Winner: Duncan Tonatiuh for Diego Rivera: His World and Ours (Abrams)
Review in The Horn Book Guide, fall 2011
The first half of the book provides background on Rivera's life and the inspiration behind his work. Readers are then asked to imagine how he might paint subjects from life today: "Maybe Diego would paint shops at the mall... / as he painted street vendors selling flores." The accompanying illustrations ably mimic Rivera's style. A creative, discussion-provoking approach to art appreciation. PMC

 

Honor: Rafael  López for The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred; written by Samantha R. Vamos (Charlesbridge)
Review in The Horn Book Guide, fall 2011
This fresh take on the "House That Jack Built" rhyme chronicles the making of a delicious pot of arroz con leche (rice with milk). All of the farm animals, from the hen to the goat to the burro, find a way to contribute to the farm maiden's recipe. López's rich-hued, beautifully textured acrylic-on-grained-wood illustrations are standouts. TW

 

Honor: Sara Palacios for Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match / Marisol McDonald no Combina; written by Monica Brown, translated from the Spanish by Adriana Domínguez (Children’s Book Press)
Review in The Horn Book Guide, spring 2012
Spirited text in English and Spanish describes the ways the mixed-race narrator "doesn't match," from clothing choice to physical appearance ("My cousin Tato...says, 'Marisol, your skin is brown like mine, but your hair is the color of carrots. You don't match!'"). Palacios's illustrations capture Marisol's exuberant style and wacky fashion sense, as does Domínguez's thoughtful Spanish translation of Brown's text. TW