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Good Night, WindLinda Elovitz Marshall and illustrated by Maëlle Doliveux

What Is Given from the Heart by Patricia C. McKissack and illustrated by April Harrison

The Donkey Egg by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel

Elvis Is King! by Jonah Winter and illustrated by Red Nose Studio

What did you think of these titles?

These are all fantastic titles. Although eligible, Patricia Mckissack has sadly passed. I can’t remember the last Caldecott that won the award when the author was deceased. The text from What is Given From the Heart is very good and the illustrations are stunning. The Donkey Egg is wonderful and children will love it. However, it is not very unique compared to other Crummel/Stevens titles that were not award winners. I adore Good Night Wind. Incredibly creative and unusual. A Caldecott contender. I also love Elvis is King. Red Nose Studio is often neglected and overlooked by the ALA. Perhaps the 2020 committee will seriously consider this title. It is excellent.

What Is Given from the Heart
While I did think that the story was lovely and sweet, I personally do not like the style of illustrations, with distorted looking people. On one double page spread, one person disappears into the inside binding. Other than that, the illustrations do a credible job of pairing well with the text.

Good Night Wind is breathtakingly beautiful. Living on Lake Erie we are acutely aware of the moods of the wind and this tale and its accompanying illustrations demonstrate those moods with clarity and tenderness. The marriage of text and picture actually evokes sympathy about an element that has been the bane of my existence for the last three months. Well done Marshall and Doliveux.

The Donkey Egg
In reply to Laura's comment about this book not being unique compared to others of Stevens' works: the definitions for the Caldecott Award includes "the committee is not to consider the entire body of the work by an artist or whether the artist has previously won the award;" in other words, each book stands alone on its own merits.
In my opinion, this book would be a great Caldecott award winner or honor book, as, in my opinion, I believe it is "marked by excellence." The illustrations depict and go beyond the text in telling the story. I also appreciated the four inserts explaining minutes, hours, days, and weeks; these also added to the overall humor of the story. And I loved how the story turned the joke around on the fox.

Beverly wrote: "The Donkey Egg
In reply to Laura's comment about this book not being unique compared to others of Stevens' works: the definitions for the Caldecott Award includes "the committee is not to consider ..."

I very much enjoyed The Donkey Egg. For me, it was equal in quality to many of Steven's other works. Which are all mostly terrific. It wasn't a stand out for me but I would be a-ok if it did win a Caldecott.

What Is Given from the Heart is stunningly beautiful and I have recommended it to my co-workers. I find the illustrations outstanding. So far it's my pick for Caldecott.

Donkey Egg is a delightful read. Kids will love it! The illustrations are vivid and entertaining! I do see a Caldecott contender in Good Night Wind, Given from the Heart, and / or Elvis is King. Good Night Wind has an interesting illustrative process as the wind compliments the backgrounds on each page. The strips of paper collages are appealing and then the illustrations are photographed in order to build a realistic color balance and exposure to the illustrations. Unique for sure. Given from the Heart uses a combination of collages, paints and found items. Tops my list, so far, for Caldecott! And Elvis is King is fascinating. The illustrations seem to vibrate. The jacket inside cover explains how the illustrations were made. Very creative!

I enjoyed most of the books this month. A previous creation of Stevens and Crummel, Tops and Bottoms, is an all-time favorite of mine so I was inclined to enjoy this latest installment about the lazy bear and the Donkey Egg, and What Is Given is very touching - both the text and lovely illustrations. The unique artwork of Elvis Is King, however, stands out for me. Each page of that book is a feast for the eyes. I kept noticing new details every time I looked back through the book. It was a fun experience to read, especially with Elvis's music running through my mind!

Elvis is King
My library system finally got this book in. The photographed, three-dimensional figures and sets that illustrate the text are awesome. They start out mostly in shades of brown, but as Elvis's fame grows, more colors are added in the backgrounds and on the figures. They do a grand job of pairing with and extending the text. A real contender.

Good Night Wind
I really liked the cut paper look of the illustrations, and thought they really complemented the text very well. My library system never purchased this title so I had to request it on InterLibrary Loan. If it does win an award, my library will have to buy it!

What is Given from the Heart
I don't know if this is a Caldecott winner. Bad gutter crops are going to hurt it. Still the writing is brilliant and beautiful and poignant and so very important for children to hear.

Wow! I loved the three books that I was able to get my hands on from this list! I am a fan of Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel, and I think kids will love The Donkey Egg. The illustrations are very familiar from their earlier works, and I love the expressiveness of Bear in the illustrations. I think both What is Given from the Heart and Elvis is King are Caldecott contenders. The art in both books evoked just the right moods for their content, and content in both books is spectacularly presented. Haven't been able to find Good Night Wind yet, unfortunately.