Reading the Art in Caldecott Award Books: A Guide to the Illustrations

by Heidi K. Hammond, Gail D. Nordstrom

Overview

Reading the Art in Caldecott Award Books is a practical and easy-to-use reference handbook explaining what makes the art in Caldecott Medal and Honor books distinguished. It is a useful manual for librarians, teachers, and others who want to better understand picture book illustration. This book includes many useful components:

• Short entries about fifty-six books
• Information on styles and media
• Artistic analysis of the illustrations
• Appendixes on selected sources for further reading, Randolph Caldecott Medal terms and criteria, bibliography of entries, and a list of Caldecott winners
• Glossary of art terms
• Indexes of author-illustrator-title, media, and style

This book, used as a handbook in conjunction with Caldecott Award books, provides readers with ready-to-use information they can share with children and others, while helping to build confidence in one’s ability to talk about art in all picture books.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442239227
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	08/14/2014
Pages:	280
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Heidi Hammond, Ph.D has 23 years experience as a school librarian at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, and coordinates the school library media specialist portion of the MLIS program at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota. Hammond served on the 2011 Randolph Caldecott Award Committee (Association for Library Service to Children) that selected A Sick Day for Amos McGee. She was a member of the 2013 Margaret A. Edwards Award Committee (Young Adult Library Services Association) that selected Tamora Pierce. She has also served on the editorial board of SLR-School Library Research (American Association of School Librarians).

Gail Nordstrom, M.L.I.S. rediscovered the power and delight of children’s books as a youth services librarian for Stillwater (Minnesota) Public Library, where she worked with children, teens, and caregivers for nineteen years. She is currently the public library consultant for Viking Library System in west central Minnesota. She continues to share her enthusiasm for children’s literature in workshops and conferences in the state. Nordstrom on the 2011 Randolph Caldecott Award Committee (Association for Library Service to Children) that selected A Sick Day for Amos McGee. She was also a member of the 2002 John Newbery Award Committee (ALSC) that selected A Single Shard. She has organized local Newbery and Caldecott mock discussions for librarians and teachers since 1997. Gail has served as judge for the Minnesota Book Awards and is a member of the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award Selection Committee.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Part I: Books

1. All the World
2. A Ball for Daisy
3. Blackout
4. Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type
5. Creepy Carrots
6. Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave
7. Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
8. Extra Yarn
9. Flora and the Flamingo
10. Freight Train
11. Frog and Toad Are Friends
12. Grandfather’s Journey
13. Grandpa Green
14. Green
15. The Hello, Goodbye Window
16. Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad
17. The House in the Night
18. HUSH!: A Thai Lullaby
19. In the Small, Small Pond
20. Interrupting Chicken
21. The Invention of Hugo Cabret
22. Joseph Had a Little Overcoat
23. Journey
24. Jumanji
25. King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub
26. Kitten’s First Full Moon
27. Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale
28. The Lion & the Mouse
29. Locomotive
30. Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China
31. Madeline
32. Make Way for Ducklings
33. The Man Who Walked between the Towers
34. Me…Jane
35. Mr. Wuffles
36. My Friend Rabbit
37. No, David!
38. Officer Buckle and Gloria
39. Olivia
40. One Cool Friend
41. Owl Moon
42. The Polar Express
43. Rapunzel
44. Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors
45. A Sick Day for Amos McGee
46. Sleep Like a Tiger
47. Snowflake Bentley
48. The Snowy Day
49. The Stinky Cheese Man & Other Fairly Stupid Tales
50. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
51. This Is Not My Hat
52. The Three Pigs
53. Tuesday
54. What Do You Do with a Tail Like This?
55. Where the Wild Things Are
56. Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears: A West African Tale

Part II: Resources
Resource A: Selected Sources about Picture Book Art
Resource B: Randolph Caldecott Award Terms and Criteria
Resource C: Bibliography of Caldecott Entries
Resource D: List of Caldecott Medal Winners, 1938-2014
Glossary
Indexes
Author-Illustrator-Title Index
Media Index
Style Index
About the Authors

Editorial Reviews

Reading the Art in Caldecott Award Books is a treasure trove for picture book lovers! Hammond and Nordstrom share clear and perceptive analysis of these award-winning titles, as well as delightful nuggets about how these illustrators think and work. Their thorough research provides rich insights that will strengthen and deepen connections between this literature and the children you share it with.

Carla Larsen

[T]he insider’s perspective on committee work will be of particular value to those professionals interested in serving on a committee as well as to readers who wonder exactly how the decision making process unfolds.. .. .the authors make an effort to look at how style, composition, medium, palette, and other elements work together to successfully fulfill the Caldecott requirement of 'delineation of plot, theme, characters, setting, mood, or information through pictures.'.. . .The 'For Further Consideration' section elaborates on some point brought up in the analysis and sometimes offers an interesting look at the author’s creative process...or the publishing process.This will be especially useful to readers who have never thought about picture book art beyond “cute” or “colorful,” and it provides a strong foundational vocabulary for analyzing picture book illustrations.

The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Many people have grappled with the question of what truly makes a "distinguished" picture book. Heidi and Gail have merely cracked the code for you, providing insights into the great Caldecott winners that you will find nowhere else.

Betsy Bird

In this wonderful guide to the art of Caldecott winning books, the beauty of the picture book art is the star! A great resource for teachers, librarians, parents and professors who are looking at the significance of “distinguished art” in children’s books.

JoAnn Jonas

This is a must-have reference for librarians and children's literature enthusiasts. It is also a valuable resource for classroom teachers who wish to integrate award-winning books.

School Library Connection

An invaluable resource, not only for adults working with children, but for writers and illustrators as well.  Hammond and Nordstrom provide remarkable insight into the craft and magic of picture book making.  I found even more to love about my favorite Caldecott winners and a greater appreciation for those I may have underestimated. 

Vaunda Micheaux Nelson

Give yourself a crash course in Caldecott award winning art. Practical and critical, pair this informative companion with copies of the books for a thorough look at what may have earned the title that shiny sticker on the cover.

Laura Given

Anyone who has ever wondered what the Caldecott Committee talks about when behind closed doors will want to read Hammond and Nordstrom's fascinating work. This is a valuable collection of analysis and appreciation of many favorite books, and the glossary of art terms is a bonus. A valuable reference.

Robin Smith