2015 Caldecott Comment Card
It was so much fun last year, I decided to bring it back!
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Now that the winners have been announced, I want to know what you think. Go ahead and share in the comments. What Caldecott choices are you happy with? What did the committee miss?
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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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The book I’m happiest about is El Deafo by Cece Bell. I was really disappointed when it didn’t win the Schneider, and then I was overjoyed that it was a Newbery honor.
The book they missed was Boys of Blur by N.D. Wilson for Newbery honor. It is a masterpiece.
The book I’m unhappiest about is The Adventures of Beekle. I’m not unhappy that it won, I’m just unhappy that I haven’t been able to get a copy of it, and I won’t be able to share it with my students this week.
I loved seeing so many graphic novels in the award lists. I was very unhappy that the Schneider had only ONE science book and otherwise was all history/biography. I will have to go cuddle my Cybils Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction shortlist for a while to feel better.
I’m happiest about The Right Word: Roget and his Thesaurus seeings as it was one of my favorites from the year. I’m really surprised that This One Summer won, not that I haven’t seen good things about it, but because of some of the content. I would have loved to see Little Elliot Big City win something.
I’m very happy with The Crossover, El Deafo, Brown Girl Dreaming. I’m not happy that there were only two Newbery Honored Books. I feel like there was room for West of the Moon and The Greenglass House.
Love that Popular, Rain Reign, and Port Chicago 50 got recognized as well. Lots to be happy about!
Excellent choices ! The books I’m happiest about were The Adventures of Beekle and El Deafo and I was delighted that Nana in the City received a Caldecott Honor. Very disappointed that West of the Moon by Margi Preus was overlooked.
I know many of my students were hoping to see We Were Liars honored.
The happiest is The Crossover – yipee! The unhappiest is This One Summer as a Caldecott honor – make a graphic novel category already! The book they missed was The Night Gardner – a gem!
I was rooting for Beekle all this time so I was super excited when they announced it I did my happy dance!
Happiest: tie between THE RIGHT WORD – it’s amazing! – and THIS ONE SUMMER – awesome and hitting the upper, overlooked end of the age range
Unhappiest – THE NOISY PAINT BOX – eh, it’s okay
Missed – THE FARMER AND THE CLOWN. Sob. I would love to know what knocked it down in the committee’s discussion.
i am deliriously happy about Beekle, and also thrilled that there were so many honors. No unhappiness here, although of course there were many other beautiful books this year. My missed book is Gravity, but I just can’t muster up any unhappiness with the choices.
El Deafo, El Deafo, El Deafo! (And Beekle.) I was sad not to see Some Bugs, which I still maintain is worthy of Caldecott love. I disagree about the graphic novel category; it’s just more proof that good graphic novels can hold up to literary scrutiny and win right alongside their more verbose peers!
Most happy about: Beekle and The Right Word (and El Deafo and The Crossover)
Most unhappy about: This One Summer (neither a picture book nor a book for children–it feels like an invasion.) Also, I was very surprised El Deafo didn’t get on the Schneider list at all. My reaction was, “huh?” I was also really rooting for Neighborhood Sharks for a Sibert so I’m a little sad about that, but the list they have is very strong, so I can’t really complain.
Happy: The Adventures of Beekle – I loved this book. Definitely a favorite of mine, and there is so much kid-appeal here too.
Unhappy: This One Summer – Nothing against the book, but it feels out of place here.
Missed: A Letter for Leo – Such a sweet story with strong illustrations too.
Unhappy: This One Summer – not a children’s book, not sure how with the content why this is in this category.
Just realized Neighborhood Sharks did get a Sibert honor–thrilled about that!
I was filled with Caldecott joy for Beekle by Dan Santat. A deserving win for a hardworking illustrator. I was ecstatic for El Deafo; Nana in the City; Sam and Dave; Viva Frieda; and The Right Word. Scratching my head over This One Summer – did I miss it being categorized as a picture book? Was stumped as to why only two Newbery honor books when there was a wealth of quality 2014 chapter books: Absolutely Almost; Circa Now; The Night Gardener; and The 14th Goldfish. I appreciate those who serve on these committees, but some updates on Caldecott and Newbery selection rules might be in order.
Happy: Beekle, Sam and Dave Dig A Hole! Also loved Nana in the City and The Right Word- Great job Caldecott Committee! 🙂
Also- Newbery Honor for EL Deafo and Sibert Honor- Neighborhood Sharks!
Now I really need to read The Crossover! 🙂
I had a Caldecott sticker ready and waiting for Beekle! Crossover has such “voice,” you must put it in the hands of every ELA teacher you know. Was thinking there might be a ‘Trifecta,’ for Brown Girl Dreaming, that would give it National Book Award/ CSK/ Newbery – but I’ll take the Honor. Well done, Ms. Woodson! I think All the Light We Cannot See is very deserving of the Alex. The committees answered the call for diversity – look at the overall results – super job.
LOVE that The Crossover won. LOVE IT!
Sorry that Brown Girl Dreaming did NOT win the gold; it deserved it.
We should have heard Draw, Farmer and the Clown, Tales of Bunjitsu Bunny, and a host of other books–but then we would need two days to get through the awards.
Bonus: I am thrilled for all the love for The Right Word and very happy for Eerdmans.
I was thrilled that A Boy and A Jaguar won the Schneider Award. Also, so happy to see Neighborhood Sharks show up as a Sibert honor!
Book I’m Happiest About- Viva Frida-incredible!
Book I’m Unhappiest About-The Adventures of Beekle… and not because I don’t like it, it is WONDERFUL, and I’m thrilled it won… but I couldn’t get it to China on time…(yes I know it came out last April) but our library orders are done in February… and well, China is difficult… I just didn’t have a paper copy. I had it digitally, on our ipads as an ibook, however it was not one of the THIRTY-FIVE Caldecott Contenders I had on display for students to vote on for our Mock Caldecott. So watching it live last night (morning) had me gasping when I realised we didn’t have Beekle… so sad.
We did have five of the seven Caldecott winners in our collection, I’d overlooked ‘The Noisy Paintbox’ in favor of the delicious ‘Iridescence of Birds’ so that is the book I feel missed out; however, like many before me, I am thrilled that there were so many Honors given… there was a huge ‘woo hoo’ when that was announced (and conversely, a little part of me died when only two were given for Newbery, but that’s another story-coincidentally, we had all three of the wins there for voting Newbery style).
I’d also just sent This One Summer up to the Middle School/High School Library after a fifth grade had alerted me to its ‘inappropriateness’, Again, like others above, I recognize that it IS within the Caldecott age range, but I’m also finding it hard to explain some issues with my students. We are confused as to why El Deafo (which appears to be geared towards a younger audience (as well as older) won the Newbery Honor… and then This One Summer, which is geared towards a YA audience (kudos on the Printz Award TOS) and certainly not my ES students, wins the Caldecott…
If anyone can help me explain/understand this, I’d be grateful.
This week is one of the most exciting, happy, joyful times of the year in our library, and I’m always thrilled to be able to share wonderful books like those chosen, and not chosen, with my students.
Thank you to all members of all committees who helped make this possible, and thanks Travis for all you do.
Cheers from China
For those interested in the whys of the Caldecott decisions, you might want to go over to the Calling Caldecott blog at The Horn Book (hbook.com) and find the post tiled Wednesday Morning Quarterbacking: the process edition.
FASCINATING reading.