The 2023 Caldecott Medalist: Hot Dog by Doug Salati
A whole slew of children’s book awards were announced last week, and our canine-loving store is particularly tickled by the 2023 Caldecott Medalist: Hot Dog by Doug Salati.
Hot Dog is the story of a dachshund overwhelmed by the chaos of city life – too many people, too much noise, and too much heat. When he’s reached his limit at the peak of summer, he lets his human know by planting himself in the middle of a crosswalk and refusing to take one step further. His sympathetic human makes a quick decision, and the duo escape the city for the shore and a day of cool breezes, refreshing waves and carefree play. They return to the city at day’s end, refreshed and recharged.
While the crush of the city in the summer may be a particularly New York experience, we can all recall moments of reaching our limit. The Hot Dog’s solution brings to mind an literary quotation often reached for when times are tough. Isak Dinesen (real name Karen Blixen) was best known for her books Out of Africa and Babette’s Feast, both made into award winning movies. But a short story collection from 1934 holds this particular nugget: “I know of a cure for everything: salt water….Sweat, or tears, or the salt sea.”
“I know of a cure for everything: salt water...sweat, or tears, or the salt sea”
With the sand in his scruff and the memories of sea waves and seals dancing through his dreams, Hot Dog has been restored, once more capable of taking on the challenges of his city-dog existence. So, too, can young and old readers alike find restoration in a quick escape, and a breath of fresh air.
While Salati’s story is endearing, the Caldecott Medal was established to honor the most distinguished illustrator of a picture book in a given year. The medal was created in 1937 and named for the 19th century British illustrator, Randolph Caldecott, whose images were, according to the American Library Association, “unique in their time for their humor, and their ability to create a sense of movement, vitality, and action that complemented the stories they accompanied.”
Salati’s text is spare, but the distilled language is as powerful as a sauce that’s been reduced for maximum flavor. His illustrations, on the other hand, are a feast for the eyes, enriching and expanding on those simple words. With saturated reds and oranges and yellows and long black shadows, the reader feels the heat of the beating sun. The crowded urban illustrations, with perspectives ranging from bird’s eye to street level, further emphasize the pandemonium that overwhelms our poor dog. In contrast, the loose, blue illustrations of the seaside escape communicate peace and calm and cool. Scenes of a peaceful subway ride home, a quieted city and a still night allows readers to recall similar moments of respite in their own lives.
Hot Dog will be a shining star in our growing collection of dog-loving children’s literature, but one you might not see stocked for weeks to come. Awards are delightful, but as is the case each awards season, there’s been a furious run on the big winners. So, like our poor shop dog who’s out for a couple more weeks with a corneal abrasion, watch for this title to make its appearance as soon as a reprint will allow. In the meantime, there’s a host of Caldecott winners from years past, including a few of my favorites:
