delara, interrupted

Every summer, my local library had a contest to see who could read the greatest number of books while school was out. A list of summer reading books was posted downstairs in the children's library, and a reader's progress through that list was tracked by adding a rectangle with the title of a book read to the length of a bookworm next to the reader's name on a poster. It was a cool visual. I'm all about bar graphs and pictographs. I am pretty sure they grouped contestants by age or reading level. I don't remember what the prize was, but I remember winning one summer and being at the library almost EVERY day. On days when I wasn't at the library, I was either out biking or working through math and science workbooks that were meant for students one or two grades higher than mine.

I was (am?) a nerd. I am aware of this. Thank you.

I loved our library. Well into high school, I elected to do my homework there rather than at home because I just loved the way it felt to be there. I loved the smell of all the books, the study tables and the large floor-to-ceiling windows on the upper level that offered an amazing view of the sunset. Most of all, though, I loved the children's books and the children's library downstairs.

I loved that special crinkle of the plastic jackets the library used to protect its hardcover books. Every time you opened a book, there was that familiar crinkly sound. I pored over the racks and racks of "young adult" paperback series -- Sweet Valley High, Choose Your Own Adventure, the Shannara books by Terry Brooks, and Twilight books. And I practically lived among the rows of fiction books.

Recently, I have been re-exploring my love of books. But not just ANY books - specifically, illustrated books. And more specifically, illustrated children's books. I LOVE picture storybooks. Totally love them. The illustrations inspire and uplift me. Always.

Many people don't realize how artful illustrations are. I have often heard adults refer to illustrated books as childish and amateur, belittling the illustrator like, "Oh, (pick an artist) couldn't hack it as a *real* artist, so I guess he's just illustrating books now." JUST illustrating books??!??? Crazy! Let me tell you from experience, there is nothing about illustration that is any less artful, complex or difficult than completing a painting, major photographic work, or graphic design layout.

Whatever.

Anyway, here is a list of the best--at least according to the American Library Association, which administers the Caldecott Medals each year. I picked up a list of Caldecott Medal winners at my local bookstore just to see how many of them I have read. I like to keep up with quality books so that I can make informed recommendations to my friends with children and keep a running list of books I would like to have in our own library one day.

Without further ado, the Caldecott Medal winners for the past thirty years, or so:

• 2007: Flotsam - by David Wiesner (haven't read it yet--can't wait to!)
• 2006: The Hello, Goodbye Window - illustrated by Chris Raschka (who has also illustrated some amazing books inspired by jazz greats charlie parker and john coltrane) and written by Norton Juster (who wrote my ALL-TIME FAVORITE children's book, the phantom tollbooth!!)
• 2005: Kitten's First Full Moon - by Kevin Henkes (adorable, emotive illustrations)
• 2004: The Man Who Walked Between the Towers - by Mordicai Gerstein (you gotta love this simply for the author-illustrator's name!!)
• 2003: My Friend Rabbit - by Eric Rohmann (also check out Honor winner Time Flies
• 2002: The Three Pigs - by David Wiesner (fantastic!! you can tell he's talented - this was his second of three medals.)
• 2001: So You Want To Be President? - illustrated by David Small and written by Judith St. George
• 2000: Joseph Had a Little Overcoat - by Simms Taback (not quite the same thing as joseph and the amazing technicolor dreamcoat)
• 1999: Snowflake Bentley - illustrated by Mary Azarian and written by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
• 1998: Rapunzel - by Paul O. Zelinsky
• 1997: Golem - by David Wisniewski (a DEEP story with cut-paper illustrations. talk about complex. they're amazing.)
• 1996: Officer Buckle and Gloria - by Peggy Rathmann
• 1995: Smoky Night - illustrated by David Diaz and written by Eve Bunting
• 1994: Grandfather's Journey - by Allen Say
• 1993: Mirette on the High Wire - by Emily Arnold McCully (also one i haven't read--yet.)
• 1992: Tuesday - by David Wiesner
• 1991: Black and White - by David Macaulay (this one will really blow you away - it's actually four stories in one.)
• 1990: Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China - by Ed Young (beautiful)
• 1989: Song and Dance Man - illustrated by Stephen Gammell and written by Karen Ackerman
• 1988: Owl Moon - illustrated by John Schoenherr and written by Jane Yolen (you have read this. you know you have!)
• 1987: Hey, Al - illustrated by Richard Egielski and written by Arthur Yorinks (one of my favorite books evar.)
• 1986: The Polar Express - by Chris Van Allsburg (yes, this is the one that was animated as a film. van allsburg is one of my favorite illustrators. he did jumanji too, which also won a medal.)
• 1985: Saint George and the Dragon - illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman and retold by Margaret Hodges
• 1984: The Glorious Flight: Across the Channel with Louis Blériot - by Alice and Martin Provensen
• 1983: Shadow - translated and illustrated by Marcia Brown and written by Blaise Cendrars
• 1982: Jumanji - by Chris Van Allsburg
• 1981: Fables - by Arnold Lobel (he also did the frog and toad books. so, so awesome!)
• 1980: Ox-Cart Man - illustrated by Barbara Cooney and written by Donald Hall
• 1979: The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses - by Paul Goble
• 1978: Noah's Ark - by Peter Spier (there was a kid in my class who had this same name. i didn't like him. he was rather obnoxious. because of this, i never read books by his namesake. i think enough time has passed that i may want to give it a try.)
• 1977: Ashanti to Zulu - illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon and written by Margaret Musgrove (the dillons are amazing. pure and simple. they are the ONLY illustrators to have been awarded consecutive Caldecott Medals--leo being the first african-american to be awarded a medal--they have been married and illustrating together for over 50 years, and the way they describe their collaboration is beautiful.)
• 1976: Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears - illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon and retold by Verna Aardema
• 1975: Arrow to the Sun - by Gerald McDermott (beautiful story.)
• 1974: Duffy and the Devil - illustrated by Margot Zemach and retold by Harve Zemach
• 1973: The Funny Little Woman - illustrated by Blair Lent and retold by Arlene Mosel

I will say that some of these books, due to having been published long ago, are no longer in print. That is where your local-fabulous-used bookstore and your library come in handy!

I will also say that I have always been impressed with the diversity of books and illustrators awarded the Caldecott Medal or Caldecott Honor. Very impressive.

There are so many more books, but this list will have to suffice for now. Read on!