CALDECOTT

Once a Mouse

Brown, M. (1961) Once a Mouse. New York, NY: Charles Scribner's Sons.

A mouse in danger of being eaten by crow is transformed into a cat, and eventually into a dog, and then a tiger by a hermit in order to save its life. But the mouse-turned-lion was too proud and walked around the forest with superior airs, and the hermit decided that it was time to put the animal back in its place and cast it away, turning him back into a tiny mouse.

Jambo Means Hello

Feelings, M. (1974) Jambo Means Hello. New York, NY: Dial Books for Young Readers.

Muriel Feelings introduces us to the Swahili alphabet one letter at a time with words that are significant to African culture. Each word is accompanied by an illustration that gives us a glimpse into the life of people on the other side of our world. The brief introduction by Mrs. Feelings provide us with enough information to take away more than just letters from this alphabet book.

A Story, a Story

Hailey, G.E. (1970) A Story, a Story. New York, NY: Anthenum Books.

This beautifully illustrated tale gives the origin of how stories of the world came to be. Ananse the Spider Man, completed three very difficult tasks in order to get the stories from the Sky God, Anyame. He cleverly goes around collecting three things to trade for the stories and in the end Anyame keeps his end of the the deal, proclaiming that the stories of the world now belong to Ananse.

Flora and the Flamingo

Idle, M. (2014) Molly and the Flamingo. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books LLC.

Flora admires a tall and graceful flamingo as it poses and moves. Flora, in a pink bathing suit and black flippers, tries her best to imitate the bird. But when she has a misstep the flamingo helps Flora make all the right moves in this wordless picture book with interactive flaps. 

 

Baboushka and the Three Kings

Robbins, R. (1960) Baboushka and the Three Kings. New York NY: Houghton Mifflin.

The Three Kings are in search of the Child and have stopped at Baboushka’s home to ask for her help. Baboushka turns down their offer, and changes her mind too late. She sets out to find the Child with no luck, and it is said that every year at the season when the Child was born Baboushka comes bearing gifts for children as she continues her search.

Outside Over There

Sendak, M. (1981) Outside Over There. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers.

As Ida plays the horn to rock her baby sister to sleep some goblins come into the room and take the baby to make her a bride. In her place they leave a baby made of ice, and when Ida realizes this she goes on a quest to get her sister back, charming the goblins and bringing her sister safely back home.

Puss in Boots

Perrault, C. (1998) Puss in Boots. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

A young man inherits a family cat but is making plans to eat it due to his lack of money and food. The cat however makes a deal with the man, cleverly gaining him favor with the king, setting him up with the princess and tricking an ogre in order to steal his castle. The puss in boots proved himself to be more valuable as a friend than as a meal.

The Lion and the Mouse

Pinkney, J. (2009) The Lion and the Mouse. Boston, MA: Little, Brown and Company.

In this classic tale a small field mouse runs into a lion as he is escaping from an owl. The little mouse convinces the lion to let him live and get back to his family, telling him that someday the mouse might save the lion’s life. Soon the lion finds himself trapped in the nets of hunters, and it’s the little mouse who comes to the lion’s rescue, proving that he made a wise choice by sparing the rodent’s life. 

 

Jumanji

Van Allsburg, C. (1981) Jumanji. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin.

One day in the park siblings Peter and Judy come across a board game called Jumanji. They take it home to play, only to discover that that game takes on a life of its own and brings out jungle plants and animals that bring chaos with them. Judy and Peter must play until the end, when the winner calls, JUMANJI!, sending everything back into the game board.

Rapunzel

Zelinsky, P.O. (1997) Rapunzel. New York, NY: Dutton Children’s Books.

Rapunzel is taken as a baby from her parents and raised by a sorceress who keeps her locked away in a high tower with no way in but through a high window. Rapunzel’s hair has grown over the years and on it the sorceress climbs to visit her. A prince notices that Rapunzel lives up there, and after secretly visiting her marries her on the spot. Unbeknownst to the sorceress, they marry and Rapunzel becomes pregnant with twins and is later cast away. Through trials and heartache Rapunzel and her husband reunite and lead a long and happy life.