Marcus, Leonard S. 2008. A CALDECOTT CELEBRATION: SEVEN ARTISTS AND THEIR PATHS TO THE CALDECOTT MEDAL. New York: Walker and Company. ISBN 0802797032

In this updated edition published to celebrate the 70^th anniversary of the Caldecott Medal, Marcus profiles seven noteworthy artists, each representing a decade of the award’s history. Included are Robert McCloskey's "Make Way for Ducklings," Marcia Brown's "Cinderella," Maurice Sendak's "Where the Wild Things Are," William Steig's "Sylvester and the Magic Pebble," Chris Van Allsburg's "Jumanji," and David Wiesner's "Tuesday," and Mordicai Gerstein’s “The Man Who Walked Between the Towers.”

With clear sequences and readable explanations, Marcus details the fascinating process of how artists employ numerous steps to research and interpret the text of a book and shows the developmental stages a picture book goes through to reach final publication. For example, while working on drawings for Make Way for Ducklings, illustrator Robert McCloskey actually “bought some live ducks at the city market to serve as models. Sixteen ducks eventually came to live with him.” The addition of behind-the-scenes quick sketches, outline drawings, rough drafts, and compositional studies in this book give readers a glimpse into the artists’ creative vision and provide encouragement for future book artists.

REVIEWS AND AWARDS

Starred reviews in Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly (1998 edition).

Booklist: “A beautifully made book, this will serve as a fine resource for children interested in illustration and for teachers researching author/ illustrator studies.”(1998 edition).

School Library Journal: “Marcus makes these exceptional author/illustrators, and the processes by which they created their award-winning picture books, accessible to children” (2008 edition).

1998 Edition:

ALA Notable Children's Book 1999

Independent Publishers Association Award, Best Picture Book 1999

New York Public Library "100 Titles for Reading and Sharing," 1998

CONNECTIONS

Many children enjoy voting for their favorite picture book illustration in a mock Caldecott Award classroom competition. Children could also copy a well-known illustration using their choice of media, and then compare their artwork to observe differing artistic styles.

Other materials for children featuring children’s book illustrators and their art:

Marcus, Leonard S. 2002. WAYS OF TELLING: FOURTEEN INTERVIEWS WITH MASTERS OF THE ART OF THE PICTURE BOOK. New York: Dutton. ISBN 0525464905

Kanninen, Barbara. 2007. A STORY WITH PICTURES. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 0823420493

Christelow, Eileen. 2007. WHAT DO ILLUSTRATORS DO? New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 0618874232

Reading is Fundamental. 2005. THE ART OF READING: FORTY ILLUSTRATORS CELEBRATE RIF’S 40^th ANNIVERSARY. New York: Dutton. ISBN 0525474846

Schulman, Janet. 2008. PALE MALE. Ill. by Meilo So. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 9780375845581

In this nonfiction picture book, Schulman introduces children to the red-tailed hawk that became a surprise resident of New York’s Central Park in 1991. Called “Pale Male” because of his light-colored plumage, this hawk lived and hunted in the park, thrilling passersby with his spectacular four-foot wingspread and aerial acrobatics. Pale Male brought a touch of the wild to the Park and found his way into the hearts of New Yorkers. Later, he took a mate and began nest building in various places nearby, finally settling atop the twelfth-floor window ledge of a swanky Fifth Avenue apartment building. While most people in NY reacted with surprise and delight to the hawks’ presence, the building’s residents complained about the messiness of the hawks’ nest. When the building’s owners removed it, an international outcry resulted in a storm of critical publicity and sidewalk protests. The building’s owners acquiesced and found a solution that was endorsed by all parties: the installation of a new, more expansive base for the nest and an apron below it to catch bothersome debris. Since then, with a succession of mates, Pale Male has raised multiple broods of chicks to maturity. The population of NYC now includes numerous red-tailed hawks believed to be his progeny.

Schulman writes with clarity and utilizes descriptive vocabulary, detailing Pale Male’s story as well as the problems hawks and city dwellers faced as they endeavored to overcome the difficulties of living together. Without sounding preachy, this account shows how with ingenuity and tolerance, humanity and wildlife can coexist.

Meilo So’s watercolor and colored pencil illustrations feature birds’-eye viewpoints, authentic NYC landscapes, and humorous details. She perfectly captures the bustle, excitement, and multicultural aspects of urban life. One can almost hear the taxi horns blare.

REVIEWS AND AWARDS

Starred reviews in Booklist, School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and Horn Book.

Publishers Weekly: "[T]his version stands out for its urbane, reportorial prose and stylish watercolors."

ALA/ALSC Notable Children’s Books 2009

SLJ Best Book of the Year 2008

Horn Book Fanfare Best Books 2008

NY Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book 2008

CONNECTIONS

Try a nature walk with children through a local park, a creative writing exercise about a personal wildlife encounter, a library research paragraph about raptors, or a watercolor painting project using feathers instead of brushes to extend the enjoyment of this engaging picture book.

Other materials for children featuring Pale Male or wildlife adapting to urban conditions:

Winter, Jeanette. THE TALE OF PALE MALE. 2007. Orlando, FL: Harcourt. ISBN 0152059725

Dr. Alexander Fisher. PALE MALE (Nature Series DVD). 2004. ASIN B000228E8G

Stetson, Emily. KIDS’ EASY-TO-CREATE WILDLIFE HABITATS. 2004. Nashville, TN: Williamson Books. ISBN 0824986652

Kirkland, Jane. TAKE A CITY NATURE WALK. 2005. Lionville, PA: Stillwater Publishing. ISBN 09709754