Nicolas Mordvinoff (1911–1973)

1952 Caldecott Medal Winner

I have no idea what medium the illustrator used for this--it looks very different from the previous Caldecott winners. Maybe that's why it won. Normally I don't like abstract illustrations as much, but I did like these--very striking pictures in black, white, red, and gold.

A cute story about some dogs who go around asking various people to help them figure out which of them owns a bone that they found. In the end, a bigger dog tries to trick them and steals their bone, but they take him down together and... learn the value of friendship through violence? lol. Anyway, it was pretty cool, but not extraordinary.… (more)

Nap and Winkle are digging in the yard where they find a bone; Nap says the bone is his because he saw it first but Winkle says the bone is his because he touched it first. The dogs cannot decide which one is right, so they ask a farmer, a goat, an apprentice barber, and a big dog. The farmer, the goat, and the barber all say, “Who cares about a bone?” and the dogs don’t get an answer.

But when they ask the big dog, he asks to see the bone.

What will happen when Nap and Winkle take the big dog to see the bone? And what will Nap and Winkle do?

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The _target audience for this picture book is the primary grade reader, ages four through seven, kindergarten through second grade. The story is, for the most part, positive. But the ultimate solution in which the two dogs team up for a violent confrontation with the other dog may not be the right message for young readers as the best example of problem-solving.

The story creates a learning opportunity for young readers to discuss ways to solve problems without resorting to violence. And, in the case of the farmer, the goat, and the barber, why these people did not help the dogs solve their problem. Helping others solve a problem is another way to support teamwork.

However, the Caldecott Medal-winning pictures make this book extraordinary. Using only red, yellow, black, and white and often drawing against a single color background, the distinctive illustrations superbly support the narrative.

Recommended.… (more)

This was a super cute story about teamwork. At first the dogs are arguing over whose bone it is, and as they try to settle the dispute, they are tricked into completing chores together for other people. They’re still arguing about whose bone it is when a big dog comes along and steals it. They again have to work together to fight the big dog and get the bone back. In the end they agree to share it. The illustrations were so colorful and popped out of the book just about. It was such a cute book and one I will be purchasing.… (more)