Comments on: Green http://www.hbook.com/2012/09/blogs/calling-caldecott/green/ Publications about books for children and young adults Tue, 14 May 2013 17:58:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Frank http://www.hbook.com/2012/09/blogs/calling-caldecott/green/#comment-19794 Frank Mon, 29 Oct 2012 20:39:02 +0000 http://www.hbook.com/?p=17475#comment-19794 It seems that many among us are quite interested in finding mistakes in the Caldecott contenders this year. Whether it be the incorrect positioning of knitting needles in "Extra Yarn", the blowing scarf when nothing else is blowing in "And Then It's Spring", or a dimming firefly in "Green", I feel that where art is concerned, artistic license is free to abound. For example, with a book as painterly as "Green", variations of any kind only add to its charm. The genius of that book is that it crosses boundaries. It is a concept book, and it's a poem about nature, appreciation, and sustainability. The fact that the artist was able to successfully connect each museum-quality painting astounds me. I still can't figure out how she did it. Brilliant. There are so many wonderful books this year, but for me, "Green" is a standout. It is transformative. It works on so many levels- art, design, poetry, and most of all it works on a very emotional level, encouraging all of us to savor and care for our environment. It seems that many among us are quite interested in finding mistakes in the Caldecott contenders this year. Whether it be the incorrect positioning of knitting needles in “Extra Yarn”, the blowing scarf when nothing else is blowing in “And Then It’s Spring”, or a dimming firefly in “Green”, I feel that where art is concerned, artistic license is free to abound. For example, with a book as painterly as “Green”, variations of any kind only add to its charm. The genius of that book is that it crosses boundaries. It is a concept book, and it’s a poem about nature, appreciation, and sustainability. The fact that the artist was able to successfully connect each museum-quality painting astounds me. I still can’t figure out how she did it. Brilliant. There are so many wonderful books this year, but for me, “Green” is a standout. It is transformative. It works on so many levels- art, design, poetry, and most of all it works on a very emotional level, encouraging all of us to savor and care for our environment.

]]> By: Susan Dailey http://www.hbook.com/2012/09/blogs/calling-caldecott/green/#comment-18342 Susan Dailey Sat, 29 Sep 2012 06:32:18 +0000 http://www.hbook.com/?p=17475#comment-18342 Chris, "Black & White" isn't a concept book. It's four interwoven stories that intersect and then diverge. It's well worth a look--many looks in fact because it isn't an easy book to understand without careful examination. Chris,

“Black & White” isn’t a concept book. It’s four interwoven stories that intersect and then diverge. It’s well worth a look–many looks in fact because it isn’t an easy book to understand without careful examination.

]]> By: Lolly Robinson http://www.hbook.com/2012/09/blogs/calling-caldecott/green/#comment-18090 Lolly Robinson Sat, 22 Sep 2012 22:07:13 +0000 http://www.hbook.com/?p=17475#comment-18090 About fire flies going on and off, I tried to convince myself that the brown die cut was just an "off" fire fly, but it has the same glow around it as all the others that are definitely "on." But I also don't think that needs to prevent it from getting an award. We shall see! About fire flies going on and off, I tried to convince myself that the brown die cut was just an “off” fire fly, but it has the same glow around it as all the others that are definitely “on.” But I also don’t think that needs to prevent it from getting an award. We shall see!

]]> By: Chris http://www.hbook.com/2012/09/blogs/calling-caldecott/green/#comment-18060 Chris Fri, 21 Sep 2012 15:53:06 +0000 http://www.hbook.com/?p=17475#comment-18060 I am not a children's librarian - is "Black & White" by David Macauley considered a concept book? I believe it won a Caldecott. I am not a children’s librarian – is “Black & White” by David Macauley considered a concept book? I believe it won a Caldecott.

]]> By: Eve Feldman http://www.hbook.com/2012/09/blogs/calling-caldecott/green/#comment-18039 Eve Feldman Fri, 21 Sep 2012 01:34:46 +0000 http://www.hbook.com/?p=17475#comment-18039 I was pleased to see recognition for the luscious paintings as well as the subtlety that quietly hides the power of this deceptively ‘simple’ gem. As a fan of Seeger’s books and of fire flies, I think the firefly spread may be totally intentional. Fire flies flicker on and off, on and off. The absence of the glow on one can be another talking point in this book that begs to be read, reread and discussed. More than a concept book, GREEN is a thought provoking tour de force. GREEN and Caldecott belong in the same sentence. I was pleased to see recognition for the luscious paintings as well as the subtlety that quietly hides the power of this deceptively ‘simple’ gem. As a fan of Seeger’s books and of fire flies, I think the firefly spread may be totally intentional. Fire flies flicker on and off, on and off. The absence of the glow on one can be another talking point in this book that begs to be read, reread and discussed. More than a concept book, GREEN is a thought provoking tour de force. GREEN and Caldecott belong in the same sentence.

]]> By: Jen J. http://www.hbook.com/2012/09/blogs/calling-caldecott/green/#comment-18032 Jen J. Thu, 20 Sep 2012 20:17:53 +0000 http://www.hbook.com/?p=17475#comment-18032 In terms of history, the only thing I see close to a concept book in the winners is Ashanti to Zulu, but I haven't read this. It seems like it might more use the alphabet as an organizing principle rather than being a concept book though. Lots of concept books scattered through the honors though including things like Gone Wild by McLimans, and 1 is One by Tudor (with lots more I haven't listed). I think concept books face the same unconscious barriers as non-fiction, perhaps even more so because they're aimed at some of the youngest readers. I want to stress that in no way do I think non-fiction or concept books are less worthy than narrative titles, but I think it takes more work to come to them on their own terms and leave our biases behind. With GREEN for example, it's beautiful, the diecuts are cleverly selected and placed and I also want to reach out and touch all the textures in the paintings (my favorite spread is the fern green one - I love the pop of the yellow moths). However when I was thinking about how I would rate this on goodreads, I was trying to decide between 3 and 4 stars because it felt there just wasn't much content there - my emotional and instinctive reaction to a book that wasn't written for me. Going back and looking more carefully though it grows on me, although I do think the "wacky green" spread is a little weak - not because of the green zebra, but because I can't tell what the diecuts on the grass it's eating are supposed to be. This is such a quiet, restful sort of book. In terms of history, the only thing I see close to a concept book in the winners is Ashanti to Zulu, but I haven’t read this. It seems like it might more use the alphabet as an organizing principle rather than being a concept book though. Lots of concept books scattered through the honors though including things like Gone Wild by McLimans, and 1 is One by Tudor (with lots more I haven’t listed). I think concept books face the same unconscious barriers as non-fiction, perhaps even more so because they’re aimed at some of the youngest readers. I want to stress that in no way do I think non-fiction or concept books are less worthy than narrative titles, but I think it takes more work to come to them on their own terms and leave our biases behind.

With GREEN for example, it’s beautiful, the diecuts are cleverly selected and placed and I also want to reach out and touch all the textures in the paintings (my favorite spread is the fern green one – I love the pop of the yellow moths). However when I was thinking about how I would rate this on goodreads, I was trying to decide between 3 and 4 stars because it felt there just wasn’t much content there – my emotional and instinctive reaction to a book that wasn’t written for me. Going back and looking more carefully though it grows on me, although I do think the “wacky green” spread is a little weak – not because of the green zebra, but because I can’t tell what the diecuts on the grass it’s eating are supposed to be. This is such a quiet, restful sort of book.

]]> By: Monica Edinger http://www.hbook.com/2012/09/blogs/calling-caldecott/green/#comment-18030 Monica Edinger Thu, 20 Sep 2012 18:29:08 +0000 http://www.hbook.com/?p=17475#comment-18030 Oh, I hope it isn't a deal breaker because that may be my favorite spread of all in this gorgeous book. Oh, I hope it isn’t a deal breaker because that may be my favorite spread of all in this gorgeous book.

]]> By: GraceAnne Andreassi DeCandido http://www.hbook.com/2012/09/blogs/calling-caldecott/green/#comment-18029 GraceAnne Andreassi DeCandido Thu, 20 Sep 2012 18:07:42 +0000 http://www.hbook.com/?p=17475#comment-18029 GREEN is very high on my personal Caldecott list. It is such a beautiful book in its art, its concept, its design, its emotional shape. GREEN is very high on my personal Caldecott list. It is such a beautiful book in its art, its concept, its design, its emotional shape.

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