Holidays, vacations and no storytimes – all of those add up to no posts for a few weeks.  We’re sorry about that.  Perhaps things were hectic in your life as well, and you didn’t have time to check in with this blog.  In that case, welcome back.

The 2015 Caldecott awards will be announced soon for the best picture books of 2014. Here are some of the front runners for the award this year:

  This author and illustrator form a magical team.  They have won before, and may win again this year.

I must admit that Marla Frazee is one of my favorite illustrators.  She won a Caldecott Honor for the illustrations in All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon.  This year’s book is a wordless one, so Marla is using her art to tell all of the story.

Another wordless book – this time based on Raul Colon’s childhood.

3 books frequently mentioned are biographies.  This is unusual.

A biography of Matisse from an author known for chapter books.

How ironic would it be for Lois Ehlert to finally win an award with a book that is about her picture books?

A short and simple, but profound, biography of Gandhi told by his grandson.  It’s message of “Live our lives as light” challenges my own beliefs and actions.

I bought this book to help children who had recently moved, but it is delightful.  It is so well done, I want to recommend it to all young children.

A book about an imaginary friend off in search of a child with a great imagination – terrific concept that is really well done.

I’d like to hear from you.  What were some of your favorite picture books of the year?

~Maureen