Caldecott Medal Winning Children's Books

Animals of the Bible

by: Dorothy P. Lathrop

Amazon Price: $9.89 (as of 05/29/2012)

Any lover of children's literature and illustrations needs to have this book in their collection.

Many Moons

by: James Thurber

Amazon Price: $16.08 (as of 05/29/2012)

A simple but mildly engaging tale of a King who attempts to bring the moon to his sick-at-heart young daughter, the princess. The moral seems to be that smart people only tend to see the big, obvious approaches to life, whereas commoners (here it's the court jester) can better grasp the subtleties associated with outlandish wishes and have the ability to make them come true without getting mired in all the "science" of the matter.

Song of the Swallows

by: Leo Politi

Amazon Price: $10.45 (as of 05/29/2012)

Tells the famous story of the yearly return of the swallows to the Mission San Juan Capistrano through the eyes of a small child. Julian, the bell ringer of the Mission, tells Juan, a young boy who also lives at the Mission, the story of the swallows and how--without anyone really knowing why or how--they return each year from their winter home in South America to San Juan Capistrano in California. Thrilled by the story, Juan makes his own small garden in the hope that at least one family of swallows will nest there when they return.

Frog Went A-Courtin'

by: John Langstaff

Amazon Price: $2.98 (as of 05/29/2012)

Frog Went A-Courtin', is a story of a fantasy genre which was written in Scotland over 400 years ago, where it was told and sung to the children. As people began to move from Scotland to America they brought the "Frog and Mouse" song with them. John Langstaff explained this in the front of the book. Today, it is mainly read aloud, but the great illustrations, done by Feodor Rojankovsky, give great detail with a broad range of color use.

Once a Mouse...

by: Marcia Brown

Amazon Price: $2.65 (as of 05/29/2012)

A hermit knows the magic to change a small mouse into a cat, a dog, and a majestic tiger -- and Marcia Brown's magical woodcuts bring this Indian fable to life with the mastery that won her her second Caldecott Medal.

Drummer Hoff

by: Barbara Emberley, Ed Emberley

Amazon Price: $2.70 (as of 05/29/2012)

This is one of the great childrens' books of the 20th century. it combines a wonderful story line with great simplicity. It has the great merit of being a story which parents (or others) can read to children (mainly boys I think) without taking up a great deal of time and in which the children can participate to the full. Children very quickly memorize the words and love to take part in the reading which helps in learning reading skills as well as the love of books.

Duffy and the Devil (Sunburst Book)

by: Harve Zemach

Amazon Price: $3.17 (as of 05/29/2012)

This tells a cute story similar to the traditional version of Rumplestiltskin that is familiar to many of us. The watercolor illustrations are the perfect companion to this text as they are subtle with their opaqueness, yet still tell so much by themselves. Because the book deals with the devil and also some witches, it may not be appropriate for all audiences. Due to the difficulty of the, at times, archaic grammar and length of the text, students shouldn't be expected to read this independently until the 3rd grade, but can have it read to them at a younger age.

Study Guide SET--The Ox-Cart Man--INCLUDES BOOK Progeny Press

by: Rebecca Gilleland/Hall and Cooney

Amazon Price: $18.75 (as of 05/29/2012)

A lyrical journey through the seasons and passing years of one New Englander's family evokes the feeling of historical America.

The Polar Express

by: Chris Van Allsburg

Amazon Price: $5.99 (as of 05/29/2012)

Tuesday

by: David Wiesner

Amazon Price: $3.22 (as of 05/29/2012)

"Tuesday evening, around eight"--a deceptively mundane beginning for what proves to be a thrilling, miraculous, and surreal amphibian journey. Slowly and quietly on this particular Tuesday, a few fat frogs begin hovering over a swamp, riding lily pads like magic carpets. Clearly satisfied and comfortable, the floating frogs are as serene as little green buddhas. Gradually, the flying fleet grows in momentum and number, sailing over the countryside and into an unsuspecting town. These frogs know how to have fun--startling the occasional bird, waving webbed feet at late-night snack-eaters, and even changing the channels on a sleeping granny's television. As day breaks, the frogs lose their lily pads, head back to the pond, and wait impatiently for their next scheduled departure.

Rapunzel (Picture Puffin Books)

by: Brothers Grimm

Amazon Price: $3.99 (as of 05/29/2012)

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers

by: Mordicai Gerstein

Amazon Price: $2.40 (as of 05/29/2012)

The Lion & the Mouse

by: Jerry Pinkney

Amazon Price: $8.00 (as of 05/29/2012)