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Love in the Library by Maggie Tokuda-Hall




I Am Golden by Eva Chen




Out of a Jar by Deborah Marcero




Somewhere by Robie H. Harris


Do you see these publications as Caldecott worthy?

Love in the Library
The somber colors used in these illustrations realistically reflect the misery of being held prisoner in a Japanese internment camp. I loved the library connection. Possible contender.

Out of a Jar
Each of rabbit's emotions is depicted in a different color as he stuffs them into jars. This is a unique treatment of someone trying to become a "Vulcan" and acting without emotions. Of course, it doesn't work, and the illustration of all the jars breaking and the emotions breaking free is pretty impressive. Possible contender.

I Am Golden
The advice of supportive parents (transplanted from China to the US) instilling self-esteem into their daughter (who experiences some bullying) is advice that can apply to any child who needs a boost to their self-esteem. The illustrations are lovely and support the text perfectly.

Out of a Jar and Somewhere are lovely picture books. Out of a Jar is the sequel to In a Jar. I adored that book and was sad it didn't receive a Caldecott win. Love in the Library is a quirky one. It is about two adults who meet in Minidoka, a Japanese internment camp in Idaho. Tama becomes the camp librarian and George is a daily patron so he can visit Tama. The title is whimsical, but Love in the Library is a solemn book promoted as a book for all ages. Love in the Library might be a fantastic resource for teachers to introduce and discuss Frankly Roosevelt's ghastly Executive Order 9066 which "relocated" citizens of Japanese ancestry on the West Coast. This order ruined the lives of Japanese Americans who had to give up everything-homes, jobs, education, possessions for incarceration. The illustrations by Yas Imamura have warm, soft tones throughout. It is a beautiful book. I am Golden is not a standout for me.

*Out of a Jar
(High on my list of Caldecott potential!) Kudos to Deborah Marcero, writer and illustrator. Llewellyn, a little bunny, has feelings just like boys and girls have. He cannot handle these emotions, so he locks them, one by one, in separate jars and stacks them high in a closet until...! Marcero’s artwork portrays each feeling quite delightfully, and of course through the eyes of a bunny! The world of feelings is a colorful palette and so is Deborah Marcero’s! What a creative book about human emotions and bunnies, too!

*Somewhere
The colors are gorgeous -such a beautiful tribute to the nature. The reservations I have with the story is why dad would allow the child to go on her own at the park entrance and why she would pick a flower in this public area. How could the story be retold, just a bit? Maybe dad could be watching just around the corner or behind a branch, without her seeing him. Maybe the little girl could smell the flower but not pick it up. She might reach into her backpack for a camera or sketch pad.

*Love in the Library - Right away the end pages shout danger. The illustrations are hazy but beautiful � like looking back through the very faded scrapbook of an unbelievable experience - a historical piece of fiction about WWII internment prison camps. In a frightful time and place, books were a source of comfort, "...their pages bursting with color and light, love and fairness.� The illustrations do a very nice job of showing the beauty of books. Caldecott potential

*I AM Golden
Teach the child, “I am golden.� Though this message is directed to immigrant families and children, it rings true to everyone and every child. We are all different. We must never feel belittled or alone. People are stronger when they join hands and work together. What a poetic inspirational story.

The whole book seems to have a golden glow in the jacket cover, end pages, and each page of the story. It has a positive vibe. Could win the GOLD medal Caldecott!

I enjoyed these book selections. I agree with Carol's concerns about Somewhere and also found the language a bit confusing; the illustrations, however, do a wonderful job of depicting the vibrant colors of the park she explores. I Am Golden is such an inspiring letter to a child from loving parents who have infused their life's energy in the future of their child. I wish I could have read it to my own children when they were young. Love in the Library has lovely, though muted, illustrations (to show the restrictions of their lives in the internment camps), and the text is sophisticated and informative (possible Newbery contender?). My personal favorite of the bunch was Out of a Jar. Like Laura, I also loved the previous In a Jar and had hoped to see its intricate, colorful drawings of memories be recognized. Marcero takes the storyline up a notch this time by depicting a child's unsuccessful attempts to control his emotions and a valuable lesson learned as a result. Definitely some worthy Caldecott contenders in this selection.

Somewhere
This one was my least favorite of this group. Although the colors were quite bright and gorgeous, I did not like the awkward depiction of the father's and little girl's faces.