Mock Caldecott 2013 Club Day 3

We kicked off  Picture Book Month last week and also began a Mock Caldecott 2013 Club to read lots of 2012 picture books so we could vote for our favorites in anticipation of the upcoming ALA Caldecott Award announcement.  Head over to Colby Sharp's blog to see his and Mr. Schu's plans.  They inspired me to do the same!

Last week we read This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen and Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen.  Today, because today's Picture Book Month theme is "Around the World" and nonfiction, we read A Strange Place to Call Home by Marilyn Singer and illustrated by Ed Young.  Marilyn Singer's various types of poems (all of which are defined at the back of the book) about animals living in extreme environments, are fascinating. Who knew there were flies that hatch in oil or fish that climb trees? More information about each animal is at the end of the book. Ed Young's paper collage illustrations are intriguing and beautiful.  We talked about creative nonfiction and ways to present information.  Some classes had already read The Beetle Book by Steve Jenkins, so we compared the paper collage illustrations.  Other classes will read that one later.

 

Here were some comments from the kids:

 

"The pictures were really creative."

 

"I like the one with the metallic wings the best."

 

"The pictures look 3-D, like they're coming at you."

 

"My favorite was the penguins."

 

"It was very informational."

 

"I want to know more about that." (the petroleum flies)

 

"I saw an 'Animal Planet' show about that! " (mudskippers)

 

"This is like The Beetle Book!"