Best Caldecott Books (by Kaion Adrian Hadinata – 4,5 Years Old – July 2010)

Lupakan buku-buku komersial yang beredar di pasaran. Berikut ini buku-buku terbaik yang susah ditemui di pasaran yang merupakan pemenang penghargaan buku bergambar untuk anak-anak Caldecott Medal & Honor Books yang banyak digunakan sebagai literature di sekolah-sekolah international ! Aku sering dibacakan buku-buku ini oleh Mama dan memang cerita dan artnya merupakan pilihan terbaik. Daftar ini berisi lebih dari 10 dikarenakan penghargaan Caldecott sudah diberikan sejak tahun 1938 sehingga buku-buku pemenang Caldecott sangat banyak jumlahnya dan masih akan terus bertambah. 


Daftar ini bisa berubah sewaktu-waktu mengikuti standar umurku karena aku kan juga bertumbuh dan ini kan memang resensiku.

1. The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney

Pencil, watercolor and colored pencils on paper...

.      That's all that was used to create the new children's book, The Lion & The Mouse. But those simple tools were being wielded in the hands of Jerry Pinkney and that, apparently, was enough. The magical combination of the artist and his skill, of tool and medium has resulted in a masterpiece of beauty and creativity.

      Because this retelling of Aesop's fable is presented here with almost no words, it will challenge parents, teachers and others doing the "reading" to find words worthy of doing justice to Pinkney's art. It's just that gorgeous.

2. No, David ! by David Shannon

No, David! is a very special book. This story does not need a lot of words in order to be captivating. Instead, it grabs the reader because it so accurately depicts the spirit of the child. Children will be children, and what to them is great fun, to an adult can be a definite no-no. It is through David's innocence, and his precarious foothold in the world, that we are instantly transported back to our own childhoods, where we too had to learn that there were consequences for our actions. I can't imagine that there is a person out there that cannot identify with the round-headed, gap-toothed David.
Teachers who teaching a special education class for preschoolers with Autism around the world certain that they would receive a response from reading this book to their students, as how many times are they told "NO"! Being a speech language pathologist they did expand on the dialog, saying what David was doing wrong. The students would paraphase the dialog with the same intonation or melodic intonation (scolding) they had used. They even wrote books about No, David!, doing inappropriate acts in their class room. It's amazing how well this book worked as a "social story". Many bad habits were reduced. Best of all, when they read "Come here, David" my students would come up to get a hug. This was the most verbally requested book from their students with Autism. At reading free choice, their students would look at the pictures and preread using the dialog. They currently run a preschool special education preschool program for children with speech, language, and learning delays and start off the Fall reading No, David to decrease bad social behaviors.

3. Knuffle Bunny : A Cautionary Tale by Mo Willems

This is a wonderful book that explores the difficulties of communication with a pre-verbal child. A little girl named Trixie starts to cry when she loses her stuffed animal and grows frustrated when she can't explain to her father what has happened. Her father, who hadn't noticed that the bunny was missing, tries to calm her down by talking about other things, which frustrates the litttle girl even more.

     The psychology of the book is very realistic and simple: this is exactly the kind of thing that happens to small children before they can talk, and the book written as much for the parents as it is for the kids. (My child points and smiles with satisfaction at the panel where the father realizes the mistake he's made, and Trixie has an I-told-you-so look on her face. For my part, I try not to lose things... ever!)

4. Swimmy by Leo Leonni

A lot of children's books deal with sharing and getting along with others. A lot try to help children be themselves. The brilliance of Leo Lionni is that in book after book he brings these two ideas together, showing children that they can be themselves and care about others at the same time. Many of Lionni's best books - Frederick, Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse, Tico and the Golden Wings, and Swimmy - all deal with this theme.
      Of all these, Swimmy is probably the one with the most immediate appeal to small children. The idea of little fish banding together to scare off the big bully fish is really empowering to small children. And the illustrations are delightful.

5. Sylvester and the Magic Peeble by William Steig

One day, Sylvester Duncan, an endearing young burro whose hobby is collecting unusual pebbles, happens upon a truly extraordinary one. Not only is it particularly beautiful, but as Sylvester is soon to discover, it possesses powerful magical properties.

    Sylvester's intentions are good and he plans to make use of the power of the pebble to help others. Nevertheless, the use of magic quickly becomes tragic, and Sylvester finds himself in a desperate situation from which escape seems all but impossible.
    My mom found herself on an emotional roller coaster ride when she was reading this book, as the little donkey is extricated from his plight just as all hope is lost. 
    This is an excellent book, beautifully illustrated, and clearly deserving of the Caldecott Medal which it won in 1970. My mom adore Sylvester and the Magic Pebble! Surprisingly she has found that this book is not as well known as she assumed it was and she highly recommend this book!

6. Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann

Officer Buckle & Gloria is great children's book for all ages. It is about a police officer that gets ignored by the children while he is reciting some important safety rules. But when he retrieves a dog named Gloria things change for Officer Buckle.

    My favorite part in the book is when Gloria was imitating a safety rule while officer Buckle was telling the safety: SAFETY TIP # 99 DO NOT GO SWIMMING DURRING ELETRICAL STORMS.I also love the part when Gloria did a flip in air in a class room.
My mother would recommend this terrific children's book to any kid in the world. This book also teaches kids some very important safety rules as well.

7. Owen by Kevin Henkes

This a very sweet book about growing up. In the book, the main character, Owen, is getting ready to go to school for the first time. He is crushed when he learns that he cannot take his beloved blanket to school with him. As the story unfolds, Owen and his parents work to find a solution to his dilema. This book has subtle humor and simple text that is perfect for emergent readers. The story is one that small children can easily relate to and parents will appreciate. The illustrations are consistent with Kevin Henkes' style. They are lovable and full of expression. I rate this book as one of Kevin Henkes' best!

8. Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

A short children's story about a young girl who lives with eleven other girls in a home in Paris and who has to go to the hospital to have her appendix removed. It was a 1940 Caldecott Honor book. This book, and others in the Madeline series, have become classics in children literature and every serious student of children literature should have it on their shelves. Children love these books.

    This is the first in the series, and it sets a wonderful tone. The illustrations are wonderful, and it's fun to see illustrations of actual Parisian landmarks such as the Opera, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and Tulleries.

9. Yo ! Yes ? by Christopher Raschka

I adore this book and will probably have it memorized, gestures and all, within the month. Inflection is key here and it's something babies start to work on even before they know words. The story is meant for an older (pre-school) audience, but the fun-with-language aspect of this book makes it great for even the littlest listeners.

10. The Gardener by Sarah Stewart and David Small

This book has such an unexpected gut-level impact on everyone who reads it! Each of the short letters begins with a date which will be meaningful to anyone who lived through the depression. Oddly enough, disasters and hard times seem to bring out the best in people and this book sets out to show just how that is true. Lydia Grace Finch is such a universally loveable little character - she is unforgettable! The text and the illustrations are so perfectly suited to each other - they seem to have been created by the same person -but they aren't! (Just a "marriage of true minds" I guess). The book gets at the heart of what a family can give a child even without money - what it means to be poor and what it means to be rich.

This is a lovely gift book for children or adults and I hope it stays in print for a long, long time!

11. Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola

The illustrations are very colorful and beautiful to behold. They are in a simple style that is appealing to young children. I would have enjoyed the book personally, just for the illustrations. The story is told in a friendly, humorous way rather than a frightening way. You can compare this story to Walt Disney's The Sorcerer's Apprentice and this one is definitely lighter and more appealing for young children.

12. Zen Shorts by Jon J. Muth

Muth's small zen shorts act as little stories within a story and compliment the larger action perfectly. The shorts are illustrated differently than the rest of the book so that, instead of watercolors, they are lined in thick black ink. Without drawing undue attention to himself, Muth is showing us that he can draw in completely different styles without so much as breaking a sweat. The stories themselves may be familiar to some adults.Kids reading this book may be confused by the selflessness displayed in both the first and the third story towards the undeserving. Intelligent adults will find a way to use such parables towards furthering their kids' understanding of the wider world. The final tale ("A Heavy Load") may require some explanations to children when it comes to the (for lack of a better word) punchline. Otherwise, they are instantly understandable to young readers.

13. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are is a wonderfully presented story for children. The tale focuses on an apparently rowdy youth, Max, who is sent to bed without supper for his rambunctious escapades in the house. Later that night Max dreams of a magical rowdy world where he is king of all things wild and terrible, but eventually Max comes to realize that having everything always go your way lacks any real fulfillment. The incorporation of some values into a beautifully illustrated adventure is sure to entertain any small child while still effectively presenting a subtle message. Thus, a child is not confused, nor presented with a meaningless tale. The font is large and separated from pictures to avoid confusion. The author's connection of the textual story to the pictoral story is helpful for children learning to read as well, as it helps to form associations between pictures and words. Widely recognized as a classic, Where the Wild Things Are is a necessity for any small child's library.

14. The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton

This is one of earliest 'reading' books that I remember, but it still has impact on me now. Its allegorical tale of how a beautiful little house becomes encroached by urban civilization, falls into disrepair and disfavour, and then discovers a new life when a fresh pair of eyes see its intrinsic value is truly a timeless one. The story worked on a simple level and I found it working on another, quite adult level. It is truly a gem of a book with a strong message of values for today, even 50 years after it was written. Beautifully yet simply illustrated. Highly recommended.

15. Joseph Had a Little Over Coat by Simms Taback

This is one of my all-time favorite children's book ! The philosophy underlying the story - that with spirit one can always triumph over circumstances - is light-heartedly embodied in Taback's marvelous illustrations. This is a charming, simple book with vibrant, busy pictures that just delights me. The format of the story repeats itself over and over so that it can easily "help" me understand. The pictures are terrific and full of detail. I enjoys spending time looking for new and hidden things on each page. Overall, a nice thoughtful book. I recommend it highly.

16. Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young

This book retells the ancient Indian tale of seven blind men who try to decide what an elephant is like based on examining one part of it. In this book, it is seven blind mice that examine the elephant; six of them draw incorrect conclusions based on one feel, whereas the seventh mouse takes it's time, and learns the truth about the elephant. I was particularly pleased with the moral of this story.

      The mice are each of a different color and examine the elephant on a different day, which helps expose children to the concepts of color and days of the week. The artwork is humorous which helps with children too young to read, and the text is simple enough for young readers. For reference purposes, I (4,5 years old) had no problem understand this book.

17. Peppe the Lamplighter by Elisa Bartone and Ted Lewin

"Peppe the Lamplighter" combines a story by Elisa Bartone with illustrations by Ted Lewin. The story takes place "[a] long time ago when there was no electricity and the street lamps in Little Italy had to be lit by hand." The hero of the book is Peppe, who lives with his widowed father and sisters in a tenement. Peppe's decision to get a job as a lamplighter leads to conflict between Peppe and his father.

      This is a good story that is greatly enhanced by Lewin's superb artwork. Most of the illustrations are two-page spreads that are packed full of energy and emotion. Overall, children come to appreciate the importance of all jobs.

18. The Emperor and the Kite by Jane Yolen

When my mommy bought Emperor and the Kite, she already knew she loved the folktale. She saw it first like always in the Book Sale Box in Gramedia Fair - Surabaya, and her insting knew she wanted it as a book on its own. She looked forward to that story every time she came to it in the text, and it was a favorite with me as well. It is a classic tale of strength, courage and loyalty in a small girl, which enpowers children and assures them that there is a little bit of hero in all of us. She remains loyal to her father, even when her other larger and stronger siblings desert him, fleeing in the face of evil. Her father had always favored the others, so this was particularly noteworthy. In the end, he rewards her loyalty and learns that even if you are big and strong, without strength of character, you are useless. Ed Young's illustrations are awesome as always.

19. Alexander and the Wind-up Mouse by Leo Lionni

Alexander is a mouse with some typical mouse problems. Specifically, every time he pokes his nose out of his hiding spot, the people who live in the house throw things at him and make him feel bad about himself. He is also very lonely. When he meets Willy, a wind-up mouse owned by the daughter of the human family, he thinks he has found a friend at last. Willy and Alexander spend many nights talking about their different lives. Willy is loved by everyone in the house, although he cannot move without being wound up. When Alexander hears about a magic lizard that has the power to change him into a wind-up mouse, he thinks he is in luck. But a twist at the ending gives the reader lots to think about, in terms of being happy with the life you've got, the strings that come with dependence, and the things that we do for friendship.

      I loved this book because it has touching and believable characters who seem to have more depth than the average picture book characters, and because it brings magical elements into a familiar household setting in a believable way that will have toddlers on the lookout for magical lizards and talking mice. The picture are also terrific, a very distinctive style that gives the book a special atmosphere all its own.
Highly recommended!

20. Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni

One of my favorite was Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni. The reason is, is that the worm in the story is very clever and thinks his way out of a sticky situation. That is what I like about authors like Leo Lionni. They can always come up with a great little story that influences so many children in such a positive way.