January 7, 2010

• Interlude

  Past bed time – again.  Oh well.
  This is one of my favorite times of the year.  It’s award season in Library Land.  I have to confess that with all the changes my reading this past year hasn’t been as prolific as it usually is.  Time to get back on THAT horse for sure.  However, I believe I’ve read enough to have an opinion about what the best should be in children’s and young adult literature this year.  So let’s begin with the Caldecott Medal.  The criteria for this award can be found here:  http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/caldecottterms/caldecottterms.cfm  In brief the award is given to a resident of the United States for distinguished illustrations of a picture book.  This is a terribly abridged version of the criteria and the members of the committee spend long hours pouring over countless picture books.  It is not an easy task.  There has to be a marriage between illustration and text and a strong story line in the illustrations themselves.  My pick for this year’s win is a stunning piece by Jerry Pinkney entitled The Lion and the Mouse.  This nearly wordless book is a brilliant retelling of the Aesop’s fable by the same title.  I was hard-pressed to let it leave my desk for about two weeks after it came in and found myself returning to it again and again to find something new each time I opened the covers.  And it wasn’t until one of the children was looking at it that I noticed the cover illustrations complement each other as well – the front being of the lion and the back of the mouse.  I laughed out loud and we all stood around and oooo-ed and ahhhhh-ed over it.  The expressions on the animals faces are jewel-like in their precision and realism.  This is an absolutely perfect, perfect book.  Check it out at a library near you.

  PS – I can’t remember how to post a hyper-link so here’s the long Amazon link for the book:
  http://www.amazon.com/Lion-Mouse-Jerry-Pinkney/dp/0316013560
  Take a look.  You won’t be disappointed.

  Other illustrated literature of note:
  NB:  Some of thse may not be award eligible because of the residency requirement but they are still fine, fine books and you should find them at your library!
  Crow call / Lois Lowry ; illustrations by Bagram Ibatoulline
  Once Upon a Twice by Denise Doyen Illustrator: Barry Moser
  The Hair of Zoe Fleefenbacher Goes to School by Laurie Halse Anderson Illustrator:  Ard Hoyt
  Let’s Do Nothing by Tony Fucile Illustrated by the author
  Duck! Rabbit! / [text by] Amy Krouse Rosenthal ; [illustrations by] Tom Lichtenheld
  A book / by Mordicai Gerstein  Illustrated by the author
  Leaf / ideas, sound effects, and pictures by Stephen Michael King
  Blueberry girl / written by Neil Gaiman ; illustrated by Charles Vess

  I am quite certain there are others but I’m blessed if I can remember them right now.

  And so it goes.
  

  • 10:42 pm
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