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January 21, 2007
My Favorite Picture Books of 2006, None of Which is Very Likely to Win a Caldecott Tomorrow
In all technicality, the decisions are made and whatever’s won has already won, but we don’t get to find out until tomorrow’s webcast.
I don’t expect any of my favorites to win a Caldecott this year. Actually, nothing’s jumping up and down waving its arms screaming, “I’M GOING TO WIN THE CALDECOTT!!!” this year as far as I’m concerned. I have some thoughts about what might win, but I’m not even going to hazard a guess. Instead, I’m just going to tell you about some books that grabbed me for one reason or another:
The 39 Apartments of Ludwig Van Beethoven by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Barry Blitt
Funny, funny, funny. I love fake history almost as much as I love fake news, and this is fake history at its very best.
Adele & Simon by Barbara McClintock
This doesn’t seem Caldecott worthy because it’s very much in McClintock’s usual style – which is always a nice combination of lively and lovely. Here, poor Adele is trying to keep track of younger Simon and his things as they traipse around Paris on their way home from school. On each spread, Simon manages to lose something, and readers will enjoy lingering to figure out what’s becoming of Simon’s belongings. Losing things is a typical childhood trial, and I like the way McClintock has turned it into a crafty little introduction to Paris.
Bats at the Beach by Brian Lies
The text is mediocre on this one (a little too much sing-song rhyme), but the illustrations are gorgeous. I love the way Lies portrays night, and it’s amazing how he makes his accurate, detailed bats batty and expressive at the same time. The book is worth its price for the bat all wrapped up in his wings, teeth a-chattering. This is one of the only books I’ve seen this year with art that feels truly unique and distinguished.
Black? White! Day? Night!: A Book of Opposites by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Seeger uses clean, modern lines and outrageously bold colors to teach us about opposites. Each page features a page-sized flap with a die cut that illustrates one word; lifting the flap reveals its opposite. The way Seeger incorporates those die cut holes into both illustrations is interesting, often surprising, and always effective. Thinking again, this one could be Caldecott Honor worthy.
Cookies: Bite-Size Life Lessons by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Jane Dyer
I love books that play around with language and teach vocabulary in an inventive way, and I don’t think this book has gotten the attention it deserves.
Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich by Adam Rex
I love Adam Rex. I love poetry. I love monsters. I love this book.
I’m Not Cute! by Jonathan Allen
Um, yes, he is, and this is a great storytime book besides.
John, Paul, George, and Ben by Lane Smith
Ditto 39 Apartments, although I could see this one actually taking a Caldecott this year.
The Little Red Hen by Jerry Pinkney
A lovely traditional telling of one of my favorite stories. I could see Pinkney with an Honor for this one. Maybe. Notice how I'm sneaking in predictions after asserting that I'm not? But, really, I'm not.
Oink? by Margie Palatini, illustrated by Henry Cole
Live and let live with a whole lotta laughing. Margie Palatini can’t write anything bad as far as I’m concerned, and Henry Cole is becoming one of my favorite illustrators.
The Runaway Dinner by Allan Ahlberg and Bruce Ingman
This book makes me laugh and laugh. The language and illustrations are just perfect. I imagine the Caldecott committee discussed this one, and I suppose it could net an Honor. The peas are really, really cute.
The True Story of Stellina by Matteo Pericoli
Spare and beautiful – both in the art and telling. I meet very few picture books that tug my heartstrings in a way that doesn’t feel manipulative, but this book is one of them. I dare you not to get misty.
When You Were Small by Sara O’Leary, illustrated by Julie Morstad
O’Leary gives us a father telling his son Henry stories about when he was small, very small, about-the-size-of-a-pen-cap small. O’Leary’s text and Morstad’s illustrations are understated and spare, making for a surprisingly quiet book given the subject matter. It’s just right, though: these aren’t stories told to make a child laugh, they’re meant to entertain and let a child know how much he’s loved.
The Wild Girl by Christopher Wormell
I don't know what I want to say about this book, other than I really love it.
Wolves by Emily Gravett
I believe Ms. Gravett is British, which makes this book ineligible for the Caldecott, but, if not, it could totally be a winner. It’s the story of a rabbit who is reading about wolves on his way home from the library. Ironically enough, he’s so absorbed in his reading that he fails to notice that he is, even then, being stalked by a wolf. Readers won’t miss it. The way Gravett makes her text and illustrations work together is brilliant, and she manages to create one of the few successful picture book dark comedies in existence. Bravo to that.
Posted by adrienne at January 21, 2007 04:59 PM
Comments
Cute peas? How titallating. Love your list... thanks!
Posted by: Liz Garton Scanlon at January 23, 2007 09:17 AM
Thanks for this - I think you got the book just right!
Posted by: Sara at January 26, 2007 10:13 AM