Why
Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears
illustrations by Leo & Diane Dillon,
text by Verna Aardema
Caldecott Medal 1976
Ages 5–8
This retelling of a traditional West
African tale reveals how the mosquito developed its annoying
habit of buzzing in people’s ears. The wax-resist style illustrations
are incredible. |
|
Song
and Dance Man
by Karen Ackerman
Caldecott Medal 1989
Ages 3–7
One afternoon a visit to the attic convinces
Grandpa to recreate his vaudeville song and dance act for his
three delighted grandchildren. The colorful illustrations capture
the children’s viewpoint of this delightful event. |
|
The
Retired Kid
by Jon Agee
Ages 4–8
Eight-year old Brian, exhausted
by school, soccer, and eating his vegetables, decides
to retire and heads for Florida. At the Sunset Retirement
Center, Brian at first enjoys the leisurely pace, but
finally decides to come out of retirement and return
to his job. |
|
M
Is for Mischief: An A to Z of Naughty Children
by Linda Ashman & Nancy Carpenter
Ages 6–10
Packed with assonance and alliteration,
twenty-six naughty children romp through this book, illustrated
by Carpenter’s energetic digital collages. |
|
In
a Blue Room
by Jim Averbeck
Ages 3–7
Alice begs for everything blue
as her mother tries to put her to bed in a room full
of other colors. Turning out the light bathes Alice’s
room in the pale blue light of the moon and Alice’s wishes
all come true. |
|
Madeline’s
Rescue
by Ludwig Bemelmans
Caldecott Medal
1954
Ages 4–8
One day on a walk through Paris Madeline
slips and falls off a bridge right into the Seine and is rescued
by a brave dog. The girls take the dog home, but she is banned
from the house, so the girls must search all of Paris to find
her again. Incredible illustrations complement the rhyming text.
(sequel to Madeline) |
|
Keep
Your Eye on the Kid:
The
Early Years of Buster Keaton
by Catherine Brighton
Ages 5–8
This picture biography follows Buster
Keaton from his birth to vaudeville parents to his early 30s. |
|
Cinderella,
or the Little Glass Slipper
by Marcia Brown
Caldecott Medal
1955
Ages 4–8
This retelling of the classic tale by
Charles Perrault is a skillful version that is both simple and
romantic. The pen and watercolor illustrations complement the
story beautifully. |
|
Once
a Mouse…
by Marcia Brown
Caldecott Medal
1962
Ages 4–8
The mighty tiger challenges anyone to
say he was once a mouse, but the hermit knows it to be true,
since he himself used magic to transform the mouse into a cat
and then a dog and finally a tiger. And unfortunately for the
too proud tiger, those changes can be reversed. Beautiful woodcuts
illustrate this Indian fable. |
|
Shadow
by Marcia Brown
Caldecott Medal 1983
Ages 5–8
Marcia Brown's stunning African-inspired
collage illustrations evoke the atmosphere and drama of a life
now haunted, now enchanted by Shadow. (translated by Marcia Brown
from the French poetry of Blaise Cendrars) |
|
The
Little Island
text by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrations
by Leonard Weisgard
Caldecott Medal 1947
Ages 4–9
The little island is rich with plant
and animal life despite its remote location. The illustrations
beautifully document the seasonal changes. |
|
Smoky
Night
text by Eve Bunting, illustrations by
David Diaz
Caldecott Medal 1995
Ages 5–10
Daniel’s cat doesn’t get along with Mrs.
Kim’s cat and Daniel’s mother doesn’t shop at Mrs. Kim’s store,
preferring to patronize African-American stores. But when Daniel’s
apartment building goes up in flames, all the neighbors, including
the cats, learn the importance of working together and accepting
differences. Inspired by the Los Angeles riots, this book delivers
a message about racism with a light touch supported by dazzling
mixed-media collage illustrations. |
|
The
Little House
by Virginia Lee Burton
Caldecott Medal 1943
Ages 3–6
The little house in the country was happy
until the city grew large enough to surround her. Finally a woman
rescues the house by moving it back to the country. The whimsical
drawings are delightful. |
|
The
Big Book for Little Hands
by Marie-Pascale Cocagne
Ages 3–6
This engaging activity book reinforces
educational concepts as young artists color and complete
the illustrations. |
|
Chanticleer
and the Fox
by Barbara Cooney
Caldecott Medal 1959
Ages 4–8
Chanticleer the rooster falls for the
flattery of the fox and is caught. Luckily Chanticleer is clever
enough to think himself out of danger in this retelling of the
“Nun’s Priest’s Tale” from Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury
Tales. Beautiful pen and ink drawings illustrate the fable. |
|
Jake’s
Best Thumb
by Ilene Cooper & Claudio
Muñoz
Ages 4–8
Jake is so adept at one-handed
life that he sees no reason to stop sucking his thumb
until a Kindergarten bully begins to mock him. Quirky
illustrations and a charming story will have readers
cheering for Jake as he struggles to balance habit
and acceptance. |
|
The
Black Book of Colors
by Menena Cottin & Rosana Faria
Ages 5–10
This book attempts to convey the experience
of blindness. White text on black pages, with braille above,
explain how Thomas tastes, feels, and hears about color words.
Raised black lines on black paper, decodable by touch alone,
illustrate Thomas’s color images. This amazing book allows
young readers to experience the world in a new way. |
|
Click,
Clack, Moo: Cows That Type
by Doreen Cronin, Betsy Lewin
Ages 4–8
Farmer Brown is amazed when his
cows discover an old typewriter in the barn and soon learn
to use it to air their grievances.
When Farmer Brown denies their requests, the cows go
on strike in this hilarious example of the power of the
protest. |
|
Giggle,
Giggle, Quack
by Doreen Cronin, Betsy Lewin
Ages 4–8
When Farmer Brown goes on vacation,
he leaves his brother Bob in charge of the animals. Duck
finds the written directions, and amends them to add more
interesting food, bubble baths, and movie nights to the
amusement of all. |
|
Duck
for President
by Doreen Cronin, Betsy Lewin
Ages 4–8
Duck is tired of doing his chores
and decides to hold an election to replace Farmer Brown
with himself. Quickly discovering that running a farm is
way too much work, Duck moves on to governor and then president.
A hilarious look at the electoral process. |
|
Doobie,
Doobie, Moo
by Doreen Cronin, Betsy Lewin
Ages 4–8
When Duck reads about the upcoming
talent show at the county fair, he organizes the animals
into nightly rehearsals. This funny book makes a wonderful
read-and-sing-aloud! |
|
Cool
Daddy Rat
by Kristyn Crow
Ages 3–up
Bass player Cool Daddy Rat heads
out to perfrom in the big city and his son Ace comes
along in this tribute to jazz. Scat lines are delicious
to read aloud. |
|
May
I Bring a Friend?
text by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers,
illustrations by Beni Montresor
Caldecott Medal 1965
Ages 3–8
The King and Queen are always gracious,
even when their guest brings along a wild animal or several.
The richly colored illustrations show the well-behaved animals
causing unintentional havoc in the palace. |
|
Drummer
Hoff
illustrations by Ed Emberley, text by
Barbara Emberley
Caldecott Medal 1968
Ages 3–8
Seven soldiers build an incredible cannon
which Drummer Hoff sets off. The cumulative rhymes and repetition
in the text encourage young children to “read along” while
admiring the brightly-colored woodcut illustrations. |
|
To
the Big Top
by Jill Esbaum
Ages 5–8
Benny and his friend Sam land
jobs helping with the elephants when the circus comes
to town. As the boys move from backstage to choice seats
in the Big Top, this book captures the excitement of
the circus arriving in small town America in the late
1800s. |
|
A
Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever
by Marla Frazee
Ages 6–9
Frazee’s hilarious cartoon drawings
illustrate this delightful celebration of summer, best friends,
and grandparents. |
|
Stanley
Goes for a Drive
by Craig Frazier
Ages 4–8
Stanley goes for a drive in his pickup
on a hot dry day. He sees a black and white cow in the middle
of a herd of solid black cows. As he milks it, the white spots
disappear. Stanley throws the milk into the sky. White clouds
appear and then rain turns the earth green as Stanley drives
home. Incredible illustrations, which move from a orange pallate
into greens, support this magical tale of transformation. |
|
Stanley
Mows the Lawn
by Craig Frazier
Ages 4–8
Stanley heads out to mow the
lawn: up and back, up and back. Or is that the only
way to do it? This beautifully illustrated book celebrates
the imagination and the art of looking at the world
in your own way. |
|
Stanley
Goes Fishing
by Craig Frazier
Ages 4–8
After Stanley pulls a boat out of the
water instead of a fish, he casts his line into the sky and
hauls in a boatload of golden fish. The story is intriguing,
but it is the illustrations that shine in this beautiful picture
book which encourages kids to look at the world in a different
way. |
|
Hogwash
by Arthur Geisert
Ages 4–8
After the village piglets play in mud
and paint they are scrubbed down in a gigantic machine designed
by the clever pigs themselves. Hand-colored copperplate etchings
illustrate the remarkable technology. |
|
The
Man Who Walked Between the Towers
by Mordicai Gerstein
Caldecott Medal 2004
Ages 5–8
In August 1974, Philippe Petit and a
friend carry a 440-pound reel of cable and other equipment to
the top of the Twin Towers in New York City so that Petit can
walk a tight rope between the towers. Beautifully detailed paintings
illustrate the beauty and danger of this event. |
|
The
Grasshopper’s Song:
An
Aesop’s Fable Revisited
by Nikki Giovanni
Ages 4–up
The grasshoppers sing while the ants
work in rhythm. When the ants refuse to share the harvest,
the grasshoppers take them to court. This amusing retelling
will appeal to all ages. |
|
The
Girl Who Loved Wild Horses
by Paul Goble
Caldecott Medal 1980
Ages 5–8
The girl in this Native American tale
loves horses so much that eventually she leaves her people to
live with the herd. The bold illustrations beautifully complement
this story of a girl who followed her heart with the support
of her village. |
|
The
Storyteller’s Candle/La velita de los cuentos
by Lucia González, Lulu Delacre
Ages 4–9
This bilingual book set in 1929
tells the story of Pura Belpré, the first Puerto
Rican librarian hired by the New York Public Library,
through the eyes of two children who are inspired by
her to enter the Library for the first time. |
|
The
Big Snow
by Berta & Elmer Hader
Caldecott Medal 1949
Ages 4–8
Simple text and beautiful illustrations
tell the story of how the woodland creatures prepare for winter.
In the winter of the big snow, the people who live in the little
stone house help the animals by putting food out for them. |
|
A
Story, A Story
by Gail E. Haley
Caldecott Medal 1971
Ages 4–8
In the beginning there were no stories
for children to hear, so Ananse the Spider went to bargain with
Nyame, the Sky God, to bring the stories down to Earth. Wonderful
woodcut illustrations support the clever text in this retelling
of an African folktale. |
|
Ox-Cart
Man
text by Donald Hall, illustrations
by Barbara Cooney
Caldecott Medal 1980
Ages 4–8
The stunning combination of text and
illustrations recreates the mood of 19-century rural New England. |
|
Mail
Harry to the Moon!
by Robie H. Harris
Ages 3–8
The narrator is less than thrilled
with his annoying, attention-hogging new baby brother
and has numerous creative suggestions for solving the
problem until he is convinced that his parents are ready
to act on his moon idea. Fresh and funny look at a classic
situation. |
|
Twenty
Heartbeats
by Dennis Haseley, Ed Young
Ages 5–9
Set in the Far East long ago,
a rich man hires an artist to paint his beloved horse.
After years of waiting, the artists paints the horse
in little more than 20 heartbeats. The rich man is furious
until he sees thousands of drawings of his horse in the
artist’s studio. Ed Young’s incredible illustrations
bring the story to life. |
|
Benny
and Penny: Just Pretend
by Geoffrey Hayes
Ages 4–8
Mouse siblings Benny (the pirate)
and Penny (the princess) squabble and play together.
Skillful drawings help beginning readers make sense of
the text. This Toon Book series (by various authors)
is designed for beginning readers. |
|
Saint
George and the Dragon
text by Margaret Hodges, illustrations
by Trina Schart Hyman
Caldecott Medal 1985
Ages 4–8
George, the Red Cross Knight, slays the
dreadful dragon that has been terrorizing the countryside for
years and brings peace and joy to the land. The illustrations
for the retelling of this segment from Spenser’s The Faerie
Queene are rich in detail and sparkle with gold highlights. |
|
One
Fine Day
by Nonny Hogrogian
Caldecott Medal
1972
Ages 4–8
In this humorous retelling of an Armenian
folktale, a fox steals some milk from an old farm woman. She
cuts off his tail, and the fox spends the rest of the day bargaining
to get it back. The vividly beautiful illustrations bring this
tale to life. |
|
Grump
Groan Growl
by Bell Hooks
Ages 3–8
A child and his inner monster
illustrate this effective portrayal of a bad mood on
the prowl. |
|
My
Chincoteague Pony
by Susan Jeffers
Ages 5–9
Julie works hard all year, but still
doesn’t have enough money to buy a pony at the yearly auction.
When the townspeople chip in to help her out, Julie vows to
work just as hard next year so that she can help another girl
buy a pony of her own. |
|
Skunkdog
by Emily Jenkins
Ages 4–9
Dumpling the dog has no sense of smell
and so no dog friends. Pierre Pratt’s amusing illustrations
help to bring this tale of a dog forced to choose between obedience
and companionship to life. |
|
The
Hello, Goodbye Window
text by
Norton Juster, illustrations by
Chris Raschka
Caldecott Medal 2006
Ages 4–7
A girl visits her grandparents, enjoying
the house and garden and the surprises through the window. This
child-centered view of everyday activities is just right for
reading aloud. The bright illustrations are perfect for portraying
this happy multi-racial family. |
|
The
Snowy Day
by Ezra Jack Keats
Caldecott Medal 1963
Ages 4–8
A small boy wakes up to discover that
snow has fallen overnight. The beautiful illustrations of watercolor
and collage show the magic of simple experiences in the snow. |
|
The
Scrambled States of America Talent Show
by Laurie Keller
Ages 5–10
The 50 states are gathered for
a talent show, and what a bunch of hams! Snappy dialog
and energetic illustrations help kids absorb the state
and geographic information. |
|
What
To Do About Alice?
How
Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove
Her Father Teddy Crazy!
by Barbara Kerley
Ages 4–8
This high energy picture book
celebrates a young spirited American heroine who livened
up the White House. |
|
Everybody
Bonjours!
by Leslie Kimmelman
Ages 5–8
On vacation with her family in
Paris, a girl visits famous places and enjoys saying “bonjour.” Sarah
McMenemy’s lively mixed-media illustrations support the
bouncy text. |
|
Fartiste
by Kathleen Krull, Paul Brewer, Boris
Kulikov
Ages 4–9
Joseph Pujol learns to control
his intestines and performs at the legendary Moulin Rouge
in this mostly true story. Kulikov’s explosive illustrations
are sure to amuse the small boy in all of us. |
|
Frog
Went A-Courtin’
text by John Langstaff, illustrations
by Feodor Rojankovsky
Caldecott Medal 1956
Ages 4–8
In this version of the old song, Froggy
puts on his shiny black boots and goes out to court Miss Mousy.
The colorful illustrations bring this book to life. Included
are the words and music to the song. |
|
Imaginary
Menagerie
A
Book of Curious Creatures
by Julie Larios
Ages 4–9
Poetry
Julie Paschkis’s incredible gouache paintings
illustrate poems about creatures from mythology and folklore. |
|
Wave
by Suzy Lee
Ages 4–8
Wordless two-color picture book follows
a small girl’s interaction with the waves. The vibrant watercolor
illustrations capture the joy and laughter of a day at the
beach. |
|
Trainstop
by Barbara Lehman
Ages 4–8
This wordless fantasy takes a young
urban girl on a subway train to an idyllic Lilliputian world. |
|
Always
Room for One More
text by Sorche Nic Leodhas, illustrations
by Nonny Hogrogian
Caldecott Medal 1966
Ages 4–8
Travelers in a storm are glad to hear
Lachie MacLachlan generously call out that there is always room
for one more. Narrated in a lilting, rhyming brogue, the Scottish
travelers fill the little house until it explodes. |
|
Bats
at the Beach
by Brian Lies
Ages 4–8
The bats apply their moon-tan lotion
and head out for an incredible night at the beach. The dark
yet luminous art and rhyming text are the perfect foil for
these furry and friendly creatures. |
|
Finders
Keepers
text by William Lipkind, illustrations
by Nicolas Mordvinoff
Caldecott Medal 1952
Ages 4–8
Nap and Winkle dig up a bone together
in the yard and can’t decide who it belongs to since Nap saw
it first and Winkle touched it first. People passing by can’t
help them solve their disagreement until another dogs offers
a solution both can agree to. The humorous illustrations fit
the story perfectly. |
|
Fables
by Arnold Lobel
Caldecott Medal 1981
Ages 6–10
These short original fables have unexpected
morals. The humorous illustrations add to the fun. |
| |
|
Black
and White
by David Macaulay
Caldecott Medal
1991
Ages 4–10
Four stories, that at first seem unrelated,
each occupy a fourth of each two-page spread. The interactions
between the four stories creates a fifth. There is no resolution,
challenging readers to discover new meaning with each reading. |
|
Snowflake
Bentley
text by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, illustrations
by Mary Azarian
Caldecott Medal 1999
Ages 4–8
This biography of Wilson A. Bentley tells
the story of a rural Vermont farmboy in the mid-19th century
who became fascinated by snowflakes. Bentley developed a system
of microphotography that allowed him to capture images of snowflakes
and prove that no two snowflakes are identical. Azarian’s woodcuts
are perfect. |
|
Adèle & Simon
by Barbara McClintock
Ages 4–8
Walking home from school in early 20th
century Paris, Adèle’s little brother Simon leaves something
at every stop, encouraging the reader to search carefully through
every beautifully detailed ink and watercolor illustration.
A 1907 map of Paris on the endpapers traces the children’s
route. |
|
Make
Way for Ducklings
by Robert McCloskey
Caldecott Medal 1942
Ages 3–8
Mr. and Mrs. Mallard are having trouble
finding the perfect nest site until they reach Boston’s Public
Garden. Safe from foxes and turtles, and plenty of peanuts, this
must be the perfect spot. The lovely humorous illustrations beautifully
support the gentle minimal text. |
|
Time
of Wonder
by Robert McCloskey
Caldecott Medal 1958
Ages 4–8
Two sisters spend a glorious summer in
Maine on Penobscot Bay, swimming, sailing, and experiencing a
storm. The poetic language and beautiful illustrations capture
this magical time. |
|
Mirette
on the High Wire
by Emily Arnold McCully
Caldecott Medal 1993
Ages 4–8
Mirette helps “The Great Bellini” regain
his confidence while he stays at her mother’s boarding house
and eventually the two are walking the high wire above the rooftops
of the city. Rich illustrations capture 19th-century Paris. |
|
Arrow
to the Sun:
A
Pueblo Indian Tale
by Gerald McDermott
Caldecott Medal 1975
Ages 4–8
A young boy searches for his father and
must prove he is worthy by passing through four ceremonial chambers
in this retelling of the Pueblo Native American legend. The bold
and colorful geometric illustrations echo Pueblo designs. |
|
The
Egg Tree
by Katherine Milhous
Caldecott Medal 1951
Ages 5–8
Katy discovers her grandmother’s old
hand-painted eggs while on a family Easter egg hunt. Grandmom
had painted the eggs when she was a little girl, and shows Katy
how to hang them on the special egg tree. The beautiful Pennsylvania-Dutch
inspired illustrations will inspire readers to paint eggs of
their own. |
|
The
Funny Little Woman
text by Arlene Mosel, illustrations
by Blair Lent
Caldecott Medal 1973
Ages 3–8
Long ago in old Japan a funny little
woman with a silly little laugh chases a runaway dumpling and
soon finds herself cooking dumplings for a band of demons. Her
infectious laugh helps her charm the demons into releasing her. |
|
Ashanti
to Zulu:
African
Traditions
text by Margaret Musgrove, illustrations
by Leo & Diane Dillon
Caldecott Medal 1978
Ages 6–12
Incredible pictures illustrate the traditions
and customs of 26 African tribes beginning with letters from
A to Z. Most paintings include a man, woman, child, artifact,
living quarters, and a local animal. |
|
Sam,
Bangs & Moonshine
by Evaline Ness
Caldecott Medal
1967
Ages 4–8
Samantha is a fisherman’s daughter who
lives in her imagination. Everyone calls her fantasies moonshine.
One day she sends her friend Thomas and her cat Bangs out to
sea to look for her escaped pet kangaroo. A sudden storm makes
Sam rethink the line between moonshine and reality. |
|
Planting
the Trees of Kenya
by Claire A. Nivola
Ages 5–9
This biography of Wangari Maathai,
winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize, encourages the belief
that anyone can change the course of history. |
|
Fancy
Nancy’s Favorite Fancy Words: From Accessories to Zany
by Jane O’Connor
Ages 4–9
Fancy Nancy makes vocabulary
glamorous in this A-Z list of useful words used and illustrated
in classic Fancy Nancy style. |
|
The
Song of the Swallows
by Leo Politi
Caldecott Medal 1950
Ages 4–8
Julian, the gardener and bell-ringer
at Mission San Juan Capistrano, shares his love of the swallows
that return every year with his young friend Juan. This year
Juan plants his own garden and hopes that the swallows will build
a nest there. Beautiful watercolor illustrations capture the
magic of the migrating birds. |
|
The
Fool of the World and the Flying Ship
text by Arthur Ransome, illustrations
by Uri Shulevitz
Caldecott Medal
1969
Ages 4–8
In this retelling of a Russian folktale,
the simple third son is helped by those with magical powers to
perform the impossible tasks set by the Czar and wins the princess.
The colorful illustrations have a wonderful Russian folk-art
look. |
|
Sylvester
and the Magic Pebble
by William Steig
Caldecott Medal 1970
Ages 4–8
Sylvester the donkey finds a magic pebble
that will grant his every wish. Unfortunately Sylvester is startled
by a lion and wishes he were a rock and then cannot hold the
magic pebble to wish himself back to normal again. The glorious
watercolor illustrations convey the nuances of this touching
story. |
|
If
Animals Kissed Good Night
by Ann Whitford Paul
Ages 3–6
Wonderfully silly presentation
of animal parents and children kissing good night complete
with nonsense sounds is sure to become a bedtime ritual. |
|
The
Rooster Crows:
A
Book of American Rhymes and Jingles
by Maud & Miska Petersham
Caldecott Medal 1946
Ages 3–8
This book is full of nursery rhymes,
counting-out games, skipping-rope songs, finger games, and other
jingles. |
|
The
Glorious Flight:
Across
the Channel with Louis Blériot
by Alice & Martin Provensen
Caldecott Medal 1984
Ages 4–8
This book shows the persistence of Louis
Blériot, a Frenchman, who was determined to to build a
flying machine to cross the English Channel. His glorious flight
occurred on July 25, 1909. |
|
Officer
Buckle and Gloria
by Peggy Rathmann
Caldecott Medal
1996
Ages 4–8
Officer Buckle’s school safety assemblies
are so boring that his audience falls asleep. Then police dog
Gloria joins the act and pantomimes each safety tip behind the
unsuspecting Officer Buckle who is amazed that his audience suddenly
finds him funny. The hilarious illustrations make this book something
special. |
|
Frankenstein
Makes a Sandwich
by Adam Rex
Ages 5–10
This hilarious collection of
illustrated poems describes the lives of famous monsters.
Kids will love the effortless rhymes and the different
art styles, individually tailored for each creature.
Great read-aloud. |
|
Baboushka
and the Three Kings
text by Ruth Robbins, illustrations
by Nicolas Sidjakov
Caldecott Medal
1961
Ages 4–8
The Three Kings coming from the East
to bring gifts to a new-born child lose their way in the snow
in Russia and knock on Baboushka’s door. She is too busy with
her chores to join them. The next morning she is sorry she refused
and tries to follow with her own gifts but the trail is covered
by new snow. Baboushka gives her gifts to other children instead.
The strong primary colors and bold outlines emphasize the Russian
theme of the story. |
|
Sergio
Makes a Splash
by Edel Rodriguez
Ages 3–8
Sergio the penguin loves water,
as long as it’s not very deep since he can’t swim. Poster-like
expressive illustrations present Sergio’s plunge into
the water, armed with floaties, snorkel, and a life preserver. |
|
My
Friend Rabbit
by Eric Rohmann
Caldecott Medal 2003
Ages 4–8
Mouse narrates this story of his friend
Rabbit who has just as much fun getting Mouse out of trouble
as he does getting him into it. Incredible and hilarious illustrations
support the simple story. |
|
Silly
Lilly and the Four Seasons
by Agnes Rosenstiehl
Ages 4–8
In this Toon Book (comic easy
reader), the curious and observant Lilly enjoys the four
seasons in five short scenes. |
|
Meet
Wild Boars
by Meg Rosoff, Sophie Blackall
Ages 4–8
Wild boars Morris, Boris, Horace,
and Doris are dirty, smelly, bad-tempered, and rude.
This silly cautionary book is sure to delight young readers. |
|
Jumpy
Jack & Googily
by Meg Rosoff & Sophie Blackall
Ages 3–8
Jumpy Jack the snail is worried
he will meet a monster and describes the dreaded beast
to his friend Googily. The comically understated text
provides a foil for the vivid visual punch lines. |
|
Silent
Music
by James Rumford
Ages 4–9
Like his hero Yakut, who wrote about
the destruction of Baghdad in 1258, Ali turns to calligraphy
during the bombing of Baghdad in 2003. |
|
Grandfather’s
Journey
by Allen Say
Caldecott Medal
1994
Ages 4–8
This book tells the story of Say’s grandfather
who sailed from Japan to North America, ending up in California.
He returned to Japan to marry his sweetheart, bringing her back
to California. When his daughter is nearly grown, he takes his
family back to Japan. In Japan they miss California and return
to America. The beautiful illustrations perfectly capture the
feeling of always being homesick for one country or the other. |
|
Kids
Like Us
by Carole Schaefer & Pierr Morgan
Ages 3–6
Enthusiastic language and appropriate
text capture the exuberant yet serious spirit of small multiracial
children absorbed in creative play. |
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Little
Blue Truck
by Alice Schertle
Ages 3–7
All the animals love to see Little
Blue Truck coming down the road, but not the obnoxious
Dump Truck. Rhyming stanzas encourage joining in on the
animal and vehicle noises in this nostalgic homage to
friendship and the rewards of helping others. |
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Gallop!
by Rufus Butler Seder
Ages 4–8
Inventor, artist, and filmmaker Seder
has created Scanimation, a new animation technique.
A hidden tab in each page slides an acetate layer over an animal
image, creating the illusion of motion reminicent of Eadweard
Muybridge’s motion photography. Rhyming text accompanies each
animated image on this fascinating picture book. |
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Where
the Wild Things Are
by Maurice Sendak
Caldecott Medal 1964
Ages 4–8
Max puts on his wolf suit and gets sent
to bed without supper. Luckily a forest grows in his room and
he can rampage with the other wild things. The hilarious wild
things, scary-looking without actually being scary, and the wonderful
run-on sentences of the simple text combine to create an incredible
view inside a child’s imagination. |
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How
I Learned Geography
by Uri Shulevitz
Ages 4–8
Uri’s boyhood memories of WWII: using
geography and imagination to combat fear and rage while fleeing
Warsaw for Kazakhstan. |
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So
You Want to Be President?
text by Judith St. George, illustrations
by David Small
Caldecott Medal 2001
Ages 8–12
This lighthearted book uses anecdotes
and trivia to convey the message that anyone can be president.
The humorous caricatures highlight each president's best known
qualities. |
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The
House in the Night
by Susan Marie Swanson
Ages 3–6
Beth Krommes’s magical illustrations
amplify the minimal text to highlight the things in a
house that really matter: books, art, music, and love.
This bedtime book will be treasured by children and adults
alike. |
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Joseph
Had a Little Overcoat
by Simms Taback
Caldecott Medal 2000
Ages 4–8
When Joseph’s overcoat starts falling
apart he turns it into a jacket, then a vest, then a scaft, and
so on in this adaptation of a Yiddish folksong. The illustrations
are incredibly detailed and full of funny details. |
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United
Tweets of America
by Hudson Talbott
Ages 6–8
In the United Tweets pageant,
state birds show off their home states. The state trivia
is delivered in a delightful tongue-in-cheek fashion
sure to spark interest in geography and history in young
readers. |
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Many
Moons
by James Thurber, illustrations
by Louis Slobodkin
Caldecott Medal 1944
Ages 4–8
Once there was a little princess who
wanted the moon, but no one could get it for her—not her
father, the king, his wise men, or the jester. Finally the little
princess solves the problem herself. The beautiful watercolors
portray the magical quality of this tale. |
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White
Snow, Bright Snow
by Alvin Tresselt, illustrations
by Roger Duvoisin
Caldecott Medal 1948
Ages 4–8
When the snow begins to fall, the adults
rush around doing important chores, but the children dance and
try to catch snowflakes on their tongues. The bright illustrations
capture a child’s delight in the first snow of the season. |
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The
Polar Express
by Chris Van Allsburg
Caldecott Medal 1986
Ages 6–8
The Polar Express is an old-fashioned
steam train that takes children to the North Pole on Christmas
Eve. Incredible illustrations evoke a memory of a long-ago time. |
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Building
Manhattan
by Laura Vila
Ages 6–8
Following the growth of Manhattan
from prehistory to the present in lavish illustrations
and single sentences, this book will be enjoyed over
and over. |
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The
Biggest Bear
by Lynd Ward
Caldecott Medal 1953
Ages 4–8
Johnny sets off to kill the biggest bear
he can find, but since all he finds is a cup he brings it home.
When the bear grows too big to keep as a pet, Johnny tries to
set it free, but the bear keeps returning at supper time. Finally
Johnny has to find permanent solution. Beautifully detailed illustrations
capture rural life perfectly. |
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Chester
by Mélanie Watt
Ages 4–8
Mélanie Watt starts to write the story
of a mouse, but her cat Chester, armed with a red marker, dismisses
the mouse and rewrites the story with a new hero—himself.
Mélanie and the mouse fight back, and it’s a duel to the final
page in this hilarious picture book. |
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Flotsam
by David Wiesner
Caldecott Medal 2007
Ages 4–9
In this wordless picture book, a wave
brings an underwater camera to shore and a boy develops the film.
Amazing photographs emerge: a windup fish, aliens among the sea
horses, an octopus reading, and finally a picture of a child
holding a picture of a child holding a picture of a child… inviting
the reader to discover the narrative on each page. |
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The
Three Pigs
by David Wiesner
Caldecott Medal 2002
Ages 5–8
These three clever pigs move from realistic
to storybook illustrations as they manipulate the classic tale.
The use of white space, perspective, and humor make these illustrations
something special. |
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Tuesday
by David Wiesner
Caldecott Medal 1992
Ages 5–8
In this nearly wordless book, the frogs
on their lily pads soar through the night. The illustrations
perfectly capture the surreal magic of flying frogs. |
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Golem
by David Wisniewski
Caldecott Medal 1997
Ages 6–10
Elaborate cut-paper collage illustrations
provide dramatic visuals for this retelling of a Jewish legend
of Rabbi Loew who used his powers to create a gigantic Golem
from clay to protect his people from persecution in the ghettos
of 16th-century Prague. |
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A
Tree Is Nice
text by Janice Udry, illustrations
by Marc Simont
Caldecott Medal 1957
Ages 4–8
This book explores all the benefits that
trees bring us in simple text suitable for young readers. The
elongated shape of the book allows the beautiful illustrations
to capture the graceful height of trees. |
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Owl
Moon
text by Jane Yolen, illustrations
by John Schoenherr
Caldecott Medal 1988
Ages 3–8
A young girl and her father go owling
late one winter night. The lyrical text and beautiful illustrations
combine to transform this simple event into a magical adventure. |
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Hey,
Al
text by Arthur Yorinks, illustrations
by Richard Egielski
Caldecott Medal 1987
Ages 4–8
A strange bird offers to take Al, the
janitor, and his dog Eddie to a wonderful place with no worries.
The strange and beautiful place is indeed paradise, but Al and
Eddie eventually decide that home is better. |
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Lon
Po Po:
A
Red-Riding Hood Story from China
by Ed Young
Caldecott Medal 1990
Ages 4–8
Three daughters left at home while their
mother goes to visit Grandmother are almost fooled by Lon Po
Po, the wolf pretending to be their Grandmother. Incredible illustrations
that are both realistic and abstract add to the power of this
retelling of the classic tale. |
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Rapunzel
by Paul O. Zelinsky
Caldecott Medal 1998
Ages 4–10
The beautiful Italian Renaissance-styled
illustrations with warm golden tones bring the classic Brothers
Grimm fairy tale to life. |
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Duffy
and the Devil
illustrated by Margot Zemach, text
by Harve Zemach
Caldecott Medal 1974
Ages 4–8
This comic version of the Rumpelstiltskin
story is based on a 19th century play from Cornwall, England.
The pen and wash illustrations are rich in detail and humorous
interpretation of the characters. |
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