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Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré written by Anika Aldamuy Denise illustrated by Paola Escobar

Going Down Home with Daddy written by Kelly Starling Lyons illustrated by Daniel Minter

Another by Christian Robinson

Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris

Could any of these publications be a future Caldecott award?

Going Down Home With Daddy
Lovely illustrations done in acrylic wash depict a reunion of an extended black family, all gathering together on great-Grandma Granny's and great-Grandpa's (now deceased) cotton farm. There's no conflict here, only everyone having a great time visiting and playing; and one little boy, the MC, trying to figure out what he is going to do for the last evening's celebration time. I thought it was kind of sad that all these relatives only made it out to visit Granny once a year. (Nobody visited at Thanksgiving or Christmas? or maybe she went to stay with some of these relatives on the other holidays; the story just doesn't say.) If this book does not make it as a Caldecott book, I expect to see it on the Coretta Scott King Illustrator list.

Bear Came Along
This is an exuberant and joyful book, which has Bear journeying down river on a log, collecting other animals as he goes. The large cartoon illustrations in watercolor, ink and gouache perfectly express the fun and excitement of the journey of these animals. This would make a great read-aloud to a group of kiddos. I don't know that it is distinguished enough for the Caldecott committee, but it is a fun read.

This is my review for Planting Stories:

The last few years have produced the most remarkable and exquisite children's literature biographies. Planting Stories is probably tied with The Important Thing About Margaret Wise Brown as my favorite. We are talking out of hundreds and hundreds of titles I have purchased and reviewed through the years. I haven't been this excited about a picture book since Dreamers by Yuyi Morales. Not only is the subject, Pura Belpre (heck-there is an esteemed children's literature award named after her), incredibly important, the illustrations are some of the most detailed and beautiful that I have ever seen in children's literature. I consider Planting Seeds to be one of the best books of 2019.

Clearly, I adore this book. I would be over the moon if it won a Caldecott. Hopefully the 2020 committee will recognize its excellence. The 2019 committee dropped the ball on Dreamers but don't get me started there.

Going Down Home with Daddy has incredible cover art and beautiful illustrations throughout. I believe Daniel Minter should have won an award in 2018 for So Tall Within. It didn't happen :(

Although the pictures are bright and effervescent, the book is kind of a bummer. I expected happy feelings as a read it- not feeling depressed. Not a good emotion from a children's picture book. I believe Minter's fall release The Women Who Caught The Babies: A Story of African American Midwives has a much better chance at winning a Caldecott award.

I like Bear Came Along more and more with each reading. I would love it if LeUyen Pham won a Caldecott for it. Goodness knows she has been deserving of one for years.

This was my rather ticked off review for Another by Christian Robinson:

The illustrations on their own deserve 5 stars. I can't devote an afternoon trying to understand what Robinson is trying to convey in Another. Too many other child friendly books to review.

I love Christian Robinson. I think he is one of the best children's illustrator's of our time. Maybe because he is Christian Robinson the publisher just let him have at it in this wordless picture book. Guidance might have made a difference. I do expect great works from Robinson in the future.

I really loved Going Down Home with Daddy. Personally, I don't find it as memorable or quite as lovely as Kwame Alexander's The Undefeated or several other of this year's books. That doesn't mean it isn't deserving. But Going Down Home was a really great book.

Planting Stories
This is a delightful biography with exuberant, appealing and detailed digital illustrations. The bio follows Pura's life from 1921 through 1961, as she moves to the US, gets a job in the library, becomes a storyteller, and writes books for children. An author's note at the back fills in more details about Pura. It is a shoo-in for a Pura Belpre Illustrator award, and is worthy of a Caldecott as well.

Another
The wordless story follows the adventures of a little girl and her cat. When the cat's doppelganger drops in through a portal and takes the first cat's toy mouse, the first cat and the little girl follow and find themselves in a world full of twin children. Then the girl and the cat meet their own doppelgangers; the dg cat gives back the toy mouse, and everyone returns home. There's not much to the story. The paint and collage illustrations were spare, mostly simple, with only a little bit of detail here and there; depicting round-headed children and cats. They were nice, but not my favorite style. It would not be my personal pick for a Caldecott.

Laura wrote: "I like Bear Came Along more and more with each reading. I would love it if LeUyen Pham won a Caldecott for it. Goodness knows she has been deserving of one for years."

I agree Laura. I completely missed many of the nuances of the illustrations on my first reading, and every time I read it I find more to appreciate. I've always been a fan of LeUyen Pham, but I think this book is my new favorite.

Jennifer wrote: "Laura wrote: "I like Bear Came Along more and more with each reading. I would love it if LeUyen Pham won a Caldecott for it. Goodness knows she has been deserving of one for years."

I agree Laura...."
It is wonderful!

Laura wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "Laura wrote: "I like Bear Came Along more and more with each reading. I would love it if LeUyen Pham won a Caldecott for it. Goodness knows she has been deserving of one for years...."

I would be delighted if it won a Caldecott award or honor!

Planting Stories is a book for our times given the #weneeddiversebooks movement and the justifiable need for immigrant stories. But. THE. ART!!! Escobar is a genius, and I got lost in the pictures. Dreamy, complex, and award-worthy!!

Laura wrote: "I like Bear Came Along more and more with each reading. I would love it if LeUyen Pham won a Caldecott for it. Goodness knows she has been deserving of one for years."

Bear wakes up to a dreary world. Watch as the story goes along, the world brightens both in the color of nature and the joys of friendship. Well done, Richard T. Morris and Leuyen Pham. High on my list, thus far, for a Caldecott medal.

Beverly wrote: "Going Down Home With Daddy
Lovely illustrations done in acrylic wash depict a reunion of an extended black family, all gathering together on great-Grandma Granny's and great-Grandpa's (now decease..."

It's tremendous that they even have this reunion! With families scattered across the country, it is an accomplishment. It is joyful to see a book, singing praises to this type of reunion. And my thoughts are that it should be very high on the Caldecott discussion! The images are amazing. The rich colors of the down home scenery. The overlays of cotton, trees, and roots are so symbolic. The story is rich in family and generational love and respect!