At final count, 770 books are under consideration for the 1994 Caldecott Award (a medal for the best picture book of 1993 by an American illustrator). As I review the list, there are some obvious trends. Some books appeared in past years as retellings of folk tales and classical works. But some are a welcome shift in publishing focus; for example, the overall sensitivity to the multicultural issue for young readers. Other trends are biographies of famous people and the appearance of small presses that have published only one or two books for the year.
Exposing children to diverse cultures through literature has always been a concern. Unfortunately, that issue has not been well-addressed in the past. But the books from 1993 have presented many cultures and their tales, their beliefs and modern situations. Gone are the days of "painted faces" and the insidious stereotypic ethnic practices. In place are books like "Who Belongs Here? An American Story" by Margy Burns Knight that explores the oppression of immigrants and refugees. While America is seen as both a haven for freedom and a land where intolerance exists, one line expresses the theme, "What if everyone who now lives in the U.S., but whose ancestors came from another country, was forced to return to his or her homeland." The startling illustration is of an empty hallway in disarray. Also, an example of the diversity is seen in Jan Thornhill's "Crow and Fox and Other Animal Legends," which shows the commonality of nine different cultures through tales from each.I am most impressed with the portrayal of the African and African-American in the picture books. From Gregory Scott Kreikemeier's photo essay, "Come With Me To Africa: A Photographic Journey" to the Impressionistic drawings of Dianne Stewart's "The Dove," there is much to learn from the stories, the tales and hardships of this culture.
The Asian American culture is highlighted this year in picture books for young readers. Japanese stories are told by Robert San Souci ("The Snow Wife"), Yoshiko Uchida ("The Bracelet" and "The Magic Purse") and the retelling of "Sadako" by Eleanor Coerr and illustrated by Ed Young. There are stories from Vietnam and Korea, but the Chinese tales by Laurence Yep ("The Man Who Tricked a Ghost," "The Butterfly Boy," "The Shell Woman and the King"), Salt Lake City's Lily Hong ("Two of Everything"), Ed Young's "Red Thread" and "Grandfather's Journey" by Allan Say are the best representation of the traditions of this culture that have ever been portrayed.
Virginia Driving Hawk has written of the NativeAmerican in "The Sioux: A First American Book" and "The Navajos: A First Americans Book" with "The First Strawberries: A Cherokee Story" by Joseph Bruchac. Gretchen Mays tells an animal myth in "Meet Tricky Coyote!" Ed Young's "Red Thread" is an exotic tale, and Elaine Raphael and Don Bolognese collaborated on a retelling in "Pocahontas: Princess of the River Tribes." What is obviously missing from the Native American books are realistic stories about the contemporary culture.
Linda Jacob Altman ("Amelia's Road"), Gary Soto ("Too Many Tamales") and Joseph Bruchac ("Fox Song") are authors with examples of Mexican-American children in actual situations that will bridge the gaps in understanding.
The retellings of folk and fairy tales have always been an important addition to the literature for young readers. Besides the traditional Goldilocks, Jack and the Beanstalk and Gingerbread Boy stories there are tales from a dozen different countries. Some of my favorites are "Tatterhood and the Hobgoblins" (Norwegian) by Laureen Mills, "The Boy and the Giants" (Scottish Hebrides) by Fiona Moodie, "Bubuska Baba Yaga" (Russian) by Patricia Polacco, "Dumpling Soup" (Hawaii) by James Kim Taggingtan, "The Legend of the Persian Carpet" (Persia) by Tomi dePaola, "Saint Patrick and the Peddler" (Irish) and "The Hero of Bremen" (German) both by Margaret Hodges. Two versions of Cinderella, "The Korean Cinderella" by Shirley Climo and David Delamare's "Cinderella," are stunning.
Classical retellings that are notable are Carl Sandburg's "More Rootabagas" and "Arithmetic," Oscar Wilde's "Stories for Children" and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's "The Children's Hour." William Blake's poem "The Tyger" is redone in extravagant paintings and fold-out pages, and Margaret Hodges and Margery Evernden's "Of Swords and Sorcerers" will delight King Arthur fans. "Cut from the Same Cloth: American Women of Myths, Legends and Tall Tale" by Robert D. San Souci and Brian Pinkney bring together the best in storytelling. It is wonderful to have a new selection of tales in "Stories from Hans Christian Andersen," which is retold by Andrew Matthews.
Biographies of well-known people are abundant with stories about Harriet Powers ("Stitching Stars"), Abraham Lincoln ("Honest Abe" by Edith Kunhardt and "A. Lincoln: In His Own Words" edited by Milton Meltzer), "Eleanor Roosevelt" by Russell Freedman and "Charles Dickens" by Diane Stanley and Peter Vennema to name just a few.
"Cleaning up America" is the theme found most often in nonfiction picture books. Some of the books are "Earth Keepers" by Joan Anderson, "Environmental Atlas of the United States" by Mark Mattson, Anne Shelby's "What To Do About Pollution," "Cleaning Up: How Trash Becomes Treasure" by Eve and Albert Stwertka and Anita Holmes's "I Can Save the Earth." "Dear World: How Children Around the World Feel About Our Environment" by Lannis Temple is a collection written and illustrated by children.
An interesting trend was all the small presses that submitted books for consideration for the Caldecott. Darlington Press of New Hampshire published one paperback book (by Joan Darlington), Oyster River Press of Durham N.H. prints only a selected few on environmental writing, bilingual poetry and Chinese myths. Padakami Press is also an environmental printer.
Inquiring Voice Press, Stratford and Beyond Words Press each submitted one selection. Northland Publishers in Arizona is coming into its own in Native-American tales as is Whispering Coyote Press in Massachusetts. Melee Enterprises, Charlesbridge and Rayve Productions have begun publishing in the children's market with specialized themes. Benefactory Inc. publishes only those that would be honored by the Humane Society. Others are Tilbury (proceeds from their book "will be given to educational organizations that teach tolerance"), Roberts Rinehart, Freeman (science and computer books) and Boyer-Caswell.
Four past Caldecott winners have selections on the list for 1994. David Macaulay has "Ship," Leo and Diane Dillon have illustrated Nancy Willard's "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," Emily McCully wrote and did art for "Amazing Felix," and Ed Young has three picture books: "Red Thread," "Moon Mother" and illustrations for "Sadako."
Fifteen committee members across the United States will vote, and the Caldecott Award will be named at a press conference in Los Angeles Feb. 7. You will be the first to know the winner!