Winner of the 2012 Caldecott Medal
Written and Illustrated by Chris Raschka
I was lucky enough to get a copy of this from the public library the day it was announced as the 2012 Caldecott Winner.
This is a wordless picture book with delightful watercolor pictures, not quite as obscure as Rashka’s other Caldecott winner The Hello Goodbye Window.
It is the story of a dog and her ball, and what it is like to lose/gain something special. The children I have “read” this with have just loved it. It is definately a perfect example of the phrase “a picture is worth 1000 words.” Through the color and facial expressions of the dog we can tell exactly how Daisy is feeling in the wide range of emotions that she displays. This is a great choice for the Caldecott Medal.
Review by Terrie Bishop, Academy Park Elem. Media Center
Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars)
Interest Level: Grades PreK-4
A Ball for Daisy
Written and Illustrated by Chris Raschka
Schwartz & Wade Books
32 pages
Release Date: May 10, 2012
ISBN: 9780375858611 (hardcover)
Terrie, thanks for this review. It was kind of driving me crazy that we didn’t have a review of this book on the site, and I’m still waiting for my hold to come up at the library.
I believe Cindy is ordering this book for all the elementary libraries, but unsurprisingly it is on a several week back-order at the binderies.
Finally got my hands on a copy of this. I agree, it’s a nice little book. A little bit surprising as the Caldecott, but it’s fun book and it’s good to here that kids like it. I guess what could make it distinctive are those great emotional expressions of the dog that push things along, and I guess the funny down-low-dog’s-eye perspective of so many of the illustrations. I think it is rather unique that book/story/illustrations are all entirely centered around the dog’s point of view. We don’t even see any more than the legs of the owner until nearly the end of the story. Interesting.