The Caldecott has a rep for being the most difficult ALA award to predict. Based on my past performances, I second that. But you gotta try at least, right?
Here then are my picks for 2010 Caldecott glory.
2010 Caldecott Medal Prediction: The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney.
Beginning with the iconic cover, and extending throughout this retelling of an Aesop fable, Jerry Pinkney’s illustrations are impossible to deny. Look at it this way – a man who’s overdue to win the big one lays down the most impressively illustrated book of the year. That’s a winner, right?
Caldecott Honor Prediction: Jeremy Draws a Monster by Peter McCarty.
While it flew a bit under the radar this year, I predict the committee will remember Jeremy Draws a Monster when it comes time to bestow foil seals. An excellent example of picture book efficiency – there isn’t a wasted word or image to be seen in this quiet gem. McCarty illustrations work wonders with blank space, setting the perfect mood for a story featuring a child in self-imposed isolation.
Caldecott Honor Prediction: Higher! Higher! by Leslie Patricelli.
Talk about illustration and text being inseparable. Petriceli’s vivid acrylics blend seamlessly with this simple story. The visuals are deceptively rich as well, with layers of color occasionally giving way to the black canvass underneath. While this book doesn’t give off that intangible Caldecott vibe like the other books on this list do (I think it has something to do with Higher! Higher!’s touch of absurdity), this may turn up and surprise some people.
Caldecott Honor Prediction: All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Marla Frazee.
All the World is the definition of a consensus-builder. I dare you to dislike it. Ain’t possible. A poem about nature and humanity set to swooshing landscapes that make the phrase “expand the text” sound like a foolish understatement. I’m willing to bet that this makes the cut – it’s just too easy to like.
What do you think? Will these predictions come true? Be sure to watch the 2010 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 Youth Media Awards, a national announcement of the top books and media for children and young adults, on Jan. 18, at 7:45 a.m. EST. The award announcements are made as part of the ALA Midwinter Meeting, which will bring together librarians, publishers, authors and guests to the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center from Jan. 15 to 19.
19 comments
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January 12, 2010 at 10:31 am
MotherReader
Totally agree, with the possible inclusion of The Curious Garden. What will it knock out? Who knows.
January 12, 2010 at 10:36 am
Scope Notes
It will be interesting to see if Curious Garden makes it in – that is a title that I wouldn’t be surprised to see.
January 12, 2010 at 10:34 am
Richard Hanks
A good selection, I hope there is no money riding on it!
January 12, 2010 at 10:42 am
Scope Notes
Richard – Do you hope there’s no $ riding on my picks because you don’t approve of gambling, or because you think my predictions aren’t gonna come true? Related aside: If Vegas was taking bets, I would be willing to place money on Lion and All the World – those are the two that I feel most confident will be in the winners circle.
January 12, 2010 at 12:20 pm
patti
I also really liked Jeremy Draws a Monster. A Curious Collection of Cats is also very impressive. So much so that I would hang almost any of those pages on my walls and I don’t even like cats!
January 12, 2010 at 12:46 pm
Scope Notes
Patti, Ha – I think that’s the truest sign of a good picture book I’ve heard in a while.
January 12, 2010 at 12:32 pm
Janelle @ Brimful Curiosities
We also loved The Curious Garden. I do hope it finds a spot on the list. I recommended “Higher, Higher” as a Cybils pick. My kids absolutely adore the book and have already declared it a medal winner in our home. It’s perfect for very young readers. My son was 1-1/2 when I first read it to him and it was so cute to hear him say,”higher, higher” along with me.
January 12, 2010 at 12:48 pm
Scope Notes
Janelle – Higher! Higher! is my outsider pick on this list (the one I’m least confident about). But I share your appreciation of this book.
January 12, 2010 at 1:06 pm
Cindy Dobrez
I picked Higher, Higher when I read it last spring and still think it holds up. I’ll be disappointed if it is not an honor behind Lion & Mouse.
January 12, 2010 at 1:20 pm
Scope Notes
I agree with you – I reread it yesterday and was as pleased as the first time around. Upon close inspection, the artwork has become more and more impressive to me. There is a real depth there. My concern is that the outwardly cartoonish appearance will fail to grab the committee members. We shall see!
January 12, 2010 at 2:53 pm
Sam Bloom
I too will be shocked if Lion and Mouse doesn’t win – it’s a beauty! Being a huge Kadir fanboy, though, I’m hoping for Coretta Scott. I don’t think anyone can capture human emotion like Kadir Nelson – the dude is on another level.
January 14, 2010 at 5:00 pm
Scope Notes
Agreed.
January 12, 2010 at 7:15 pm
Abby
I can never predict the Caldecott (although last year I did predict one of the honor winners in our Mock Caldecott!). But these seem like great choices!
January 12, 2010 at 10:39 pm
Ed Spicer
OK, I know I gave you picks just a short while ago, but as I am getting ready for Notables, I think that Life in the Boreal Forest also has a real shot at the Caldecott list. Genady Spirin, I do believe, is an American resident living in New Jersey. The author of this one is Brenda Z. Guiberson. It’s beautifully done.
January 12, 2010 at 10:53 pm
Ed Spicer
Oops! Two N’s in Gennady.
January 14, 2010 at 4:57 pm
Scope Notes
Ha – you can add picks to your list right up until the awards are handed out, then I’m going to be forced to say “no more”. I don’t think I had enough time with Boreal Forest when I saw it. I’ll have to look at that one again!
January 13, 2010 at 6:13 pm
DaNae Leu
I am a big fan of the idea of Higher and Higher. I just spent a week reading it aloud to K-2 and I wish I had a camera over my shoulder pointed at the studets -pure utter delight!
January 18, 2010 at 3:25 pm
Newbery, Caldecott, and Geisel Winners and Reactions « 100 Scope Notes
[…] Red Sings From Treetops was another very nice book that was in the discussion as the awards approached. I picked two of the three winners in my Caldecott predictions. […]
January 18, 2010 at 8:20 pm
Random linkage « The YA YA YAs
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