1990s Caldecott Winners
1990
Young, Ed. Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story From China. New York: Philomel Books, 1989.
The pictures in this book are beautifully soft—it looks like chalk or charcoal. They are also very impressionistic. I think the pictures tell the feeling of the story more than the actions. In this story, the mother goes to visit the grandmother and leaves the children at home. A wolf comes to visit, impersonating the grandmother, and the children outwit and kill the wolf.
1991
Macaulay, David. Black and White Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1990.
This unique book is difficult to understand because you have to pay close attention to all four stories at the same time. The art medium used in each of the four stories is also different. The author challenges the reader with a warning on the title page: "This book appears to contain a number of stories that do not necessarily occur at the same time. Then again, it may contain only one story. In any event, careful inspection of both words and pictures is recommended." My impression is that all of the stories seem to tie in with "Problem Parents," but each reader should discover this for themselves.
1992
Wiesner, David. Tuesday New York: Clarion Books, 1991.
I like the colorful pictures in this picture book. Because the only words are dates and times, the pictures tell the story of the flying frogs. I think it is neat that the frogs look as if this happens all the time, but the other people and creatures are confused by this strange occurrence. The frogs seem upset when they can no longer fly on their lilly pads and must head home. Ending the book with pigs flying in the next week is great, the cycle continues. The watercolor pictures on Arches paper provide many allusions to modern culture in references to movies (such as the Back to the Future clock shot on the dust cover) and to changing times (such as the cable-ready television in the old TV case in the old woman’s living room.
1993
McCully, Emily Arnold. Mirette on the High Wire New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1992.
This wonderful story about a young girl learning to walk a tightrope is accented by beautiful impressionistic watercolor pictures. The beautiful use of colors and soft shapes really speaks to the reader in this book about confronting fear.
1994
Say, Allen. Grandfather’s Journey Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1993.
The pictures in this book about a Japanese-American man’s voyage to America and back to his home country are created in "snapshot" style. Each of the pictures looks like a photograph that has been touched up with paint for sharper colors. The watercolors capture the imagination and lead the reader to imagine the scenes described in the story. The affirmation between cultures is evident when the grandfather longs for one country when in the other.
1995
Bunting, Eve. Smoky Night illus. David Diaz. San Diego: Harcourt Brace and Company, 1994.
This book about riots in Los Angeles is a wonderfully textured book about getting along with all types of people. Although many people also think this story is inappropriate for children, it is about how a child would experience the rioting. The backgrounds of each page are ordinary household items placed together and photographed. For example, one page is clothing, hangers, and dry cleaning bags. The texture of the paper behind the text changes with each page as well. The backgrounds are fascinating and hold the attention as the reader tries to place each background with its part of the story.
1996
Rothman, Peggy. Officer Buckle and Gloria New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1995.
Perhaps in reaction to the controversy surrounding Smoky Night, this wonderful story about an officer and his dog-partner, Gloria, takes its place in the line-up of the best picture books. The colorful cartoon pictures tell the story of what Gloria does during Officer Buckle’s talks about safety. The words tell Officer Buckle’s story. The safety tips are great—common things that everyone should remember. Gloria’s antics during Officer Buckle’s presentations teach the children more about safety, just as the pictures in books teach the reader more about the story.
1997
Wisniewski, David. Golem New York: Clarion Books, 1996.
In another controversial book, Wisniewski retells a Jewish folktale with pictures in Color-Aid, Coralt and Bark cut paper. The pictures are really neat because they are layers of cut paper, creating an interesting, textured effect that captivates the reader. Although many consider this story about the Jewish giant brought to life to protect Jews from the Blood Lie to be unsuitable for children, a historical note at the end helps to explain the tale, although it doesn’t lessen the darkness of the story or the pictures.
1998
Zelinsky, Paul. Rapunzel New York: Dutton Children’s Books, 1997.
Zelinsky retells and illustrates the popular tale of Rapunzel. Beautiful, bright colored oil paintings show a beautiful castle-tower in which Rapunzel wants nothing but company other than the witch and freedom to leave. The realistic Renaissance-style paintings show a happy child and a fair lady kept by an over-fond "grandmother" sorceress. I especially liked the addition of Rapunzel’s Siamese cat, a kitten when she is a child, grown when she is grown. The cat is in most of the pictures with Rapunzel.
1999
Martin, Jacqueline Briggs. Snowflake Bentley illus. Mary Azarian. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1998.
This book tells the story of William Bentley, a self-made scientist who learned to photograph snowflakes and study their designs. The beautiful pictures are woodcuts with hand-tinted watercolors which create a unique historical aura for the story. Biographical facts can be found in the snowflake-covered margins framing the story. The final page contains authentic Bentley photographs.
Young, Ed. Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story From China. New York: Philomel Books, 1989.
The pictures in this book are beautifully soft—it looks like chalk or charcoal. They are also very impressionistic. I think the pictures tell the feeling of the story more than the actions. In this story, the mother goes to visit the grandmother and leaves the children at home. A wolf comes to visit, impersonating the grandmother, and the children outwit and kill the wolf.
1991
Macaulay, David. Black and White Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1990.
This unique book is difficult to understand because you have to pay close attention to all four stories at the same time. The art medium used in each of the four stories is also different. The author challenges the reader with a warning on the title page: "This book appears to contain a number of stories that do not necessarily occur at the same time. Then again, it may contain only one story. In any event, careful inspection of both words and pictures is recommended." My impression is that all of the stories seem to tie in with "Problem Parents," but each reader should discover this for themselves.
1992
Wiesner, David. Tuesday New York: Clarion Books, 1991.
I like the colorful pictures in this picture book. Because the only words are dates and times, the pictures tell the story of the flying frogs. I think it is neat that the frogs look as if this happens all the time, but the other people and creatures are confused by this strange occurrence. The frogs seem upset when they can no longer fly on their lilly pads and must head home. Ending the book with pigs flying in the next week is great, the cycle continues. The watercolor pictures on Arches paper provide many allusions to modern culture in references to movies (such as the Back to the Future clock shot on the dust cover) and to changing times (such as the cable-ready television in the old TV case in the old woman’s living room.
1993
McCully, Emily Arnold. Mirette on the High Wire New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1992.
This wonderful story about a young girl learning to walk a tightrope is accented by beautiful impressionistic watercolor pictures. The beautiful use of colors and soft shapes really speaks to the reader in this book about confronting fear.
1994
Say, Allen. Grandfather’s Journey Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1993.
The pictures in this book about a Japanese-American man’s voyage to America and back to his home country are created in "snapshot" style. Each of the pictures looks like a photograph that has been touched up with paint for sharper colors. The watercolors capture the imagination and lead the reader to imagine the scenes described in the story. The affirmation between cultures is evident when the grandfather longs for one country when in the other.
1995
Bunting, Eve. Smoky Night illus. David Diaz. San Diego: Harcourt Brace and Company, 1994.
This book about riots in Los Angeles is a wonderfully textured book about getting along with all types of people. Although many people also think this story is inappropriate for children, it is about how a child would experience the rioting. The backgrounds of each page are ordinary household items placed together and photographed. For example, one page is clothing, hangers, and dry cleaning bags. The texture of the paper behind the text changes with each page as well. The backgrounds are fascinating and hold the attention as the reader tries to place each background with its part of the story.
1996
Rothman, Peggy. Officer Buckle and Gloria New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1995.
Perhaps in reaction to the controversy surrounding Smoky Night, this wonderful story about an officer and his dog-partner, Gloria, takes its place in the line-up of the best picture books. The colorful cartoon pictures tell the story of what Gloria does during Officer Buckle’s talks about safety. The words tell Officer Buckle’s story. The safety tips are great—common things that everyone should remember. Gloria’s antics during Officer Buckle’s presentations teach the children more about safety, just as the pictures in books teach the reader more about the story.
1997
Wisniewski, David. Golem New York: Clarion Books, 1996.
In another controversial book, Wisniewski retells a Jewish folktale with pictures in Color-Aid, Coralt and Bark cut paper. The pictures are really neat because they are layers of cut paper, creating an interesting, textured effect that captivates the reader. Although many consider this story about the Jewish giant brought to life to protect Jews from the Blood Lie to be unsuitable for children, a historical note at the end helps to explain the tale, although it doesn’t lessen the darkness of the story or the pictures.
1998
Zelinsky, Paul. Rapunzel New York: Dutton Children’s Books, 1997.
Zelinsky retells and illustrates the popular tale of Rapunzel. Beautiful, bright colored oil paintings show a beautiful castle-tower in which Rapunzel wants nothing but company other than the witch and freedom to leave. The realistic Renaissance-style paintings show a happy child and a fair lady kept by an over-fond "grandmother" sorceress. I especially liked the addition of Rapunzel’s Siamese cat, a kitten when she is a child, grown when she is grown. The cat is in most of the pictures with Rapunzel.
1999
Martin, Jacqueline Briggs. Snowflake Bentley illus. Mary Azarian. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1998.
This book tells the story of William Bentley, a self-made scientist who learned to photograph snowflakes and study their designs. The beautiful pictures are woodcuts with hand-tinted watercolors which create a unique historical aura for the story. Biographical facts can be found in the snowflake-covered margins framing the story. The final page contains authentic Bentley photographs.
Proudly powered by Weebly