Caldecott Medal Explained

Caldecott Medal
Awarded For:"the most distinguished American picture book for children"
Presenter:Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association
Country:United States

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

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] 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."[2] According to children's literature expert Leonard S. Marcus, the award helped draw American artists into the field of children's books.[3]

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.

Medal

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.[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".

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.

Eligibility and criteria

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

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. 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.[5]

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.[6] Publishers send copies of books to the committee; in 2009, each member received more than 700. However, a book does not need to be sent to the committee to be considered. Instead, to help identify possible contenders, committee members formally nominate seven books in three rounds over the year, and less formally recommend others.

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. 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. 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. 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.

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.[7] This proposal was met with both support and criticism by former committee members and recognized authors.[8] [9], no change has been made.

Impact and analysis

The Caldecott and Newbery awards have historically been considered the most important children's book awards.[10] [11] 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". 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 Ares recognition brought its author and illustrator, Maurice Sendak, to national prominence.

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.[12] 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.[13] 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.[14] In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of minority characters and illustrators recognized.[15] [16] 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.[17]

Recipients

Winners and Honor Books
YearIllustratorBookAward
<--Year-->1938Animals of the Bible
Four and Twenty Blackbirds
<--Year-->1939Mei Li
Andy and the Lion
Barkis
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Wee Gillis
<--Year-->1940Abraham Lincoln
Cock-a-Doodle Doo
Madeline
<--Year-->1941They Were Strong and Good
April's Kittens
<--Year-->1942Make Way for Ducklings
In My Mother's House
Paddle-to-the-Sea
Nothing at All
<--Year-->1943
Dash and Dart
Marshmallow
<--Year-->1944Many Moons
Pierre Pidgeon
<--Year-->1945Prayer for a Child
Mother Goose
In the Forest
Yonie Wondernose
<--Year-->1946
Little Lost Lamb
Sing Mother Goose
My Mother Is the Most Beautiful Woman in the World
You Can Write Chinese
<--Year-->1947
Rain Drop Splash
Boats on the River
Timothy Turtle
Pedro, the Angel of Olvera Street
<--Year-->1948White Snow, Bright Snow
Stone Soup
McElligot's Pool
Bambino the Clown
Roger and the Fox
Song of Robin Hood
<--Year-->1949
Blueberries for Sal
All Around the Town
Juanita
Fish in the Air
<--Year-->1950Song of the Swallows
America's Ethan Allen
Bartholomew and the Oobleck
Henry Fisherman
<--Year-->1951
Dick Whittington and His Cat
If I Ran the Zoo
T-Bone, the Baby Sitter
<--Year-->1952Finders Keepers
Mr. T. W. Anthony Woo
Skipper John's Cook
All Falling Down
Bear Party
Feather Mountain
<--Year-->1953
Puss in Boots
One Morning in Maine
Five Little Monkeys
<--Year-->1954Madeline's Rescue
Journey Cake, Ho!
When Will the World Be Mine?
Green Eyes
<--Year-->1955Cinderella, or the Little Glass Slipper
Book of Nursery and Mother Goose Rhymes
Wheel on the Chimney
<--Year-->1956Frog Went A-Courtin'
Play With Me
Crow Boy
<--Year-->1957
Mr. Penny's Race Horse
Anatole
Gillespie and the Guards
Lion
<--Year-->1958Time of Wonder
Fly High, Fly Low
Anatole and the Cat
<--Year-->1959Chanticleer and the Fox
What Do You Say, Dear?
Umbrella
<--Year-->1960Nine Days to Christmas
Houses from the Sea
<--Year-->1961Baboushka and the Three Kings
Inch by Inch
<--Year-->1962Once a Mouse
Little Bear's Visit
<--Year-->1963
Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present
<--Year-->1964Where the Wild Things Are
Swimmy
All in the Morning Early
Mother Goose and Nursery Rhymes
<--Year-->1965May I Bring a Friend?
Rain Makes Applesauce
<--Year-->1966Always Room for One More
Hide and Seek Fog
Just Me
Tom Tit Tot
<--Year-->1967Sam, Bangs & Moonshine
One Wide River to Cross
<--Year-->1968Drummer Hoff
Frederick
Seashore Story
<--Year-->1969
Why the Sun and the Moon Live in the Sky
<--Year-->1970Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
Goggles!
Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse
Pop Corn & Ma Goodness
Thy Friend, Obadiah
<--Year-->1971
Frog and Toad Are Friends
In the Night Kitchen
<--Year-->1972One Fine Day
Hildilid's Night
If All the Seas Were One Sea
<--Year-->1973
Hosie's Alphabet
Snow-White and the Seven Dwarfs
When Clay Sings
<--Year-->1974Duffy and the Devil
Three Jovial Huntsmen
Cathedral
<--Year-->1975Arrow to the Sun
<--Year-->1976Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears
Strega Nona
<--Year-->1977
Fish for Supper
Hawk, I'm Your Brother
<--Year-->1978Noah's Ark
Castle
It Could Always Be Worse
<--Year-->1979
Freight Train
<--Year-->1980Ox-Cart Man
Ben's Trumpet
<--Year-->1981Fables
Mice Twice
Truck
<--Year-->1982Jumanji
Where the Buffaloes Begin
On Market Street
Outside Over There
<--Year-->1983Shadow
When I Was Young in the Mountains
<--Year-->1984
Little Red Riding Hood
Ten, Nine, Eight
<--Year-->1985Saint George and the Dragon
Hansel and Gretel
Have You Seen My Duckling?
<--Year-->1986
King Bidgood's in the Bathtub
<--Year-->1987Hey, Al
Alphabatics
Rumpelstiltskin
<--Year-->1988Owl Moon
Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters
<--Year-->1989Song and Dance Man
Free Fall
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Mirandy and Brother Wind
<--Year-->1990
Color Zoo
Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins
<--Year-->1991Black and White
Puss in Boots
<--Year-->1992Tuesday
Tar Beach
<--Year-->1993Mirette on the High Wire
Seven Blind Mice
Working Cotton
<--Year-->1994Grandfather's Journey
Peppe the Lamplighter
In the Small, Small Pond
Owen
Yo! Yes?
<--Year-->1995Smoky Night
John Henry
Swamp Angel
Time Flies
<--Year-->1996Officer Buckle and Gloria
Alphabet City
Zin! Zin! Zin! a Violin
Tops & Bottoms
<--Year-->1997Golem
Starry Messenger
<--Year-->1998Rapunzel
Harlem
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
<--Year-->1999Snowflake Bentley
No, David!
Snow
Tibet Through the Red Box
<--Year-->2000Joseph Had a Little Overcoat
Sector 7
When Sophie Gets Angry-Really, Really Angry
<--Year-->2001So You Want to Be President?
Casey at the Bat
Olivia
<--Year-->2002
<--Year-->2003My Friend Rabbit
Hondo & Fabian
Noah's Ark
<--Year-->2004
Ella Sarah Gets Dressed
and What Do You Do with a Tail Like This?
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
<--Year-->2005Kitten's First Full Moon
Coming on Home Soon
Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale
<--Year-->2006
Rosa
Zen Shorts
Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems
<--Year-->2007Flotsam
<--Year-->2008
First the Egg
<--Year-->2009
How I Learned Geography
<--Year-->2010
All the World
<--Year-->2011
Interrupting Chicken
<--Year-->2012
Blackout
Grandpa Green
Me... Jane
<--Year-->2013This is Not My Hat
Creepy Carrots!
Extra Yarn
Green
One Cool Friend
Sleep Like a Tiger
<--Year-->2014Locomotive
Journey
Flora and the Flamingo
Mr. Wuffles!
<--Year-->2015
Nana in the City
Sam and Dave Dig a Hole
Viva Frida
This One Summer
<--Year-->2016
Trombone Shorty
Waiting
Last Stop on Market Street
<--Year-->2017
Leave Me Alone!
Freedom in Congo Square
Du Iz Tak?
They All Saw a Cat
<--Year-->2018Wolf in the Snow
Big Cat, little cat
Grand Canyon
<--Year-->2019Hello Lighthouse
Alma and How She Got Her Name
Thank You, Omu!
<--Year-->2020
Bear Came Along
Double Bass Blues
Going Down Home with Daddy
<--Year-->2021We Are Water Protectors
Me & Mama
Outside In
<--Year-->2022Watercress
Wonder Walkers
<--Year-->2023Hot Dog
Knight Owl
<--Year-->2024Vashti HarrisonBig
Marla FrazeeIn Every Life
Molly Mendoza
Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett PumphreyThere Was a Party for Langston
Hanna ChaThe Truth About Dragons

Multiple award winners

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

Illustrator! scope="col"
Nos. of total Medals and HonorsNos. of Caldecott MedalsCaldecott MedalsNos. of Caldecott HonorsCaldecott Honors
931955, 1962, 198361948, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954
81196471954, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1971, 1982
61196051945, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1966
61201051989, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2003
631992, 2002, 200731989, 2000, 2014
521942, 195831949, 1953, 1954
41198531984, 1990, 2000
41197331965, 1969, 1971
41196731964, 1965, 1966
41196931980, 1999, 2009
41199831985, 1987, 1995
31198921982, 1986
31201322013, 2015
31194121938, 1939
321966, 197211977
31194921940, 1944
31200521994, 2016
31198121971, 1972
31199121974, 1978
31197521973, 1994
Kadir Nelson31202022007, 2008
31195021947, 1949
322006, 201211994
31195721950, 2002
31200121998, 2013
321982, 198611980
31194721946, 1947
31199021968, 1993
31197421970, 1978
222016, 2019
221959, 1980
221976, 1977

See also

References

Citations

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Book: [[Association for Library Service to Children]]. The Newbery & Caldecott Awards : a guide to the medal and honor books. American Library Association. 2018. 978-0-8389-1730-5. Chicago. 1020310919.
  2. Web site: The Randolph Caldecott Medal. November 30, 1999. Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). en. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190921013513/http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/aboutcaldecott/aboutcaldecott. September 21, 2019. December 30, 2019.
  3. Web site: A Short History of the Newbery and Caldecott Medals. Maughan. Shannon. December 2, 2011. Publishers Weekly. en. January 1, 2020. January 1, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200101211731/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/49729-and-the-winner-is.html. live.
  4. Web site: Rare Book of the Month: Caldecott for Christmas Library of Congress Blog. Gettins. Elizabeth. December 18, 2017. blogs.loc.gov. December 30, 2019. December 7, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191207033425/https://blogs.loc.gov/loc/2017/12/rare-book-of-the-month-caldecott-for-christmas/. live.
  5. News: The Caldecott Medal Needs an International Makeover. Marcus. Leonard S.. December 12, 2019. The New York Times. December 15, 2019. en-US. 0362-4331. December 14, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191214001010/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/12/books/review/make-caldecott-medal-international.html. live.
  6. Web site: August 2015. Randolph Caldecott Medal Committee Manual. January 1, 2020. Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). American Library Association. docx. December 30, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191230233613/http://www.ala.org/alsc/sites/ala.org.alsc/files/content/caldecott_manual_august2015_current%20on%20website.docx. live.
  7. Web site: I Could Tell You About the Newbery and Caldecott Committees. But I Can't. Up for Debate. Horning. Kathleen T.. June 3, 2016. School Library Journal. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190101100358/https://www.slj.com/?detailStory=i-could-tell-you-about-the-newbery-and-caldecott-committees-but-i-cant-up-for-debate. January 1, 2019. December 31, 2018.
  8. Web site: Let Book Awards Committee Members Blab Up for Debate. Spicer. Ed. June 3, 2016. School Library Journal. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190101051438/https://www.slj.com/?detailStory=let-book-awards-committee-members-blab-up-for-debate. January 1, 2019. December 31, 2018.
  9. Web site: Why You Don't Want To Know More About the Newbery and Caldecott Up for Debate. Santat. Dan. June 3, 2016. School Library Journal. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190101100400/https://www.slj.com/?detailStory=why-you-dont-want-to-know-more-about-the-newbery-and-caldecott-up-for-debate. January 1, 2019. December 31, 2018.
  10. News: January 12, 1988. Children's-Book Award To Lincoln Biography. en-US. C18. The New York Times. January 1, 2020. 0362-4331. January 1, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200101213258/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/12/books/children-s-book-award-to-lincoln-biography.html. live.
  11. News: 'Merci Suárez' wins Newbery; 'Hello Lighthouse' claims Caldecott. Quattlebaum. Mary. January 28, 2019. The Washington Post. January 1, 2020. January 2, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200102021025/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/kidspost/merci-suarez-wins-newbery-hello-lighthouse-claims-caldecott-meg-medina-sophie-blackall-are-big-winners-in-2019-kids-book-awards/2019/01/28/881c67e8-2334-11e9-ad53-824486280311_story.html. live.
  12. Chamberlain. Julia. Leal. Dorothy. 1999. Caldecott Medal Books and Readability Levels: Not Just "Picture" Books. The Reading Teacher. 52. 8. 898–902. 0034-0561. 20204726.
  13. Clark. Roger. Keller. Pamela J.. Knights. April. Nabar. Jennifer. Ramsbey. Theil B.. Ramsbey. Thomas. 2007. Let Me Draw You a Picture: Alternative and Changing Views of Gender in Award-Winning PIcture books for Children. International Review of Modern Sociology. 33. 1. 69–96. 0973-2047. 41421255.
  14. Clark. Roger. 2007. From Margin to Margin? Females and Minorities in Newbery and Caldecott Medal-Winning and Honor Books for Children. International Journal of Sociology of the Family. 33. 2. 263–283. 0020-7667. 23070734.
  15. Web site: Lindsay. Nina. March 2, 2015. The 2015 Youth Media Awards: A Crossover Year for Diversity. January 1, 2020. School Library Journal. January 1, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200101211728/https://www.slj.com/%3FdetailStory%3Da-crossover-year-the-2015-youth-media-awards-set-the-childrens-book-world-abuzz-where-do-we-go-from-here. live.
  16. Web site: Yorio. Kara. January 29, 2019. Diversity, Debate, and the Magic of Books: A Look at the 2019 Youth Media Awards. January 1, 2020. School Library Journal. January 1, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200101211734/https://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/%3FdetailStory%3Ddiversity-debate-magic-books-2019-youth-media-awards. live.
  17. Web site: Parravano. Martha V.. March 3, 2017. Calling Caldecott Science books and the Caldecott. July 3, 2020. The Horn Book. July 4, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200704104740/https://www.hbook.com/?detailStory=science-books-and-the-caldecott. live.