Caldecott

PBS Roundtable Caldecotts Part 2Part 2 IG
March 29, 2024 In Caldecott, Roundtable

PBSummit Roundtable – Caldecott Honor Books 2024 – Part 2

Today we bring you Part 2 of our 2024 Caldecott breakdown!

If you missed the first part of our Caldecott discussion, we chatted about Caldecott Honor Books THERE WAS A PARTY FOR LANGSTON illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey and written by Jason Reynolds and IN EVERY LIFE written and illustrated by Marla Frazee. Click here to check it out.

In this video, we get to discuss the Caldecott Medal Winner BIG written and illustrated by Vashti Harrison and Caldecott Honor Book THE TRUTH ABOUT DRAGONS illustrated by Hanna Cha and written by Julie Leung.

It’s an embarrassment of riches with this year’s honorees!

Emma Walton Hamilton starts the discussion by introducing to the BIG themes and emotions of BIG and Kelli Panique shares the quiet brilliance of THE TRUTH ABOUT DRAGONS with more analysis and observations from Julie Hedlund, and Katie Davis. Get your library card out, you’re going to want to read these picture books again and again!

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PBS Roundtable Caldecotts 2024 Part 1
March 6, 2024 In Caldecott, Roundtable

PBSummit Roundtable – Caldecott Honor Books 2024 – Part 1

It’s time for another episode of the Picture Book Summit Roundtable. This is the time of year where we get to discuss the Caldecotts!

We are a chatty bunch—especially when we’re talking about picture books—so today we bring you our chat about two of this year’s Caldecott Honor Books: THERE WAS A PARTY FOR LANGSTON illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey and written by Jason Reynolds and IN EVERY LIFE written and illustrated by Marla Frazee

PBSummit Roundtable Caldecott Honor Books - Langston and In Every Life

In the first part of our video, Emma Walton Hamilton shares the judging guidelines for the Caldecott Medal, which is primarily an award for illustration. Then, Julie Hedlund, Katie Davis, and Kelli Panique jump into the discussion about these two marvelous books. Get ready to add them to your TBR list.

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Watercress Andrea Wang Jason Chin
May 3, 2022 In Caldecott

Watercress

It’s the culmination of our 2022 Caldecott Breakdown series as we dive into this year’s Caldecott Medal Winner, WATERCRESS!

If you missed our previous discussions, you can still catch them at the links below.

In today’s video, we are honored to share with you the stunning picture book WATERCRESS, written by Andrea Wang and illustrated by Jason Chin.

Here’s a brief description:

Watercress by Andrea Wang and Jason Chin“Driving through Ohio in an old Pontiac, a young girl’s parents stop suddenly when they spot watercress growing wild in a ditch by the side of the road. Grabbing an old paper bag and some rusty scissors, the whole family wades into the muck to collect as much of the muddy, snail covered watercress as they can.

At first, she’s embarrassed. Why can’t her family get food from the grocery store? But when her mother shares a story of her family’s time in China, the girl learns to appreciate the fresh food they foraged. Together, they make a new memory of watercress.

Andrea Wang tells a moving autobiographical story of a child of immigrants discovering and connecting with her heritage, illustrated by award-winning author and artist Jason Chin, working in an entirely new style, inspired by Chinese painting techniques. An author’s note in the back shares Andrea’s childhood experience with her parents.”

Click the video below and listen in as Julie Hedlund shares some behind-the-scenes insight from Jason Chin about this remarkable story. READ MORE

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Mel_Fell by Corey Tabor
April 26, 2022 In Caldecott

Mel Fell

Welcome to the fourth video in our 2022 Caldecott Breakdown series.  Today, we soar to new heights with MEL FELL. If you missed our previous discussions, you can still catch them at the links below.

In today’s video, we jump into Caldecott Honor Book MEL FELL written and illustrated by Corey R. Tabor.

Here’s a brief description:

Mel Fell by Corey R. Tabor

“Readers will delight in turning their book sideways and upside down to follow Mel on her journey from downward fall to triumphant flight in this tale of self-confidence and taking a leap of faith.

An especially enjoyable and satisfying read-aloud!

Sometimes, you might fall

down,

down,

down,

before you learn to fly

up,

up,

up…”

Click play to join in the fun of this charming book with Katie Davis and the Picture Book Summit Team.READ MORE

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Unspeakable The Tulsa Race Massacre by Carole Boston Weatherford and Floyd Cooper
April 19, 2022 In Caldecott

Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre

Welcome to the third video in our 2022 Caldecott Breakdown series.  Today, we explore UNSPEAKABLE: THE TULSA RACE MASSACRE. If you missed our previous discussions, check them out at the links below.

Today’s analysis centers around Caldecott Honor Book UNSPEAKABLE: THE TULSA RACE MASSACRE written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by the late great Floyd Cooper.

Here’s a brief description:

Unspeakable by Carole Boston Weatherford and Floyd CooperCelebrated author Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrator Floyd Cooper provide a powerful look at the Tulsa Race Massacre, one of the worst incidents of racial violence in our nation’s history. The book traces the history of African Americans in Tulsa’s Greenwood district and chronicles the devastation that occurred in 1921 when a white mob attacked the Black community.

News of what happened was largely suppressed, and no official investigation occurred for seventy-five years. This picture book sensitively introduces young readers to this tragedy and concludes with a call for a better future.

In today’s video, Emma shows how the illustrations and text introduce readers to this terrible event in an accessible way.READ MORE

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Have_You-Ever_Seen_A_Flower
April 12, 2022 In Caldecott

Have You Ever Seen a Flower?

Welcome to the second video in 2022 Caldecott Breakdown series. The committee honored five picture books this year, so look for more videos over the coming weeks! If you missed last week’s discussion on WONDER WALKERS with Emma Walton Hamilton, you can check it out here.

In today’s analysis, we discover the 2022 Caldecott Honor Book HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A FLOWER? This delightful picture book is written and illustrated by Shawn Harris.

Here’s a quick description:

Have You Ever Seen a Flower by Shawn HarrisHAVE YOU EVER SEEN A FLOWER? is an enchanting picture book exploring the relationship between childhood and nature. In this simple yet profound story, one child experiences a flower with all five senses–from its color to its fragrance to the entire universe it evokes–revealing how a single flower can expand one’s perspective in incredible ways.

In today’s video, Katie Davis shares Shawn Harris’ authorial debut and what happens when you look at seemingly ordinary things in an extraordinary way.  READ MORE

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Wonder Walkers by Micha Archer
April 5, 2022 In Caldecott

Wonder Walkers

Our Caldecott Breakdown Series is back for 2022! Each year, our founders give an in-depth analysis of the winning books. We examine the illustrations, analyze the text, and discuss how they combine to create an award-winning picture book. Over the next five weeks, we’ll dive deep into each of this year’s amazing books and share insights into the illustrators and their processes. Most importantly, we hope these talks will give you a new perspective as you work on your own manuscripts.

First off, congratulations to the 2022 Caldecott Medal Winner: WATERCRESS written by Andrea Wang and illustrated by Jason Chin! This book is a thing of beauty and we can’t wait to share it with you in the coming weeks.

This year the Caldecott Committee recognized four books as 2022 Caldecott Honor Books:

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blog_featured_image_We-are-Water-Protectors
April 1, 2021 In Caldecott

We Are Water Protectors

Today is the day we celebrate this year’s Caldecott Medal Winner WE ARE WATER PROTECTORS. This is the fifth and final video in our 2021 Caldecott Medal and Honor breakdown series. If you missed the first four installments in the series, catch up here:

Pull up a chair for today’s analysis of 2021 Caldecott Medal Winner WE ARE WATER PROTECTORS illustrated by Michaela Goade and written Carole Lindstrom.

We are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom and Michaela GoadeHere’s a brief description of this poignant book:

Inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America, We Are Water Protectors issues an urgent rallying cry to safeguard the Earth’s water from harm and corruption―a bold and lyrical picture book written by Carole Lindstrom and vibrantly illustrated by Michaela Goade.

“Water is the first medicine.
It affects and connects us all . . .”

When a black snake threatens to destroy the Earth
And poison her people’s water, one young water protector
Takes a stand to defend Earth’s most sacred resource.

As well as receiving the Caldecott Medal, WE ARE WATER PROTETORS was also awarded the Golden Kite Award for Picture Book Text. Talk about the perfect marriage of text and illustration! In this video, Julie Hedlund reveals what makes this book so stunning and why it deserves all the award praise it’s received this year.

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blog Me and Mama by Cozbi Cabrera
March 25, 2021 In Caldecott

Me and Mama

It’s time for the fourth video in our 2021 Caldecott Medal and Honor breakdown series with ME AND MAMA. If you missed the first three videos in the series, catch up here:

Now, it’s time to cozy up with today’s analysis of 2021 Caldecott Honor Book ME AND MAMA written and illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera.

Here’s a brief description of this sweet, heartwarming book:

Mama’s love is brighter than the sun, even on the rainiest of days. This celebration of a mother-daughter relationship is perfect for sharing with little ones.

“On a rainy day when the house smells like cinnamon and Papa and Luca are still asleep, when the clouds are wearing shadows and the wind paints the window with beads of water, I want to be everywhere Mama is.”

With lyrical prose and a tender touch, the Caldecott and Coretta Scott King Honor Book Mama and Me is an ode to the strength of the bond between a mother and a daughter as they spend a rainy day together.

In today’s video, Katie Davis shares how these delightful illustrations add even more joy to this sweet girl’s adventures with her mom. If you’ve ever found the extraordinary in an ordinary day with a little one in your life, get ready to treasure this picture book.

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blog A Place Inside of Me by Zetta Elliot and Noa Denmon
March 18, 2021 In Caldecott

A Place Inside of Me

It’s time for the third video breakdown of the 2021 Caldecott Medal and Honor books with A PLACE INSIDE OF ME. If you missed our first two videos, catch up here:

Now, on to today’s analysis of 2021 Caldecott Honor Book A PLACE INSIDE OF ME: A POEM TO HEAL THE HEART illustrated by Noa Denmon and written by Zetta Elliot.

A Place Inside of Me by Zetta Elliot and Noa DenmonHere’s a brief description of this one-of-a-kind book:

In this powerful, affirming poem by award-winning author Zetta Elliott, a Black child explores his shifting emotions throughout the year.

There is a place inside of me
a space deep down inside of me
where all my feelings hide.

Summertime is filled with joy–skateboarding and playing basketball—until his community is deeply wounded by a police shooting. As fall turns to winter and then spring, fear grows into anger, then pride and peace. In her stunning debut, illustrator Noa Denmon articulates the depth and nuances of a child’s experiences following a police shooting–through grief and protests, healing and community–with washes of color as vibrant as his words. Here is a groundbreaking narrative that can help all readers–children and adults alike–talk about the feelings hiding deep inside each of us.

In today’s video, Laura Backes shares the many layers at play in this book that explores and processes all the emotions of the heart. You’ll see the perfect marriage of text and illustration in this award-winning book.

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