We have a new president, and after a contentious inaugural speech, violent protests and continued rage we seem to be headed for some difficult times, to put it mildly. But on the other hand I am happy that perhaps we can focus our attention now to the art and away from politics, which by now has run its course.
The Academy Award nominations will be announced tomorrow morning, so we can address that next week or even on this thread, should anyone wish too after the Tuesday morning announcement. However, the Caldecott Medal winners were announced today and all five (the gold medal winner and the four honors books) are books in the masterpiece category. They are: Medal winner: Radiant Child by Javaka Steptoe. Honor Books: Leave Me Alone by Vera Brosgol; Freedom in Congo Square by Carole Boston Weatherford and R. Gregory Christie; Du Iz Tak? by Carson Ellis, and They All Saw A Cat by Brendan Wenzel. I want to thank all those who followed this marathon sixty (60) review series since it launched in early October, for those who placed ‘likes’ both here at the site and on FB, and to the regular commenters: Jim Clark, Frank Gallo, Laurie Buchanan, Celeste Fenster, John Grant, Peter M., Kimbra Power, Tony d’Ambra, Tim McCoy, Karen, Duane Porter, Alia Jones, Jarie Waterfall, Sergio Ruzzier, Patricia Hamilton, Sharon Lovejoy, Ricky Chinigo, Wendy Wahmann, David Noack, John R., Book Barn Steve and a number of others. This was a taxing venture that ate up the lion’s share of my free time, or at least one that vied with film at the richest time of the year. The authors and illustrators themselves were amazing in their own sponsorship of the series and in the many shares on Facebook and Twitter. This year by far the series received more attention than it ever did. So many FB people were there with likes on practically every post, or liked many of them and I want to thank as many as I can gather together here: Fiona Robinson, Peter M., Susan Fabricant Hess, Laurie Buchanan, Sergio Ruzzier, Leon Duncan, Francy Stoller, Nancy Armo, Lorraine Rotundo, Dennis Polifroni, Toni Yuli, Jeff Gottesfeld, Roberta Rivera, Jennifer Thermes, Raul Colon, Ed Spicer, Wendell Minor, Florence Freedman Minor, Patricia Hamilton, Stacey Innerst, Jack Marsh, Dawn Annabelle, Jordan J. Scavone, Violet Charleston, Gail Maki Wilson, Adam Gudeon, Gina Marie Harner, Rob Costello, Ann Marie Kradenski, Heather Lang, Leon Duncan, Frank Aida, Steve Mazzone, Dana Willcox,, Helen Frost, Wendy Wahmann, Salina Yoon, Lucille Juliano, Tony Pistilli, Boris Kulikov, Elizabeth Stanton, Jessixa Bagley, Theresa Juliano Lynne Rae Perkins, Barbara McClintock, Jarie Waterwall, Denise Ann Saldutti Egielski, A. H. Taylor, Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Matthew Cordell, Eric Fan, Sharon Lovejoy, Valerie Clark, Susan Hood, Maxine Grgurev, Deborah Freedman, Jonathan Bean, Kate Hoefler, Daniel Miyares, Stephanie Burke Bellucci, G. Gregory Christie, Sophie Blackall, Dan Richards, Jeff Newman, Anne Hunter, Lori Nichols, Lauren Castillo, Jillian Juliano, Melanie Juliano, Bart Talamini, Jason Giampietro and so many others.
Laurie Buchanan’s regular shares went above and beyond, and to her send on a special thanks!! Patricia Hamilton shared so many as well and similarly I thank her from the bottom of my heart! Of course the authors and illustrators shared many to the tune of about 48% of the 60 I wrote! Thanks many times over!
With actor Lucas Hedges in front of Lucille Lortel Theater on Wednesday night
Lucille, Broadway Bob and I saw the stage play Yen on Wednesday at the Lucille Lortel Theater on Christoher Street, which starred young Lucas Hedges, who may well share an Oscar nomination in the morning for Manchester by the Sea.
We also saw the film Split by M. Night Shyamalan on Saturday night
Split *** (Saturday night) Secaucus multiplex
Click on names for archives
Writers/Founders
Wonders in the Dark 
Interesting stuff, Sam. Du Iz Tak? is by Carson Ellis, is it not?
Indeed John, and I have made the correction. Thank you my friend!
What a wonderful group of winners! I had read in a few places that They All Saw A Cat would win, but it did take one of the honors. Diversity won big. Sam, I want to thank you for all the work you put into your remarkable series. So well-written and insightful…..and so many!
Thanks so much for your ongoing support throughout the series Karen! Your contributions were invaluable. Yes, the vast majority did believe THEY ALL SAW A CAT would win the medal, though of course it did very well to win an Honor.
Returning the awe and the thanks, Sammy. Your writing is what brings us back and takes us for a ride through the wonderlands of others. Thank You.
Wendy, your support, friendship and enthusiasm has been deeply appreciated, I can never thank you enough my friend!
It’s all you, Sammy. You light up our wondrous dark.
Thanks so much for the shout-out Sam! You really outdid yourself this year. I know the kind of time and passion you expended, and continue to be amazed. You deserved all the great feedback and praise. Looks like the committee did their job. All great books.
And by the way, you must be ecstatic over Lucas Hedges getting a Best Supporting Actor nomination!
Frank, I was indeed so thrilled when I read Lucas Hedges’s named announced! Yes indeed! I remain in your debt my friend. You were once again incredible in the comment sections. Where would this site be without you?!
Sam — I love your annual Caldecott Medal Contender Series! And I’m tickled pink with the gold medal winner—RADIANT CHILD by Javaka Steptoe.
Also with the four Honor Books:
LEAVE ME ALONE BY VERA BROSGOL
FREEDOM IN CONGO SQUARE by Carole Boston Weatherford and R. Gregory Christie
DU IZ TAK? by Carson Ellis
THEY ALL SAW A CAT by Brendan Wenzel
The remaining 55 books that you so eloquently reviewed were fantastic as well. I can’t even begin to imagine how the judges whittle it down to one.
Thank you for another awesome Caldecott season!
Laurie—
I must again issue unbridled appreciation for all you have done to sponsor this series here and on FB, where you shared practically every new review. Your infectious enthusiasm boosted me when I wavered after the volume almost overcame me, no matter how determined I was. The fact that you were and are writing your second book now made your sacrifice even more Herculean. Thank you one hundred times over! And I knew well you adored RADIANT CHILD, and had the highest regard for the four honor books as per previous discussions. Just an effort in my behalf and for the series that boggles the mind! 🙂
Sam — The pleasure was all MINE 🙂
I appreciate the mention Sam. It is always a privilege to spend time in the comment sections of your towering reviews. This year was special because your coverage was so expansive. And I loved more books than I did any other year. The library reading groups and the circulation desk gave me vital information too. Hard to criticize the committee for what they ultimately selected. Like just about everybody else I was delighted to hear ‘Leave Me Alone’ on the simulcast.
Thank you Sam! This was an amazing ride.
Celeste, you were truly one of the superstars throughout this countdown! I can never thank you enough for all you have done on so many comment threads. And being so close to the various reading groups in your library position added so much by way of the reception afforded the various books. Happy to hear you were also smitten with LEAVE ME ALONE too!
Sam, I was just wondering, are you planning to review other children’s books in the coming months?
I so enjoyed the Caldecott Series of reviews and truly believe they were all winners. I purchased 4 of them for my daughter’s library at school and they have been well received.
the new year has started on a great note at the home fires and I so enjoyed participating in the Women’s March and now several meetings this week with State representatives and Women’s planning groups. I have been making daily calls to Congress mostly about The Nominee for Secretary for Education, Sessions, and Price. The Price is too high on those. The new President has already attacked Boeing and Microsoft and Now they are attacking full force our Governor….Let the lawsuits begin – again. Lies and Truth a most interesting play we are attending right now. Books are good and I love to read….Several big winners on the list for 2017, but it is always fun to read books that are sometimes 2 years ahead of the release…Makes me feel smart.
Happy happy New Year Thanks for all your sharing
Patricia–
My daughter Melanie also attended the women’s march (in Manhattan). Yes that nominee for education secretary is a horror for a good number of reasons, not the least of which she is an avowed opponent of public education. There is no cabinet position on a personal basis of course that means more to my family. But Sessions? He has a long history of racist positions. As you know Trump has signed a ton of bills in the first week, and most spell trouble for all of us. Such a trying time. I am long overdue to investigate the books you are reviewing. Many thanks for all you did for the Caldecott series. The many shares for one, but the continuous encouragement and sponsorship. Thank you from the bottom of my heart my great friend! 🙂
Thanks for the mention Sam. You deserve all the credit in the world for that amazing series. I still don’t know how you did it. That’s a great photo of you with Lucas Hedges. I see he got nominated.
Yes, Lucas did indeed get the nomination! So happy for him! Thanks for your ongoing support Ricky, and for your insightful contributions.
Sam,
Stopping by quickly to let you know we caught La La Land last week. It was way better than I expected. I went in a bit skeptical but was won over! I’m going 4 out of 4 on this one. Vies with Moonlight for my favorite film of 2016 so far. It was a great amalgam of Minnelli, Demy, and Casablanca. Really a fine love story, with some modern elements of Careerism taking the place of true love. I enjoyed the chemistry between Gosling and Stone well. Really great stuff.
Okay have a great weekend Sam!
Jon, though you may have been skeptical going in, I was secretly waging even money you’d end up loving it. It also is contending for my own top spot, but no matter which was I go it certainly will be in the Top 3. Just an irresistible modern day musical that skillfully brings in all the elements you identify here. Needless to say it is wildly popular and is quite likely to win a ton of the Oscars. Previously it won the BP from the NYFCC. Yes there was surely some great chemistry there between the leads, and the score was captivating to these ears. Trust you are enjoying your weekend my friend. Many thanks!
Sam, I’m a bit late commenting here but I wanted to congratulate you on completing your monumental Caldecott series. Sixty reviews in three months, quite an accomplishment. Your passion and energy continues to amaze me.
Duane, you are never late here or anywhere else my friend. I remain deeply in your debt for your incredible support during the series here ands on FB where you faithfully puts likes up under every review. That was an incredible ongoing gesture on your part and I can never really thank you enough!
Thank you for the shout out Sam! You should take a bow for that unbelievable achievement. So many great reviews, not a bad one in the group and some among your best ever. I’ve seen all the books, and believe the committee did a great job with their choices.
Peter, thank you many times over for your kind words and ongoing support. Knowing you have seen and read through many of these books was another aspect that made your contributions so special.
Sam, it was time very well invested. I remain in awe of all you managed to do, and keeping up such high quality. Thank you for mentioning me.