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January 14, 2008
Books I Wouldn’t Mind Seeing Win a Caldecott in, Say, Fifteen Minutes
Because I don’t need to be packing or feeding Lucas or showering or anything. As far as I can tell, they’re all long shots, but we’ll see.
Today and Today by Kobayashi Issa, illustrated by G. Brian Karas
I have been talking about this book for months, and I still think it’s extraordinary. Karas has done about a million books, many of them excellent work, but he’s stretched himself here in a book that is quiet and simple and perfect. It’s not jumping up and down screaming, “GIVE ME A CALDECOTT!” I like that about it.
17 Things I’m Not Allowed to Do Anymore by Jenny Offill, illustrated by Nancy Carpenter
This is another out-there kind of choice, but I think Carpenter has done a lot of fun, subtle things with her mixed-media art. It looks haphazard at first glance, but when you examine more closely, you realize how much control she has. My favorite is the window in the door that she clearly cut out of paper and tinted to match the reflection of the mother’s shirt.
Cowboy and Octopus by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith
Smith hasn’t stretched himself much here, but y’all know this book made me laugh.
Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine, illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Just when I thought the world did not need another picture book about the underground railroad. Jeepers. This book made me cry buckets, and Nelson has done amazing, amazing things with light.
Knuffle Bunny Too by Mo Willems
I don’t think the story is as strong as the first book, but he definitely kicked the art up a notch.
There you go. I haven’t read enough chapter books this year to have an opinion on the Newbery, but I wouldn’t be sorry to see Jack Gantos get some recognition for I Am Not Joey Pigza.
[Note: Since I’m doing this, like so many other things, at the last possible minute, I haven’t checked the eligibility of the illustrators. If they live in other countries, it’s a no-go.]
Posted by adrienne at January 14, 2008 07:16 AM