Special Collections
Caldecott Award Winners
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Arrow to the Sun
by Gerald McdermottA young boy searches for his father, but before he can claim his heritage he must first prove his worthiness by passing through the four ceremonial chambers: the kiva of lions, the kiva of snakes, the kiva of bees, and the kiva of lightning. This book was the Caldecott Book Award Winner in 1975.
Strega Nona
by Tomie DePaolaWhen Strega Nona leaves him alone with her magic pasta pot, Big Anthony is determined to show the townspeople how it works in this classic Caldecott Honor book from Tomie dePaola.
Strega Nona—"Grandma Witch"—is the source for potions, cures, magic, and comfort in her Calabrian town. Her magical everfull pasta pot is especially intriguing to hungry Big Anthony. He is supposed to look after her house and tend her garden but one day, when she goes over the mountain to visit Strega Amelia, Big Anthony recites the magic verse over the pasta pot, with disastrous results.
In this retelling of an old tale, author-illustrator Tomie dePaola combines humor in the writing and warmth in the paintings as he builds the story to its hilarious climax.
The Desert Is Theirs
by Byrd BaylorSimple text and illustrations describe the characteristics of the desert and its plant, animal and human life.
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 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.
Hawk, I'm Your Brother
by Byrd BaylorDetermined to learn to fly, Rudy adopts a hawk hoping that their kinship will bring him closer to his goal. A Caldecott Honor Book and an ALA Notable Book.
Ashanti to Zulu
by Margaret MusgroveIt would take volumes to describe the cultures of all the African tribes, but here are insights about 26 of them, from the Ashanti to the Zulu. Margaret Musgrove has described ceremonies, celebrations, and day-to-day customs. Some of them are shared by many peoples, others are unique, but all are fascinating. This book won the 1977 Caldecott Award.
Castle
by David MacaulayThe word itself conjures up mystery, romance, intrigue, and grandeur. What could be more perfect for an author/illustrator who has continually stripped away the mystique of architectural structures that have long fascinated modern man?
With typical zest and wry sense of humor punctuating his drawings, David Macaulay traces the step-by-step planning and construction of both castle and town.
Freight Train
by Donald CrewsIn powerful words and vibrant illustrations, Donald Crews evokes the essence of inexorably rolling wheels, so that even a child not lucky enough to have counted freight cars will feel he has watched a freight train passing. A book truly for the youngest child -- and for every one of us who has been that child. Images and image descriptions available.
Winner of the Caldecott Honor
The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses
by Paul GobleFrom the Book jacket: In simple words and brilliant paintings that sweep and stam pede across his pages, Paul Goble tells of a Native American girl's love of horses. Her people saw that she understood the herd in a special way. The horses would follow her to drink at the river. And in the hot sun she would sleep con tentedly beside them as they grazed among flowers near her village. One day a thunderstorm drove the girl and the horses far from home, and the people were frightened. The girl was lost beneath strange, moonlit cliffs; yet, next morning, she was glad, for a beautiful stallion who was the leader of the wild horses wel comed her to live with them. PAUL GOBLE is in Residence at the Gall Indian and Western Arts at Mt. Rushmore National Memorial in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Among his other books are: THE FRIENDLY WOLF "A young Plains Indian boy and his sister, bored with berry-picking, wander off and become lost. They take overnight shelter in a wolfs den, and, in answer to their pleas for help, the wolf leads them home. Their tribe honors the wolf and declares friendship with the wolf people ... The clear text is complemented by colorful, full-page illustrations which present accurate, richly detailed information about Indian life...A splendid resource for children..." School Library Journal (starred review) LONE BULL'S HORSE RAID "The Plains Indians needed horses for hunting buffalo and hauling their possessions...This story tells of Lone Bull's first horse raid and the battle it led to, which enabled Lone Bull to stand before his people as a warrior. . .Magnificent color illustrations full of rich detail... in this excellently designed, honest portrayal of the Indian point of view." School Library Journal (starred review)
The Treasure
by Uri ShulevitzA poor man, inspired by a recurring dream, journeys to a far city to look for a treasure, only to be told to go home and find it.
[This text is listed as an example that meets Common Core Standards in English language arts for grades 2-3 at http://www.corestandards.org.]
Ox-Cart Man
by Donald HallChildren's book about the ox-cart man and his hard work throughout the year.
The Bremen Town Musicians
by Ilse PlumeThe book is all about the four aged animal friends trying to make living for them as they were escaped from their cruel masters.
Mice Twice
by Joseph LowA round of uneasy hospitality results when Mouse and Dog arrive at Cat's house for dinner.
Fables
by Arnold Lobelpig flying through marshmallow clouds to a marzipan moon? A camel pirouetting through the desert? A wolf who looks suspiciously like an apple tree-or is it the other way around? A bear in a frying-pan hat and paper-bag boots? Where can a reader-child or adult -find such marvelous things but in a fable? Arnold Lobel, creator of Frog and Toad, has given us his own funny and true fables. Each with a fresh and unexpected moral. Each accompanied by an illustration of glowing color and rich detail. Indeed, the reader of Arnold Lobel's fables will be rewarded - just like the mouse who goes off to see the world - by many moments of happiness. Winner of the 1981 Caldecott Medal This file should make an excellent embossed braille copy.
A Visit to William Blake's Inn
by Nancy WillardNancy Willard was inspired by William Blake's verbal and visual imagery as a child. She has now produced a book of poems that are not "in the style of" but more of an homage to Blake's poetry. The organizing principle is that Blake runs and inn and it is staffed and patronized by a variety of fanciful creatures and people. The rhyme schemes and words are mostly simple enough for children. The allusions and imagery extend the interest to older readers.
Newbery Medal Winner
Where the Buffaloes Begin
by Olaf BakerFollow Little Wolf to the fabled lake in the south where the buffaloes begin. Watch the huge beasts surge out of the water and onto the prairie, as Little Wolf leads them to a victory against the enemies of his people. A Caldecott Honor Book. Illustrations in black-and-white. Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.
Outside Over There
by Maurice SendakMaurice Sendak, the master conjurer of images and words, mingles dark memories with myth, nightmares with sweet dreams and turns them all into "a profound work of art for children".--New York Times. Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.
Jumanji
by Chris Van AllsburgThe game under the tree looked like a hundred others Peter and Judy had at home. But they were bored and restless and, looking for something interesting to do, thought they'd give Jumanji a try. Little did they know when they unfolded its ordinary-looking playing board that they were about to be plunged into the most exciting and bizarre adventure of their lives. In his second book for children, Chris Van Allsburg again explores the ever-shifting line between fantasy and reality with this story about a game that comes startlingly to life. His marvelous drawings beautifully convey a mix of the everyday and the extraordinary, as a quiet house is taken over by an exotic jungle.
When I was Young in the Mountains
by Cynthia RylantA story about the childhood reminiscences of growing up in the Appalachian Mountains & the pleasures in life.
A Chair For My Mother
by Vera B. WilliamsThe jar of coins is full. The day has come to buy the chair--the big, fat, comfortable, wonderful chair they have been saving for. The chair that will replace the one that was burned up--along with everything else--in the terrible fire. A book of love and tenderness filled with the affirmation of life.
Ten, Nine, Eight
by Molly BangNine stuffed animals, one sleepy toddler. Numbers from ten to one are part of this lullaby which observes the room of a little girl going to bed.
Winner of the Caldecott Honor
The Glorious Flight
by Alice Provensen and Martin ProvensenA biography of the man whose fascination with flying machines produced the Blériot XI which crossed the English Channel in thirty-seven minutes in the early 1900s.
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.
Have You Seen My Duckling?
by Nancy TafuriA duckling is missing! Mother Duck sails frantically around the pond, with the rest of her brood behind her. But none of the pond residents has seen the little duckling, not bird, not turtle, not beaver, not fish. But clever readers can see that duckling isn't lost at all--just adventuring, and never far away.