Caldecott Awards

This Caldecott Honor book is an interesting book that is clever and funny. This book was very different. As I began to read it, I found myself laughing along with my four year old son. We both fell in love with this funny pigeon who was alway trying to drive the bus.




Williams, M. (2003). Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! Hyperion Books for Children. New York, NY.

Image from http://www.amazon.com/. Retreived on September 25, 2009







This is a very colorfully illustrated picture book that illustrates a similar story of the very first hot air balloon ride. This Caldecott Honor book gives factual information that I never knew about. This story uses farm animals such as the rooster, the duck, and the sheep for this tale that young readers everywhere can enjoy.


Priceman, Marjorie. (2005). Hot Air: the (mostly) true story of the first hot-air balloon ride. Simon & Schuster, New York, NY.



Image retreived from http://www.amazon.com/ September 25, 2009.




This Caldecott Honor book was written and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. This illustrations are very beautifuly and detailed as is the story of "Noah's Ark." Even if there were no words, the pictures themselves could tell us the story. The story, itself, was simple, yet, informative. I never actually thought about what it would have looked like under the water, but Pinkney illustrates what the world below might have looked like under the ark. The retelling of this story and his illustrations combined helps to give this age old story new life.


Pinkney, Jerry. Noah's Ark. SeaStar Books, New York, NY.


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This is a Caldecott Honor book that is a very fun and imaginative story about a giant panda bear who tells stories that are aimed at helping us to reexamine ourselves. The title, "Zen Shorts" is actually short meditations. The short stories witht he book come from Zen Buddhist literature. Full of excitement and laced with culture, "Zen Shorts" offers a different view on the lessons and concepts we try to learn from everyday. When I first chose this book, I wasn't sure that I would like it. However, after discovering what it was about, I found myself enjoying the stories very much. It was different and very informative.

Muth, Jon J. (2005). Zen Shorts. Scholastic Press. New York, NY.


Image retreived from http://www.amazon.com/ on September 24, 2009.








This is a very fun story about a kitten's struggle to get a bowl of milk. It was interesting and funny to read about this poor kitten's adventure. In addition, the black and white illustrations created a nice contrast. My young son loves this book and is now one of his favorite books that we often check out at our local library.




Image found at http://www.amazon.com/. Retreived on September 24, 2009.


Henkes, Kevin. (2004). Kitten's First Full Moon. (1st. ed.) Greenwillow Books.





This is a wonderful children's picture book. It is simple, easy to read book that takes me back to my own childhood. It is fun and imaginative. The black and white illustrations created with a scratching technique gives notice to the warm, yellow objects discussed in the story. I read this to my four year old son and he loved it. This is definitely a book that we will read again and again.

















Swanson, Susan M. (2008). The House in the Night. HoughtonMifflin Co., Boston.

Image from http://www.amazon.com/ retreived on September 24, 2009.