2024 Caldecott Honor Books Roundup

Jovita Wore Pants: The Story of a Mexican Freedom Fighter by Aida Salazar, illustrated by Molly Mendoza. Scholastic, 2023, 40 pages.

Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8
Recommended for: ages 8-12

Most Norte Americanos know little Mexican history, but it’s as colorful and turbulent as our own. Jovita Valdovinas, born in 1911, participated in an especially turbulent time after the Mexican government turned socialist and anti-religious. To rural Mexicans deeply entrenched in the Catholic faith, the suppression of churches and persecution of priests was a call to action, and thus the Cristero Revolution was born. Jovita’s father, a farmer of Zacatecas, was a leader in the rebellion, as were her brothers Ramon and Luciano. Jovita became the protector of her remaining family; after their home was burned by the Federales her familiarity with the countryside helped them find shelter and provision. But after her father and brothers were killed, Jovita joined the rebellion herself, cutting her hair and donning jeans and a sombrero.

The colorful illustrations of swirling wind, billowing clouds, and galloping horses reflect her action-packed life. Violence and tragedy make this not a story for small children, but older ones will be fascinated by the exploits of Mexico’s “Joan of Arc.” The author, Jovita’s great-niece, acknowledges in the appendix that her aunt didn’t always act well (no details, which makes me want to know more about her). But the main text depicts a largely admirable, larger-than-life character who lived with undeniable courage and determination.

Overall Rating: 4

• Worldview/moral value: 3.75
• Artistic/literary value: 4.5

The Truth about Dragons by Julie Leung, illustrated by Hanna Cha. Henry Holt, 2023, 36 pages.

Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8
Recommended for: Ages 4-10

It’s bedtime, and a mother whispers to her small son, “Lean in close, my darling bao bei, and I will whisper a most precious secret about a powerful magic that lives inside you.” To learn the magic, he must first “go on an epic quest to learn the truth about dragons.” The rest of the book describes this quest, which will begin by heading west. Richly-detailed, bordered pages show the boy encountering trolls and hobgoblins and treacherous will-o-the-whisps who try to lure him away from his goal. This is the home of a wise woman, who will feed him apple cider and sugar cookies and tell him about a frightening, fire-breathing beast with bat wings.

The next part of the quest will take him east, through bamboo forests under steep mountains and the gentle light of the moon-goddess. At an airy palace overlooking a towering waterfall he will encounter another wise woman. Over chrysanthemum tea, she will tell him of “majestic creatures of air and fire,” who guide nature from the lofty skies. Both the fearsome and the frolicsome are true dragons, but “some who cannot travel more than one path may demand that you choose between the clouds and the caves. For dragons cannot dwell in both, they say.” 

The meaning of this rather opaque advice becomes clear when we see that the boy has two grandmothers, one Asian and one Western, and both can tell him the truth. It’s up to the parent whether to dive into worldviews being equally true, but the story can be enjoyed for its own dragon-lore, and the beautiful illustrations including design elements and traditions from both sides of the globe.

Overall Rating: 4

• Worldview/moral value: 3.5
• Artistic/literary value: 4.5

NOTE: The Truth about Dragons is this year’s Asian/Pacific American Award winner in the picture-book category.

There Was a Party for Langston by Jason Reynolds, with art by Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey. Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, 2023, 56 pages.

Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8
Recommended for: ages 8-10

This book was inspired by a photograph of Maya Angelou and Amiri Baraka dancing at a library event honoring Langston Hughes.

Langston Hughes was a poet, a central figure in the Harlem Renaissance who had a great influence on other Black writers and speakers who love words and the power they have to move people.

The words in the narrative become part of the energetic illustrations. The authors on the spines of the library books participate by anticipating the event and watching the action from the shelves, all of which builds from an introduction to Langston’s work to the moment when two influential people take the time to boogie together.

I don’t know much about Amiri Baraka. I have had the privilege of hearing Maya Angelou speak. I’m now interested in reading more of Langston Hughes. But what I enjoyed most about this book is that it shows influential people being human and having a good time.

Overall Rating: 4

• Worldview/moral value: 3.75
• Artistic/literary value: 4

In Every Life by Marla Frazee. Beach Lane Books, 2023, 32 pages.

Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8
Recommended for: ages 8-10

Life is precious and full of smiles, hope, sadness, and multifaceted blessings. Through a wide range of diverse characters, Frazee beautifully showcases her lovely illustration skills by honoring not only the passing, meaningful, ordinary moments, but also the profound ones. The pages alternate between vignettes of either interaction between family and friends or loneliness in a variety of situations, followed by a beautiful double-page spread of one scene. Sometimes the circumstances are obvious, other times they’re unspecified.

However, there’s not much of a story for children to immerse themselves in, and there is at least one clear depiction of a same-sex couple. The Caldecott committee awarded this book an honor, but I don’t expect it to be a favorite read-aloud.

Overall Rating: 3

• Worldview/moral value: 2.5
• Artistic/literary value: 4

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