Videos

Animated Award Winning Children's Books

Weston Woods Studios' collection

Weston Woods Studios has been translating outstanding children's literature into the audiovisual medium for over 50 years. Their videos are faithful reflections of the books on which they are based and have been designed to help children discover the riches that are trapped between the covers of the books in such a way as to motivate them to want to read for them selves. The book selection is a daunting but important task. Many Caldecott Medal and Newberry Award books, as well as the Best Children's Picture Book of the Year are included. Books are also chosen based on the universality, timelessness and value of their underlying message.

a. PLAYERS IN PIGTAILS, 12 minutes, story by Shana Corey, illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon

This is an animated video about a girl who played a part in American history by showing people that stereotypes that they believed about girls and sports were untrue.

People thought Katie Casey was an unusual girl. She didn't keep her clothes neat, she was a disaster on the dance floor, but strangest of all, she loved baseball. Katie was baseball mad. She had the fever and had it bad. This story celebrates a brave girl's love of the game as she works to become a player in the first-ever All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Narrated by actress Zooey Deschanel, with music by Joel Goodman and song vocals by Sherry Goffin Kondor.

b. ROBERTO THE INSECT ARCHITECT, 11 minutes, story by Nina Laden, illustrator: Nina Laden

A termite named Roberto pursues his dream of becoming an architect. As a young termite, he played incessantly with his "food," using it to design castles and skyscrapers. Finally, he moved to the big city to pursue his dream. Once there, he is influenced by the great architects such as Hank Floyd Mite and Fleas Van der Rohe. As Roberto adjusts to life in the city, he finds ways both to help his community and use his talents. This witty and humorous story will take young viewers along for the ride on Roberto's quest to make his dreams come true. ALA Notable Video, Smithsonian Notable Book

c. INSPIRING FIGURES: DUKE ELLINGTON AND ELLA FITZGERALD

DUKE ELLINGTON, 17 minutes, story by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Brian Pinkney

As a young boy, Duke Ellington started taking piano lessons, but soon baseball became his first love - that is until her heard ragtime music. Ragtime pulled him back to the piano - and as he studied music, he started creating his own made-up melodies. He was a smooth talkin,' slick-steppin,' piano playin' kid with his "fine as pie looks and flashy threads" - thus earning him the name "Duke." During his career, he wrote, played and painted music with his band's fine sounds. This is the story of one of America's greatest composers and performers. Caldecott Honor Book

ELLA FITZGERALD: THE TALE OF A VOCAL VIRTUOSA,
18 minutes, story by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Brian Pinkney

Told in the voice of a cool cat named Scat, this dramatic story tells how Ella got her sound on the way to a most remarkable career.

d. THE MAN WHO WALKED BETWEEN THE TOWERS, 10 minutes, story by Mordicai Gerstein

Inspired by the true story of Philippe Petit, a young French aerialist, this animated adaptation brings to life the excitement and suspense of his daring 1974 high wire walk between the two towers of the World Trade Center. Caldecott Medal

Rights: We have public performance and educational rights for these videos.