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Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Picture Book 10 for 10

Image result for picture book 10 for 10
How can I take something old and make it new again?  This is just one of the many questions that I asked myself as I began the Caldecott Challenge as presented by Laura Given, better known as LibLaura5 .  I had many other questions like, how will I obtain the books, especially some of the books from the 1930s and 1940s? How long will it take me to read all of these books? What if I really don’t like a book? What if a book promotes ideas of sexism, racism or is culturally inaccurate? How long will this challenge take me? Most of all, how will I communicate this reading goal to my students and how I will I make it relevant to them?  With all of these questions rolling around in my head, they really all boiled down to just one,  “How can I make old books seem new and exciting to students in 2016?  Since I began the challenge in April,  I have already gotten answers to several of my questions. For example, it is going to take me about one year to complete this challenge, and I really do not like some of the books that the committee selected as winners or honor books. In my opinion, several of the books from this era are sexist, racist and culturally inaccurate, but for the most part, many of the books that the committee selected are truly wonderful literary works.  For #PictureBook10for10, I am sharing 10 books from the 1930s and 1940s that are Caldecott winners or Honor books. I will be sharing these books with my students this fall and throughout the school year. My hope is that I can make something old seem new, similar to finding a long lost toy in the bottom of the toy box, it will be like reconnecting with an old friend. Thanks to Cathy Mere and Mandy Robek for hosting this event!

In early fall, we always take a trip to the public library with our students. I will be showing my students the process that I have gone through to obtain some of these out of print and hard to find books which  will serve as a model to them for how to use the many resources the library has to offer.  My Caldecott Challenge journey would not be complete without the help of my local librarians, Jen and Janyce, and I am forever grateful to them for all of their help and assistance in helping me reach my goal of completing The Caldecott Challenge. As Jen says, “You and your badges!” I have read over 130 of the 332 Caldecott Winners and Honor books and have reviewed many of them on Goodreads (I am in the process of adding the 2000-2016).  I have linked my #PB10for10 to my Goodreads account and posted them below. If you decide to take up the Caldecott Challenge or just want to read some classic literature, have a great time and enjoy the journey. I promise you, the trip will be amazing.
1939
Andy and the LionAndy and the Lion by James Daugherty
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved the dedication, loved the story! A great story to share with students about the power of imagination.


View all my reviews
1939
BarkisBarkis by Clare Turlay Newberry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A good lesson for students about sibling relationships. I loved the drawings too! Barkis is cute and students will love the art.


View all my reviews
1940
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Amazing pictures and much information about the 16th president. Students will enjoy this book. I had to get it from the archives at one of the public libraries in northern MA. It took about one month to receive and was worth the wait!

1940
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Love, love, love. A true classic that many students will know. The art is wonderful and the message is timeless.

1943
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
1942 Caldecott winner. A beautiful story with beautiful pictures. A winner in 1942 and a winner now. So many talk worthy discussions here. 


1944
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book came all the way from the Massachusetts College of Art with a special book strap on it. It was so precious and delicate to hold. I loved the story and the pictures and when it is time to study Canada, I will request this book again. Students will love it!

1944
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book came all the way from St. John's University in Queens, NY to my local library in Whitinsville, MA. Thanks so much to Jennifer and Janyce at the WSL for helping me to obtain this literary treasure. The illustrator Plato-Chan, was 12 years old when this book was selected as a Caldecott Honor Book. He is the youngest person to win the coveted Caldecott prize ever! The illustrations are beautiful and it was surreal to hold this book in my hands, as it was a first edition copy. There are so many lessons to be learned, not only from the story, but about following your dreams and doing what you love as evidenced by Plato-Chan. I especially loved the introduction. Hopefully it won't have to come all the way from St. John's the next time I ask for it, but it probably will! And it will be worth it!

1945
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
So many fond memories of my grandmother reciting these nursery rhymes to me. This is a classic and should be in every book room in every elementary school. 

1946
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A touching story with amazing pictures! Some great lessons here, for students AND adults. 

1949
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Nice story, beautiful pictures. This will be great to share with students in the winter, during the weather unit or before the first big snowstorm. Some great poetry and writing opportunities can be created from this story. 




6 comments:

  1. We love hearing about your Caldecott challenge and learning about how these books got to you. So much fun to know how far they had to travel.

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  2. I loved reading about your picks, and sat with my library site open. They have many, and I already own some from long ago. Thanks for choosing some of the ones you believe are worth looking at. I found those new to me still available!

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  3. Thank you for this fascinating post. I so enjoyed reading about your challenge and looking through the classic books you have featured here.

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  4. What a neat theme for a list!
    I'm a BIG fan of the Madeline books. (I have most of the first one memorized from reading it to my daughter so many times.) I'm still trying to convince her to dress up like Madeline for Halloween. Alas, she wants to be a crayon. (I wish I could say it was inspired by Daywalt's books, but it isn't.)

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  5. My fovorite part of the first day of fourth grade was two facts and a fiction.

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  6. Mrs.Williams I dident know that when you prees publish it posts sorry for the many coments
    Jack

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