Caldecott Challenge Year 2000

2000 Caldecott Medal Winner:

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Taback Simms
This is the newly adapted version of the 1977 Yiddush folk song, Joseph had a little overcoat. This fabulous rendition is done in die cut and collage illustrations that are not only striking with bold colors and patterns but there is so much detail in each page. It is the old saying that you can always make something out of nothing. A great read aloud story for grades K-3. ***

2000 Caldecott Honor Winners:
A Child's Calendar illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman and poems by John Updike
This is a beautiful book of poems for each month of the year. Each page is a month that describes activities in a child's life based on the changes in the weather. The poems are written by John Updike who has won many awards for his poems and short stories collections. The illustrations are done in watercolor with much detail and color that brings each poem alive for the reader. Grades K-3 ***

Sector 7 by David Wiesner
Need I say more. Yet another fabulous and artistically drawn wordless book by the infamous David Wiesner. In this story a young boy is on a school field trip to visit the Empire State Building but instead is taken by a friendly cloud to visit Sector 7 where he discovers how clouds are shaped and so his adventure begins. Grades K-4 ****

When Sophie Gets Angry - Really, Really Angry by Molly Bang
This is the perfect story for the young child that gets angry,  temper tantrum angry. And everybody gets angry at some time but this is a fabulous book that shows how anger can take control and sometimes it is much better to talk about things than get angry. The illustrations are in bright, fiery colors to depict the anger. While I think this is an excellent story the illustrations do not speak out to me. Grades K-2 **

The Ugly Duckling Adapted and Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
Jerry Pinkney is a three time Caldecott honor artist and four time winner of the Coretta Scott King Award, need I say more. These illustrations of this fabulous wonderful folktale are spectacular. The use of watercolors to depict this story not only show the pain and triumph of the little duckling but also the humor and compassion. A true gem! Grades K-3 *****