Marcus, Leonard S. 1998. A caldecott celebration: six artist and their paths to the caldecott medal. New York: Walker and Company. ISBN: 0-8027-8656-1
A Caldecott Celebration: Six Artists and Their Paths to the Caldecott Medal is the story of six artists that have won the Caldecott medal. Leonard Marcus chose one winner from each decade: forties, fifties, sixties, seventies, eighties, and nineties. By choosing various winners from such a broad time range, Marcus hoped not only to tell the story of the Caldecott Medal, but the story of how the Caldecott Medal has changed throughout the years. The six artists Leonard Marcus chose are as follows: Robert McCloskey, Marcia Brown, Maurice Sendak, William Steig, Chris Van Allsburg, and David Wiesner. The book provides behind-the-scene glimpses into the lives of these authors as well as providing insights into how each prizewinner was created.
The first artist Marcus examines is Robert McCloskey. McCloskey won the Caldecott Medal in 1942 for Make Way for Ducklings. The book and author has become an important part of children�s lives all over the world. The book provides the reader with wonderful background information. For example, I was surprised to learn that the ducklings�original names were Mary, Martha, Phillys, Theodore, Beatrice, Alice, George, and John. (9). Thankfully, McCloskey saw the error of his ways and changed them into the unforgettable: Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack(9). The reader learns about the author�s life and the author�s art form. For example, McCloskey drew his illustrations on zinc (10). In addition it provides insight into how that artist or book impacted children and children�s literature. Mrs. Mallard and her famous ducklings are sculptures in parks in the United States and Russia! (12).The second artist Marcus examines is Marcia Brown. Brown won the Caldecott Medal in 1955 for Cinderella. Growing up, Brown loved classic folk tales like Cinderella, but there were few picture books of these classics. When Brown became an author and illustrator, she decided to work with these beloved tales. Marcus provides great insight into how much research Brown put into her book. For three months the artist haunted museums and libraries, filling sketchbooks with drawings of hats, coats, hairstyles, fountains, chairs, beds, clocks, and slippers. She wanted to know how Cinderella and her fellow characters would have dressed. She wanted to know how they would have moved (15-16). Brown has won the Caldecott Medal more than any other artist.
The third artist Marcus examines is Maurice Sendak. Sendak won the Caldecott Medal in 1964 for Where The Wild Things Are. Marcus shares how the idea of this book developed over many years. The pictures show the book in various stages. For example, from being entitled Where The Wild Horses Are to a hand-size dummy of the book created in 1963. The pictures also illustrate how the horses became things. The reader learns many fascinating facts about the author and his most-famous book. Who would have ever guessed that Where The Wild Things Are would be adapted into an opera and later a ballet?
The fourth artist Marcus examines is William Steig. William Steig won the Caldecott Medal in 1970 for Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. The reader learns more about the artist behind this famous donkey. Marcus suspects that, Steig told a story filled with strong feelings feelings that in some ways may have mirrored his own at the time (29).
The fifth artist Marcus examines is Chris Van Allsburg. Allsburg won the Caldecott Medal in 1982 for Jumanji. Marcus begins his discussion of Allsburg with a very accurate assessment, For Chris Allsburg, a good part of the fun of being an artist lies in dreaming up such odd combinations in which ordinary things come together in surprising ways (31). The pictures show how the ideas for Jumanji formed and changed over time. It is fascinating to examine the pictures for the small details.
The sixth artist Marcus examines is David Wiesner. Wiesner won the Caldecott Medal in 1992 forTuesday. Marcus provides pictures to illustrate how the book began to take shape from the roughest sketch to the final watercolor work. Wiesner explained in his acceptance speech why he enjoys creating wordless picture books, each viewer reads the book in his or her own way. As a result, there are many versions of what happened that Tuesday night as there are readers (38).
Marcus work is an important examination of some of the most important illustrators in the field of children�s literature. His behind-the-scenes look at both the artist and the art is incredible. Marcus provides pictures of the artist, pictures of the artists work in various stages, and quotes and comments from the artists themselves! It is a fascinating examination of the history of this award.