Published by Neal Porter Books (Released July 27)

Summary:  Grandfather loves birds and enjoys sharing his passion with his grandchildren, especially Milo, who notices everything but only speaks when he has something to say.  As Grandfather gets older, he can no longer see the birds, but his family and a favorite nurse find ways to help him still enjoy them.  Finally there comes a day when the grandchildren arrive home from school to find that Grandfather is no longer there.  Milo runs outside in time to see an eagle soaring close to their yard.  He doesn’t speak, but the whole family watches as the eagle flies away into the sky. Endpapers include sketches of the birds mentioned in the story.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Newbery medalist Maclachlan has created a beautiful story of love, loss, and hope, with characters that are amazingly well-developed for such a brief story.  

Cons:  It would have been nice to see the birds on the endpapers in color.

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.