Award criteria: 

The illustrator did a great job of showing the vastness of the lighthouse in the story and how to portray how open and big the ocean is around the lighthouse using bright colors to open up the page. The lack of blank white space gives the impression of happy and fulfilling emotions.
2. Excellence of pictorial interpretation of story, theme or concept;

Each of the illustrations depict the words on the page giving the reader a visual concept of what the words are demonstrating throughout the story. When the fog appears in the lighthouse we are shown a foggy page with the lighthouse barely visible. In the text “ The fog makes everything disappear, A bell must be rung to warn the ships. Clung, Clung, Clung”. The author using this illustration gives the reader a great visual of a foggy lighthouse.
 3. Appropriateness of style of illustration to the story theme or concept;

The story being based on what a lighthouse maintenance person does demonstrates something of realness, portraying an actual job within the story. During the night of the disaster the illustrations become dark and sad after the character is done being sick the illustrations begin with color again.
4. Delineation of plot, theme, characters, setting, mood or information through the pictures.

Throughout the story the author demonstrates different parts of the characters life, with the character being alone and the covered colored pages. Writing to someone unknown and sending letters out to sea, then the person showing up and taking care of him when he fell ill using the dark colors to demonstrate sadness. To the birth of the child when the entire page is bright, glowing and excited.
5. Excellence in presentation in recognition of a child audience. 

The author used the artwork to tell a story along with the words, while the story focuses on human life and the course of change and big life events happening at the same time. A real life issue presents itself on how children can deal with change and how it can be exciting while also frightening for them to deal with.
Picture book criteria from CHCL chapter 3

The intended  age range for this book is 4-8. The age group is through the years where students may face many different types of changes and big events in their lives. By introducing the theme in a sad but ending on a happy note helps the students feel comfortable in the changes in knowing happiness is always to come. The story takes place on an island in Newfoundland, the author portrays this by showing the island and the lighthouse inside and out. Stereotypes are avoided and the characters are shown with language that doesn’t single them out while portraying them in a detailed manner. 

 The illustrations in the story hit the mark on a quality children's picture book as well as providing detail needed to express the words fully. The illustrations also add depth to each part of the story showing the weather outside the lighthouse, the colors inside, and what the characters are wearing. The setting illustrations contribute to the story well, creating a good visual aspect to the ocean, and the beam of light from the lighthouse. 

The illustrator connects the story with the art, throughout the story it is a vast majority of colors, such as yellows, blues and pinks. When the story became sad during the man's sickness and during the storm, the colors went to a dark palette, mostly grey and dark blacks to portray the ocean during the storm. 

The size of the book is tall, portraying the height of a lighthouse and the ocean is depicted as well in the background of the lighthouse foreshadowing something to come involving the ocean. Also portrayed is the visual of a shadow of a man inside the lighthouse. The beginning end page shows the ocean and the ship, the last end page shows the family watching from their house and the lighthouse in the distance. 

This story caught my eye because of my interest in lighthouses. I believe using stories with an interesting start, sad middle and happy ending can help show students that although you may be happy in the moment, sad things can happen but happy endings always come true. This story is a great way to portray life events even when they are not the greatest of times. 

Caldecott winner 2015 

Santat, D. (2014). The adventures of Beekle: the unimaginary friend (First edition.). Little, Brown and Company.

Award Criteria: 

The illustrator portrayed the idea of beekle using his imagination to do fun adventures while he was waiting for his friends. They used colors to show the imagination as fun and out-worldly.
2. Excellence of pictorial interpretation of story theme or concept.

Each of the illustrations demonstrate the words on the page and provide descriptive examples of the text. For example when we read the text about being scared and going on adventures that seem scary the illustrations are dark and grey. When Beekles enters the “real world” it is also dark and scary with limited color use.

3. Appropriateness of style of illustration to the story, theme or concept.

The story demonstrates the struggle of making friends and how the concept can be scary at first but when you find your person it's fun and life feels complete. Using the illustrations to demonstrate that by showing the bright colors when he finds his friend, and using the dark colors with limited illustrations when he doesn't have a friend.
4. Delineation of plot, theme, characters, setting, mood or information through the pictures: 

The illustrations lead the reader to understand the story, when the character is in the real world the theme is shown to be scary while alone. The setting being shown in the real world also shows children how the making of friends happens and how it can be fun.
5. Excellence of presentation in recognition of a child audience:

The book does recognize a child audience by giving the children a glimpse into what it’s like to make friends and how it feels when they are alone, giving the children an opportunity to ask questions about friendships and how to talk to someone when they are feeling alone. This storyline follows children in the prime of their friendship making time outlining an entertaining interpretation of friendship. 

The intended age range for this book is 3-6 years, this story reaches those ages by using the appropriate word choices for the age group. This story is appealaing to children because of the use of the fun adventures that children want to participate in. The story continues following the character throughout the story doing those things. 

Illustrations: 
The illustrations in the story demonstrate the journey through which the character goes through to find a friend. The picture depicts the character going through adventures, and finding the real world. Then stumbling upon a place where he feels comfortable and finds a friend.

The story uses water color like illustrations showing the character throughout the story going through adventures showing colorful scenes giving the reader the idea of fun adventures. Once the beekle gets to the real world his face is shown as confused and scared until he gets to the area he finds his friend. He is depicted as smiling and happy, while enjoying the adventures with her. The techniques stay the same throughout the story even the endpages are included with adventures and colorful depictions. 

The format of the story's endpages begin with an adventure taken by beekle by himself and then ends with beekle on an adventure with his friend. Suggesting that beekle will continue to have adventures but now with a friend. The font is a good one because it adds to the fun of the story and how it is directed to children.  

This piece took Dan away from her usual style of block print.  The method allows the characters to stand out but blend in at the same time.  The simple artwork allows the reader to focus on the progress of the story and have a visual story of making friends. 

With the setting not overtly focused on time or place, the story will resonate through time and be as meaningful in ten years as it is now.  The relationship between children and friendship is a classic storyline which remains a prominent topic in children’s literature.

Lee bennet harper winner 2020
Award criteria
What is the quality of imagination in the
poem? Does the poem invite the child to see
something in a fresh, new way, or does it
rely on tired clichés?
the poem gives children a great way of seeing new things or seeing something they already know differently than how they would normally see them. for example using the simile by saying "peeling open a book like a clementine" gives students an example of something they already know a new meaning/comparison.
Does the poem create sensory images of
sight, touch, smell, or taste?
the story uses alot of sensory images within the poem and how the poet gives the reader a different feeling of how they read the poem while having your other senses touched as well. "find a tree or black tupelo or a dawn redwood will do" using this imagery helps the reader visualize the poets words.
What is the purpose of the poem? To amuse? To describe in a fresh way? To comment on humanity? To draw parallels to our lives? How well has the poet achieved this purpose?
the poet does a great job of describing reading a story in a different way than what a reader would normally visualize and how the reader would see reading a book. giving the reader a new idea of how everyday activities can be seen in a new light.

Coretta Scott King winner 2022
Award Criteria

Must portray some aspect of the black experience, past, present, or future.
celebrates being african american and how being true to yourself is the best way to be
1. must be written/illustrated by an African American
is written by Natasha Tarpley and illustrated by Regis and Kahran Bethencourt
2. Must be published in the U.S. in the year preceding presentation of the Award. (For example: only books published in 2022 will qualify for the 2023 award.)
was published in the year 2021
3. Must be an original work
is an original work to natasha Tarpley
4. Must meet established standards of quality writing for youth which include:
was written for with a clear plot for the students it is discussing the beauty that is a person and the big things they can come to be within life.
well drawn character is you the student reading is placed in the story using the words my and I.
the writing style is perfect for the age groups intended it has rhyming and easy words that students can focus on.
5. written for a youth audience in one of three categories: Preschool-grade 4, Grades 5-8, Grades 9-12
Written for grades 5-8
The story illustrations give the students a chance to use their imagination of who they are as students and how they can continue to grow and be their own versions of themselves.
CHCL Criteria:
Plot: children will learn to respect other cultures especially ones they come into contact with in their daily lives specifically themselves with knowing they can be whatever they want to be.
Setting: the story takes place in the child's life and what type of person they can be and how in control they are
theme: the theme is impacting to children because it gives students the ability to see themselves in a different light.
characterization: we get to see the characters weaknesses and strengths in how they have faults but they are what make them human and who they are
Style: the author created a amazing mood of joy throughout the story and how the students should be happy with who they are.