Tag: Caldecott Books

Book Review: A Couple Of Boys Have The Best Week Ever By Marla Frazee

One of the most memorable parts of childhood summers would have to be going to camp. Whether it be band camp, or church camp, or scout camp or Grandparent camp, the mere act of going away for a whole week and experiencing something different is epic as a child. The plans and adventures don’t have to be major and most likely the smallest parts of the week are what is going to stick and be recounted for years to come. And that’s what this book really captures. This is a humorous glimpse of the minor details surrounding a week of camp and featuring two boys, some dear grandparents, and some profoundly honest and perfectly placed speech bubbles. Here is A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever by Marla Frazee, 2008.

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Book Review: The Fool Of The World And The Flying Ship By Ransome & Shulevitz

Seeing as it is April 1, also known as All Fools’ Day, I find it only fitting to share a book about one who is labeled as the Fool of the World. The story was originally published in 1916 as part of Old Peter’s Russian Tales by Arthur Ransome. Illustrator Uri Shulevitz has taken the story and given it beautiful illustrations which won him the Caldecott medal in 1969. So let’s celebrate an old Russian Tale and learn that perhaps a fool really isn’t what we think he is. This is The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship by Arthur Ransome, pictures by Uri Shulevtiz, 1968.

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Book Review: My Red Umbrella By Robert Bright

Whew! What a day Monday was with all the amazing children and adolescent book awards. I sat glued to my computer for the hour broadcast and it is better than the Oscars for this book loving nut. I laughed, teared up, tweeted and cheered. If you haven’t seen the results, here is the official Caldecott announcement. Jon Klassen took the Caldecott for This Is Not My Hat (which I don’t own yet!) and he also received an honor for Extra Yarn. He is the second person in 75 years of awards to take the Caldecott and an honor within the same year. Hooray! (Leonard Weisgard is the other illustrator to accomplish this feat and that was back in 1947 when he won for The Little Island, and Rain Drop Splash received an honor.)

There were many other awards as well, some of which I know nothing about (sadly!). But I was excited to hear about Mo Willems Let’s Go For a Drive winning a Geisel Honor (a.k.a. Dr. Seuss). I already have several other winners on hold at the library that I haven’t seen yet, so I’ll be sure to pass along the word if I become enamored with one.

With all the awards and 2012 wrap up behind us, I’m itching to talk vintage books again as well as new ones. As the east coast is getting pummeled with rain right now, my mind got fixed on this cute little red book from 1959. So here is My Red Umbrella, by Robert Bright.

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10 Things To Know About The Caldecott Medal

Monday, January 28, is a big day in the world of children’s picture books. The 2013 Caldecott Medal will be awarded as well as some honorable mentions. If you aren’t obsessed with children’s books like myself, then you may not care a lick; but in case you want to at least be a little knowledgeable, I am here to help. Here are 10 interesting things to know about the Caldecott Medal:

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25 Days – Book 19: The Polar Express

Before we look at today’s book, dear readers, you must do something. If you have seen the 2004 movie, The Polar Express, I need you to forget it. Erase it from your mind completely. Whether you liked the movie or not, you must pretend that you never saw it. This is very important for you to experience the real story, the book that is, which is quite different and ever so much more wonderful than the odd movie version. Forget it all.

Ok, now let’s talk about our book for day 19, The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. This book was created in 1985 and it is magical. Yes, truly magical.

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