Jepson Names this Year's Caldecott Award Winner

Jeanne Lawrence with this year's winner, Savanna Brookshire, and her father

 

As you know, the Caldecott Award has been presented (since 1938) each year to the illustrator of the "best" children's book that was published the year before - the award is given to the illustrator for their skills in telling part of the story in the illustrations.  Often the author is also the illustrator and there are a few who have received the award more than once.  Deb Robins, a 2/3 classroom teacher and I have been collaborating on this project for a few years now and received 2 grants towards purchasing additional Caldecott books for our students to borrow.  We also purchased a plaque with name plates.  The names of the students who complete the booklet are engraved on the plates and displayed on the hallway plaque.  So far we have a 2009 name winner and a 2010 winner:    Our recipient last year was Valerie Luna, the winner this year was Savanna Brookshire

The first Caldecott winner

 

 The booklet that we prepared for student use has space for each Caldecott book to be rated by the students and to have the student write something about the book - a part that they did or did not like, for example.  Then the students draw a small illustration for the book.  Just reading 73 books is a wonderful accomplishment but writing about each one really shows great diligence.  In the case for both our recipients, the parent/parents were very supportive towards their child reaching the goal that they set. 

 

We do refine the process each year so if you have any suggestions, let us know.  We did decide that as it takes a year or longer to accomplish, we will have the students write the date they do the work, next to each entry.  This will show how they progress in abilities as they get older!

We are excited that we were O.K.ed to have a weekly after school session, starting mid month  for this project.

 

We plan to celebrate each student's success w/a celebration party - which also gives us good publicity for this literacy promotion!

Jepson students at Caldecott award presentation