A CALDECOTT CELEBRATION

1. Bibliography

Marcus, Leonard S. 1998. A CALDECOTT CELEBRATION: SIX ARTISTS AND THEIR PATHS TO THE CALDECOTT MEDAL. New York: Walker and Company. ISBN 0802786561

2. Plot Summary

This book is a compilation of stories about the creation of six Caldecott Award winning books. It highlights a book from each decade spanning the award's sixty year history. The book also includes some biographical information about each author as well as quotes from their award acceptance speeches. Each story contains a list of all of the titles created by that author along with the publication dates and any awards won. At the end of the book is a list of all of the Caldecott award-winning books from its inception in 1938 through 1998.

3. Critical Analysis

This book is a beautifully written account of six artists' lives and the paths they took that led them to win the Caldecott medal. The simple writing makes an understandable historical account while at the same time making each author both memorable as well as lovable. It offers a chronological look at the creation of a picture book, but adds a degree of emotion by quoting the authors themselves. This book would be inspiring for a young artist hoping to one day illustrate children's books.
The stories told in this book depend heavily on the written text, however, the illustrations add to a deeper understanding of the amount of work required to create a children's book. The examples of dummy sketches, while not a finished product, are unique and amazing to look at. The photographs of the artists add humanity to the biographies, and the copies of the book covers portray the finished product. While the illustrations are not the focal point of this book, they add character and believability to the text that they accompany.

4. Review Excepts

School Library Journal: “So many good stories for children and adults to enjoy”
Booklist: “ A beautifully made book, this will serve as a fine resource for children interested in illustration”

5. Connections

-Gather each of the books highlighted in this compilation. Read each book noting the finished product compared to the dummy sketches.
*MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS by Robert McCloskey
*CINDERELLA; OR, THE LITTLE GLASS SLIPPER by Marcia Brown
*WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE by Maurice Sendak
*SYLVESTER AND THE MAGIC PEBBLEe by William Steig
*JUMANJI by Chris Van Allsbury
*TUESDAY by David Wiesner

-Other biographical books about author/illustrators
*TALKING WITH ARTISTS by: Pat Cummings
*A CALDECOTT CELEBRATION: SEVEN ARTISTS AND THEIR PATHS TO THE CALDECOTT MEDAL by: Leonard Marcus