2009 Caldecott Medal Predictions
It’s an exciting time of the year, isn’t it? The awards, the accolades, the peanut butter buckeyes (ask me about them sometime) – all things (except the buckeyes) point to discovering which children’s books stood out in 2008. I’ve been paying attention over the past year, read tons of picture books, and I’ve got some opinions on the matter.
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So which books will bring home the Caldecott this year? Here are my picks.
2009 Caldecott Medal Winner Prediction: Old Bear by Kevin Henkes.
I think this one is just too likable to be denied. Great story, outstanding (and memorable) illustrations make this the front-runner in my book. Similar to when Ice Cube “messed around and got a triple double” in the hip-hop masterpiece “It Was a Good Day”, Henkes turns out another classic and makes it look effortless. The consummate pro just doin’ his thing.
Caldecott Honor Prediction: We Are the Ship by Kadir Nelson.
Hard to imagine this book on the list and not have it take top honors, but this is where it lands. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this take the top spot. I had the opportunity to see the artwork for this book up close when Mr. Nelson visited local Calvin College this year (click here to read about my experience). Impressive doesn’t really do his amazing work much justice. Here’s hoping that this one gets hardware for all the right reasons, and for one wrong one – so that I can use my “Year of Kadir” catchphrase just a couple more times.
Caldecott Honor Prediction: Wabi Sabi by Mark Reibstein and Ed Young.
I don’t know, I have a strange feeling that this one will either win the big prize, or it will get nothin’. Yours truly is making an attempt to hedge all bets by marking it as an Honor winner. In my review of the book, I described Mr. Young’s dense and highly textured artwork as “beautifully grotesque”. It is also some of the most memorable of the year.
Caldecott Honor Prediction: The Little Yellow Leaf by Carin Berger.
I love this book about an autumn leaf that just isn’t ready to let go. The moment that sealed it for me was when Ms. Berger switched up the perspective, showing the tree from a bird’s eye view, so the reader can see that the little yellow leaf has company:
What do you think? Will these predictions come true? Be sure to watch the 2009 ALA Youth Media Awards (including the Caldecott Medal) and find out. From the ALA website:
The American Library Association (ALA) will provide a free live Webcast of its national announcement of the top books and media for children and young adults on Monday, January 26 at 7:45 a.m. MT.
Online visitors will be able to view the live Webcast the morning of the announcements by going to http://www.unikron.com/clients/ala-webcast-2009. This link is not yet live, but those interested in following the action online should bookmark and use the URL. The number of available connections for the Webcast will be limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
I watched last year’s webcast and I suggest you tune in – it makes for an exciting morning.
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About Travis Jonker
Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.
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It would serve me right if “Little Yellow Leaf” did get an honor. There’s a book that I loved from the start and then somehow never bothered to review. Grr. Just watch . . . it’ll take top honors. I think your picks are dead on, with the exception of “We Are the Ship”. Nelson deserves the medal now more than ever, but the pictures don’t interact with the text at all. You can read the book without ever needing a single image, and the pics often don’t refer to anyone mentioned in the opposing page of text. Hence this book isn’t going to come across as a “picture book”. Plus, after “Cabret” the committee may want to pull back from getting too creative with their definitions. Just my thoughts.
Points well taken on “We Are the Ship”. My thoughts on that one are kind of the reverse of yours – that “Hugo Cabret” stretched out the neck on the Caldecott sweater so that “Ship” could glide through this year with hair unmussed. Upon further review, comparing a sweater neck to a literary competition may not have been the best way to foresee the winners. I see your take on things as being quite likely. If you are indeed correct, then there’s something I want to do real quick. Year of Kadir. Year of Kadir. Alright, I’ve got it out of my system. Thanks for your opinions on the matter.
For what it’s worth, I love the Caldecott sweater analogy!
Great picks!
So, when you were making your predictions, were you trying to think like a Caldecott Committee member or were you picking your favorites? I definitely feel more in tune and enthusiastic about the recent Caldecott picks than I do Newbery picks. How about Daivid Shannon’s “Too Many Toys” and Elise Broach and David Small’s “When Dinosaurs Came with Everything?” It’s about time Shannon got at least an honor… I also thought Emily Jenkins and Alexandra Boiger did a great job with “Little Bit Scary People.” But, I have little kids and read for story time three days a week at the Barnes & Noble where I work, so I’m probably thinking about this from the opposite end of the spectrum…
I am with the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library in Evansville, Indiana.
We had our annual Mock Caldecott program this morning and I wanted to send you the results.
The last two years, our Mock Caldecott group choose the same titles the Caldecott Committee selected as well as several of the honor books.
While that is not our goal, it was good to know that we were on the right track.
1st place – Abe’s Honest Words (Rappaport/Nelson)
2nd place – Wabi Sabi (Reibstein/Young)
3rd place – On the Farm (Ellliott/Meade)
4th place – In a Blue Room (Averbeck/Tusa)
5th place – House in the Night (Swanson/Krommes)
I can’t wait for the real Caldecott results later this month.
Thanks for your predictions!
Sincerely,
Melissa Davis
Youth Program Coordinator
Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library
Evansville, Indiana
I just looked at The Little Yellow Leaf and I love it. It could be a winner. It has a great story as well as beautiful and original artwork.
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