The Caldecott Medal Presentation created by Cheryl Youse of Colquitt County High School; Adapted by Katherine Stehman

What is the Caldecott Medal?

The Caldecott has been given out each year since 1938 by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.

The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of English illustrator Randolph Caldecott who lived in the 1800’s. This is a book he wrote called John Gilpin’s Ride.

In 1937, Rene’ Paul Chambellan designed the Caldecott Medal. It is a bronze medal with the winner’s name and the date engraved on the back.

Fifteen children’s librarians are chosen to be on the Caldecott committee. They read hundreds and hundreds of books so they can decided which one is the best!

picture book: a book consisting mainly or entirely of pictures, esp. one for children who have not yet learned to read. True picture books are books in which the pictures help tell the story : the pictures are needed to understand the story.

Criteria for winning a Caldecott #1 –Excellence of execution in the artistic technique employed; (Excellence in using watercolor or photography or acrylic paints or collage—whatever the illustrator used to create the illustration)

Criteria for winning a Caldecott #2 –Excellence of pictorial interpretation of story, theme, or concept; (Excellence in creating illustrations that show the story’s meaning)

Criteria for winning a Caldecott #3 –Appropriateness of style of illustration to the story, theme or concept; (Appropriateness in creating illustrations that match or fit with the meaning of the story)

Criteria for winning a Caldecott #4 –Delineation of plot, theme, characters, setting, mood or information through the pictures; (Excellence of telling what happens in the story, illustrating the when and where of the story, and setting the mood of the story with the illustrations)

Criteria for winning a Caldecott #5 –presentation in recognition of a child audience. (Excellence in creating illustrations for children to enjoy)

The first Caldecott Medal was presented in 1938 to Dorothy Lathrop for her book, Animals of the Bible, A Picture Book. Medium: black and white lithographs (Medium means what kind of artwork/how the artwork was made)

2010 Illustrator: Jerry Pinkney Author: Jerry Pinkney Medium:

2009 Illustrator: Beth Krommes Author: Susan Marie Swanson Medium:

2008 Illustrator: Brian Selznick Author: Brian Selznick Medium:

2007 Illustrator: David Wiesner Author: David Wiesner Medium:

2006 Illustrator: Chris Raschka Author: Norman Juster Medium: Watercolor

2005 Author: Kevin Henkes Illustrator: Kevin Henkes Medium: Gouache (method of painting), colored pencil

2004 Illustrator: Mordecai Gerstein Author: Mordecai Gerstein Medium: Ink and oil paintings

2003 Illustrator: Eric Rohman Author: Eric Rohman Medium: Colored prints

2002 Illustrator: David Wiesner Author: David Wiesner Medium: Watercolor

2001 Illustrator: David Small Author: Judith St. George Medium: Watercolor, pen and ink, pastel

2000 Illustrator: Sims Taback Author: Sims Taback Medium: gouache, watercolor, collage, pencil, and ink as well as die cutting

1999 Illustrator: Mary Azarian Author: Jacqueline Briggs Martin Medium: Woodcut, watercolor

1998 Illustrator: O. Paul Zelinsky Author: Paul O. Zelinsky Medium: watercolor, acrylic, oil paint

1997 Illustrator: David Wisniewski Author: David Wisniewski Medium: Papercut collage

1996 Illustrator: Peggy Rathman Author: Peggy Rathman Medium: Watercolor

1995 Illustrator: David Diaz Author: Eve Bunting Medium: Collage

Some books each year were called “runners-up.” In 1971, that term was changed to “honor books.” These medals are silver instead of bronze. Caldecott Honor Books

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems was an Honor book in 2004.

The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins was an Honor book in Illustrator: Brian Selznick Author: Barbara Kerley

Sector 7 by David Wiesner was an honor book in 2000.

The Caldecott Award-the best in American Picture Books Which are your favorite Caldecott books? You will find most of them in the “E” section of the library.

Bibliography/Sources Amazon.com, book images.Amazon.com Allen County Indiana Public Library, 2007 Mock Caldecott ElectionAllen County Indiana Public Library, 2007 Mock Caldecott Election American Library Association Caldecott Awards.American Library Association Caldecott Awards Caldecott Winner and Honor Books Caldecott Winner and Honor Books Huck, Charlotte S. Children’s Literature in the Elementary School. Boston: McGraw Hill, In the Artist's Studio by Paul O. Zelinsky. In the Artist's Studio by Paul O. Zelinsky