If
you have a child who is an animal lover and an avid reader, or you are a lover
of fine illustrated children’s books yourself, the Caldecott Medal booklist
provides an inspiring source of material.
The
Caldecott Medal is awarded each year to the most distinguished American picture
book for children. The name of the Award honours the nineteenth century English
artist and children’s book illustrator Randolph J. Caldecott. Caldecott’s work
was admired by Gauguin and Van Gogh and he inspired many illustrators,
including Beatrix Potter.
Since
the inception of the Award in 1938, books about nature, and in particular,
those featuring animals and birds, have proven popular winning and honour
titles. The following are reviews of a small selection of Caldecott Medal books.
While some books are vintage, most have been reprinted and can be located at popular bookstores or on YouTube as read aloud titles.
Make Way for Ducklings, written and illustrated
by Robert McCloskey
In
1942, Robert McCloskey won the Caldecott Medal for the picture book Make Way for Ducklings. The story
follows the adventures of Mr and Mrs Mallard, who fly around 1940s Boston,
searching for the perfect place to nest and raise a family. Themes of the story
include connection with place, security, respect for nature and the power of family.
Make Way for Ducklings is beautifully illustrated in
pencil, using sepia tones. McCloskey had wanted to work in watercolour, but was
unable to due to the high cost of colour printing at the time.
The
story of the Mallards has become a significant part of the history of Boston.
Bronze statues of Mrs Mallard and her ducklings feature in the Public Garden in
Boston and a Duckling Day Parade takes place each year.
The Little Island, written by Golden MacDonald (Margaret Wise Brown) and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard
‘Night came to the little Island, dark and still. And seven little fireflies flashed in the darkness. A bat flew around the pear tree and woke up the owl. The wind whistled’.
The
Caldecott Medal Winner in 1947, The
Little Island tells the story of a year in the life of a small island. The
book highlights the experience of four seasons on the island and the animals
and birds who live there. One day the Island is visited by a boat and with
it, a small kitten, who has many questions for the Island. Themes of the story
include the mysteries of nature, faith, different sizes and the seasons.
The Little Island is written by Golden Mc Donald, a
pseudonym of author Margaret Wise Brown. Brown authored over one hundred
children’s books, including Goodnight
Moon (1947) and Sailor Dog
(1953). The book is illustrated by Leonard Weisgard, who often collaborated with
Brown. He works in mixed media, including poster paint, gouache, chalk, crayon
and ink.
A Tree is Nice, written by Janice May Udry and
illustrated by Marc Simont
Why
is a tree nice? A tree is nice, because…
A Tree is Nice won the Caldecott Medal in 1957. It
is aimed at younger readers, ages 4 years and up. The book considers the
reasons why ‘a tree is nice’. The answers incorporate the beauty of trees,
their contribution to the environment, apples, and for climbing and swings. The
major themes of the book are the importance of trees and their value to the
wider environment. The shape of the book is tall and thin, just like a tree.
The
book is illustrated by Marc Simont. Known for his political cartoons, Simont
illustrated over a hundred books during his career. In A Tree is Nice, he has used loose lines and saturated watercolour
to create bright and lively cartoon characters, seen enjoying their trees
throughout the book.
Mr Rabbit and the Lovely Present written by Charlotte
Zolotow and illustrated by Maurice Sendak
“I can’t give her stars”, the little
girl said, “but I would if I could”…
In
the 1963 Caldecott Medal winning book Mr
Rabbit and the Lovely Present, Mr Rabbit helps a young girl select a special
gift for her mother’s birthday. The pair consider many amazing presents, from
bluebirds, to emeralds, to grapes, with each page dominated by a specific gift
colour theme. The reading age range advised for this book is four to seven
years.
The
book is illustrated by Maurice Sendak (of Where
the Wild Things Are fame). He has used watercolour to create beautiful Impressionistic
landscapes for Mr Rabbit and the little girl to wander through as they search
for possible gifts. His style adds softness to both the illustrations and the story.
Large fruit laden trees, forests, fields and sunny picnics are dappled with
colour and light.
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble written and
illustrated by William Steig
Sylvester
Duncan, a young donkey, has made a hobby of collecting unusual pebbles. One day
he picks up a unique red pebble and finds it can grant his wishes. Sylvester’s
magical pebble eventually gets him into trouble, trouble only his parents can
fix. Themes of the story include gratitude, the importance of family, home and
community and being careful about what you wish for.
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble won the Caldecott Medal in 1970. It is written and illustrated by William Steig. Steig is known for his work as a cartoonist for the New Yorker and over twenty five children’s books, his most famous being Shrek!
Steig
illustrated Sylvester and the Magic
Pebble with ink and watercolour. His drawings of the Duncan family and
various animals are filled with colour and character and are still a delight to
see.
Owl Moon written by Jane Yolan and
illustrated by John Schoenherr.
'We went into the woods. The shadows
were the blackest things I had ever seen. They stained the white snow…I didn’t
ask what kinds of things hide behind black trees in the middle of the night.
When you go owling you have to be brave’.
Owl Moon won the Caldecott Medal in 1988. It tells the
story of a small girl who is excited to go owling with her father one wintery night.
They trek through the snow, into the forest and she waits in anticipation to
see a Great Horned Owl in the trees.
Other
Caldecott Medal winners and honour titles you may enjoy:
The Story of Jumping Mouse written and
illustrated by John Steptoe
Caldecott
Honour Book 1985
Tuesday written and
illustrated by David Wiesner
Caldecott
Medal winner 1992
What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? Written
and illustrated by Steve Jenkins and Robyn Page
Caldecott
Honour Book 2004
Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems written by Joyce Sidman and illustrated by Beckie Prange
Caldecott
Honour Book 2006
This is Not My Hat written and illustrated by Jon Klassen
Caldecott
Medal winner 2013
Reference Sources and Further Reading:
American Library Association’s
Caldecott Medal page:
http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/caldecotthonors/caldecottmedal
Make Way for Ducklings:
-
Bird, Elizabeth. (20 June 2012). Top 100 Picture Books #6: Make Way for
Ducklings by Robert McCloskey. School
Library Journal.
-
Boston Discovery Guide. Make Way for Ducklings!
-
Lodge, Sally. (17 March 2016). Viking Makes Way for the 75th
Anniversary of ‘Ducklings’. Publishers
Weekly.
-
New England Historical Society. Robert McCloskey Makes Way for Ducklings.
The Little Island:
-
Leonard Weisgard: Author and Illustrator of Children’s Books.
-
Margaret Wise Brown.
A Tree is Nice:
- Fox, Margalit. (16 July 2013). Marc Simont,
Classic Children’s Book Illustrator, Dies at 97. The New York Times.
- Simont, Marc. (18 July 2013). Marc Simont’s
Caldecott Award Acceptance (speech). The
Horn Book. http://www.hbook.com/2013/07/choosing-books/horn-book-magazine/marc-simonts-caldecott-award-acceptance/
Mr Rabbit and the Lovely Present:
- Silvey, Anita. (26 June 2011). Mr Rabbit and the
Lovely Present.
- Popova, Maria. (21 November 2013). To Live Long,
Write for Children. Remembering Charlotte Zolotow. Brain Pickings.
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble:
-
Pompilio, Natalie. William Steig: The King of Cartoons. Legacy.
Owl Moon:
-Jane
Yolan.
-
Fox, Margalit. (14 April 2010). John Schoenherr, Children’s Book Illustrator,
Dies at 74. The New York Times.