Is the Caldecott medal for best picture book, or for best pictures in a book? It makes a difference. One book might have lackluster illustrations but a really clever text, and thus be a better book overall than another with beautiful pictures but poor text.
The Caldecott is awarded to the illustrator, who may or may not have been the author. There have been a few times when there was talk the same book could win both awards, but it hasn’t happened yet.
I just remembered another: Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh. A fan favorite but apparently not a librarian favorite:
“Harriet the Spy was controversial when it came out in the 60s, says Anita Silvey, author of 100 Best Books for Children, in part because Harriet was a very flawed character. Some critics hated the book, and some schools even banned it. Harriet saw too much, said too much. She even threw temper tantrums and had to visit a psychiatrist.”
Not “worthy” enough for the Newbery, but excelent Newbery material in every other respect: a strong independent young character in the lead role, strong plot, clear language (introduced me to the word “corpus”), original premise, excelent writing.
And a fun book. Not Oscar marterial only because nobody dies.
A book that has stayed with me since I was 10 years old (now 55) is The Velvet Room by Zilpha Snyder (1965). I checked it out of the school library more than once. I remember the feelings I had when I came to certain parts of the story…surprised, excited, amazed. It was probably the first book that gave me a “rush” and I was an avid reader. It was about a girl and her family who were migrant farm workers. I found it on Amazon a few years ago, bought it and read it again. Still loved it. I only wish my kids and grandkids loved to read like I did/do. I would love to share the book with them. I remember trying to explain to my mom how great the story was.
I believe this is Secret of the Andes, by Ann Nolan Clark, and it did win a Newbery Medal. In fact, I think it beat Charlotte’s Web.
So many books I’d love to choose, but if I can only choose one, I’m going to say A Drowned Maiden’s Hair, by Laura Amy Schlitz. (She won the Newbery Award two years after this one.)
It’s set about a century ago. The main character is an orphan adopted by the Hawthorne sisters. It’s a mystery and (possibly, though not necessarily) a fantasy. I strongly recommend it.
Oh, and I just checked: Secret of the Andes did beat Charlotte’s Web, reportedly because they wanted a book about South America to win. It is a good book.
I was thinking Zilpha Keatley Snyder, too. I loved *The Velvet Room *and I reread it recently, as well. You might like The Changeling. It has a little darker feel to it, but I felt like it was similar. The Egypt Game, The Headless Cupid and The Witches of Worm are all Newberry Honor books, but The Velvet Room is my favorite of hers.
The first book I thought of upon seeing this thread was The Phantom Tollbooth, which apparently has never won any awards.
I so agree. I have recommended this to or purchased it for every child I have known. I still occasionally reread it myself. Wonderful book for any child who might not think they like math.
Certainly this would be the book my son would vote for.
You could have a flashback to the parents’ murder. I could totally see this book as a movie. There might be too much material, though. Maybe a mini-series.