1943 Caldecott Winner

Title: The Little House

Author and Illustrator: Virginia Lee Burton

Method of Reading/Extra Activities: We read the book together and had a toy house right next to us to play with while reading. This book also came with a CD, so we were able to listen to someone else read the book, too. Then we also attempted a craft project! Using toothpicks and Mod Podge, we tried to build a stick house. I'm thinking this was a little too ambitious to do with a two year old. See our lovely results?  

About the Text: A little house is built in the country and at times wonders what life is like in the city. Years pass and eventually, due to the city's expansion, she finds out first-hand what city life is like, and she does not like it. She becomes sad and lonely (lots of personification in this book!). Eventually, a family rescues her and moves her back to the country, where she is once again happy and peaceful.

About the Illustrations: The colorful illustrations are so cute in this book. They are unique in that the little house is always in the center of the picture, but the scenery and surroundings are constantly changing. The house changes very little, but her surroundings drastically change throughout the story, and the illustrations deftly emphasize this.

Our Favorite Part: The illustrations of the house when it was nighttime. There were lots of stars when the house lived in the countryside!

Our Least Favorite Part: This book made Mama tear up! Mama can relate to the little house. I'm a country gal living in the city. Hopefully someday we can move back to the country. :)

1942 Caldecott Winner

Title: Make Way for Ducklings

Author and Illustrator: Robert McCloskey

Method of Reading/Extra Activities: I set out a baby blanket that had ducks on it and gathered all the toy ducks I could find in the house. Then the boys and I sat down to read the book. We read it in one sitting while playing with the ducks. After reading, we counted out eight of the smaller ducks as ducklings and lined them up behind two bigger Mommy and Daddy ducks. The book came with a CD, so a few days later we listened to the CD several times in the car. We read the book another time and also read Robert McCloskey's 1949 Caldecott Honor book Blueberries for Sal (a birthday gift from Grandma). 

About the Text: Mr. and Mrs. Mallard look for the perfect place to build a nest, finally settling in the city of Boston. They hatch eight ducklings and begin to teach them all the things little ducks need to know. Papa duck goes exploring and Mama duck promises to meet him in the park. Mrs. Mallard leads her eight ducklings through the busy streets of Boston in order to find their father at the park. Friendly policemen help the ducks along the way.

About the Illustrations: The illustrations are very cute brown and white sketches. The ducks are usually the focal point of each page, but the drawings contain many other fun details that kids enjoy.

Our Favorite Part: When the ducks try to cross the road and the cars are honking, the ducks are quaking, and the policeman is blowing his whistle all at the same time. It's fun to listen to Mommy make all those sound effects!

Our Least Favorite Part: I'm not sure if we have one. This was a great book! Gabriel is still a bit young to sit still for a whole book, but it was pretty easy to draw his attention back to this book by pointing to the pictures or making sound effects with the text.