As we all know, the most exciting day of the year is coming up soon....The day when the winner of the 2016 Caldecott is announced!
The real winner will be announced at the American Library Association's Mid-Winter meeting in January, but until then, we can read all the best books published this year and make our predictions for the winner.
Many of these "Caldecott Contenders" have recently arrived in the library, and we will be looking at many of them in upcoming library classes, along with past winners. They will be reserved for teachers until after the winner is announced, but if families are eager to read them at home before that, I encourage you to visit the public library!
Below are some of the highlights from this year's books - grouped by level (Low, Medium, High) and with some of my favorites at the end.
Low:
I Hear a Pickle: and Smell, See, Touch, & Taste It, Too! By Rachel Isadora - A fun first look at the five senses
My Friend Maggie by Hannah Harrison - A book about bullying the importance of standing up for your friends - even when it’s not cool.
Hoot and Peep by Lita Judge - The story of two owls - a big brother and his little sister who annoys him - until she’s not there. Beautiful illustrations
Penguin Problems by Jory John - The funny tale of a penguin who can’t stop complaining - until he realizes that maybe he doesn’t have it so bad, after all.
Real Cowboys by Kate Hoefler - A new look at cowboys, and how they care for their animals and their land.
Shy by Deborah Freedman - The story of a giraffe that is so shy that he hides inside this book!
Ooko by Esme Shapiro -The funny story of a confused fox who just wants to find a friend.
Medium:
A Bike Like Sergio’s by Maribeth Boelts - The story of a boy who finds someone’s money - just enough to buy the bike he wants - but is the money really his to keep?
Jack’s Worry by Sam Zuppardi - An anxious boy must overcome his worries and perform in a school concert.
Yaks Yak by Linda Park - A cute story about animal word pairs (bugs bug, flouders flounder, etc.)
Rudas: Niño's Horrendous Hermanitas by Yuyi Morales - Two plucky kids face-off with a wrestler. Note: Partially in Spanish.
Teacup by Rebecca Young: A beautifully illustrated story of a boy who must leave home and the teacup he takes with him.
A Voyage in the Clouds by Matthew Olshan - The hilarious tale of the first hot air balloon voyage - and the two rivals behind it.
Storybook Knight by Helen Docherty - The story of a knight who tames a dragon with his favorite thing - books!
A Poem for Peter by Andrea Davis Pinkey - The story of Ezra Jack Keats and his beloved picturebook.
High:
Frank and Lucky Get Schooled by Lynne Ray Perkins - A boy and his dog explore the world and discover how different subjects in school (art, science, math) connect to each other and the world around them.
I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsberg Makes her Mark by Debbie Levy - a biography of the famously opinionated Supreme Court justice
Their Great Gift: Courage, Sacrifice and Hope in a New Land by John Coy - A book about immigrants and their great gift to the United States.
Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille by Jen Bryant - A biography of Louis Braille
Giant Squid by Candace Fleming - a look at the mysterious Giant Squid. Beautiful illustrations.
Jazz Day: The Making of a Famous Photograph by Roxane Orgill - Beautiful poems and illustrations come together to tell the story of the famous photograph, Harlem 1958
Miss Mary Reporting by Sue Macy - A biography of the groundbreaking sportswriter Mary Garber
All Ages (and my favorites):
Thunder Boy Jr. by Sherman Alexie - Full of colorful illustrations, the story of a little boy who hates his name. (And my predication for this year's winner.)
Before Morning by Joyce Sidam - A beautiful story of a child who hopes for a snowstorm, so that her pilot mother will be able to stay home.
They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wentzel - Different animals see the same cat, each with their own unique point-of-view
The Night Gardener by Terry Fan - The story of a mysterious gardener who enchants a town
Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat by Javaka Steptoe - A colorful biography of the artist.
Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood by F. Isabel Campoy - Neighbors in Chicago work together to make a mural.
Arctic White by Danna Smith - The story of a girl who finds hope in a dark, cold winter.
Finding Wild by Megan Lloyd - A book about finding nature, even in the most unlikely of spaces.
Leave Me Alone by Vera Brosgol - A hilarious tale of a grandma who just wants a little peace and quiet - and the extremes she goes to to find it.
A Child of Books by Oliver Jeffers - a book about the magic of stories.
The real winner will be announced at the American Library Association's Mid-Winter meeting in January, but until then, we can read all the best books published this year and make our predictions for the winner.
Many of these "Caldecott Contenders" have recently arrived in the library, and we will be looking at many of them in upcoming library classes, along with past winners. They will be reserved for teachers until after the winner is announced, but if families are eager to read them at home before that, I encourage you to visit the public library!
Below are some of the highlights from this year's books - grouped by level (Low, Medium, High) and with some of my favorites at the end.
Low:
I Hear a Pickle: and Smell, See, Touch, & Taste It, Too! By Rachel Isadora - A fun first look at the five senses
My Friend Maggie by Hannah Harrison - A book about bullying the importance of standing up for your friends - even when it’s not cool.
Hoot and Peep by Lita Judge - The story of two owls - a big brother and his little sister who annoys him - until she’s not there. Beautiful illustrations
Penguin Problems by Jory John - The funny tale of a penguin who can’t stop complaining - until he realizes that maybe he doesn’t have it so bad, after all.
Real Cowboys by Kate Hoefler - A new look at cowboys, and how they care for their animals and their land.
Shy by Deborah Freedman - The story of a giraffe that is so shy that he hides inside this book!
Ooko by Esme Shapiro -The funny story of a confused fox who just wants to find a friend.
Medium:
A Bike Like Sergio’s by Maribeth Boelts - The story of a boy who finds someone’s money - just enough to buy the bike he wants - but is the money really his to keep?
Jack’s Worry by Sam Zuppardi - An anxious boy must overcome his worries and perform in a school concert.
Yaks Yak by Linda Park - A cute story about animal word pairs (bugs bug, flouders flounder, etc.)
Rudas: Niño's Horrendous Hermanitas by Yuyi Morales - Two plucky kids face-off with a wrestler. Note: Partially in Spanish.
Teacup by Rebecca Young: A beautifully illustrated story of a boy who must leave home and the teacup he takes with him.
A Voyage in the Clouds by Matthew Olshan - The hilarious tale of the first hot air balloon voyage - and the two rivals behind it.
Storybook Knight by Helen Docherty - The story of a knight who tames a dragon with his favorite thing - books!
A Poem for Peter by Andrea Davis Pinkey - The story of Ezra Jack Keats and his beloved picturebook.
High:
Frank and Lucky Get Schooled by Lynne Ray Perkins - A boy and his dog explore the world and discover how different subjects in school (art, science, math) connect to each other and the world around them.
I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsberg Makes her Mark by Debbie Levy - a biography of the famously opinionated Supreme Court justice
Their Great Gift: Courage, Sacrifice and Hope in a New Land by John Coy - A book about immigrants and their great gift to the United States.
Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille by Jen Bryant - A biography of Louis Braille
Giant Squid by Candace Fleming - a look at the mysterious Giant Squid. Beautiful illustrations.
Jazz Day: The Making of a Famous Photograph by Roxane Orgill - Beautiful poems and illustrations come together to tell the story of the famous photograph, Harlem 1958
Miss Mary Reporting by Sue Macy - A biography of the groundbreaking sportswriter Mary Garber
All Ages (and my favorites):
Thunder Boy Jr. by Sherman Alexie - Full of colorful illustrations, the story of a little boy who hates his name. (And my predication for this year's winner.)
Before Morning by Joyce Sidam - A beautiful story of a child who hopes for a snowstorm, so that her pilot mother will be able to stay home.
They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wentzel - Different animals see the same cat, each with their own unique point-of-view
The Night Gardener by Terry Fan - The story of a mysterious gardener who enchants a town
Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat by Javaka Steptoe - A colorful biography of the artist.
Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood by F. Isabel Campoy - Neighbors in Chicago work together to make a mural.
Arctic White by Danna Smith - The story of a girl who finds hope in a dark, cold winter.
Finding Wild by Megan Lloyd - A book about finding nature, even in the most unlikely of spaces.
Leave Me Alone by Vera Brosgol - A hilarious tale of a grandma who just wants a little peace and quiet - and the extremes she goes to to find it.
A Child of Books by Oliver Jeffers - a book about the magic of stories.
