2001 Coretta Scott King Award: Miracle's Boys by Jacqueline Woodson

Miracle's Boys is a painful, tear-jerking story that tells about the harsh, realistic struggles three brothers living in inner city Manhattan face after the death of both parents. Half Puerto Rican and half African American, Lafayette, twelve, Charlie, fifteen, and Ty'ree, twenty-one, each cope with grief in different ways. Ty'ree gives up his opportunity to attend a prestigious school to earn a living working to barely support his two younger brothers. Before their mother dies, Charlie gets caught robbing a candy store at the age of twelve and is then sent to Rahway Home for Boys, a juvenile correctional facility. After Charlie returns home, Lafayette and Ty'ree witness a totally different person. Charlie comes back home cold-hearted, distant, and harsh. In a desperate attempt to erase her memories, Charlie burns all of the pictures of their mother except for two. He ultimately feels guilty for not being present when their mother died and doesn't know how to express his agony. With the sudden death of his mother, Lafayette's whole existence is shattered to pieces. To make matters worse, Charlie blames Lafayette for their mother's death. Towards the end of the story, Charlie accompanies his "friend" Aaron to what he thinks is a harmless party. However, when Charlie arrives he discovers something totally different- a gang initiation. Charlie ends up fighting. He then gets accused and arrested when the police think he steals a car. Ty'ree and Lafayette arrive at the police station and take Charlie home. This experience changes Charlie because it makes him realize that he doesn't want to be a part of that life. Author Jacqueline Woodson leaves the reader optimistic that the three brothers will stick together and support one another when Charlie opens the lines of communication in an effort to hear more stories about their mother.
This was a very sorrowful and depressing story. In fact, after I read the first couple of chapters, I contemplated not finishing the rest of the story, but I am very glad I did. With each page I read, the more I wanted to find out if the brothers would come together despite their difficult circumstances. Even though this story was not a "happy feel good" book, I found myself wrapped up in the characters's emotions and their struggles. There were several moments within the book that actually brought tears to my eyes. I sympathized with them and even found myself wishing I could transform their heartache into joy. The realistic theme of the value of family unity was evident throughout the entire story. As I read this story, I thought about my own family and wondered what my sister and I would have done if we were in the same circumstances as the Bailey brothers. It was a very depressing thought!
I would recommend this book to middle school students. I believe the content, such as the subjects of death and gangs, are very deep topics. With the overall quality concept of the story and character development, Miracle's Boys is definitely worth reading. I am not, however, familiar with other books written by Jacqueline Woodson.
I find it amazing how children's literature can actually make the reader feel what the characters in the story are going through. That is the mark of a great book! In Miracle's Boys, I almost felt as if I were living that horrible nightmare with them.

Newbery and Caldecott Award Differences

The Newbery and Caldecott awards are both very prestigious medals given to outstanding authors and illustrators. However, there are differences between them. The Newbery medal, adopted in 1922 by the American Library Association's Executive Board, was named for the eighteenth-century English influential bookseller, John Newbery. This bronze-colored medal is awarded annually to an author of the "most distinguished contribution to American literature for children published in English in the United States during the preceding year." Whether the form of work is poetry, fiction, or non-fiction, committee members are to consider the literary qualities featured within the book such as the interpretation of theme, development of the plot, and should also consider elements like characters, setting, and organization. In addition to the Newbery award, the committee also chooses other quality books for honorable mention.
The Caldecott medal, on the other hand, is awarded annually to the illustrator of "the most distinguished American picture book for children published in English in the United States during the preceding year." This bronze-colored medal, named in honor of nineteenth-century well-known illustrator, Randolph J. Caldecott, originated in 1937 after many people expressed that, like authors of children's books, the artists were deserving of honor as well. The selection committee should consider aspects such as high-quality artistic technique, pictorial interpretation of the story, including the theme, characters, plot, setting, and mood, as well as how well the illustrations recognize a child's audience. In addition to the Caldecott medal, the committee also chooses other quality books for honorable mention.
In my opinion, both Newbery and Caldecott awards are equally impressive. Both awards showcase high-quality children's books. Both literature and illustrations can greatly enhance the overall quality of a book. For example, after reading Caldecott Honor book, When Sophie Gets Angry-Really, Really Angry, author and illustrator Molly Bang uses combinations of warm and cool colors to depict Sophie's moods. I feel this feature was very effective. Likewise, after reading Newbery Honor book, Rules, I felt the author's development of the theme and characters were phenomenal. While the Newbery and Caldecott medals vary in criteria, both awards have an amazing reputation for distinguished children's books.

Resources:
http://www.ala.org/alsc/newbery.html

http://www.ala.org/alsc/caldecott.html

2007 Newbery Honor Book: Rules by Cynthia Lord

While reading Rules, I experienced a plethora of emotions that ranged from joy to sadness and even frustration. Rules is a heart-warming, realistic story that deals with the importance of accepting the differences of others. This book tells the story of a family whose eight-year-old son, David, has autism. David's autistic behaviors were evident throughout the book. For example, David was sensitive to sounds, obsessed with time, lacked the ability to initiate conversations, took everything literally, and was very regimented with his activities. Twelve-year-old Catherine, David's sister, had conflicting emotions about her brother. On one hand, she engaged in acts of love when she made rules to help her brother better function in the world, took up for him against an obnoxious boy named Ryan, and fixed his cassette tape several times so he could listen to Arnold Lobel's Frog and Toad Together. On the other hand, when David did things to embarrass Catherine, such as opening up doors at other people's houses or pulling his pants down, she became frustrated, annoyed, and even sensitive to their different sort of life. When accompanying her mother to David's occupational therapy session, she met and became friends with Jason, a boy confined to a wheelchair who used a book filled with words and pictures to communicate. As Catherine assisted in adding words and pictures to his communication book and the more time she spent with him, the more Catherine learned about her own feelings and the feelings of others.
This children's book is great! I would definitely recommend this book to upper elementary and middle school students. I found myself sharing what was happening in the story to my husband. Cynthia Lord does an amazing job of allowing the reader to get an inside look at the innermost thoughts and emotions of the characters in the story. I was also able to gain a better perspective of what a family like this goes through because I was able to obtain a glimpse of their daily struggles and emotions. Furthermore, an awareness of the reality of this story touched my heart. I found myself thinking how blessed I am and how often I take things, like being able to walk and talk, for granted. Also, I couldn't help but be reminded of my three year old nephew and what life would be like if he were to be diagnosed with autism.
Thousands upon thousands of families deal with similar situations found in this book. I believe it is wonderful that through children's literature, stories of sensitive, real life issues can be passionately conveyed to others. Also, through this piece of children's literature, I was able to learn more about a disease somewhat unfamiliar to me.
Interestingly, Rules is Cynthia Lord's first children's book. Her website revealed another book, Touch Blue, coming out soon.

2001 Newbery Honor Book: Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

For a girl so young, 10-year-old India Opal Buloni's life was far from a fairy tale. When she was only three years of age, her mother left her. Another life-changing event occurred when Opal and her father, a preacher, moved to Naomi, Florida, leaving behind many of her friends. It was in a Winn-Dixie supermarket where she met and kept a big, disheveled dog. With the friendship from her dog, Winn-Dixie, Opal was not only able to meet new friends, but she also came to an important realization within herself that her mother would never come back, a burden that she had struggled with for a long time.
Once I began reading this story, I couldn't put the book down. I was immediately drawn into the characters the author created. I thought she developed her characters very well. Not only did the author describe the characters' physical attributes, but she also did a wonderful job of allowing the reader to get inside the characters' emotions. I enjoyed the overall theme of the importance of true friendship. I also found that the story had even a deeper meaning- that if we live long enough, we will all at some time or another experience hardships. In the book, most of the characters Opal befriended had one thing in common - they had suffered in some way. For example, Amanda's little brother, Carson, died when he was only five; some of Miss Franny Block's family had suffered great loss during the Civil War; Otis was put in jail mainly because he wanted to play his guitar for others; and Gloria Dump had a drinking problem in the past that she still dealt with. I liked how the author, Kate DiCamillo, told an authentic story about life in general- its ups and downs. I believe this is an excellent choice for children. I feel it is important for children to understand that life is not always peachy- sometimes it has disappointments and difficult times. But, the important aspect is how they deal with those adversities.
Kate DiCamillo has written a combination of several early chapter books and novels for children. In addition to Because of Winn Dixie, she has also written books such as The Tale of Despereaux, and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. I have actually not read any of her other works.

2000 Caldecott Award: Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat is a well-known story comprised of simple sentences and repetitive phrases. Joseph, the main character, has an old overcoat. However, when the overcoat gets too shabby, he decides to make the overcoat into a jacket. Joseph, a very creative and resourceful individual, transforms the jacket into a vest, a scarf, a necktie, a handkerchief, and a button. After Joseph loses the button, the reader is led to believe he has nothing left. However, he then makes a book out about it. The moral to this story, which is stated at the end of the story is "You can can always make something out of nothing."
I am especially fond of the unique layout of the illustrations. Every other page reveals strategically placed die-cut holes in an effort to keep the reader predicting, "What will Joseph make next?" Allowing children to predict what will happen next in a story is an excellent reading strategy. When the reader turns the pages, the die-cut fits perfectly on Joseph. I found the vibrant combinations of watercolor, collage, gouche, pencil, and ink in the illustrations quite appealing. I also enjoyed looking at the detail embedded in the artwork.
As I read this story about Joseph, I was somewhat reminded of my own mother. My mom absolutely does not like to throw things away. In fact, when told she needs to throw something away, she will usually say, "Why would I want to throw that away? I might can use it sometime." My mom loves to reuse things! I believe it gives her a pleasant feeling of accomplishment.
Author and illustrator, Simms Taback, has written many books. Similar to Joseph Had a Little Overcoat, Taback has also written the popular children's book, There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. This humorous story has many similar features such as repetitive phrases, detailed and bold illustrations, and strategically placed die-cut holes found in the book.
After reading Joseph Had a Little Overcoat, one thing I learned about children's literature is that the possibilities of creativity truly are endless!

2000 Caldecott Honor Book: When Sophie Gets Angry- Really, Really Angry by Molly Bang

This book regards an emotion that all human beings, no matter what age, have experienced - anger. People cope with this strong emotion in a variety of ways. This story tells about how a little girl named Sophie deals with her anger. After having a stuffed Gorilla taken from her by her sister, Sophie is furious. In an effort to calm down, Sophie leaves her house. Once outside, Sophie cries, finds a tree to climb, and takes comfort in observing nature. When Sophie's mood improves, she goes back home where things are back to normal again.
I believe this book is a valuable resource to teach children ways they can deal with their anger. Molly Bang uses warm colors, vibrant shades of reds and oranges, to convey Sophie's anger. She then transforms those colors into cool hues of greens and blues to depict a calming mood. I feel this is a very intesting way to illustrate the contrasting emotions evident in this book. The use of color in this example of children's literature is phenomenal!
Molly Bang has written few books that deal with emotions. However, she did illustrate the book, The Day Leo Said I Hate You! written by Robie Harris. In this story, a boy named Leo deals with frustration when he gets angry at his mother.
Molly Bang has also written and illustrated several children's books, such as Ten, Nine, Eight and My Light. These books do not have related themes. For example, Ten, Nine, Eight is about a little girl preparing for bedtime and My Light tells about how humans use the sun.

2001 Caldecott Honor book: Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type

I grew up in a small, rural county in western Kentucky. In fact, the entire county does not have one traffic light. Having access to my grandparent's farm, I recall many childhood memories of trying to catch kittens in the barn, riding through the fields on a tractor, and accompanying my uncle to help feed the cattle. While reading and viewing the illustrations of the farm environment in Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, many of those special memories on my grandparent's farm came back to me.
I enjoyed reading reading this light-hearted and witty children's book. Developing a story in which farm animals go on "strike" when the farmer refuses to give them electric blankets is a very imaginative plot. I especially enjoyed the way the problem was solved- the cows and the hens acquired the electric blankets, the ducks received a diving board for the pond, and Farmer Brown was able to manage his farm with the milk and eggs that the hens and cows provided. All parties involved were satisfied! I feel the watercolor illustrations successfully added to the overall country atmosphere.
I believe one of the principal themes in this story is cooperation. I have learned that children's literature can promote themes in subtle ways. Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type was actually the very first picture book that Doreen Cronin wrote. Since then, she has written similar books, such as Giggle, Giggle Quack, Farmer Brown's Barnyard, Click, Clack, Quackity-Quack, and Thump, Quack, Moo. All of these stories feature many of the same characters as in her very first book.

2004 Caldecott Honor Book: Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! tells an interesting story of a persistent pigeon whose mission is to drive a bus after the driver has to go away for a little while. The driver tells the reader at the very beginning of the book to not let the pigeon drive the bus. Throughout the rest of the story, the pigeon pleads for the reader to let him have permission to drive the bus. The bird says such things as "Please?", "I never get to do anything.", and "What's the big deal?" The bus driver finally comes back and asks the reader if he/she let the pigeon drive the bus. The reader is supposed to say "No!" As the bus driver is driving away, the pigeon then spots a huge truck and imagines himself driving that vehicle.
I found this story enjoyable, humorous, and interactive. I believe the author did a fantastic job of engaging young readers from the very beginning of the story. I often found myself giggling at some of the illustrations. I really enjoyed how Willems applied speech bubbles to tell the story. I believe this format worked very well for this book. I also thought the use of soft colors and "kid-friendly" illustrations were effective.
As I read this story, I was actually reminded of myself when I was little girl and wanted to do things that weren't always in my best interest. I would like to have a dollar for every time I have said things like "Please?" and "No fair!"
Mo Willems has written a series of similar books on the character of the pigeon. He has also written and illustrated The Pigeon Wants a Puppy!, Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!, and The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!
One important aspect I have learned from reading this children's story is that a book doesn't have to contain many words to tell the story. Effective illustrations are a significant component of children's literature. I have also learned that children's literature can be very interactive.

2001 Caldecott Award: So You Want to Be President? by Judith St. George

In the summer of of 2001, I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. with my family. This experience was truly a trip of a lifetime for me as we were able to take a tour of the White House, visit the Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials, read the thousands of names of those who lost their lives in the Vietnam War, and attend a session in Congress at the U.S. Capitol. In addition, I stood in awe as I visited the thousands of graves at the Arlington National Cemetery. When I think back to that eye-opening historical experience, I feel very blessed to live in America. As I read So You Want to Be President? I was reminded of my firsthand experience. I also remembered watching history unfold just a few short weeks ago as our first African American President was sworn into office.
I truly enjoyed reading this story! The author and illustrator both did remarkable job of captivating U.S. history in a "kid-friendly" way. The manner in which Judith St. George presented interesting facts about former presidents was well-written and very enlightening. Furthermore, I enjoyed learning the information in this book. For example, I did not know that Theodore Roosevelt's children had numerous animals in the White House! The illustrator, David Small, also contributed to the overall success of the story. I feel his cartoon-like drawings of the former presidents were accurate and quite humorous. After reading the story, I gained a better understanding of how effective and organized presentation of historical facts can intrigue even young minds.
I actually haven't read any more of St. George's works. However, I did view other books she has written, such as You're on Your Way, George Washington and her most recent book, Stand Tall, Abe Lincoln. By looking at some of her other works, it appears that she has a strong passion for writing on American historical figures.