Caldecott Award

The Caldecott Medal is given out each year by the Association for Library Service to Children, a part of the American Library Association, to the artist of the best American picture book for children. Announced at the midwinter meeting – end of January.

History of the Award – Fredric Melcher –( ) –A publisher – loved books –Suggested to the American Library Association that a special award be created to honor excellence in children’s picture books. –15 years earlier the same was suggested for Newbery Books –Picture books should not compete for the Newbery Award

History of the Award…cont. Randolph Caldecott The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of English illustrator Randolph Caldecott who lived in the 1800’s.

The Illustration on the Medal This is a book he illustrated called “John Gilpin’s Ride.” The medal looks like the pictures from this book. The illustration shows John Gilpin astride a runaway horse, accompanied by squawking geese, braying dogs, and startled onlookers

Designer of the Award Rene Chambellan –American Sculpter –born in West Hoboken, NJ –designed the Caldecott and the Newbery Award- (award given to the Author)

Caldecott Award Given to the artist of “the most distinguished American picture book for children published in the United States during the preceding year. 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!

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

2009 Caldecott Winner –Author: Susan Marie Swanson –Illustrator: Beth Kromes –Medium used – scratchboard and watercolor.

2008 Caldecott Winner –Author/Illustrator: Brian Selznick –Medium used – pencil

2007 Caldecott Winner –Author/Illustrator: David Wiesner –Medium used – watercolor

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

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

2004 Caldecott Winner Author/Illustrator: –Mordecai Gerstein Medium: Ink and oil paintings

2003 Caldecott Winner Author/Illustrator: Eric Rohman Medium: Colored prints

2002 Caldecott Winner Author/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/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/Illustrator: Paul Zelinsky Medium: watercolor, acrylic, oil paint

1997 Caldecott Winner Author/Illustrator: David Wisniewski Medium: Papercut collage

1996 Caldecott Winner Author/Illustrator: Peggy Rathman Medium: Watercolor

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

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!

“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.

Glossary Medium – means what kind of artwork/how the artwork was made Lithograph –an image produced by etching the image onto a flat surface, then copying the etched surface by applying ink (or the equivalent) to it and pressing another material against it

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

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