Caldecott
2025 Caldecott Medal: Chooch Helped by Andrea L. Rogers
By Janie Cheaney |
Chooch Helped is a loving depiction of a Cherokee girl's little-brother issues. Chooch Helped by Andrea L. Rogers, illustrated by Rebecca Lee Kunz. Levine Querido, ...
Read More *Noodles on a Bicycle by Kyo Maclear
By Megan Saben |
Oh, the joy of noodle delivery when acrobatics are involved! *Noodles on a Bicycle by Kyo Maclear and illustrated by Gracey Zhang. Random House, 2024. ...
Read More 2024 Caldecott Honor Books Roundup
By Janie Cheaney |
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, ...
Read More 5 Ways to Encourage Art Appreciation with Picture Books
By Betsy Farquhar |
When are children old enough to begin appreciating quality art? As soon as they start looking at picture books. Note: even though this post references ...
Read More Caldecott Medal: Hot Dog by Doug Salati
By Betsy Farquhar |
Hot Dog by Doug Salati. Knopf, 2022. 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture Book, ages 0-4 Recommended for: ages 3-8 Dogs are everywhere these days: in ...
Read More The 2023 ALA Youth Media Awards
By Hayley Morell |
A Redeemed Reader Tradition This morning, a Redeemed Reader tradition of multiple years continued: listening to the ALA Youth Media Awards. Last year we gathered ...
Read More *See the Cat: Three stories about a dog
By Megan Saben |
A dog on a rug is quite understandably aggravated by the narrative narrator through three very short stories for beginning readers. Brilliant, clever, and hilarious. ...
Read More The 2021 ALA Youth Media Awards–How Did We Do?
By Janie Cheaney |
After an hour of listening and scribbling madly as announcements were read, I can now pass on what we learned from this year's ALA Youth ...
Read More Caldecott-Buzzy Picture Books
By Janie Cheaney |
The Barnabus Project, Our Little Kitchen, and I Am Every Good Thing are all contenders for this year's Caldecott award for illustration. The Barnabus Project ...
Read More Grand Canyon by Jason Chin
By Janie Cheaney |
A father-daughter hike from Phantom Ranch to the south rim of Grand Canyon reveals its geological wonders. Grand Canyon by Jason Chin. Roaring Brook, 2017, ...
Read More Picture Book Round-Up: 6 Multicultural Youth Media Award Winners
By Betsy Farquhar |
The 2018 ALA Youth Media Awards were announced last week, and children's lit fans around the country live-streamed the event (unless they were privileged to ...
Read More Selznick’s Invention
By Janie Cheaney |
(Note: This post is reprinted from 2011, in connection with the movie version of Wonderstruck, due to open tomorrow. It's a larger musing on Brian ...
Read More Winnie-the-Pooh: Two True Stories
By Betsy Farquhar |
Two picture books about the real Winnie-the-Pooh that both make delightful reading! *Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick and ...
Read More The 2016 ALA Youth Media Awards–What happened??
By Janie Cheaney |
As we were saying last Saturday . . . you just can’t predict what the Newbery committee is going to do. Trends have been toward ...
Read More Caldecott Buzz and Possible Picks
By Megan Saben |
Book award committees have such a delightfully difficult task. The ALA Caldecott awards will be announced, among others, on Monday, January 11, and there is ...
Read More *Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss
By Megan Saben |
*Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss. Random House, 1949. 56 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, Ages 4-8 Recommended For: Ages 4-8 Bartholomew and the ...
Read More *The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
By Betsy Farquhar |
*The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney. Little, Brown, 2009. 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8 Recommended For: All Ages Stunning illustrations, a vast ...
Read More Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen
By Megan Saben |
Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen. Candlewick, 2014. 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8 Recommended For: ages ...
Read More The Adventures of Beekle by Dan Santat
By Janie Cheaney |
The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat. Little, Brown, 2014. 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8 Bottom Line: The Adventures ...
Read More The Caldecott Committee Throws a Curve
By Janie Cheaney |
The American Library Association (ALA) stages a huge event every winter when it names the winners of its coveted John Newbery and Randolph Caldecott awards. ...
Read More The Noisy Paint Box by Barb Rosenstock, illustrated by Mary GrandPré
By Megan Saben |
The Noisy Paint Box by Barb Rosenstock, illustrated by Mary GrandPré. Alfred A. Knopf, 2014. 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8, ages 8-10 ...
Read More *Nana in the City by Lauren Castillo
By Betsy Farquhar |
Nana in the City by Lauren Castillo. Clarion, 2014. 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8Recommended for: ages 0-8 In this 2015 Caldecott Honor, Castillo ...
Read More The 2015 ALA Youth Media Awards
By Janie Cheaney |
Yesterday morning, the American Library Association announced their annual Youth Media Awards—which include, as any devotee of children’s literature knows, the celebrated Newbery and Caldecott ...
Read More *Noah’s Ark by Peter Spier
By Janie Cheaney |
Noah's Ark, Peter Spier’s classic wordless picture book, takes a Bible story that's often given too cute a portrayal and adds imagination, depth, and reverence. ...
Read More *The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton
By Megan Saben |
*The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton. Houghton Mifflin, 1969. 44 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, Ages 4-8Recommended for: Ages 4-8 A little house living out ...
Read More *The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus by Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet
By Betsy Farquhar |
*The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus by Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2014. 42 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ...
Read More A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Melissa Sweet
By Betsy Farquhar |
A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Melissa Sweet. Eerdmans, 2008. 34 pages. Reading Level: Picture ...
Read More Journey by Aaron Becker. Candlewick, 2013. 26 pages
By Janie Cheaney |
Journey, by Aaron Becker. Candlewick, 2013, 26 pages. Reading Level: Picture books, 4-8 Recommended for: ages 4-8 and up Bottom Line: Journey uses luminous illustrations--and ...
Read More Red Sings from Treetops by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski
By Betsy Farquhar |
Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski. Houghton Mifflin, 2009. 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages ...
Read More *The Gardener by Sarah Stewart and David Small
By Betsy Farquhar |
Lydia shares her efforts to bring beauty to the world around her in this epistolary picture book. *The Gardener by Sarah Stewart and David Small. ...
Read More ALA Awards: Newberys and Caldecotts, Splendors and Glooms
By Janie Cheaney |
One month ago was “Oscar night for Librarians,” when the American Library Association announced their “best of” picks for children’s literature. We’ve given some space ...
Read More The 2013 ALA Youth Media Awards: It’s the Bomb!
By Janie Cheaney |
Only total kidlit geeks would do this: click the live webcast link on the American Library Association website and watch an hour of book geeks ...
Read More Oscar Night for Librarians
By Janie Cheaney |
Actually, it’s not at night, but first thing in the morning. And there are no backless evening gowns or acceptance speeches (those come later). But ...
Read More *Dust Devil by Anne Isaacs
By Janie Cheaney |
Dust Devil, by Anne Isaacs, Illustrated by Paul Zelinsky, Schwartz & Wade, 2011. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8 Recommended for: Ages 4-8 and up ...
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