Special Collections
Caldecott Award Winners
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Peppe the Lamplighter
by Elisa BartoneA long time ago when there was no electricity and the streetlamps in Little Italy had to be lit by hand, Peppe lived in a tenement on Mulberry Street. His family was poor, and so, though he was just a boy, he needed to work. But a job as a lamplighter was not what his father had dreamed of for Peppe.
The Little Island
by Golden MacdonaldOnce there was a little island in the ocean. That little island changes as the seasons come and go. The storm and the day and night change it. So do the lobsters and seals and gulls that stop by. Then one day a kitten visits the little island and learns a secret that every child will enjoy.
The Biggest Bear
by Lynd WardJohnny Orchard brings home a playful bear cub that soon becomes huge and a nuisance to the neighbors.
Winner of the Caldecott Medal
The Amazing Bone
by William SteigOn her way home from school, Pearl, a pig, finds a talking bone that saves her from would-be robbers and from a hungry wolf. A charming story. This file should make an excellent embossed braille file.
Casey at the Bat
by Ernest Lawrence Thayer"And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout; But there is no joy in Mudville - mighty Casey has struck out." Those lines have echoed through the decades, the final stanza of a poem published pseudonymously in the June 3, 1888, issue of the San Francisco Examiner. Its author would rather have seen it forgotten. Instead, Ernest Thayer's poem has taken a well-deserved place as an enduring icon of Americana during the golden era of sport.
Working Cotton
by Sherley Anne WilliamsA young black girl relates the daily events of her family's migrant life in the cotton fields of central California.
Song of the Swallows
by Leo PolitiThe story of the friendship between Juan, a little boy in the California town of Capistrano and Julian, the old gardener and bell-ringer at the Mission of San Juan Capistrano.
The Hello, Goodbye Window
by Norton JusterFrom the book: The kitchen window at Nana and Poppy's house is, for one little girl, a magic gateway. Everything important happens near it, through it, or beyond it. Told in her voice, her story is both a voyage of discovery and a celebration of the commonplace wonders that define childhood. It is also a love song devoted to that special relationship between grandparents and grandchild. The illustrations in this book look like pictures colored by a child. Pictures are described. This book received the Newberry Award.
The Noisy Paint Box
by Mary Grandpre and Barb RosenstockVasya Kandinsky was a proper little boy: he studied math and history, he practiced the piano, he sat up straight and was perfectly polite. And when his family sent him to art classes, they expected him to paint pretty houses and flowers--like a proper artist. But as Vasya opened his paint box and began mixing the reds, the yellows, the blues, he heard a strange sound--the swirling colors trilled like an orchestra tuning up for a symphony! And as he grew older, he continued to hear brilliant colors singing and see vibrant sounds dancing. But was Vasya brave enough to put aside his proper still lifes and portraits and paint . . . music? In this exuberant celebration of creativity, Barb Rosenstock and Mary GrandPré tell the fascinating story of Vasily Kandinsky, one of the very first painters of abstract art. Throughout his life, Kandinsky experienced colors as sounds, and sounds as colors--and bold, groundbreaking works burst forth from his noisy paint box. Backmatter includes four paintings by Kandinsky, an author's note, sources, links to websites on synesthesia and abstract art.From the Hardcover edition.
Rapunzel
by Paul O. ZelinskyTrapped in a tower with no door, Rapunzel is allowed to see no one but the sorceress who has imprisoned her-until the day a young prince hears her singing to the forest birds. . . . The timeless tale of Rapunzel is vividly and magnificently brought to life through Paul O. Zelinsky's powerful sense of narrative and his stunning oil paintings. "Simply put, this is a gorgeous book; it demonstrates respect for the traditions of painting and the fairy tale while at the same time adhering to a singular, wholly original, artistic vision. " (The Horn Book, starred review)
Hansel and Gretel
by Rika LesserPaul O. Zelinsky's stunning Caldecott Honor Book allows readers to see the story of Hansel and Gretel anew. Full color. Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.
The Moon Jumpers
by Janice May UdryChildren explore the world around them after the sun has gone down. A Caldecott Honor award winner.
Blackout
by John RoccoOne hot summer night in the city, all the power goes out. The TV shuts off and a boy wails, "Mommm!" His sister can no longer use the phone, Mom can't work on her computer, and Dad can't finish cooking dinner. What's a family to do? When they go up to the roof to escape the heat, they find the lights--in stars that can be seen for a change--and so many neighbors it's like a block party in the sky! On the street below, people are having just as much fun--talking, rollerblading, and eating ice cream before it melts.
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
by Mo WillemsWhen a bus driver takes a break from his route, a very unlikely volunteer springs up to take his place-a pigeon! But you've never met one like this before. As he pleads, wheedles, and begs his way through the book, children will love being able to answer back and decide his fate. In his hilarious picture book debut, popular cartoonist Mo Willems perfectly captures a preschooler's temper tantrum. Images and image descriptions available.
A Tree Is Nice
by Janice May Udry"Trees are very nice," says Janice May Udry in her first book for children. She goes on to explain that even one tree is nice, if it is the only one you happen to have. Some of the reasons why trees are so good to have around are funny. Some are indisputable facts. But in all of them there is a sense of poetic simplicity and beauty which will be sure to entrance any young child. Whether your child knows one tree or many, he or she will relish the descriptions of the delights to be had in, with, or under a tree. Marc Simont's joyous pictures, half of them in full color, accentuate the child-like charm of the words. And each painting of a tree or trees shows just how very nice they can be.
The Egg Tree
by Katherine MilhousKaty and Carl spent a wonderful Easter on a Pennsylvania farm with their cousins and Grandmom. They took part in their first Easter Egg hunt which turned out to be most exciting when Katy found something special in the attic. What Katy finds, and what grandmother does about it, makes a charming story. Out of it comes the Egg Tree with hundreds of colored Easter eggs on its branches. The Egg Tree won the Caldecott Medal in 1951.
Fly High, Fly Low
by Don FreemanA Caldecott Honor Book. This is a heartwarming story of two birds making a home and then making another one in one of Americas great cities.
Dave the Potter
by Laban Carrick HillTo us it is just dirt, the ground we walk on... But to Dave it was clay, the plain and basic stuff upon which he formed a life as a slave nearly 200 years ago. Dave was an extraordinary artist, poet, and potter living in South Carolina in the 1800s. He combined his superb artistry with deeply observant poetry, carved onto his pots, transcending the limitations he faced as a slave. In this inspiring and lyrical portrayal, National Book Award nominee Laban Carrick Hill's elegantly simple text and award-winning artist Bryan Collier's resplendent, earth-toned illustrations tell Dave's story, a story rich in history, hope, and long-lasting beauty.
Winner of the Coretta Scott King Medal
Green Eyes
by A. BirnbaumCaldecott Honor winning illustrator, A. Birnbaum has captured the childlike wonder of each season in this 1953 picture book. Green Eyes, the curious kitten, ventures beyond his familiar big red box and greets spring, summer, fall, and winter--each with their unique colors, scents, and feelings. Children will delight in discovery with Green Eyes as he ventures out and cozies up to the familiar warmth of home upon his return.A Caldecott Honor BookA New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book "Spectacular." --The New Yorker"This genius among caricaturists, Birnbaum, brings the essence of his art to the eyes of small children." --New York Herald Tribune"Here is everything a small looker wants and needs in a first picture book." --The Chicago Tribune
Make Way for Ducklings
by Robert MccloskeyThis classic tale of the famous Mallard ducks of Boston was awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1941. Make Way for Ducklings has been described as 'one of the merriest picture books ever' (The New York Times). Ideal for reading aloud, this book deserves a place of honor on every child's bookshelf. Images and image descriptions available.
Hershel And The Hanukkah Goblins
by Eric A. KimmelA traveler rids a village synagogue of ghosts. A Caldecott Honor Book.
Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears
by Verna AardemaWhen Mosquito tells iguana a terrible lie, he sets off a chain of events. Owl will not wake the sun, so there is not sunrise. Find out what happens in this West-African tale and find out why mosquitos buzz in people's ears. Winner of the 1976 Caldecott Medal for best picture book.
The Boy of the Three-Year Nap
by Dianne SnyderA poor Japanese woman maneuvers events to change the lazy habits of her son
Rain Drop Splash
by Alvin TresseltWith this classic picture book, young readers can follow the course of a heavy rain as it drenches people and animals and changes the landscape below.