[Many Calling Caldecott posts this season will begin with the Horn Book Magazine review of the featured book, followed by the post's author's critique.]

As a picture-book biography, Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement, written by Angela Joy and illustrated in papercraft by Janelle Washington, succeeds in presenting a difficult subject — the murder of Emmett Till — in a manner that children can understand. Written in evocative free verse, this visually stunning biography describes Mamie Till-Mobley’s life from her childhood during the Great Migration, throughout the tragedy of the death of her son, and finally as an activist and educator in Chicago (see the Horn Book review above for a description of the book's contents).

The power of this biography is found in how well Joy’s lyrical text and Washington’s expressionistic paper-cut illustrations work together to tell Mamie’s life story. Washington’s silhouettes, rendered mostly in black and white but often accented with other colors, are visual representations of Joy’s words and tone. In the illustrator’s note at the end, Washington discusses how she used negative and positive spaces with cut paper and layers of colored tissues to capture Mamie’s emotions, courage, and optimism for a better future.

The Caldecott criteria asks the committee to consider “excellence of execution in the artistic technique.” In her intricate paper-cut illustrations, Washington demonstrates that she is indeed a master of this medium. I am amazed that Choosing Brave is her debut picture book; her work is so accomplished. The criteria also includes a statement about “excellence of presentation in recognition of a child audience.” Of particular merit is how the author and illustrator chronicle Mamie’s life and Emmett’s death. In the hands of lesser artists, Emmett’s murder and its aftermath could be portrayed in a graphic or sensational fashion inappropriate for a younger audience. That is not the case here. Joy and Washington respect not only Mamie’s life and legacy but also the children who will read and listen to this picture book.

My verdict? This biography is an absolute contender for the Caldecott, and other awards as well.