Gillespie and the Guards facts for kids
| Author | Benjamin Elkin |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | James Daugherty |
| Publisher | Viking |
|
Publication date
|
1956 |
| Pages | unpaged |
| Awards | Caldecott Honor |
Gillespie and the Guards is a fun picture book from 1956. It was written by Benjamin Elkin and brought to life with drawings by James Daugherty. This book tells the exciting story of a clever boy who tries to outsmart the king's guards. It's a special book because its amazing illustrations earned it a Caldecott Honor in 1957.
Contents
What's the Story About?
The main character in the book is a young boy named Gillespie. He loves to play tricks and enjoys a good challenge. Gillespie lives in a kingdom where the king has very strict guards. These guards are known for being super serious. They stand perfectly still and never smile.
Gillespie decides he wants to see if he can make these guards react. He tries many different ways to get their attention. He uses funny faces and makes silly noises. He even tries to sneak past them without being noticed.
The story builds up as Gillespie keeps trying new tricks. Each attempt is more daring than the last. Will he finally find a way to surprise the guards? Or will they remain perfectly still and serious? The book is all about his clever attempts and the surprising outcome.
Who Created This Book?
This wonderful story was created by two talented people.
Benjamin Elkin: The Author
Benjamin Elkin wrote the words for Gillespie and the Guards. He was known for writing many children's books. His stories often featured clever characters and fun adventures. Elkin had a way of making simple ideas into exciting tales for young readers.
James Daugherty: The Illustrator
The amazing pictures in the book were drawn by James Daugherty. He was a famous American artist and writer. Daugherty won the prestigious Caldecott Medal in 1940 for his book Daniel Boone. His drawings for Gillespie and the Guards are full of energy. They helped bring Gillespie's adventures to life.
What is a Caldecott Honor?
The Caldecott Honor is a very important award for children's books. It is given each year by the American Library Association. The award celebrates the best illustrations in American picture books.
Winning a Caldecott Honor means the book's pictures are considered outstanding. They are recognized for their artistic quality and how well they tell the story. For Gillespie and the Guards, the honor showed how much people loved James Daugherty's drawings. It helped make the book even more famous.
