Caldecott Medal

The Randolph Caldecott Medal, frequently shortened to just the Caldecott, annually recognizes the preceding year's "most distinguished American picture book for children". It is awarded to the illustrator by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA). The Caldecott and Newbery Medals are considered the most prestigious American children's book awards. Besides the Caldecott Medal, the committee awards a variable number of citations to runners-up they deem worthy, called the Caldecott Honor or Caldecott Honor Books.

The Caldecott Medal was first proposed by Frederic G. Melcher in 1937. The award was named after English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. Unchanged since its founding, the medal, which is given to every winner, features two of Caldecott's illustrations. The awarding process has changed several times over the years, including the use of the term "Honor" for the runner-ups beginning in 1971. There have been between one and five honor books named each year.

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 committee judges books on several criteria to meet the Caldecott's goal of recognizing "distinguished illustrations in a picture book and for excellence of pictorial presentation for children."

Winning the award can lead to a substantial rise in books sold. It can also increase the prominence of illustrators. Illustrator and author Marcia Brown is the most recognized Caldecott illustrator, having won three medals and having six honor books. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of minority characters and illustrators recognized. However, this is something which has fluctuated over the history of the award.

History

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Frederic G. Melcher first proposed the idea for the Caldecott Award following the success of the Newbery Award.

The Caldecott was suggested in 1937 by Frederic G. Melcher, former editor of Publishers Weekly, following the establishment of the Newbery Medal in 1921.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp 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."<ref name=":4">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> According to children's literature expert Leonard S. Marcus, the award helped draw American artists into the field of children's books.<ref name=":2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The award has been tweaked over the years, with the most recent changes in 2009. When the award was founded, books could be considered either for the Newbery or the Caldecott, with the same committee judging both awards. The committee noted other books of merit, which were frequently referred to as runner-ups. In 1971, these books were formally named Caldecott Honor books, with this name applied retroactively. In 1977, books became eligible for both awards and, beginning with the 1980 award, separate committees for each award were formed. Until 1958, a previous winner could win again only by unanimous vote of the committee, and it was only in 1963 when joint winners were first permitted.<ref name=":0" />Template:Rp

Medal

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Illustration by Randolph Caldecott (1878) of The Diverting History of John Gilpin, basis of the medal's obverse

The award is named for Randolph Caldecott, a nineteenth-century English illustrator. Rene Paul Chambellan designed the Medal in 1937. 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.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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".<ref name=":1" />

Each illustrator receives a bronze copy of the medal, which, despite being awarded by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), lists Children's Librarian's Section, the original awarding group, for historical reasons.<ref name=":0" />Template:Rp<ref name="manual" />Template:Rp

Eligibility and criteria

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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."<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

A picture book, according to the award criteria, provides "a visual experience. A picture book has a collective unity of storyline, theme, or concept, developed through the series of pictures" that constitute the book.<ref name="terms" /> The Medal is "for distinguished illustrations in a picture book and for excellence of pictorial presentation for children".<ref name="terms" /> Specifically, the illustrations are judged on their artistic technique, interpretation of the book's story and theme, the fit between the illustrations and the story and themes, the precision of depiction of elements of the book, like characters and mood, and how well the illustrations serve their targeted audience. Honor books need to fulfill the same criteria. The book must be self-contained, independent of other media for its enjoyment. Components other than illustration, including the book's text or overall design, may be considered as they affect the overall effectiveness of the book's illustrations.<ref name="terms" />

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. Picture books for any audience up to the age of 14 may be considered.<ref name=terms/> In December 2019, children's literature expert Leonard S. Marcus suggested that the Caldecott had achieved its mission in the US and the award should be expanded so children's book illustrations from anywhere in the world be considered.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Selection process

The committee that decides on the Caldecott Award winner comprises fifteen members of ALSC. Seven members are elected by the entire ALSC membership and eight, including the chairperson, are appointed by the ALSC President. Members are chosen based on their experience. 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.<ref name="manual">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Rp Publishers send copies of books to the committee; in 2009, each member received more than 700.<ref name=colburn/> However, a book does not need to be sent to the committee to be considered.<ref name="manual" />Template:Rp Instead, to help identify possible contenders, committee members formally nominate seven books in three rounds over the year, and less formally recommend others.<ref name="colburn" />

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.<ref name="manual" />Template:Rp When voting, committee members list their first place, second place, and third place selections. Each vote is assigned a point value, with first place votes receiving four points, second place three points, and third place two points. The winner must receive at least eight first place votes and be at least eight points ahead of the second-place finisher.<ref name="manual" />Template:Rp After a winner is selected, the committee can decide whether to award any honor books. They may be chosen from runner-ups to the winner, or be selected in a separate ballot.<ref name="manual" />Template:Rp The winner and honor books are kept secret until they are publicly announced, with the committee calling the winning illustrators the morning of the announcement.<ref name="manual" />Template:Rp

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This proposal was met with both support and criticism by former committee members and recognized authors.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Template:As of, no change has been made.

Impact and analysis

The Caldecott and Newbery awards have historically been considered the most important children's book awards.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Anita Silvey, children's book author, editor, and critic, suggests they might even be the most important book awards, saying that "no other award has the economic significance of the Newbery and Caldecott".<ref name=":2" /> According to Silvey, a Caldecott winner can have sales increased from 2,000 to 100,000–200,000. Silvey also credits the Caldecott for helping to establish Bradbury Press and Roaring Brook Press as important publishers. It can also be an important recognition for authors. According to Leonard Marcus, Where the Wild Things AreTemplate:'s recognition brought its author and illustrator, Maurice Sendak, to national prominence.<ref name=":2" />

A 1999 study on the reading levels of Caldecott recipients suggested that most winners were written at the elementary age level, with the average reading level having decreased over time.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> A 2007 study of Caldecott recipients found that the prevalence and importance of female characters had risen and fallen several times over the history of the Caldecott. It also found that, unlike recipients of the Pura Belpré Award and Coretta Scott King Award, the behaviors of male and female characters remained distinct and adhered to traditional gender norms.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> A different 2007 study, by one of the same authors, also found an increase in the number of minority characters following a 1965 critique by Nancy Larrick, however the number of minorities had fallen by the 2000s.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of minority characters and illustrators recognized.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Horn Book Magazine editor Martha Parravano has noted how rarely non-fiction books, especially non-fiction books about science, are recognized by the Caldecott.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Recipients

In 1938, Dorothy P. Lathrop’s illustrations for Animals of the Bible won her the inaugural Caldecott Medal, awarded for the year’s “most distinguished American picture book for children.”

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Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire, who won the third Caldecott Medal in 1940, worked together as a writing and illustrative team.

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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."<ref name="Napoli"/>

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Ed Young won the 1990 Caldecott Medal for his telling of the Chinese version of Little Red Riding Hood.

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Prior to winning the Medal in 1991, David Macaulay had been disappointed not to have been recognized with the Caldecott for his earlier works.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

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Brian Selznick's book The Invention of Hugo Cabret was the first novel to win the Caldecott.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp

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Yuyi Morales was the first Latina Caldecott recipient in 2016.<ref name=":3" />

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Last Stop on Market Street won its author, Matt de la Peña, a Newbery Medal while illustrator Christian Robinson (pictured) won a Caldecott Honor.<ref name=":3" />

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Javaka Steptoe (pictured), 2017's winner, is the son of two-time honors winner John Steptoe.<ref name=":3" />

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2015 Caldecott Honor recipient Mary GrandPré illustrated the covers and chapter illustrations for the United States editions of the Harry Potter books.<ref name=":3" />

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Vashti Harrison, who won the 2024 Caldecott for her debut picture book Big, was the first African-American woman to win the award.

Multiple award winners

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David Wiesner is one of only two illustrators, along with Marcia Brown, to have won three Caldecott Medals.

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Sophie Blackall is the most recent multiple Caldecott Medal winner.

Listed below are all illustrators who have won at least two Caldecott Medals or who have won a medal and multiple honors.

Illustrator	Number of total awards	Number of Caldecott Medals	Caldecott Medals	Number of Caldecott Honors	Caldecott Honors
Template:Sort	9	3	1955, 1962, 1983	6	1948, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954
Template:Sort	8	1	1964	7	1954, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1971, 1982
Template:Sort	6	1	1960	5	1945, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1966
Template:Sort	6	1	2010	5	1989, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2003
Template:Sort	6	3	1992, 2002, 2007	3	1989, 2000, 2014
Template:Sort	5	2	1942, 1958	3	1949, 1953, 1954
Template:Sort	4	1	1985	3	1984, 1990, 2000
Template:Sort	4	1	1973	3	1965, 1969, 1971
Template:Sort	4	1	1967	3	1964, 1965, 1966
Template:Sort	4	1	1969	3	1980, 1999, 2009
Template:Sort	4	1	1998	3	1985, 1987, 1995
Template:Sort	3	1	1989	2	1982, 1986
Template:Sort	3	1	2013	2	2013, 2015
Template:Sort	3	1	1941	2	1938, 1939
Template:Sort	3	2	1966, 1972	1	1977
Template:Sort	3	1	1949	2	1940, 1944
Template:Sort	3	1	2005	2	1994, 2016
Template:Sort	3	1	1981	2	1971, 1972
Template:Sort	3	1	1991	2	1974, 1978
Template:Sort	3	1	1975	2	1973, 1994
Kadir Nelson	3	1	2020	2	2007, 2008
Template:Sort	3	1	1950	2	1947, 1949
Template:Sort	3	2	2006, 2012	1	1994
Template:Sort	3	1	1957	2	1950, 2002
Template:Sort	3	1	2001	2	1998, 2013
Template:Sort	3	2	1982, 1986	1	1980
Template:Sort	3	1	1947	2	1946, 1947
Template:Sort	3	1	1990	2	1968, 1993
Template:Sort	3	1	1974	2	1970, 1978
Template:Sort	2	2	2016, 2019
Template:Sort	2	2	1959, 1980
Template:Sort	2	2	1976, 1977

See also

• Kate Greenaway Medal, for illustration of a British children's book
• Theodor Seuss Geisel Award, for an American book for beginning readers

References

Citations

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Further reading

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• Smith, Irene (1957). A History of the Newbery and Caldecott Medals. New York: Viking Press.
• Ebook Central Academic Complete. In the Words of the Winners: The Newbery and Caldecott Medals, 2001–2010. Chicago: American Library Association, 2011.

External links

• Template:Official website