Gail Elizabeth​ Winskill

I am very pleased with the winning list. I certainly respect the process, which must be so hard with all the wonderful picture books published every year. It is so great to see new artists appearing this year. Yes, I always have my favorites but this award opens our eyes to new creators. Bravo!

Posted : Jan 28, 2020 03:30

Sam Juliano

In response to the bevy of questions you ask I will try forward my two cents. 1.) Yes I do "trust" the process and over the last several years on a numbers of picture forums I have defended the committee, even in such instances when pointed criticisms have surfaced. However "trusting" does not denote blind agreement or engaging in group-think. As to the committee members doing what they do for "specific reasons" the results are an "opinion" of sixteen (16) people not the ALA at large, even if they "represent" the association. In the end they pick their favorite books, much like any arts-oriented organization in any field does when they are entrusted to determine the highest quality. The Horn Book voters, many of who are book scholars, librarians, critics and elementary teachers are just as attuned as any past or present committee in determining what is "best" if there is even such a thing as "best." The absence of "Saturday" by Oge Mora (a book that like last year's "Dreamers" is roundly adored ) is startling not only because the HB readers anointed it, but also because a number of key reviewers predicted it would triumphed and that this was "Mora's" year. That said, yes I positively LOVE LOVE LOVE all the books that were chosen. "GOING DOWN HOME WITH DADDY" is my #1 favorite book of 2019 (I've stated this several times online, but how often can we say our favorite book won?) so I was over the moon when I heard it read out. THE UNDEFEATED is a flat-out masterpiece so again I say "Bravo!" BEAR CAME ALONG is a joyful picture book that seems headed for eternal classroom stardom (It simply HAD to win here as it did!) And then we have the "big surprise," like last year's "The Rough Patch", the unexpected inclusion seemingly inclusive to this committee. Nonetheless like Brian Lies' sublime and moving work about grief DOUBLE BASS BLUES is a stylistic tour de force that is difficult to criticize. Hence, sustained APPLAUSE to the four winners. No arguments. No regrets. Not a bad word of any kind. The surprise was what was NOT chosen. No Truman. No My Papi Has a Motorcycle. No Vroom!, no Scarecrow, No Another, No Field Trip to the Moon, No A Place to Land. no Fry Bread. No A Stone Sat Still. No Home in the Woods. And of course as mentioned no Saturday. This treasure trove of riches seems to indicate that either four (4) or five (5) honor books would have been ideal, but like everyone else I know how the voting is negotiated so it usually doesn't go above four. Fair enough.2.) Yes I was in Philadelphia yesterday with my wife spending hours in convention hall where I spent some quality time with some friends. We witnessed the RUSA awards announcements. We left late last night so weren't able to manage the actual YMA this morning though we of course watched the transmission. Ha, the Reading Terminal Market is quite an amazing place, quite the equal with food anyway with Boston's Fanuil Hall.3). It was fantastic to see the artists of color dominate especially as 2019 was truly and unequivocally a banner year for them; even with the winners accounted for there wasn't enough room to accommodate extraordinary work from Jerry Pinkney, Oge Mora, Christian Robinson, Patricia Martinez-Neal, Luke Pena, Raul Gonzalez, April Harrison, Charley Palmer, Bryan Collier, John Parra. Finally, Kadir Nelson is of course a spectacular artist, and his win here is a rightful acknowledgement for his towering greatness. I state the obvious but I'll say it anyway.

Posted : Jan 27, 2020 06:03

Molly Sloan

Today was a thrilling day! Yes! I got up at 5am to watch the awards live and it was a thrill! I love the suspense. I love that they announce the honors first and then the winner so you are pulling so hard for your favorite books until the world knows the winner. It’s a riveting hour (plus); a book lover’s extravaganza! Congratulations to the wonderful winners of the medals. I am thrilled for Kwame Alexander and Kadir Nelson. Undefeated is a truly special book and I am glad that it has been recognized and will take center stage in libraries and bookstores across the nation. It is important and memorable. Bear Came Along was a favorite amongst my kids so they were thrilled to see it recognized. I think the Caldecott medal is perhaps even more wide open than the Newbery in that there are SOOO many deserving titles every year. This year there are several top tier books that did not get recognized by the Caldecott committee (Saturday, My Papi, The Little Guys, Daniel’s Good Day, What Is Given From the Heart, You Are Home--to name a few of our favorites). Those are the breaks; there are only so many medals to give. Just because a book does not receive a medal doesn’t make it any less worthy of our appreciation. I always tell my Caldecott Club kids that their winners matter as much or more to me than the actual winners. So today we celebrate and savor the book love. Then we gather ourselves up and start reading for 2021! Hurrah! Hurrah!

Posted : Jan 27, 2020 06:02