Every year, the Association for Library Service to Children awards the
prestigious Caldecott Medal to the artist of the most distinguished American
picture book for children. Some of those books are probably already on your
bookshelves at home – they’re the ones with the gold sticker on the front
featuring a rendition of the medal. Many of these books also can be found at
the Spokane Public Library and other libraries in your area.
The award was named in honor of Randolph Caldecott, a 19th-century
English illustrator. It's his birthday this month so Auntie’s Bookstore
is having a Caldecott Storytime on Saturday.
Come down to enjoy the amazing artwork as we read some
Caldecott Medal and Caldecott Honor books. All Ages. 11 a.m., Auntie’s
Bookstore, Children’s section, 402 W. Main Ave. Free. (509) 838-0206.
My family’s favorite book this year didn’t win the medal, but it did receive
the Caldecott Honor (those are the books with the silver sticker). It’s called “How
I Learned Geography,” written by one of my favorite artists, Uri Shulevitz. (He
also wrote and illustrated other Caldecott honor books including "Snow." In 1969, he won the Caldecott Medal for "The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship.") “How I
Learned Geography” is about a boy forced by war to become a refugee. Although he was
often hungry, he found solace in a map that his father bought one day at the market instead
of food. The book is based on Shulevitz’s life, and how his family fled the
Warsaw Blitz during World War II. (Shulevitz now lives in New York City.) It’s an absolutely beautiful and inspiring
book, I think.
What are your some of your family’s favorite books this year?
This blog is intended to provide a forum for parents to share knowledge and resources. It's a place for parents young and old to combine their experiences raising families into a collective whole to help others.
