Every Bed of Roses: Our 10 Favourite Caldecott Medal Books

This months theme for the Poppins Book Nook is Caldecott Medal Books.

If you had asked me twenty years ago what a Caldecott book was I would not have had any idea. Thanks to homeschooling I was introduced to the concept of twaddle free literature and the importance of beautiful pictures in the lives of my children.

Before I began home educating I had no idea of the importance or impact of any of these things and thanks to Sonlight I now have a good insight into both. Our first three years of homeschooling were with Sonlight and a good many of the books I received in those cores contained Caldecott Medal books which served as good training to spot a beautifully illustrated book at the library and for that I'm really grateful to the people at Sonlight who choose the books for the cores.

Without further ado these are a few of our favourite things ...

Our 10 Favourite Caldecott Medal Books

A Tree Is Nice

By (author) Janice May Udry
Illustrated by Marc Simont
Format: Paperback | 32 pages
Dimensions: 158mm x 272mm x 2mm | 82g
Publication date: 22 June 2010
Publication City/Country: New York, NY
ISBN 10: 0064431479
ISBN 13: 9780064431477

This book is for younger students and helps them appreciate all the beautiful trees out and about. It is also used in Learning Language Arts Through Literature blue book.

Bill Peet: An Autobiography

By (author) Bill Peet
Format: Paperback | 192 pages
Dimensions: 203mm x 254mm x 14mm |
Publication date: 19 May 1994
Publication City/Country: Boston
ISBN 10: 0395689821
ISBN 13: 9780395689820

Bill Peet is an amazing author and illustrator. The first book we read of his was Capyboppy and from there I was on a mission to find every book he had written and illustrated. Chester, the Worldly Pig is my all time favourite so far and we have also enjoyed Buford, the Little Bighorn.

Grandfather's Journey

By (author) Allen Say
Illustrated by Allen Say
Format: Paperback | 32 pages
Dimensions: 236mm x 287mm x 10mm | 136g
Publication date: 27 October 2008
Publication City/Country: Boston, MA
ISBN 10: 0547076800
ISBN 13: 9780547076805

This book impacted me very deeply. Its a story about a man who immigrates.

Little Bear's Visit

By (author) Else Holmelund Minarik
Illustrated by Maurice Sendak
Format: Paperback | 64 pages
Dimensions: 140mm x 216mm x 8mm | 45g
Publication date: 31 December 1979
Publication City/Country: New York
ISBN 10: 0064440230
ISBN 13: 9780064440233

We adore the Little Bear books, they are wonderful little books for beginner readers.

Little House

By (author) Virginia Lee Burton
Format: Paperback | 40 pages
Dimensions: 224mm x 240mm x 6mm | 181g
Publication date: 11 January 2002
Publication City/Country: Boston
ISBN 10: 039525938X
ISBN 13: 9780395259382

We were introduced to Virginia Lee Burton via Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel and have thoroughly enjoyed The Story of Ferdinand and Katy and the Big Snow many times over in the compilation book: Mike Mulligan and More: A Virginia Lee Burton Treasury

Madeline

By (author) Ludwig Bemelmans
Format: Paperback | 56 pages
Dimensions: 211mm x 300mm x 5mm | 227g
Publication date: 7 August 2001
Publication City/Country: New York, NY
ISBN 10: 014056439X
ISBN 13: 9780140564396

Ah Madeline you have warmed the heart of little boys and girls in our home for years and years. We have explored the world through your eyes in books like Madeline's Christmas and Madeline's Rescue

Make Way for Ducklings

By (author) Robert McClosky
Format: Paperback | 76 pages
Dimensions: 233mm x 306mm x 8mm | 295g
Publication date: 17 September 2007
Publication City/Country: New York, NY
ISBN 10: 0140564349
ISBN 13: 9780140564341

This book stretched my read aloud capability! So many made up names which had my children in fits of giggles for hours on end while we explored the famous Mallard ducks of Boston. This book ignited my desire to see Boston for myself!

Mirette on the High Wire

By (author) Emily Arnold McCully
Format: Paperback | 32 pages
Dimensions: 198mm x 252mm x 5mm | 113g
Publication date: 5 April 2011
Publication City/Country: New York, NY
ISBN 10: 0698114434
ISBN 13: 9780698114432

A beautiful book about french culture and the encouraging heart of a child as she helps Bellini overcome his fear and live life again.

My Father's Dragon

By (author) Ruth Stiles Gannett
Illustrated by Ruth Chrisman Gannett
Format: Paperback | 74 pages
Dimensions: 117mm x 191mm x 10mm | 91g
Publication date: 27 December 2005
Publication City/Country: New York
ISBN 10: 0440421217
ISBN 13: 9780440421214

Don't let this title fool you. The adventures to be had in this book had me back at the library to find the sequels: My Father's Dragon: Three Tales: 50th Anniversary Ed

What is the Caldecott Medal?

In short it is an annual award, awarded by the American Library Association to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.

You can read more about the award here:

Welcome to the Caldecott Medal Home Page!
A full list of all the Caldecott Medal & Honor Books, 1938-Present
10 Things To Know About The Caldecott Medal The Three Books a Night website is beautiful. If you are wanting to find beautiful children's books be sure to book mark this one.
The history of the The Randolph Caldecott Medal

FREE for you
Jill from over at Enchanted Homeschooling Mom has made this FREE Poppins Book Nook pack for you.

An official interactive Poppins Book Nook bookmark for this month’s theme
This month’s Passport pages to add to your lap book
Several lap book elements centered around The Laboratory.
Reading response writing prompt

Next month we will be visiting the woods with the Poppins Book Nook so be sure to visit us on the last Monday of June for your monthly spoonful of reading fun.
Blessings
Chareen