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Caldecott Medal

Caldecott Medal award

The Caldecott Medal is awarded each year for the preceding year’s most distinguished American picture book for children. Runners-up are called Caldecott Honor Books.

The award was named in honor of the nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott.

The Caldecott Medal and the Newbery Medal are the most prestigious of American children’s book awards.

Learn more: official Caldecott Medal homepage


Winners:

Animals of the Bible a Picture Book (1937)

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Selections from the Bible with illustrations of the animals described.

Read online at archive.org

Author(s): Helen Dean Fish
Illustrator(s): Dorothy P. Lathrop

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Mei Li (1938)

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Author(s): Thomas Handforth
Illustrator(s): Thomas Handforth


They Were Strong and Good (1940)

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Robert Lawson tells the story of his parents and grandparents, and illustrates it too.

Author(s): Robert Lawson
Illustrator(s): Robert Lawson

Details »

Make Way for Ducklings (1941)

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Mrs. Mallard proudly parades her ducklings to the Boston Public Garden.

Read online at archive.org. 

Author(s): Robert McCloskey
Illustrator(s): Robert McCloskey

Details »

The Little House (1942)

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The Little House gets a new lease on life when she moves to the country.

Read online at archive.org

Author(s): Virginia Lee Burton
Illustrator(s): Virginia Lee Burton

Details »

Many Moons (1943)

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When the Princess Lenore falls ill of a surfeit of raspberry tarts, the only thing that can cure her is the Moon. But how will her father the King get it for her?

Read online at archive.org.

Author(s): James Thurber
Illustrator(s): Louis Slobodkin

Details »

Prayer for a Child (1945)

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Author(s): Rachel Field
Illustrator(s): Elizabeth Orton Jones


The Little Island (1946)

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The little island through the seasons, and a visit from a little cat.

Read online at archive.org

Author(s): Golden MacDonald
Illustrator(s): Leonard Weisgard

Details »

White Snow, Bright Snow (1947)

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Author(s): Alvin Tresselt
Illustrator(s): Roger Duvoisin


The Big Snow (1948)

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The woodland animals were all getting ready for the winter. Geese flew south, rabbits and deer grew thick warm coats, and the raccoons and chipmunks lay down for a long winter nap. It was a sure sign that the big snow was on its way. The authors feature in this winter story.

Author(s): Berta Hader
Elmer Hader
Illustrator(s): Berta Hader
Elmer Hader

Details »

Song of the Swallows (1949)

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Author(s): Leo Politi
Illustrator(s): Leo Politi


The Egg Tree (1950)

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Author(s): Katherine Milhous
Illustrator(s): Katherine Milhous


Finders Keepers (1951)

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Author(s): Will
Illustrator(s): Nicholas


The Biggest Bear (1952)

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When Johnny Orchard goes hunting for a bear he comes home with a cub, but that’s not the end of the story.

Read online at archive.org

Author(s): Lynd Ward
Illustrator(s): Lynd Ward

Details »

Madeline’s Rescue (1953)

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Madeline falls in the Seine and is rescued by Miss Genevieve, a dog.

Read online at archive.org

Author(s): Ludwig Bemelmans
Illustrator(s): Ludwig Bemelmans

Details »

Cinderella, or the Little Glass Slipper (1955)

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Author(s): Charles Perrault
Illustrator(s): Marcia J. Brown


Frog Went A-Courtin’ (1955)

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Frog went a-courtin’, he did ride
Sword and pistol by his side.

Read online at archive.org

Author(s): John Langstaff
Illustrator(s): Feodor Rojankovsky

Details »

A Tree Is Nice (1956)

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Author(s): Janice May Udry
Illustrator(s): Marc Simont