" “And the winner is…”

The world of children’s literature is filled with many honorable awards, one of them being the coveted Caldecott Medal. This prestigious recognition was named after the English illustrator Randolph Caldecott, who was one of three influential children’s artists working in England during the nineteenth-century. His illustrations are unique in a number of ways such as their ability to create a sense of movement and action within the stories they accompany.

The Caldecott Medal is presented annually by the “Association for Library Service to Children” to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book written the previous year. The bronze medal was designed by Rene Paul Chambellan in 1937 and has the winner’s name and date engraved on the back. To qualify for this award the text must have been published in the United States and the artist must be a U.S. resident.

This year’s winner is “Flotsam” by David Wiesner. Wiesner, a graduate from the Rhode Island School of Design, is no stranger to the Caldecott Medal. In fact, this will be the third time he’s received it.

In Wiesner’s latest book, a young boy, about the age of ten, is spending a bright, sunny, summer day with his family on the beach. At first it is a typical outing for the lad, who spends his time looking for unusual items that happen to wash up on shore. He first encounters a brightly colored, blue crustacean that has been spending its time sifting through sand looking for lunch.
 
With sand shovel and pail in tow, the boy then embarks on a journey to discover more of Nature’s mysterious creatures. But just as the youth is about to capture his newly discovered friend, a large wave crashes into him, knocking him off his feet.

While the boy is pulling off the slimy green sea weed that has covered him from head to toe, he notices an old camera that has been washed up on shore. Upon further inspection, the boy realizes that the camera is an underwater camera. The young man races back to his family and shows them his treasure. They decide to take the film to a one-hour photo shop. Of coarse, it seems like an eternity to the boy. But it is worth the wait because the developed pictures reveal an underwater world never before seen by man. Scenes sure to capture the minds of all children who open this wonderfully illustrated text.

So the next time you are in the mood to read a great book, be sure to stop by the Columbus Public Library and check out the many award winning manuscripts we have to offer. I am sure no matter what your taste; you will find a book hailed for its literary content and its ability to provoke the imagination of the reader. If you have any questions regarding the Caldecott Medal or any other juvenile literature award, please feel free to contact me at 564-7116 opt. 4.