Newbery Honor Book: Show Way

This book was a Newbery Honor Book in 2006 and so far it has been the most interesting to me.  It is a historical fiction picture book which tells the story of slavery and how a quilt helped deliver some slaves to safety and freedom.  It takes us through several generations of women to show how the quilt was significant in each period of time.  The reader also learns about the author’s ancestors, descendents, and the vast history of American slavery and racism. My only criticism about the book is that it isn’t long enough or left me wanting more after reading about each generation.  To me I would have liked to learn or read about each generation a little more rather than switching so quickly. 

One of the main things that I enjoyed about this book is that it tells a real story about real people.  The elegant storytelling and the poetic lyrics were original and sired up emotions along with questions and desire to know more.  To be honest is was captivating. 

All I can say about Hudson Talbott’s illustrations is that they are awe inspiring.   To be honest I could try to describe them but my words would not do them justice.   They were beautiful and a great addition to the book. 

This book was impressive and one that I would love to have a copy of.  I would highly recommend it to others.

Newbery Honor: Abel's Island

The first Newbery Honor book that I read was Abel’s Island written by William Steig.  This book tells the story of a newly married mouse named Abel.  Abel and his new wife go on a picnic in the woods and before he knows it, he ends up stranded on an island while trying to save his wife’s scarf during a hurricane.  During the storm Abel gets carried way and wakes up on an uninhabited island by himself.  Accustomed to a life of leisure, Abel tries to be resourceful so he can survive and try to make it back home. 

For me, the first few pages of the story started out a little slow and uninteresting, but that quickly changed.  The story suddenly captivated me and I was not able to put the book down.  I was curious to read on to find out what the clever little mouse would do next when he came head to head with Mother Nature to try to get off the island and back home to his wife, Amanda. 

This book does challenge its young readers with some sophisticated vocabulary, but does so in an interesting way without slowing the story and making it too difficult to read.  It also has an underlying message to never give up trying and try over and over again until you succeed. 

I thought this book is great and one that I will certainly add to my own personal collection.  I would highly recommend it to others! 

Caldecott vs. Newbery

I just featured five Caldecott Award winning books and my next two blog posts are going to feature Newbery Award winners.  Before I do that I want to explain the difference between the two awards. 

The Caldecott and Newbery Awards are both very prestigious, literary awards that are presented annually by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), which is a division of the American Library Association (ALA).  Both awards are given in January and award for the most distinguished American children’s books published within the previous year. 

The Caldecott Awards recognizes the outstanding work of illustrators while the Newbery Awards recognizes the outstanding work of authors.

The Caldecott Medal is given to one book with the most distinguished illustrations contributed to American literature for children and the Newbery Medal is given to the one book with the most distinguished writing contributed to American literature for children that year.   In addition, both the Caldecott and the Newbery award other honorable mentions with Caldecott Honor awards and Newbery Honor awards. 

Caldecot Metal Winner: The House in the Night

The House in the Night, written by Marie Swanson and illustrated by Beth Krommes.  The picture book won the Caldecott Metal in 2009. 

I found that the pictures in this book were gorgeous!  I love the play of the black and white scratchboard illustrations paired with the illuminating bold yellows.  They were just breathtaking! 

However, unfortunately the detailed illustrations were really the only thing I enjoyed about the book.  The simple story never engaged me or grabbed my attention.  By the end of the book I found myself admiring the illustrations rather than reading the words.  I enjoy picture books more when I am captivated by the story and the illustrations, but this one did not do it for me.  Younger children may enjoy the book for the simple, repeated, easy to memorize sentences ("Here is the key to the house.  In the house burns a light. In that light rests a bed.").  It may be a book that children want to read at bed time, but unfortunately it wasn’t one of my favorite picture books which saddens me to say because I found the illustrations so captivating!

Caldecott Medal Winner: Hello Good Bye Window

The 2006 Caldecott Medal Winner, Hello Good Bye Window, is an excellent book with beautiful, vibrant illustrations.  The young narrator tells her story about visiting Nanna and Poppy’s , big house.  She gazes through the kitchen window, which she sees is more than just an ordinary window, it is more like a magical window.  This window is where everything important happens, activities which are mostly ordinary, but are made extraordinary.    This relates with many children and how they view the time spent at their grandparent’s house.  It related especially with me and my memories of when I was younger and those special times that I spent time with my grandparents.  I have some of the simplest, ordinary memories with my grandparents but yet they still stick with me as being extraordinary because of I spent time with them. 

The illustrations are imaginative, colorful and somewhat abstract and child-like.  The illustrations are what first captured my attention.  One of the most interesting aspects about this book is the illustrations and how they portray a racially diverse family.  Interracial families are very common in families today, but are not seen very often in children’s books.  I believe that many children and adults will enjoy reading this book and they will be able to relate to it. 

Caldecott Honor: Coming On Home Soon

Jacqueline Woodson's Coming On Home Soon is an intimate, beautifully well written story about a little girl who suffers from separation from her mother during World War II. 

Ada Ruth’s mother had to go away to Chicago to work during a time of war, when women were needed to take over the jobs of men who went to fight for their country.  Ada Ruth and her Grandmother are left behind to continue on with daily life.  They try to keep their routine and try to find strength in one another.  As the days go on they both long for Ada Ruth’s mother to return.

I can see why this touching story was a Caldecott Honor Book in 2005.  The words are beautifully written and tells a touching story that children can relate to.  It is heartfelt and honest. 

Nonetheless, the illustrator E. B. Lewis should not go unnoticed.  Lewis did a remarkable job capturing the sadness of the story with it’s almost photo-realistic illustrations.  The illustrations themselves are gorgeous, but when paired with the words take on such a deeper meaning.  One of the saddest parts of the book is where the reader sees the girl and her grandmother at a window staring though it waiting for the postman, hoping for a letter from Ada Ruth’s mother.  The text reads, “When the postman goes on by without stopping, Grandma says ‘Hush now.  Don’t start crying.’ But her eyes are sad.  Like she’s wanting to cry too.”  I almost had to grab a tissue myself!  This is one of the best examples that show how many readers can relate to this story.  Many children’s mothers and fathers have to leave home to keep this country safe or take on a job in another area to keep a roof over their family’s head.  They are truly missed by their loved ones.  Even though this book is set during World War II, when I read this part of the book I could imagine thousands of little boys and girls who stare out the window hoping that they too will get a letter from their mother or father.  They wait and hope that that the letter will state that they are coming on home. 

Caldecott Award Winner: Kitten's First Full Moon

 

This book has to be one of the sweetest books that I have ever read!  It was adorable!  Kitten’s First Full Moon is another Caldecott Award winning book.  This book was written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes and received the prestigious award in 2005. 

The entire book is illustrated using blacks, grays, whites, and creams, which is not often seen in children’s “picture books”, but to my surprise was one of the best parts about the book!  The illustrations are understated and simple, but seemed to perfectly capture the innocence of the main character, the kitten.  The illustrations also seem luminous and give a dreamy feel. 

This simple little story captures the sweet struggle of Kitten, who sees her first full moon and because no one has ever explained to her what the moon is, the kitten thinks it's a bowl of milk in the sky.  The kitten chases, climbs, leaps, and tumbles trying to get to that big bowl of milk in the sky, but is not able to get to it.  When she opens her mouth to lick the treat, she ends up with a bug on her tongue.  Then, she launches herself into the air reaching out for the bowl of milk, but just tumbles down the stairs.   The kitten persistently attempts to get to that bowl of milk, but yet is unable to do it.  This struggle gives the underlying message to the readers to work toward their dreams even though it may be a struggle at times, but never give up. 

This story line also relates to innocence and how prior knowledge or lack-there-of often sway readers.  The kitten thought that the full moon was a bowl full of milk when she first saw it.  This is because no one had ever explained what it was, and she related it to what it looked like...a bowl full of milk.  When readers read or experience new things they use their prior knowledge.  If they encounter something new to them they use their prior knowledge to try to put pieces of information together to decipher this new experience and try to put meaning to it.  We, as teachers, often do not take into account children’s innocence and what prior knowledge they have or do not have.  Sometimes we forget to think about what children know and what they do not know.  Also, we forget to think that one student’s prior knowledge may be completely different from another student’s prior knowledge and that can result in completely different thoughts and conclusions.  We should never just assume that students know things just because we, as teachers, or even other students for that fact, have the prior knowledge.  Even though this lesson may not have directly related to the authors purpose and message, it is one of the things that I took away from the book. 

I would highly recommend this book to others and I am anxiously waiting to add this one to my personal library!