Bear Despair — wordless books always get a lot of attention and this one certainly makes the most of emotion. But while I can admire the effect the art is going for, this book wouldn’t have made it onto my personal top ten list. (We probably won’t be posting about this book — it’s not eligible for the Caldecott because Doremus lives in France.)

The Beetle Book — I think insects are the perfect subject for Jenkins’s careful collage art. While I’m a big fan of the art in this book, I have trouble with the small handwriting-style text. I found it difficult to read and therefore uninviting. As Roger says, these details probably weren’t being considered by the NYT committee.

House Held Up By Trees — there’s a lot to admire here and Klassen gets to show more depth and emotion than he does in This Is Not My Hat. This book shows what a good artist he is, but Hat is a better example of playing with the picture book form.

The Hueys in the New Sweater – I haven’t seen this yet. For what it’s worth, it was reviewed in the Horn Book Guide rather than the Magazine.

Infinity and Me – I can’t imagine a more daunting task than to try to illustrate this text. Bravo, Gabi Swiatkowska, for taking it on. That said, this is a style that doesn’t really speak to me so if I were asked to review it, I’d need to pass it on to someone who can appreciate it better. (This is another that’s not eligible for the Caldecott because the artist lives abroad.)

Little Bird — I haven’t seen this one either (also passed up by the Magazine and reviewed in the Guide).

One Times Square — I could look at this book for hours. I’m intrigued by the three distinct styles: architectural drawings with thin, precise line; painterly watercolors; retro pen-and-ink. I find all three styles appealing, but I don’t think it’s a picture book so Robin and I probably won’t be posting about it.

Red Knit Cap Girl — This is the third book I haven’t seen. Also reviewed in the Guide, not the Magazine.

Stephen and the Beetle — I see some similarities in style among Bear Despair, Infinity and Me, and this book. It’s interesting to speculate on the role of personal taste when there is a small, three-person committee. I like this one better than Bear or Infinity, especially as the book progresses and we get closer to the beetle. Too bad this one isn’t eligible for the Caldecott either.

Unspoken — We will definitely be talking about this book, and it’s received a lot of attention in the past couple of months. There’s also been some controversy regarding the prominence of the quilt on the first few spreads. I think it’s got a shot at the Caldecott but will take some work. I do like the art and pacing. The rest of my comments will need to wait!