Loved this, Travis! I have to admit that I wasn't ENTIRELY sure how they *actually* judge the Caldecotts, and it's really interesting to go through the criteria like this! (And WHAT a great book to use as an example.)
Thanks, Travis! Hearing how a Caldecottian views a picture book is very informative, and helps me to be a better critiquer of illustrations. And lo and behold, your example ended up being an honor book!
So many details that can slip by unless you know what you are looking for! I appreciate that your breakdown points out all the thought that goes behind picture book illustrations which on first glance might look "simple." Thanks for writing!
What a great breakdown, Travis! And I think the illustrations of this book (as hilarious and tight as the text is) really stand on their own as well, another Caldecott criteria. Do you have any thoughts on whether Caldecott committees tend to prefer hand-rendered vs. digital illustrations? I would have to go back to the previous few years to consider this.
Going off the dome here I would say the recent honor and medal winners lean more toward hand-rendered (so maybe there is some bias in that direction), but there are definitely examples of digital or digital-aided artwork in there as well. In my experience, the committee cares much more about the execution of the illustrations than the choice of media.
Oh, beautiful job!!! I am wild about this book - to me it’s perfection - and I’m grateful you took the time to enumerate so many of the creative choices that make it great! I also love how the camera angle tilts upward for Mabel’s triumphant spread. She is on top of the world there - both visually and emotionally. I hope someone on this year’s committee is making as many persuasive points about its excellence as you have here! 🤞
Wow! This was fascinating to read. I love this book and I had a child who thought our garbagemen Harold and Chester, were actually coming by to see him so this one felt personal.
This is amazing!!! Love it. I also love how in the spread where we finally get each family member in the windows, they're each shown with their own obsession: mom and her plants, dad and his sports, sister and her music. Sisters probably listening to her song thinking "everyone I know is missing the greatest thing."
Let me know which 2025 book you all think I should cover next in this series
Fireworks, of course.
Of course. That one’s coming up next!
If We Were Dogs by Sophie Blackall or Island Storm by Brian Floca and Sydney Smith! :)
Two fantastic books!
Loved this, Travis! I have to admit that I wasn't ENTIRELY sure how they *actually* judge the Caldecotts, and it's really interesting to go through the criteria like this! (And WHAT a great book to use as an example.)
Hey Elayne! This book is so much fun to put under that microscope
Appreciated the visual breakdown. Understanding it adds so much life to the book. Thank you!
Thanks for reading it, Sarah!
Thanks, Travis! Hearing how a Caldecottian views a picture book is very informative, and helps me to be a better critiquer of illustrations. And lo and behold, your example ended up being an honor book!
Hey David! This book has so many details that are fun to talk about - thanks for reading
So many details that can slip by unless you know what you are looking for! I appreciate that your breakdown points out all the thought that goes behind picture book illustrations which on first glance might look "simple." Thanks for writing!
Also a master class. Thank you!
Thanks, Jennifer!
This was frickin awesome, Travis!
Thank you!
What a great breakdown, Travis! And I think the illustrations of this book (as hilarious and tight as the text is) really stand on their own as well, another Caldecott criteria. Do you have any thoughts on whether Caldecott committees tend to prefer hand-rendered vs. digital illustrations? I would have to go back to the previous few years to consider this.
Going off the dome here I would say the recent honor and medal winners lean more toward hand-rendered (so maybe there is some bias in that direction), but there are definitely examples of digital or digital-aided artwork in there as well. In my experience, the committee cares much more about the execution of the illustrations than the choice of media.
This is such a perfect breakdown of an amazing book! Do Broken next :)
I love BROKEN so much. I did a paid post about it here: https://open.substack.com/pub/travisjonker/p/the-biggest-question-in-childrens?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
Oh, beautiful job!!! I am wild about this book - to me it’s perfection - and I’m grateful you took the time to enumerate so many of the creative choices that make it great! I also love how the camera angle tilts upward for Mabel’s triumphant spread. She is on top of the world there - both visually and emotionally. I hope someone on this year’s committee is making as many persuasive points about its excellence as you have here! 🤞
Hey Alison! I love that you’re as much of a fan of this book as I am!
I absolutely loved reading this one to my students. We love a quirky little character with an obsession 😊
It’s been so fun to read this with students
Wow! This was fascinating to read. I love this book and I had a child who thought our garbagemen Harold and Chester, were actually coming by to see him so this one felt personal.
I would love to see your thoughts on Pencil.
That’s a great suggestion - thank you!
Fantastic! Thanks so much.
One of my favorite books of the year!
I’d love to see what you say about A Quick Trip to the Grocery Store by Sam Wedelich
That book is so good!
Your advocacy made me feel like I was a member of the Caldecott committee. I’d love to hear what you have to say about Broken by X. Fang.
Thanks, Kerri! BROKEN is one of my favorite picture books of the last few years! I talked about it here: https://open.substack.com/pub/travisjonker/p/the-biggest-question-in-childrens?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
I love this!!
Thank you!
This is amazing!!! Love it. I also love how in the spread where we finally get each family member in the windows, they're each shown with their own obsession: mom and her plants, dad and his sports, sister and her music. Sisters probably listening to her song thinking "everyone I know is missing the greatest thing."
So true - I love this observation. Everyone’s got their thing. Thank you, Sarah!