by Sam Juliano
Four and a half months of picture book madness ends today when the American Library Association announces the annual winners at their mid-Winter meeting in Denver at 10:00 A.M. MT. I will revise this post accordingly at around 12:00 noon with the identity of the Caldecott finalists. I want to thank all those who visited the reviews, placed comments and addressed the project in similar terms on social media. James Clark was miraculous, commenting on every single post. I can never thank him enough for his stunning insights, support and friendship. Laurie Buchanan championed the series relentlessly on FB and commented regularly. She has been a beacon of lights for this project each and every year since it launched five years ago. Patricia Hamilton is another who has been unbelievable, sharing on FB and providing comments and like throughout. Can never thank her enough! Thank you exceedingly to Rick Chinigo, Brian Wilson, Ed Spicer, Jamie Peeps Hogan, Wendy Wahman, Duane Porter, Celeste Fenster, Kimbrap, Peter M., Frank Gallo, Raul Colon, Barabra McClintock, Wendell Minor, Florence Friedman Minor, Sergio Ruzzier, Matthew Cordell, Karen R., John Grant, John R., Francy Stoller, Dennis Polifroni, Tim McCoy, Pat Perry, Fiona Robinson, Roberta Rivera, Steve Mazzone, Maxine Grgurev, Bernice Weise, Paula P, Bart Talamini, Helen Frost, John Greco, Robert Hornak, Melanie Juliano, Samuel Juliano, Lucille Juliano and a number of others for their terrific comments and FB likes. Thank you to the authors and illustrators who shares the 41 posts on FB. Two-thirds of that total were negotiated to that end, and it was most heartening.
Lucille and I saw the play “Farinelli and the King” at the David Belasco Theatre on Tuesday evening. We were thrilled to meet and chat with Oscar winning actor Mark Rylance afterward at the stage door. The play was a treasure.
We also saw the Best Foreign Film nominee A Fabulous Woman on Saturday evening at the Angelica Film Center.
A Fabulous Woman **** 1/2 (Saturday) Angelica Film Center
With Oscar winning actor Mark Rylance at David Belasco Theatre on Tuesday evening.
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Writers/Founders
Caldecott Winners:
Caldecott Medal: Wolf in the Snow (Matthew Cordell)
Caldecott Honor: Big Cat, little cat (Elisha Cooper)
Caldecott Honor: Grand Canyon (Jason Chin)
Caldecott Honor: Crown (Derrick Barnes; Gordon C. James)
Caldecott Honor: A Different Pond (Bao Phi; Thi Bui)
Sam — I couldn’t be more delighted with this year’s Caldecott Medal Winners. CONGRATULATIONS to the authors and illustrators of these incredible books.
And Sam, you should win a medal yourself for the blue-ribbon job you did, again, this year. It was a distinct pleasure to follow and share your exquisite reviews.
Laurie, your support was once again Herculean, and your humility and enthusiasm beyond reproach. I do remember you did love the books here that won. Your kind words are music to my ears. Thank you many times over! I can never thank you enough!
I read the announcements yesterday afternoon. Seems like a solid group.This was another labor of love for you. Remarkable achievement.
Thanks so much John for your comment here and on other threads! I’ll admit this was a long haul, beset by holiday breaks, illness and a torrid pace, so I am relieved. Now we have the second part of the television countdown set to launch on or around March 7th. Yes the choices were excellent for sure!
So cool that you met Mark Rylance! What what he like? How was the play. Nice to see you gave A FANTASTIC WOMAN such high marks. I thought Daniela Vega was incredible in it.
Thank you Marilyn! He was truly a Prince of a guy, but I was told he would turn out that way in person by my teaching colleague “Broadway Bob” Eagleson, who had met him twice previously after other productions he had starred in on the Great White Way. He was very pleased to hear that I loved his performance in the BBC series “Wolf Hall” best of all his stellar work, and he was amiable and outgoing almost to a fault. The play was wonderful, with Rylance of course the absolute standout and the baroque arias were ravishing. I’m expecting Tony Award nominations here. As to Daniela Vega, she was truly magnificent in A FANTASTIC WOMAN, and the film at this very early stage of the year is my absolute favorite. What she went through was quite unbelievable. I am hoping you may be doing a review of it!! trust all is well my friend!!
So great that you met Mark Rylance! I’m so jealous. I hear he is super-friendly!
Thank you so much Celeste! He is definitely one of the friendliest stars anyone could ever hope to meet and many have attested to that.