Caldecott Hopefuls: The Money We'll Save
Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at 10:44AM 
I usually like to note that by Caldecott Hopefuls, I mean picture books I like a lot, not necessarily ones I think will win the award. Happily, in the case of The Money We'll Save by Brock Cole (FSG), these coincide, and the result is a picture book that already feels like a classic. This is partly because the plot is somewhat familiar: Pa brings home a turkey poult to fatten for Christmas dinner, but when the time comes the family can't bring themselves to take it to the butcher (although they don't exactly want to keep it, either). It's not exactly Margot Zemach's It Could Always Be Worse, but it has a lot in common with that book, which won a 1978 Caldecott Honor. Starting with the title, of course, and the storytelling (Heavy Medal is considering it for their Mock Newbery); but especially the expressive, energetic illustrations.
Cole sets his story in a nineteenth-century New York tenement, crowded by definition and made more so by the turkey, whom the family names Alfred. His (Cole's, not Alfred's) watercolor illustrations range from what the Horn Book refers to as "cheerfully disheveled" to completely chaotic. Even in the final image, seen below, the table is littered with crockery and silverware. Not to mention the laundry. But no matter how many people are in the picture (and there are often five or six of them, not counting Alfred), you can always tell who is looking at whom in a Cole illustration, and exactly what everyone is saying, or even thinking. Especially Pa.
[After satisfyingly disposing of Alfred and scrubbing the flat clean, the family celebrates Christmas: "...each child had a present, if only a little one, and the oatmeal was delicious." I love the way this illustration shows us not only what each child got (that's Bridget with the book), but just how much they liked it.]
Reader Comments (22)
You're on fire this week! I remember when you showed me the eyes in this book! Looking forward to seeing the rest of your hopefuls.
I read this book to my kids over the holidays! We loved it. They laughed at all the turkey poop! As, I read your post, I wondered - Have there been many holiday books that have received Caldecott recognition besides The Polar Express? I can't think of any others off the top of my head.
Thanks for commenting, Madelyn and Eric! Yes, there is a lot of turkey poop in that book. I'm glad your kids liked it!
There are (I think) three other holiday-themed Caldecott winners besides The Polar Express: Baboushka and the Three Kings (1961), Nine Days to Christmas (1960), and The Egg Tree (1951). Probably not anyone's favorites (although of the three, I like Baboushka best).
I wonder how many holiday Honors there are, though? At least one--Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins (1990), and probably more. A question for Peter Sieruta at Collecting Children's Books!
Hi Anamaria! I just discovered your blog from the comment challenge on Mother Reader. So glad I did! This book looks like such fun. I will definitely have to add it to my (very long) list for the library :) I haven't had a chance yet to scour your whole blog, but if you regularly review picture books, I wonder if you might be interested in joining my Friday series - Perfect Picture Book Fridays? You can learn all about it on my blog if you're interested, but basically there's a loose format to keep things consistent from blogger to blogger and we post a highly recommended picture book each Friday including suggestions for and links to ways to use the book at home and in the classroom - so expand on the use of picture books. It's pretty new - only 6 weeks old :) - but getting a fair amount of interest so far. Wither way, glad to have found your blog! Susanna
Thanks Anamaria. I think there is a challenge going around on the blogs to read all the Caldecott Books in 2012. I gave thought to trying it out.
What a great looking book, the illustrations remind me a bit of David Small's in The Gardener. I'll have to check it out. :)
Sounds like a fun book. I can't imagine living with a turkey even though wild turkeys have started showing up in Minneapolis more frequently.
Hi Anamaria.
I have found your blog through the Great Comment Challenge. I am so glad! What a great resource I have been missing. I have added your rss to my reader, so I will now be able to see your posts.
This book looks really good. I love the illustrations. They show such character. It sounds like a great choice to add to my ever growing book list.
Delightful & well polished blog! I found you through the blog comment challenge.
Annamaria - I'd spotted this book earlier and am delighted to know that it's a winner!
Found you through MotherReader's Comment Challenge & look forward to seeing your next bookish find.
A real winner!
What a charming book! I have not seen this before but am definitely going to check it out - thanks for the great review.
Saw you on the Comment Challenge. Am glad I clicked on your blog, because I really enjoyed the book you reviewed. Love turn of the century books or period pieces. Will have to look up "The Money We'll Save." Sounds like something my grandmother would have said.
Saw you on the Comment Challenge. Am glad I clicked on your blog, because I really enjoyed the book you reviewed. Love turn of the century books or period pieces. Will have to look up "The Money We'll Save." Sounds like something my grandmother would have said.
Thanks for commenting, everyone! I look forward to checking out your books and blogs, too.
Oatmeal doesn't sound nearly as appealing as a turkey, a nuisance turkey at that but I guess the turkey ends up in the best place, considering the circumstances. I'm not so sure he would have had the same luck in many households of that time period. The illustrations are quite lovely, I agree. My kids also thought the poop was hilarious.
Sounds like a book for our times!
This is a fun book Anamaria. I found you on the Comment Challenge and you are one of the first I came to....
I just read this a week ago and thought it was so much fun. Great story with great humor.
We read this over the holidays. It's one of our favorite Christmas books, now!