Caldecott Honor Favorites with Ambrea

Recently, I took a class on children’s picture books.  It was a delightful class and I learned so much about children’s literature, picture books, popular illustrators, important literary awards, and more.  I enjoyed it immensely!  However, over the course of 10 weeks I was tasked with reading over 240 children’s books.

 

Yep, you read correctly:  I read 240 children’s books in just under two months.

 

Which means I have a lot of books to share.

 

I decided to dive in to some of the Caldecott Honor Award winners.  (If you’ve never heard of the Caldecott Medal, it’s like the Major Leagues in baseball – it’s like winning the series.  It’s also awarded to the illustrator.)  Here were some of my favorite Caldecott Honor Award winners:

 

John Henry by Julius Lester and Jerry Pinkney (1995)

This book is a reimagining of the legend of John Henry, an African American folk hero who raced against a steam-powered rock-drilling machine and won.  It was a delight to read aloud.  Lester creates a fantastic narrator, who tells the story with great aplomb and a delightful Southern drawl, while Pinkney supplies brilliant illustrations full of depth, detail, and vibrancy.  It’s a particularly wonderful rendition of a beloved folktale.

 

The Gardener by Sarah Stewart and David Small (1998)

Lydia Grace Finch is sent to the city to live with her unsmiling Uncle Jim.  The city is dim, drab, and gray, but Lydia Grace is undeterred and works to create a bright, welcoming spot all her own.  Told completely through Lydia Grace’s letters, this book fashions a sweet story about one girl’s journey and her mission to get her uncle to smile.  It’s really the artwork that won me over, especially as Lydia Grace brightens the pages bit by bit with her determination and her flowers.

Click, Clack, Moo:  Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin (2001)

Farmer Brown has a problem:  His cows have learned to type—and they have more than a few demands to make.  This book was so much fun to read!  The narrative is humorous, while the illustrations are wonderful, colorful, and fun.  I found the cows antics hilarious.  They’re so mischievous and they actually manage to convince the other barnyard animals to join them in their rebellion.

 

Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein (2011)

When it’s time for bed, little red chicken asks if Papa can read her a story.  He agrees, but only if she promises to interrupt—except little red chicken can’t quite help herself!  This is such a joyous bedtime story.  It’s full of humor and heart:  little red chicken and her Papa have a wonderful relationship, but Papa can get a little exasperated with her antics.  I loved how little red chicken would break into the story, and I often found myself laughing at her rendition of classic fairy tales.

 

The Rough Patch by Brian Lies (2019) 

Evan and his dog do everything together, but, one day, the unthinkable happens and Evan loses his best friend.  Admittedly, I cried a little over this book, because it’s such a deeply affecting story.  It’s about heartbreak and loss, particularly the loss of a beloved pet, but it’s also about healing and friendship.  It’s a simultaneously heart-wrenching and heart-warming story.  Not only does it have a fantastic narrative, it has illustrations that are bright, brilliant, detailed, and warm.  It’s an all-around wonderful book.

 

Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris and LeUyen Pham (2020)

Once upon a time, a river flowed through a forest.  It didn’t know it was capable of grand adventures—until bear came along.  I’m actually a big fan of LeUyen Pham, so I was very excited to dive into this book.  Luckily, it didn’t disappoint!  The narrative is fun and whimsical, while the artwork is bright and vibrant.  I particularly love how the art and the story develop in tandem:  as bear and his friends continue on their adventure, more of the forest is illuminated.  It’s a brilliant book and simply cemented my love for LeUyen Pham’s artwork.

 

Knight Owl by Christopher Denise (2023)

Owl has long dreamed of becoming a knight.  When knights begin disappear from the Knight Night Watch, Owl is soon faced with a daunting trial.  This book is a delight to read.  I personally adored the element of fantasy laced throughout this book, and I loved the illustrations.  Owl is positively adorable and his journey to become a knight is heartening.  It’s fun, funny, whimsical, and lovely, and it’s one of my favorites published from this year.