LS 5603 A Caldecott Celebration

Marcus, Leonard S. A Caldecott Celebration. New York: Walker and Company, 1998.

ISBN: 0-8027-8656-1

A Caldecott Celebration is a compilation of information on six artist and their books that have won the Caldecott Medal for book illustration. Each of the six artists profiled in the text represent a decade: from the 1940s to the 1990s. The way the artists work and come up with their ideas are described in detail – and each artist tells tidbits of information about their work in their own words. The book also includes the list of winners from 1938-1998 and a glossary of artistic terms used in the text.

A Caldecott Celebration is an interesting book for children; the different styles of the artists really stand out in their individuality and their work process. My favorite anecdote was when Robert McCloskey’s roommate described the ducks’ habits that McCloskey kept in their New York apartment while working on illustrations for Make Way for Ducklings, which is true dedication to your art! Although this book was thoroughly enjoyable as-is I couldn’t help but want more: another artist profiled from the same decade, updated information with artists from the 2000s. Here’s hoping he’ll do a second edition!

The October 12, 1998 edition of Publishers Weekly states that with “Marcus’s sure hand guiding this tour, readers will find cause for celebration.” Similar titles readers may like are: A Newbery Zoo: A Dozen Animal Stories by Newbery Winning Authors selected by Martin H. Greenberg and Charles G. Waugh, From Pictures to Words: A Book About Making A Book by Janet Stevens, or a book about Caldecott himself: Randolph Caldecott and the Story of the Caldecott Medal by John Bankston.