Caldecott Medal

The Caldecott and Newbery Medals are considered the most prestigious American children's book awards.

The awarding process has changed several times over the years, including the use of the term "Honor" for the runner-ups beginning in 1971.

To be eligible for a Caldecott, the book must be published in English, in the United States first, and be drawn by an American illustrator.

An award committee decides on a winner in January or February, voting using a multi-round point system.

The Caldecott was suggested in 1937 by Frederic G. Melcher, former editor of Publishers Weekly, following the establishment of the Newbery Medal in 1921.

[1]: 1  The American Library Association adopted Melcher's suggestion of awarding a medal to the illustrator "who had created the most distinguished picture book of the year.

The obverse scene is derived from Randolph Caldecott's front cover illustration for The Diverting History of John Gilpin (Routledge, 1878, an edition of the 1782 poem by William Cowper), which depicts John Gilpin astride a runaway horse.

[2][4] The reverse is based on "Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie", one of Caldecott's illustrations for the nursery rhyme "Sing a Song of Sixpence".

[7] The Medal is "for distinguished illustrations in a picture book and for excellence of pictorial presentation for children".

[7] To be eligible for the Caldecott, the artist must be a US citizen or resident, the book must have been published in English, in the United States first, or simultaneously in other countries.

Consideration is also done to ensure a diversity of libraries (e.g. public and school, small and large), and geographical areas are represented as well.

[9] At ALSC's annual midwinter meeting, held in late January or early February, the committee will discuss the nominations and hold a vote on the winner.

[5]: 40 In 2015, K. T. Horning of the University of Wisconsin–Madison's Cooperative Children's Book Center proposed to ALSC that old discussions of the Newbery and Caldecott be made public in the service of researchers and historians.

According to Leonard Marcus, Where the Wild Things Are's recognition brought its author and illustrator, Maurice Sendak, to national prominence.

Grainy black and white picture of Melcher.
Frederic G. Melcher first proposed the idea for the Caldecott Award following the success of the Newbery Award .
Illustration by Randolph Caldecott (1878) of The Diverting History of John Gilpin , basis of the medal's obverse
Picture of Randolph Caldecott
Randolph Caldecott , for whom the medal is named, was an English artist and illustrator. Maurice Sendak said, "Caldecott's work heralds the beginning of the modern picture book." [ 6 ]
Illustrator Thomas Handforth
Thomas Handford won the second Caldecott for his book Mei Li , which was based on a girl he met in his travels. [ 21 ]
Authors and illustrators Ingri (left) and Edgar (right) Parin d'Aulaire
Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire , who won the third Caldecott Medal in 1940, worked together as a writing and illustrative team.
Illustrator Leo Politi with publisher Rob Wagner
Leo Politi (left), who won the Caldecott Medal and two honors, was called the Italian Dr. Seuss . [ 22 ]
1965 recipient Beni Montresor wrote operas and children's books the same, "I must astonish and amaze myself first, and if I do, then the spectator will react in the same way." [ 22 ]
Author and illustrator Van Allsburg in 2011.
Both of Chris Van Allsburg 's Caldecott winners have been adapted into films. [ 23 ] [ 24 ]
Illustrator Ed Young in 2013
Ed Young won the 1990 Caldecott Medal for his telling of the Chinese version of Little Red Riding Hood .
Illustrator David Macaulay in 2012.
Prior to winning the Medal in 1991, David Macaulay had been disappointed not to have been recognized with the Caldecott for his earlier works. [ 25 ]
Three time honoree Marla Frazee also wrote and illustrated Boss Baby . [ 26 ]
Caldecott winner Dan Santat turned down the chance to work full time for Google creating their Google Doodles so he could keep pursuing children book illustration. [ 27 ]
Brian Selznick's book The Invention of Hugo Cabret was the first novel to win the Caldecott. [ 28 ] : 74
Mo Willems has been honored with other ALA awards including the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Children's Video and the Geisel Award for his early readers. [ 29 ] [ 30 ]
Jillian Tamaki's 2015 winner This One Summer was the first and, as of 2020 , only graphic novel to win the Caldecott Honor. [ 31 ]
Patrick McDonnell mentioned Jane Goodall in his syndicated Mutts comicstrip. This attracted the Jane Goodall Institute's attention and eventually led to his 2012 honor book Me... Jane . [ 32 ]
Erin E. Stead (left) won the 2011 Caldecott for her very first book which was written by her husband, Phillip (right). [ 33 ]
Yuyi Morales was the first Latina Caldecott recipient in 2016. [ 33 ]
Last Stop on Market Street won its author, Matt de la Peña , a Newbery Medal while illustrator Christian Robinson (pictured) won a Caldecott Honor. [ 33 ]
Javaka Steptoe (pictured), 2017's winner, is the son of two-time honors winner John Steptoe . [ 33 ]
2015 Caldecott Honor recipient Mary GrandPré illustrated the covers and chapter illustrations for the United States editions of the Harry Potter books. [ 33 ]
Vashti Harrison , who won the 2024 Caldecott for her debut picture book Big , was the first African-American woman to win the award.
Illustrator David Wiesner in 2011
David Wiesner is one of only two illustrators, along with Marcia Brown , to have won three Caldecott Medals.
Author Jon Klassen in 2013
Jon Klassen is the second Caldecott medal recipient to also have a Caldecott honor book in the same year. [ 35 ]
Kadir Nelson's artwork has been acquired by museums including the Smithsonian . [ 36 ]
Sophie Blackall is the most recent multiple Caldecott Medal winner.