Celebrate the 2018 Caldecott Medal Winner and Honor Books!

Wolf in the Snow, by Matthew Cordell
The 2018 Caldecott Medal Award winner, Wolf in the Snow is a suspenseful, emotional journey. A small girl in a parka (red-hooded, no less) treks out in the snow. At the same time, fierce looking wolves are pacing about outside, as wolves do. Lost, cold, and separated from their packs, the girl and one wolf cub meet and rescue one another. The pen and ink illustrations convey tremendous emotion, especially through the characters eyes (human and canine.) From the Caldecott Medal Homepage: “HOOOOOWWLLLL!!” said Caldecott Medal Committee Chair Tish Wilson. “Committee members were astonished that a deceptively simple book could be such a dramatic story of survival.”

Big Cat, little cat, by Elisha Cooper
Illuminating the lives of two companion cats (and the loss of one), these simple, nearly monochromatic illustrations move like cats themselves across the page. Related almost entirely from the perspective of the cats, the reader becomes intimately involved in the story. Thanks to straightforward text, the evocative illustrations powerfully convey the depth of feeling between the two feline friends.

Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut, by Derrick Barnes and Gordon C. James
When a haircut makes you feel like royalty, like everyone in the barber shop is going to stand up and cheer for you, that’s a fresh cut. Gorgeously rich oil-painted pages depict the self-confidence and joy that comes along with a great cut. “Flowers are beautiful. Sunrises are beautiful. Being viewed in your mother’s eyes as someone that matters—now that’s beautiful. And you’ll take it. You don’t mind at all.”

A Different Pond, by Bao Phi and Thi Bui
Based on experiences of the author and illustrator, the book features an essential early morning fishing trip with a father and son, relayed from the young boy’s perspective. He wants to help, but he doesn’t want to hurt the little fish they use for bait, and the fish they catch feel slimy in his hands. While they fish together, the father tells his son about fishing with his brother, in Vietnam when he was a boy, before the war. The illustrations tenderly convey the thoughts, feelings, and emotions of the young boy as he spends this special time with his father.

Grand Canyon, by Jason Chin
Follow along with a father and daughter as they trek through this amazing natural wonder, exploring and learning about the breathtaking assortment of flora and fauna that live there and those that have evolved within. Dazzling illustrations bring the landscapes, plants, and animals to life. Prepare to spend a lot of time poring over the pages of this extensive tour of The Grand Canyon, but you won’t have to wear out your hiking boots doing so.