Picture Book Month - Day 25

 Today we'll look at some of the books by Paul O. Zelinsky.  He has won the Caldecott Medal as well as 3 Caldecott honors.  He first became intersted in children's books while taking a course at Yale University that was co-taught by the great Maurice Sendak. Here are a few of my favorites:

Rapunzel was the winner of the 1998 Caldecott Medal and it is easy to see why it was chosen.  The illustrations are detailed and transport you to a fairytale world.  It is a beautiful retelling with illustrations akin to Renaissance paintings.  It inlcudes full page and double page spreads. 

I love the illustations in Rumplelstiltskin, Caldecott Honor in  1987, even more than those in Rapunzel. I think it's due to the wonderful depiction of the tiny trickster.  Again, fairy tale lovers should seek out Paul O. Zelinsky's versions.  He is a master of fairy tale retellings.

The Maid and the Mouse and the Odd-Shaped House, is a title that I loved to use for pre-school story times.  Zelinsky adapted a party game into this wonderful book.  A maid and a mouse live in a pentagon house and go about adding to it - rooms, 2 chimneys, a path, etc.  The children will begin to notice that the house is becoming somethig else - a cat!  A really fun story that can be used with a white board or feltboard.

Check out these titles and more at the library today!