Bibliography:Marcus, Leonard. 1999.
A Caldecott Celebration: Six Artist Share their Paths to the Caldecott Medal. New York: Walker and Company. ISBN -082786561
Plot Summary:
A Caldecott Celebration gives insight and background about six different authors from a span of six different decades of the medal's history. Marcus, Leonard starts off his book with Robert McCloskey's Caldecott Award winner of 1942,
Make Way for Ducklings. Secondly, is Marcia Brown's
Cinderella : or The Glass Slipper winner of the Caldecott Medal in 1955. Thirdly, is the 1964 winner Maurice Sendak's book titled
Where the Wild Things Are. Next, is the the winner of 1970, William Steig for his picture book
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. In 1982, Chris Van Allsburg wins for his picture book
Jumanji. Lastly featured in this book was David Wiesner winner of the 1992 for
Tuesday. Marcus shares these authors love passion for writing and illustratins of picture books, making them greatly deserving of the Caldecott Medal.
Critical Analysis:A Caldecott Celebration gives readers a view of how six authors became award winners of the Caldecott Medal. It voices the background of how these authors started off their careers from six decades of American storytelling. I personally have Robert McCloskey's book
Make Way for Ducklings in my classroom library collection. I can see why it is a Caldecott winner. I have had this book in my class collection for the past ten years. I have presented it to my kindergatens up to my eight grade ESL/ELA students and they all enjoy it the same. My personal favorite is Maurice Sendak's
Where the Wild Things Are. It is a personal favorite because I used to always read it to my oldest son, he loved when we would get to the part of the monsters rolling their terrible eyes and teeth. I also use to call him my little wild thing. Hopefully one day he will read this story to his children, passing on good literature for ages to come. I am not a big fan of Chris Van Allsburgs books, but I do have
The Polar Express movie in my children's movie collection, which is a favorite of our to watch during the holidays. While nevertheless Marcus Leonard gives great insight of what it took for all the authors to achieve their goals and passions. He lets the readers follow their journeys of had work and perseverance by sharing these authors love and passion for their writing and illustration of picture books, making them greatly deserving of the Caldecott Medal.
Review Excerpt(s):School Library Journal:
School Linrary Journal review: "Teachers, librarians, and parents will find a source of inspiration here." Susan Scheps, Shaler Heights Public Library, OH
Connections:This book would be a great source to introduce or feature authors in the classroom. It would also be a great source to use for chronological order or timelines. You could share other books written by these authors as well, Robert McCloskey:
Blueberries for Sal (Viking Press), Marcia Brown:
Stone Soup (Charles Scribner's Sons), Maurice Sendak:
In the Night Kitchen (Harper & Row), William Steig:
The Amazing Bone (farrar, Straus & Giroux), Chris Van Allsburg:
The Polar Express (Houghton Mifflin), and David Wiesner:
Free Fall (Lothrop, Lee and Sheppar).