Caldecott Award Winners Dianna Jo Crawford (Adapted from Cheryl Youse Colquitt County High School)
What is the Caldecott Medal?
The Caldecott is given out each year 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.” The medal looks like the pictures from this book.
In 1937, Rene’ Paul Chambellan designed the Caldecott Medal 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 librarians who work with children’s books 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, especially 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
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)
2016 Caldecott Winner Author: Lindsay Mattick Illustrator: Sophie Blackall Medium: Chinese ink and water color on hot-press paper
2015 Caldecott Winner Author: Dan Santat Illustrator: Dan Santat Medium: Mixed media
2014 Caldecott Winner Author: Brian Floca Illustator: Brian Floca Medium: Pen and ink watercolor
2013 Caldecott Winner Author: Jon Klassen Illustrator: Jon Klassen Medium: Digital drawing, coloring, and water color
2012 Caldecott Winner Author: Chris Raschka Illustrator: Chris Raschka Medium: Ink, watercolor, and gouache
2011 Caldecott Winner Author: Philip C. Stead Illustrator: Erin N. Stead Medium: woodblock print and pencil
Illustrator: Jerry Pinkney 2010 Caldecott Winner Author: Jerry Pinkney Illustrator: Jerry Pinkney Medium: Pencil, pen, ink, and water color /
2009 Caldecott Winner Author: Susan Marie Swanson Illustrator: Beth Krommes Medium: Scratchboard
2008 Caldecott Winner Author: Brian Selznick Illustrator: Brian Selznick Medium: Pencil
2007 Caldecott Winner Author: David Wiesner Illustrator: David Wiesner Medium: Watercolor
2006 Caldecott Winner Author: Norman Juster Illustrator: Chris Raschka Medium: Watercolor
2005 Caldecott Winner Author: Kevin Henkes Illustrator: Kevin Henkes Medium: Gouache (method of painting), colored pencil
2004 Caldecott Winner Author: Mordecai Gerstein Illustrator: Mordecai Gerstein Medium: Ink and oil paintings
2003 Caldecott Winner Author: Eric Rohman Illustrator: Eric Rohman Medium: Colored prints
2002 Caldecott Winner Author: David Wiesner Illustrator: David Wiesner Medium: Watercolor
2001 Caldecott Winner Author: Judith St. George Illustrator: David Small Medium: Watercolor, pen and ink, pastel
2000 Caldecott Winner Author: Sims Taback Illustrator: Sims Taback Medium: gouache, watercolor, collage, pencil, and ink as well as die cutting
1999 Caldecott Winner Author: Jacqueline Briggs Martin Illustrator: Mary Azarian Medium: Woodcut, watercolor
1998 Caldecott Winner Author: Paul O. Zelinsky Illustrator: O. Paul Zelinsky Medium: watercolor, acrylic, oil paint
1997 Caldecott Winner Author: David Wisniewski Illustrator: David Wisniewski Medium: Papercut collage
1996 Caldecott Winner Author: Peggy Rathman Illustrator: Peggy Rathman Medium: Watercolor
1995 Caldecott Winner Author: Eve Bunting Illustrator: David Diaz Medium: Collage
Some books each year were called “runners-up” Some books each year were called “runners-up”. In 1971, that term was changed to “honor books”. These medals look like the award except they are silver instead of bronze. Honor books have great pictures too!
“The Red Book”, by Barbara Lehman, was an honor book in 2005.
“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 2002.
Books which have won the Caldecott Medal or an honor medal use pictures to help tell the story, and the pictures are really good! Look for a Caldecott today.
Bibliography/Sources Amazon.com, book images. Allen County Indiana Public Library, 2007 Mock Caldecott Election American Library Association Caldecott Awards. Caldecott Winner and Honor Books 1938-2005. Huck, Charlotte S. Children’s Literature in the Elementary School. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2001. In the Artist's Studio by Paul O. Zelinsky.