Sample Essay On Caldecott Awards

For a book to win in the Caldecott award, it has to pass through a committee that each member read it alongside others. Members cast preliminary ballots to select the most interesting books. All nominated books are discussed before balloting with four points for the first choice, three points for the second, and two points for the third choice. For book to win, it must receive at least eight first places choice, and at least eight more points than the others.
Locomotive by Brian Floca and was published by the Atheneum Books for young Readers, won the Caldecott Medal in 2014 (ALSC, n.d). The book is about an unforgettable family train trip in 1869 from Omaha to Sacramento. Floca illustrates the train, the travellers, and the crew as the train traverses the American landscape on the new railroads. The intensity of the illustrations and the research won the hearts of the committee to vote for the book. This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen and published by Candlewick press was the medal winner in 2013 (2013 Caldecott Medal and Honor Books, 2013). The book talks of a darkly humorous story whereby a tiny fish knows that it’s wrong to steal a hat. However, the big fish want its hat back. Klassen writes in such a way that the reader is compelled to follow story to the end.
I have learnt that, the Caldecott focuses mainly on children books. It is very rigorous in to its selection of winners. The best book is subjected to a lot of screening before it is finally announced. In addition, the organizations seek to promote quality publication among the children book writers.
In Locomotive, Floca uses space, line, shape, form, color and value to illustrate the journey. In addition, Floca uses balance, unity, contrast, pattern, movement, and rhythm to bring out vivid images that compels the reader. Floca’s work is balanced in texture, contrast, creativity, as well as arrangement in chronological order of events.

Works cited

2013 Caldecott Medal and Honor Books. 2013. Accessed from http://www.ala.org/alsc/2013- caldecott-medal-and-honor-books on January 29, 2015.
ALSC. Caldecott Medal & Honor Books, 1938-Present. N.d. accessed from http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/caldecotthonors/caldeco ttmedal on January 29, 2015.