Orbus Pictus Awards

The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) has established an annual award for promoting and recognizing excellence in the writing of nonfiction for children. One award is presented annually in the young children category, with honor books named. 

 

Sweet, M. (2011). Balloons over broadway. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children.
            Children’s Picture Book: Biography. This book is subtitled the True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade and tells the story of Tony Sarg, the originator of balloons geared from puppeteers below. From Tony’s early childhood of operational engineering, to his involvement with R.H. Macy, this is a telling of how Sarg developed what we know today as the Thanksgiving Macy’s Day Parade. Sweet illustrates in oddly set type and exceptionally detailed sketches, leading the reader to picture what Sarg had in mind. Sometimes it becomes a jumble of fabric, found items and watercolor; and that’s when the reader succumbs to the myriad of operational images which make up Tony Sarg’s concept. An excellent read aloud for children ages 8-11, for the history and illustrations. Recommended independent read for ages ten through adult. View as especially helpful for the young budding artist/illustrator in intermediate classrooms. Awarded the Orbus Pictus Award and Robert F. Sibert Award, both in 2012

 

    Bass, H. (2009). The secret world of walter anderson. Somerville, MA:    Candlewick Press.

            Children’s Picture Book: Biography. This book pays homage to 20^th century American painter and artist, Walter Anderson. Schooled in art, Anderson spent most of his life on the Mississippi Gulf Coast painting the images he saw in nature and his surroundings. This story tells of his frequent trips to Horn Island, 12 miles off the coast. He would row there in his skiff to spend weeks journaling and painting. Much of his most notable work was done on the island, and wasn’t found, much less appreciated till after his death in 1962. E.B. Lewis’s illustrations follow the narrative; in muted watercolors of browns, blues and greens they showcase the colors of Anderson’s world—at once keen and murky. An excellent read-aloud for children ages eight through eleven, an independent read for ages ten through adult. View as a wonderful resource for teaching the biographical genre and the theme of following one’s heart. Awarded Orbis Pictus and named to Bank Street College Book List, both in 2010.

  

Greenberg, J., & Jordan, S. (2010). Ballet for martha: Making appalachian spring.

          New York, NY: Roaring Brook Press.

Children’s Picture Book: Historical. This book tells of the creation of the American classic dance performance “Appalachian Spring” (1944). Three artists collaborated to make this timeless ballet and the book is a testament to their individual creativity and their synergetic collaboration. Martha Graham, the conceiver and choreographer; Aaron Copland, the composer and Isamu Noguchi, the set director all fine-tuned their areas of expertise to complement the others’. Brian Floca’s stirring watercolors follow the narrative and speak of movement, both in respect to dance and a forward moving project. A read-aloud for children ages 8-11, and an independent read for ages 10 through adult. View as an excellent resource in teaching theme of collaboration amongst talented and creative individuals. Recommend as a resource for intermediate and high school students involved in the creative arts and/or working on a collaborative visual or performance art project. Awarded the Orbis Pictus Award, named to the Robert F. Sibert Honor and ALSC Notable Book List, all in 2011. View this 10 min. video for a multi-sensory experience of the scenes, music and set described in the book: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmgaKGSxQVw