Genre 1: A Caldecott Celebration

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Marcus, Leonard S. 1998. A CALDECOTT CELEBRATION. New York, NY: Walker and Company. ISBN 0802786561.

SUMMARY
A CALDECOTT CELEBRATION is a celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Caldecott Medal. This charming children's history book opens with the introduction of Randolph Caldecott and the origins of the medal, and then moves through the six decades in which it's been awarded by profiling one recognized illustrator from each decade.

ANALYSIS
The stories in this book are told clearly, in straight forward engaging language that young readers will follow. They will probably find at least one of their favorite books among the six Caldecott winners profiled, and will enjoy seeing the way the illustrator brought an idea to fruition. Marcus tells the artists' stories with humor and an eye to which details will appeal to children. In several cases, through interviews with the authors, Marcus pieces the story together from the first moment of inspiration to the final illustration in the book, as in the case of the 1955 winner, Marcia Brown, and the cherubs over the door of Scribner's Publishers.
The most engaging aspect of Marcus' book is the artist's original sketches and drawings interspersed throughout the text, sometimes embellished with insider information on the type of medium used and the way the printing process worked when that author was writing. The original dummies and works in process cannot fail to fascinate young readers, who may relish the opportunity to get a behind the scenes look at their favorite picture books. The personal anectodotes Marcus shares from the lives of the winners are chosen well, and seem to pop up throughout the profiles just when plain history might start to get a little boring. Any wandering attention will be called back for the story of Robert McCloskey's New York apartment full of sixteen ducks. In addition, the way Marcus fits the lives and works of the artists into the context of history is well done. For instance, when speaking of Robert McCloskey's scholarship opportunity, Marcus mentions that he was a teenager during the Great Depression, "a time when money and jobs were scarce" (Marcus, 7). The language is not dumbed down and the concepts can be easily grasped for students who were not familiar with that history. Marcus also places the many of the books in the context of their times; for instance, Marcus notes that MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS was published soon before the country entered World War II, and "the story's promise of security and a father's safe return came to mean a great deal to the children of a nation at war" (Marcus, 11). Marcus also gives perspective on the success of Marcia Brown's CINDERELLA by mentioning the fad for new illustrations of fairytales in that time.
Two aspects of the book seem the most significant to young readers: seeing the creative process in action, and watching the artists turn their dreams into reality. Young readers familiar with the stories get to see the artist's vision take shape, from the first spark of imagination in Maurice Sendaks "Where the Wild Horses Are" to the final award winning book. Marcus does not discount serendipity in the lives of the award winners, but he does not make much of the chance meetings and old friendships that in most cases led to publication. Instead Marcus presents the artists' histories as dreams that were achievable through hard work and perseverence.
The glossary at the end of the book is a wonderful tool for young readers and their teachers.

REVIEWS
"Filled with witty anecdotes and pithy observations, Marcus's (Dear Genius: The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom) approach to examining the works of six Caldecott Medalists will be of as much interest to adults as to picture book readers. He has chosen one book from each decade, "so that viewed together, the six offer an informal cross section through time of the American picture book": Robert McCloskey's Make Way for Ducklings, Marcia Brown's Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper, Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are, William Steig's Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, Chris Van Allsburg's Jumanji and David Wiesner's Tuesday. With a generous sprinkling of the artists' own words and sometimes those of his or her editor, Marcus chronicles the inspiration behind these works, the creative process, the artists' reactions to winning the prestigious award and its effect on their careers. He fills the volume with the kinds of details children relish..." PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY.


CONNECTIONS
Ask kids about projects they've started and finished, such as drawings or models, or even something like a treehouse. Was the project different in the end than the way they'd imagined it in the beginning? Do students think Maurice Sendak was right, and it is necessary to have "a firm, clear vision" before beginning the work? (Marcus, 22).

This book also could work as part of a unit on great artists throughout United States history, given that one of the original intetions of the Caldecott Award was to "encourage American artists to make picture books" that were valuable works of art like Randolph Caldecott's books.

Since students will almost certainly have read some of the award winning books Marcus profiles, it will not be hard to spark a discussion on which of the books each child likes the most and why.