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The Caldecott Challenge (Part V)

Travis Jonker, December 9, 2011 | Articles



Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV We’ve come to the end of the road, folks. Did I read every Caldecott winner in one day as I set out to do? That’s a negative. But at least now I can say for certain I’ve read ’em all. 1997: Golem by David […]

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The Caldecott Medal: Danger to Society?

Travis Jonker, December 8, 2011 | Articles



This is a tongue-in-cheek report. Can you believe these Caldecott-winning books? Endangering the youth of America, I say! I have evidence to prove it. How can you condone books that are teaching children to… …engage in beekeeping without a head net… …ride a bike without a helmet… …maintain questionable firearm safety… …eat off of a […]

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The Caldecott Challenge (Part IV)

Travis Jonker, December 8, 2011 | Articles



Part I | Part II | Part III | Part V As we learned yesterday, the challenge has become much easier. What started as my attempt to read every Caldecott winner in one day turned into just read every Caldecott winner. Let us continue… 1982: Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg (Houghton) 1983: Shadow , translated […]

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Children’s Lit Commish: Caldecott to be Selected by Supercomputer

Travis Jonker, December 7, 2011 | Articles



The following is a work of fiction. The International Children’s Literature Commissioner has announced that the prestigious Randolph Caldecott Medal, the most important award in children’s picture books, will from this day forward be picked by a computer. Appearing in public for the first time after an extended hiatus, the commissioner was thoughtful. People are […]

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The Caldecott Challenge (Part III)

Travis Jonker, December 7, 2011 | Articles



Part I | Part II | Part IV | Part V Well, if you looked closely at the video above, you already know what I’m about to say (unless you assume my hair got shorter because they are now providing haircuts in the library) – I was not successful in my quest to read every […]

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Jerry Pinkney and Erin E. Stead: A Caldecott Conversation

Travis Jonker, December 6, 2011 | Articles, Authors



How better to understand the Caldecott than by chatting with an artist who has won the prestigious award? Today we’re lucky enough to have two. Jerry Pinkney and Erin E. Stead (the 2010 and 2011 winner, respectively) agreed to do just that. One a living legend, the other a newcomer with a bright future; both […]

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The Caldecott Challenge (Part II)

Travis Jonker, December 6, 2011 | Articles



Part I | Part III | Part IV | Part V When we last left our humble children’s lit blogger, he was hunkered down in a corner of his public library, mind set on reading every Caldecott-winning book in one day. Read Part I. Pardon me while I switch to first person. Much better. What […]

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The Caldecott Challenge (Part I)

Travis Jonker, December 5, 2011 | Articles



Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V The Plan: Read every Caldecott-winning book in one day. Just the medal winners – honors need not apply (because your application will be denied). The idea popped into my head over a year ago, and seems like a good way to fill in the […]

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Link Du Jour: A 2011 Top 10 from SLJ

Travis Jonker, December 4, 2011 | Link Du Jour



There are lots, loads! SCORES! of best of the year lists out there, but few I pay more attention to than the year-end list from the fine folks at School Library Journal. They highlighted a few books that haven’t been getting a lot of year-end love so far (Three by the Sea, America is Under […]

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Cover Curiosity: Red All Over

Travis Jonker, December 2, 2011 | Cover Curiosity, Covers



Q: What only shows its legs, wears jeans, and is red all over? A: Wolf Mark by Joseph Bruchac Tales of the Madman Underground by John Barnes Side by Side: Not a spot-on match, but these covers sport similarities that are hard to deny. Click here for more Cover Curiosities.

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