ruth Krauss; illustrated by Maurice Sendak
• Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
• Yo! Yes? by Chris Raschka     

 EDITED TO ADD: Check out Brindi's Caldecott favorites by clicking here.