Published by Candlewick

Summary:  A young artist creates a bird: tiny hollow bones, feathers, a rapidly-beating  heart.  But a statue of a bird isn’t a bird, so the artist stands at the window and lets her creation go.  As it rises into the air, the bird comes to life and flies off, disappearing into the sky without ever looking back.  “And feel your slowly beating heart fill with a kind of sadness, a kind of happiness.  For this is when you will know that you have really made a bird.”  32 pages; ages 4-10.

Pros:  With its beautifully written spare text and gorgeous illustrations, this haunting meditation on the creative process perfectly captures the bittersweet nature of letting a creation go out into the world.

Cons:  The central message may be a bit over the heads of the intended audience.

Published by Greenwillow Books

Summary:  “When the world gets too big and too loud and too busy, I like to look at all pieces of it one at a time.”  The child narrator proceeds to do that, imagining museum exhibits for a Museum of Islands, a Museum of Bushes, a Museum of Hiding Places, and more.  In each one, they slowly savor the different objects that could be on display, wondering about various aspects of each one.  After they’re done spending time in their museums, they are ready to go back into the busy, big, and sometimes noisy world.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  An author’s note reads “If you like to be in a quiet place sometimes [even if it’s only in your mind], or if there is a lot that you wonder about, or if you like to make things, I made this book for you.”  It’s a book to invite wonder and slowing down and noticing things.  The illustrations (described by Perkins as being “the most fun ever”) to create could definitely be considered for a Caldecott.

Cons:  Personally, I prefer more of a story, so, while I could admire and appreciate this book, I didn’t really love it.