A 2014 Caldecott Honor Books
Becker, Aaron. Journey. Somerville, MA: Candlewick, 2013. 978-0763660536. 40p. $15.99. Pre-K – Gr. 3.
Even though this book would be traditionally thought of as an early childhood choice, the older kids all the way through 6th grade at my school LOVE this book. Becker tells the story through this wordless picture book of a girl who is lonely, as her family is too busy to play with her. She discovers a red crayon on her bedroom floor and her drab, monochromatic life opens up into a world where Japanese lanterns glow where they hang in a forest, she boats on an aqueduct around a spectacular castle, and frees a whimsical purple bird. The approach and story elements very much remind the reader of the classic and wonderful Harold and the Purple crayon, but with a more sophisticated, exotic, and fine-art sensibility. If I was on the Caldelcott committee I may have voted for this to be the gold rather than the silver winner!
Wordless Picture Book Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School
Wiesner, David. Mr. Wuffles! New York: Clarion, 2013. 978-0618756612. 32p. $17.99. Pre-K – Gr. 3.
Wiesner brings us another whimsical, creative, and beautifully drawn wordless picture book that is full of imagination! Mr. Wuffles is a cat who is very fussy about his toys; his home is littered with his cast-aways, many still bearing the price tag. But suddenly the reader realizes that what looks to be a spaceship cat toy actually has small green alien beings inside. They’re gesturing: is it safe to venture out? What are those huge eyes staring in at us? Why are we being shook and tumbled upside down? When the aliens decide the large furry aggressor is asleep, and it’s safe to make a run for it, they scamper beneath the radiator and discover the hidden lair of the insects who have also been tortured by kitty, as evidenced by their “cave paintings.” The insects and aliens break bread, find a way to communicate, and team up to come up with a plan to get the aliens back on their ship and on the way home. Funny and mesmerizing, Wiesner employs a completely different illustration style than we are used to seeing; more cartoon-like but still beautiful. As with the other silver medalist, my older students LOVE this book! Highly recommended.
Wordless Picture Book Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School
2014 Caldecott Medalist:
Floca, Brian. Locomotive. New York: Atheneum, 2013. 978-1416994152. 64p. $17.99. Pre-K – Gr. 5.
Floca details the importance of the railroad to the westward expansion of our country and the monumental impact on citizen’s everyday lives. The beautiful illustrations transport us to the 1850s and we can almost see the towering “iron horses” thundering through the unspoiled landscape and hear the ear-splitting train whistle and hiss of the steam engine. We get a glimpse inside and see the jobs needed to build the rails, and run the trains, and watch as towns spring up from station to station. While children as young as 4, especially our little train lovers, may enjoy the visuals, the amount of text suggests that this book would be more popular with early grade children. This book would make an ideal in-class or at-home read aloud for 2nd and 3rd graders.
Picture Book Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School