Caldecott Medal winners and their illustrations

Caldecott Winners

George, Judith and David Small (ill.) So You Want to be President? New York: Philomel, 2000.

ISBN: 0399234071 9780399234071, 52 pages, color illustrations. Caldecott Medal, numerous other recognitions. Juvenile non-fiction, reading level grades 3-7.

Presents brief facts regarding the characteristics of American Presidents. Includes common details of the group of former Presidents as a whole. All Presidents from Washington through Bill Clinton represented.

-Highly accessible to young readers yet enjoyable for older readers as well

-Short yet informative sections allow different levels of engagement

-Non-narrative format might lead to lack of continued interest for some

Draw a picture of yourself as the President

List five qualities that you think the President should have

Build a log cabin like those that several Presidents were born in Write a report about the life of one of the former Presidents

Create a dialogue with a partner between two different Presidents form different time periods

Wiesner, David. The Three Pigs. New York: Clarion, 2001.

ISBN: 0618007016 9780618007011, unpaged, color illustrations (varying styles). Caldecott Medal, School Library Journal Best Book, and other awards. Primary school/picture book for younger readers.

The story of the three little pigs with some very different twists. The pigs escape the wolf by entering into the worlds of other stories. Illustration style changes as the stories change. Author also illustrator.

-Highly imaginative drawings and stories make the book compelling for readers/hearers of all ages.

-Excellent visual cues assist the storytelling for younger readers.

-New twist on an old tale sure to be appreciated by parents and older readers, especially.

Draw a picture showing your favorite scene from a fairy tale

Write a new version of this fairy tale

Act out the new story of the Three Pigs

Discuss another situation in which teamwork is needed to come up with a solution

Create a story based on a friend's drawing, and have them create a story from your drawing

Rohmann, Eric. My Friend Rabbit. Brookfield, CT: Roaring Brook Press, 2002.

ISBN: 0761315357 9780761315353, unpaged, color illustrations (prints), Caldecott Medal and ALA Notable Book for Children. Primary school/picture book for younger readers.

Mouse shares his toys with Rabbit the problems that seem to arise. Rabbit's overzealousness in play is a small price to pay for friendship. Sharing, tolerance, and being careful are all addressed in the story.

-Provides meaningful lessons without becoming preachy.

-Bold and high-contrast illustration pleasing to even the youngest readers.

-Sincerely developed yet simple characters easily empathized with.

Share a new way to play with an old toy.

List five things you can do for your friend if they are feeling bad.

Pretend you are Mouse, and find a way to get Rabbit to be more careful without hurting their feelings.

Draw a picture of you and a friend playing.

Write a story about how to new friends meet.

Henkes, Kevin. Kitten's First Full Moon. New York: Greenwillow, 2004.

ISBN: 0060588284 9780060588281, unpaged, illustrated, Caldecott Medal, ALA Notable, several others. Juvenile audience.

Kitten thinks the full moon is a bowl of milk. She goes through a series of misadventures trying to reach it, ending in disappointment. A change in fortune leaves Kitten not with her original goal, but with something equally satisfying.

-Stark and thick-lined illustrations that nonetheless contain enormous detail

-Excitement turned to disappointment turned to satisfaction -- excellent emotional journey for young readers

-Demonstrates ambition and willingness to work to achieve goals

Write a story about what you think the moon is made of Draw a picture of the moon made of this substance

Share a time when you were disappointed -- how did it end?

With a partner/team, come up with a way to reach the moon

Bring your favorite drink to class and explain why you like it so much

Wiesner, David. Flotsam. New York: Clarion, 2006.

ISBN: 0618194576 1428702067, 39 pages, color illustrations, Caldecott Medal, ALA Notable, Quill Award, and others. Primary school/young readers.

A boy goes to the beach with investigation in mind. He examines each piece of flotsam that he finds washed up. His discovery of a camera with more secretes inside takes him further on a journey of personal and "scientific" discovery, making his day at the ocean especially memorable.

-Detailed illustrations tell the story almost without the need for text.

-Certain discoveries will challenge younger readers, yet remain engaging enough (especially with illustrations)

-Takes semi-ordinary events and reveals the magic and detail that lie just under the surface

Pick a piece of flotsam and write a story about how it ended up on the beach

Write a message to put in a bottle: what would you want to say to a stranger miles away?

Draw a picture of your favorite way to spend the day

Share something you found once with the rest of the class