I know the Caldecott is given for art, but I can’t help considering the story as well.  While I could appreciate the illustrations in this year’s contenders, some of them didn’t grab me as a book, and I was pretty sure wouldn’t excite kids (sorry, Philip and Erin Stead).  Here are five that I appreciated on all levels:

Du Iz Tak? by Carson Ellis.  Published by Candlewick Press.

With its invented language and complex insect storyline, Du Iz Tak? was hard to beat for sheer fun.  Candlewick keeps pushing the envelope, sometimes more successfully than others, but this one hit the mark.

The Night Gardener by Terry Fan, illustrated by Eric Fan.  Published by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers.

A gorgeously-illustrated book about making a difference through topiary?  What’s not to like?

Miracle Man: The Story of Jesus by John Hendrix.  Published by Abrams Books for Young Readers

Jesus was a man with a message, and I love how the words of some of those messages are woven into the large, occasionally dramatic illustrations.

Before Morning by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Beth Krommes.  Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

The brief, poetic text and scratchboard illustrations work together perfectly to capture the way a snowstorm can change the world overnight.

Radiant Child by Javaka Steptoe.  Published by Little, Brown.

Here’s the one book on the list I’d be hesitant to put in my elementary library.  The details of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s life are somewhat harrowing, but the illustrations are beautiful and pay homage to his art.

Published by Philomel Books 

Summary:  A greedy cat lives in a huge palace atop Hunger Mountain that looks out over fields famous for their delicious rice.  But one year, drought strikes, and the harvest fails.  All the cat’s servants leave in search of food.  Finally, driven by starvation, the cat closes his palace and goes out into the countryside to find food for himself.  He learns of a monk who is giving away rice, and joins the long line to get his own bowl filled.  When he reaches the front of the line, he asks the monk where he got his food.  The monk replies that he was fortunate to live at the base of Hunger Mountain.  A rich lord washed so much of his cast-off rice down the stream, that the monk was able to collect more than he could ever use.  The cat realizes he is being saved by the food he once threw away.  For the first time ever, he feels truly blessed.  32 pages; ages 4-10.

Pros:  This simple but timely fable is strikingly illustrated with collages by Caldecott medalist Ed Young.  The message is one that can be discussed with readers of all ages.

Cons:  I wondered if this is a completely original tale or a retelling, but there was no introduction or afterword about it.

Published by HarperCollins 

Summary:  Margaret Wise Brown’s classic book, first published in 1958, has been reissued with new illustrations by Caldecott Honor winner Christian Robinson.  When a group of children find a dead bird in the woods, they decide to have a funeral for it.  They find a place to dig a hole, wrap the bird in grapevine leaves, and cover it with ferns and flowers.  They sing a song to the bird (lyrics included in the text), cry a little, cover up the bird with dirt, and place a stone on top reading “Here lies a bird that is dead.”  And every day, until they forget, they return to the gravesite to sing to the bird and decorate the stone with flowers.  32 pages, ages 4-8.

Pros:  This timeless story benefits from the new illustrations in a larger book.  I particularly liked the kid who wore a fox mask to the funeral, apparently practicing his own little ritual.  The story remains a gentle introduction to death and dying for children.

Cons:  I liked the way the original book had an interesting format of alternating pages of text and pictures, allowing the reader to focus on the words before looking at the picture.  The new version has text and pictures together.

Published by Schwartz and Wade Books 

Summary:  Each page has just four words on it, starting with “Home Mama Brother Sister”.  Owl leaves the nest for a nighttime flight (“Soar Glide Swoop Swoosh”).  In the middle of the book, he lands on a branch over the water and sees his reflection: Owl Sees Owl.  The rest of the book’s pages mirror the first half of the book; as the owl returns home, there’s a page with “Swoosh Swoop Glide Soar”, the reverse order of those same words on an earlier page.  Finally, the owl lands back in his nest, and the last page reads, “Sister Brother Mama Home”.  40 pages, ages 3-8.

Pros:  This reminded me of Marilyn Singer’s reverso poetry books, in which the second verse is the opposite of the first, changing the meaning.  There are plenty of strong nouns and verbs, since each word has to do a lot of work to tell the story.  The pictures perfectly capture Owl’s silent nighttime world.

Cons:  It took me a few readings to realize the second half of the book was the reverse of the first half; without guidance, kids may miss this cool feature.

Published by Balzer + Bray

 

Summary:  Octicorn’s dad is a unicorn and Mom is an octopus.  He may be the only one in existence, which sometimes makes it hard to fit in.  Too bad, because he’s great at ring toss, juggling, and water sports.  He’s not a picky eater…plankton, fresh clover, and cupcakes will keep him happy.  He loves s’mores, sports, recess.  He really wants a jet-ski.  Octicorn may look different from everyone else, but inside he’s the same, and would really like to be your friend.  48 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Octicorn’s a pretty funny guy, but he’s got a serious message, too, and will help young kids look beyond appearances when choosing friends.  The simple, funny drawings complement the text perfectly.

Cons:  I couldn’t tell from the pictures if Octicorn has eight legs like his mom or four legs like his dad.