The Land of Make-Believe Recommendations - All

KIDS BOOKS

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A Story, A Story: An African Tale

by Gail E. Haley
Atheneum, 1970

This Caldecott Medal winner tells how the Ananse, "spider man", stories came to be. Long, long ago there were no stories on earth, they all belonged to Nyame, the Sky God. Ananse wanted to buy these stories and the Sky God challenged Ananse with a high price. The story tells of how Ananse met the Sky God's price and released the stories to the world.

All I See

by Cynthia Rylant
Orchard Books, 1988

Gregory, an artist, paints pictures of whales and paddles down the lake in his canoe with his cat. Charlie watches Gregory from the bushes and paints him a picture while he is out in his canoe. Gregory then gives Charlie art lessons and together they paint what they see.

Aunt Flossie's Hats (and Crab Cakes Later)

by Elizabeth Howard
Clarion Books, 1991

Sarah and her sister, Susan, spend Sunday afternoons with their Great-great-great Aunt Flossie. Aunt Flossie has a house full of hats and each hat has a story to tell. The girls love to hear Aunt Flossie's hat stories -- and then they all love to go out for crabcakes.

In the Rain with Baby Duck

by Amy Hest
Candlewick Press, 1995

Baby Duck does not like the rain, but she must walk in it to get to Grampa's house for pancakes. She does not like wet feet, mud or soaking wet feathers. Luckily, Grampa has just what she needs -- a pair of rain boots and an umbrella.

Meet Danitra Brown

by Nikki Grimes
Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books, 1994

Meet Danitra Brown and her friend Zuri Jackson in a series of poems that explore their friendship. Learn about Danitra's coke-bottle glasses, her love of purple and her fear of pigeons.

Once a Mouse. . . . A Fable Cut in Wood

by Marcia Brown
Charles Scribner's Sons, 1961

A magical hermit transforms a mouse into a cat, into a dog, and finally into a tiger. The tiger becomes very vain and is reminded by the hermit that he was once just a mouse. This ancient Indian tale was a Caldecott Medal winner in 1962.

Poppy's Puppet

by Patricia Lee Gauch
Henry Holt and Company, Inc., 1999

Poppy the puppet maker has a special gift, he listens to the wood and it tells him what it wants to become. One day Poppy finds a piece of teakwood that does not speak to him. He decides that it is to become a ballerina puppet named Clarinda. Clarinda is not a good balleria, it is not what she truly wants to be.

Simple Gifts

by Chris Raschka
Henry Holt and Company, 1998

"'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free, 'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be." Thus begins the old Shaker hymn "Simple Gifts" that Chris Raschka has beautifully illustrated and brought to life through a series of animal drawings.

Sing, Pierrot, Sing

by Tomie de Paola
Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Publishers, 1983

In this wordless picture book, Pierrot, a mime, sets out to win the hand of his love, Columbine. Columbine is in love with Harlequin and rejects Pierrot's affection. Pierrot is heartbroken, but is cheered up by some friendly children.

Sundiata: Lion King of Mali

by David Wisniewski
Clarion Books, 1992

The story of Sudiata, the 13th century King of Mali, who grows up unable to speak and walk. He is made heir to the throne but is driven out of his country by a rival. He grows strong and powerful in his exile and is able to return to his homeland and claim the throne.

The Three Bears Rhyme Book

by Jane Yolen
Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Publishers, 1987

Join Goldielocks and the three bears in this beautifully illustrated book of poetry. They go for a walk, get wet in the rain, eat porridge and have a birthday party.

The Wagon

by Tony Johnston
Tambourine Books, 1996

One Carolina morning a child is born into slavery. He grows and helps his father build a wagon for the master. He imagines what it would be like to climb into the wagon and race away to freedom.

WEBSITES

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American Library Association
www.ala.org

Type "Caldecott" in the search box. The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.