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Hush, Little Bunny by David Ezra Stein

Sea Bear: A Journey for Survival by Lindsay Moore

There Are No Bears in This Bakery by Julia Sarcone-Roach

My Heart by Corinna Luyken

I can't believe it is time to start reading again! There is no better way to begin the Mock Caldecott year then with these fantastic titles. What did you think of them?

The illustrations for each title shown are beautiful. There Are No Bears in this Bakery is my favorite. Every author/illustrator on this list with the exception of Lindsay Moore (I believe this is the first picture book she has illustrated) have created similar artwork in the past. Although I would love to see There Are No Bears in this Bakery win an award, I don't think any title shown here is Caldecott worthy.

There Are No Bears in This Bakery
This is a very humorous story with equally humorous illustrations in acrylics, cut paper, and marker. The cat and bears have very expressive features. There are also some great descriptions in the text: "I slipped into the darkness like icing melting down a hot cake" and "The sun rose and stretched like a yawn down the alley." The final illustration is priceless. Whether it wins an award or not, it is a great book to share with children.

We own all these titles and all but Sea Bear were checked out. That's a good sign! I loved the quietly beautiful illustrations and the way in which each took in both pages. It gave a sense of the large and empty quality of the arctic and in that sense worked wonderfully with the text. I also appreciate that the text was not too heavy handed on the effects of climate change on the polar bear's habitat. That would allow for the adult reading to gauge their audience's level of engagement on ecological issues and engage them wherever they are on that continuum of higher level thinking.

My heart is so sweet! I think the illustrations are cleverly done while remaining simple and accessible. They certainly add another layer to the text.

Liked all four of these. Especially loved There is No Bear in This Bakery.

While There is No Bear in This Bakery was funny, I didn't feel the illustrations were worthy of a Caldecott. Hush, Little Bunny was so heartwarming. The illustrations really supported and added emotion to the story. My favorite thing about it was that it was a dad and child and supported the strength and love in that bond.

My Heart is packed with bright yellow positive vibes, sunshine after the rain, and love. It is a great read for parents and a child for discussions happy, sad, quiet, action-packed feelings of emotion - and that all are necessary and good in life. 2020 Caldecott contender for sure!

Sea Bear offers a wealth of information about polar bears, sea ice, and the Arctic area. The colors and illustrations are beautiful, rendered in two-page spreads using low-key shades of blue and white. My prediction is that this book will earn numerous awards throughout the year.

Hush Little Bunny is like chicken soup for the soul! Sweet Spring and Easter read and eye-catching illustrations.

There Are No Bears in this Bakery is delightful...a really fun read-aloud. The illustrations are lively and so humorous. I am sure children will want this one to be read over and over again!

Hush, Little Bunny
I really liked Stein's adaptation of the words of the traditional lullaby "Hush, Little Baby" into a celebration of spring and rabbits cavorting in spring time. I loved the illustrations--the colors and the execution. I also liked how the illustrations extended the text by showing actions and objects not specifically mentioned.

Sea Bear
The story follows a single polar bear through a season of hunting. The watercolor, graphite, drawing ink, conte crayon, and color pencil artwork is very nice. But the author's note shows she is a shill for the climate-change alarmists, since polar bear populations have been growing over the past several decades, as the earth has been warming up. Warmer is better for everyone.

My Heart
I was not as impressed with this book. I did like the pops of yellow color against the gray, but the text left me flat. A pre-school child would need an adult to explain to him what all the symbolism means.

Of these four, I think Sea Bear is the strongest contender. Moore creates sky, ice, and sea with a blue watercolor palette. The "tossed by a tempest" pages are particularly strong. May or may not use for Mock Caldecott, but will definitely add There Are No Bears in this Bakery to the list.

Hush Little Bunny is a very sweet book and I can see it being sung and read as a lullabye or enjoyed in the same way at story time. In fact I can see it being a book asked for again and again. I don't think that makes it a Caldecott.

I really enjoyed My Heart and Sea Bear. Sea Bear has absolutely beautiful illustrations and a very timely subject matter. My Heart is a story that will help adults speak with kids about their feelings and the simple illustrations supported the text well.

Hush Little Bunny was sweet as well, and will likely be a hit in a story time session. I'm not sure that is award worthy however.

I enjoyed all four of these books, but I think the two bear books are my top picks. Sea Bear is gorgeously illustrated, with spare, but effective text - and is probably my overall favorite picture book thus far this year. There Are No Bears seems to meld text and pictures so effortlessly and playfully that it is a real joy to read, again and again. I can see both books having a strong impact on young readers.

Julia Sarconne-Roach uses light and dark very effectively in There are No Bears in this Bakery. The illustrations do so much work in telling the story.

I have not had a chance to read the others yet.

There Are No Bears in This Bakery is a wonderful way to introduce children to the joys of sleuthing. The expressiveness of the illustrations is a delight and will start many conversations about how the cat is feeling on any particular page. And Muffin is in a box on the opening spread! How wonderful is that?! Without the Bear there would be no story, but honestly, I think the bear in the bakery took away from the "realism," if you will. I which the antagonist had been a mouse or a dog.

My Heart (Corinna Luyken) I am not as impressed as the rest of the world is. I found the rhyme uneven and a i was bothered by the conventionality of the relationships and illustrations. I wish I liked it better. I may change my mind as the year winds down.

Sea Bear: A journey for Survival - The language of this beautiful book knocks me out! "...[P]addle past a weary raft of wary walruses..." The language is so delicate and carefully crafted and works in unison with the breathtaking illustrations. Readers can feel the sea and the cold, the motion of the water, the despair, fear, and emerging hope. This is my favorite of this books I've read so far from our selections. "I will teach the sea's rhythms to my cubs and whisper to them in the dark. Polar bears are patient beasts, as patient as glaciers. We know how to hope and how to wait."

Weighing in very late here, as I have just had a chance to read these 4 books. I think Sea Bear is my favorite of the four, with its beautiful blue illustrations and spare but effective text. I thought the vibrant yellow & grey illustrations in My Heart enhanced the text quite a bit; but it doesn't feel as appropriate for an audience of children. I felt similarly about No Bears, but maybe that's because I am less familiar than most with the detective/film noir genre. Hush, Little Bunny is a gentle lullaby, but probably not my vote for an award. Looking forward to catching up on the rest!