Caldecott Award Winning Books

Goble, P. (1978). The girl who loved wild horses. Scarsdale, NY: Bradbury Press.

In this book, Goble tells a story of a young Native American girl who shares such a  deep connection with horses that she's happy living with them after a storm drives her and the horses away from her home and family. Once her family finds her, she is sad that she has to leave the horses. Told with simple words and vivid paintings, kids will enjoy this story explaining the Native Americans' connections to the Horse People.

Chaucer, G., Cooney, B., & Lumiansky, R. M. (1958). Chanticleer and the fox. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell.

Barbara Cooney and Geoffrey Chaucer come together to present an adapted story from    the Canterbuy Tales of the fox and rooster. The fox has the best voice in the land, and even though he's given fair warning he still falls for the foxes flattery as he tells him he just came to hear him sing. Thankfully the rooster doesn't stay ignorant for long as he turns the tables back on the fox to escape back his family.

Scheer, J., & Bileck, M. (1964). Rain makes applesauce. New York: Holiday House.

This is a light-hearted book. It doesn't contain a plot, characters, or even a conflict. As stated in the book several times, "It's just silly talk." Julian Scheer talks about how rain makes applesauce, and gives examples of other crazy things that could happen if that were true. Marvin Bileck brings those things to life with his very detailed and graphic images. This book is the perfect fun read for kids.

Henkes, K. (2015). Waiting (1st ed.). New York, NY: HarperCollins.

An owl, pig, bear, puppy, and rabbit experience different things such as weather, visitors, and individual things that make them happy as they wait for other marvelous    things to happen. When an unexpected visitor arrives, a cat, they are curious to find out what she's waiting for. Read this book filled with beautiful pictures of watercolor paint and color pencils to see if this unique family of friends ever find out.

McDermott, G. (1974). Arrow to the sun: A Pueblo Indian tale. New York: Viking Press.

With contrasting geometric images full of dynamic, bold colors, McDermott tells a Pueblo Indian tale of a boy who is teased by the village kids for being fatherless. He sets out on a quest to find his father, but encounters some challenges along the way. He must first prove himself by passing through four chambers of ceremony. Read to find out if the boy is successful and challenge kids to think of another myth they might remember similar to this one.

Shannon, D. (1998). No, David! New York: Blue Sky.

Kids and parents will be able to relate to this book as we follow David through his day of mischievous activities as he does things that kids do like make too much noise, play with his food, track mud in the house , and refuse to settle down during bedtime.  David is familiar with the words "no," but his attitude changes once he is put in time out for breaking a flowerpot. David Shannon uses full page vibrant pictures to tell David's story.

Pinkney, J., & A. (2011). The lion & the mouse: A fable by Aesop. London: Walker Books.

Pinkney retells one of Aesop's most popular fables with very few words, watercolor like   pictures that, and onomatopoeias. When the lion shows an act of kindness by releasing his prey, the mouse, it is up to the mouse to decide if she wants to return the favor when the lion is captured by a trap set up by poachers. Use this fable to exemplify a lesson that all kids need to learn.

Floca, B. (2013). Locomotive (1st ed.). New york, NY: Antheneum.

Follow this family as they take a trip from Nebraska to California on The Pacific Railroad in 1869. We look into a behind the scenes view of the workers, the way the train works, the dangers that were involved with taking the train, and the feeling of moving swiftly across the deserts and plains after the days of the slow moving Oregon Trail. Floca packs this book with lots of details and information to give readers a brief history lesson on exploring the country during that era.

Wiesner, D. (2006). Flotsam. New York: Clarion Books.

When a camera is washed ashore, a young boy wastes no time getting the pictures developed. He's amazed at the photographs that show him places that the camera has been, the people who have also found the camera, and just how long the camera has been out a sea being passed along. Through pictures that look like photographs, Wiesner passes along a story to readers. Kids will be eager to see whether the boy will choose to pass the camera/story along or keep the treasure for himself. 

Ackerman, K., & Gammell, S. (1988). Song and dance man. NY: Alfred A. Knopf.

In this book, a group of grandchildren spend the afternoon at their grandparents house. With an hour of time left to burn until grandma is finished with supper, the kids follow their grandpa into the attic to relive his days as a tap dancer. Vibrant color pencil-like drawings illustrate the fun filled night and highlight the irreplaceable bond between grandparents and grandchildren.