RILINK Schools: Hoxsie Elementary School Library: CALDECOTT MEDAL WINNERS (GOLD)

PAST CALDECOTT MEDAL WINNERS, From 1938 to Present....

We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom; Michaela Goade (Illustrator)
2021 MEDAL WINNER: Water is the first medicine.It affects and connects us all.Water is sacred. My people talk of a black snake that will destroy the land, Spoil the water, wreck everything in its path.They foretold that it wouldn't come for many, many years.Now the black snake is here.Told from the perspective of a Native American child, this bold and lyrical picture book written by Ojibwe/Métis author Carole Lindstrom and illustrated by Tlingit artist Michaela Goade is a powerful call to action to defend Earth's natural resources--inspired by the Dakota Access Pipeline protests and similar movements led by Indigenous tribes all across North America.
The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander; Kadir Nelson (Illustrator)
2020 MEDAL WINNER: Winner of the 2020 Caldecott Medal A 2020 Newbery Honor Book Winner of the 2020 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award The Newbery Award-winning author of THE CROSSOVER pens an ode to black American triumph and tribulation, with art from a two-time Caldecott Honoree. Originally performed for ESPN's The Undefeated, this poem is a love letter to black life in the United States. It highlights the unspeakable trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world's greatest heroes. The text is also peppered with references to the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, and others, offering deeper insights into the accomplishments of the past, while bringing stark attention to the endurance and spirit of those surviving and thriving in the present. Robust back matter at the end provides valuable historical context and additional detail for those wishing to learn more.
Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall
2019 MEDAL WINNER: A beloved picture book from two-time Caldecott Medal award-winner Sophie Blackall that transports readers to the seaside in timeless, nautical splendor! Watch the days and seasons pass as the wind blows, the fog rolls in, and icebergs drift by. Outside, there is water all around. Inside, the daily life of a lighthouse keeper and his family unfolds as the keeper boils water for tea, lights the lamp's wick, and writes every detail in his logbook. Step back in time and through the door of this iconic lighthouse into a cozy dollhouse-like interior with the extraordinary award-winning artist Sophie Blackall.
Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell
2018 MEDAL WINNER: Winner of the 2018 Caldecott Medal A girl is lost in a snowstorm. A wolf cub is lost, too. How will they find their way home? Paintings rich with feeling tell this satisfying story of friendship and trust. Here is a book set on a wintry night that will spark imaginations and warm hearts, from Matthew Cordell, author ofTrouble GumandAnother Brother.
Radiant Child by Javaka Steptoe
2017 MEDAL WINNER: Winner of the Randolph Caldecott Medal and the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Jean-Michel Basquiat and his unique, collage-style paintings rocketed to fame in the 1980s as a cultural phenomenon unlike anything the art world had ever seen. But before that, he was a little boy who saw art everywhere: in poetry books and museums, in games and in the words that we speak, and in the pulsing energy of New York City. Now, award-winning illustrator Javaka Steptoe's vivid text and bold artwork echoing Basquiat's own introduce young readers to the powerful message that art doesn't always have to be neat or clean--and definitely not inside the lines--to be beautiful.
Finding Winnie by Lindsay Mattick; Sophie Blackall (Illustrator)
2016 MEDAL WINNER: A #1 New York Times Bestseller and Winner of the Caldecott Medal about the remarkable true story of the bear who inspired Winnie-the-Pooh. In 1914, Harry Colebourn, a veterinarian on his way to tend horses in World War I, followed his heart and rescued a baby bear. He named her Winnie, after his hometown of Winnipeg, and he took the bear to war. Harry Colebourn's real-life great-granddaughter tells the true story of a remarkable friendship and an even more remarkable journey--from the fields of Canada to a convoy across the ocean to an army base in England... And finally to the London Zoo, where Winnie made another new friend: a real boy named Christopher Robin. Before Winnie-the-Pooh, there was a real bear named Winnie. And she was a girl!
The Adventures of Beekle: the Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat
2015 MEDAL WINNER: Dan Santat's Caldecott Medal-winning The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend is a humorous and thoughtful celebration of friends. This magical story begins on an island far away where an imaginary friend is born. He patiently waits his turn to be chosen by a real child, but when he is overlooked time and again, he sets off on an incredible journey to the bustling city, where he finally meets his perfect match and--at long last--is given his special name: Beekle. The #1 New York Times bestselling and award-winning author and illustrator Dan Santat--creator of After the Fall and Are We There Yet?--combines classic storytelling with breathtaking art in an unforgettable tale about friendship, imagination, and the courage to find one's place in the world.
Locomotive by Brian Floca (Illustrator)
2014 MEDAL WINNER: The Caldecott Medal Winner, Sibert Honor Book, and New York Times bestseller Locomotive is a rich and detailed sensory exploration of America's early railroads, from the creator of the "stunning" (Booklist) Moonshot. It is the summer of 1869, and trains, crews, and family are traveling together, riding America's brand-new transcontinental railroad. These pages come alive with the details of the trip and the sounds, speed, and strength of the mighty locomotives; the work that keeps them moving; and the thrill of travel from plains to mountain to ocean. Come hear the hiss of the steam, feel the heat of the engine, watch the landscape race by. Come ride the rails, come cross the young country!
This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen (Illustrator)
2013 MEDAL WINNER: The 2013 Caldecott Medal winner! From the creator of the #1 New York Times best-selling and award-winning I Want My Hat Back comes a second wry tale. When a tiny fish shoots into view wearing a round blue topper (which happens to fit him perfectly), trouble could be following close behind. So it's a good thing that enormous fish won't wake up. And even if he does, it's not like he'll ever know what happened. . . . Visual humor swims to the fore as the best-selling Jon Klassen follows his breakout debut with another deadpan-funny tale.
A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka (Illustrator)
2012 MEDAL WINNER: Winner of the 2012 Randolph Caldecott Medal Here's a story about love and loss as only Chris Rashcka can tell it. Any child who has ever had a beloved toy break will relate to Daisy's anguish when her favorite ball is destroyed by a bigger dog. In the tradition of his nearly wordless picture bookYo! Yes?,Caldecott Medalist Chris Raschka explores in pictures the joy and sadness that having a special toy can bring. Raschka's signature swirling, impressionistic illustrations and his affectionate story will particularly appeal to young dog lovers and teachers and parents who have children dealing with the loss of something special.
A Sick Day for Amos Mcgee by Philip C. Stead; Erin E. Stead (Illustrator)
2011 MEDAL WINNER: THE BEST SICK DAY EVER and the animals in the zoo feature in this striking picture book debut. Friends come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. In Amos McGee's case, all sorts of species, too! Every day he spends a little bit of time with each of his friends at the zoo, running races with the tortoise, keeping the shy penguin company, and even reading bedtime stories to the owl. But when Amos is too sick to make it to the zoo, his animal friends decide it's time they returned the favor. A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead and Erin E. Stead is a 2011 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year and the winner of the 2011 Caldecott Medal. This title has Common Core connections.
The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
2010 MEDAL WINNER: The Caldecott Award-winning and New York Times bestselling fable of compassion and kindness retold by acclaimed artist Jerry Pinkney. In award-winning artist Jerry Pinkney's wordless adaptation of one of Aesop's most beloved fables, an unlikely pair learn that no act of kindness is ever wasted. After a ferocious lion spares a cowering mouse that he'd planned to eat, the mouse later comes to his rescue, freeing him from a poacher's trap. With vivid depictions of the landscape of the African Serengeti and expressively-drawn characters, Pinkney makes this a truly special retelling, and his stunning pictures speak volumes. Don't miss these other classic retellings by Pinkney: The Little Mermaid The Grasshopper and the Ants The Tortoise and the Hare The Three Billy Goats Gruff Little Red Riding Hood Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson; Beth Krommes (Illustrator)
2009 MEDAL WINNER: This Caldecott Medal-winning picture book gets children ready for bed with rhythmic text and glowing illustrations that explore the warmth and light that makes us feel at home. "Here is the key to the house." Inside the house are nighttime things both comforting and intriguing--a bed, many books--and outside, too, there are sources of light and joy--the moon, the sky--that reveal a reassuring order in the universe. This timeless bedtime tale takes readers through the house in the night, up into the sky, and back home again, all the while reminding us of the presence of love and wonder in our world. Susan Marie Swanson's spare verse and Beth Kromme's astonishing illustrations intertwine to create a comforting, magical story to revisit again and again.
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (Illustrator)
2008 MEDAL WINNER: Don't miss Selznick's other novels in words and pictures, Wonderstruck and The Marvels, which together with The Invention of Hugo Cabret, form an extraordinary thematic trilogy!2008 Caldecott Medal winnerThe groundbreaking debut novel from bookmaking pioneer, Brian Selznick!Orphan, clock keeper, and thief, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks--like the gears of the clocks he keeps--with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo's undercover life and his most precious secret are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery.With 284 pages of original drawings and combining elements of picture book, graphic novel, and film, Brian Selznick breaks open the novel form to create an entirely new reading experience. Here is a stunning cinematic tour de force from a boldly innovative storyteller and artist.
Flotsam by David Wiesner
2007 MEDAL WINNER: In the extraordinary Caldecott Medal-winner and New York Times bestseller by David Wiesner, a beach day is the springboard to a wildly imaginative exploration of fantastical mysteries of the deep--and of human connections through time. A young boy comes to the beach eager to collect and examine flotsam--anything floating that has been washed ashore. But nothing among his usual finds compares with the discovery of a barnacle-encrusted underwater camera with its own secrets to share . . . and to keep. Meet unexpected underseas denizens and enter fascinating worlds within worlds in this entrancing celebration of imagination, creativity, and the impulse to share that which delights and amazes us.
The Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster; Chris Raschka (Illustrator)
2006 MEDAL WINNER: A Caldecott Medal Winner This award-winning tale by the author of the classic book The Phantom Tolbooth is a love song to that special relationship between grandparents and grandchild. The kitchen window at Nanna and Poppy's house is, for one little girl, a magic gateway. Everything important happens near it, through it, or beyond it. The world for this little girl will soon grow larger and more complex, but never more enchanting or deeply felt. Her story is both a voyage of discovery and a celebration of the commonplace wonders that define childhood, expressed as a joyful fusion of text with evocative and exuberant art that garnered the highest honor in children's book illustration in 2006.
Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes (Illustrator)
2005 MEDAL WINNER: This nationally bestselling picture book about a kitten, the moon, and a bowl of milk, written by the celebrated author and illustrator Kevin Henkes, was awarded a Caldecott Medal. From one of the most celebrated and beloved picture book creators working in the field today comes a memorable new character and a suspenseful adventure just right for reading and sharing at home and in the classroom. It is Kitten's first full moon, and when she sees it she thinks it is a bowl of milk in the sky. And she wants it. Does she get it? Well, no . . . and yes. What a night! A brief text, large type, and luminescent pictures play second fiddle to the star of this classic picture book--brave, sweet and lucky Kitten! "Henkes's text, reminiscent of Margaret Wise Brown's work in the elemental words, rhythms, and appealing sounds, tells a warm, humorous story that's beautifully extended in his shimmering, gray-toned artwork."--ALA Booklist Indefatigable Kitten is a role model for all ages--taking chances, picking herself up when she fails, trying out new strategies to get what she wants, and figuring out when enough is enough. Winner of the Caldecott Medal, an ALA Notable Book, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book, and winner of the Charlotte Zolotow Award.
The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein (Illustrator)
2004 MEDAL WINNER: The story of a daring tightrope walk between skyscrapers, as seen in Robert Zemeckis's The Walk, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt. In 1974, French aerialist Philippe Petit threw a tightrope between the two towers of the World Trade Center and spent an hour walking, dancing, and performing high-wire tricks a quarter mile in the sky. This picture book captures the poetry and magic of the event with a poetry of its own: lyrical words and lovely paintings that present the detail, daring, and--in two dramatic foldout spreads-- the vertiginous drama of Petit's feat. The Man Who Walked Between the Towers is the winner of the 2004 Caldecott Medal, the winner of the 2004 Boston Globe - Horn Book Award for Picture Books, and the winner of the 2006 Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Children's Video.
My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann (Illustrator)
2003 MEDAL WINNER: Rabbit saves the day in a most ingeneous way. When Mouse lets his best friend, Rabbit, play with his brand-new airplane, trouble isn't far behind. From Caldecott Honor award winner Eric Rohmann comes a brand-new picture book about friends and toys and trouble, illustrated in robust, expressive prints. My Friend Rabbit is the winner of the 2003 Caldecott Medal.
The Three Pigs by David Wiesner
2002 MEDAL WINNER: "Clever, whimsical and sophisticated." --New York Times Book Review Taking visual narrative to a new level, this picture book from the creator of Tuesday and Flotsam begins a seemingly familiar tale of three pigs preparing to build houses of straw, sticks, and bricks. But when the Big Bad Wolf comes looking for a snack, he huffs and puffs the first little pig right out of the story . . . and into the realm of pure imagination! Dialogue balloons pepper a wide variety of illustration styles taking readers through a dazzling fantasy universe to the surprising and happy ending. You will never look at "The Three Little Pigs"--or artwork--the same way again! "A funny, wildly imaginative tale that encourages readers to leap beyond the familiar; to think critically about conventional stories and illustration, and perhaps, to flex their imaginations and create wonderfully subversive versions of their own stories." -- ALA Booklist, Starred Review
So You Want to Be President? by Judith St. George; David Small (Illustrator)
2001 MEDAL WINNER: This new version of the Caldecott-winning classic by illustrator David Small and author Judith St. George is updated with current facts and new illustrations to include our forty-second president, George W. Bush. There are now three Georges in the catalog of presidential names, a Bush alongside the presidential family tree, and a new face on the endpaper portraiture. Hilariously illustrated by Small, this celebration by St. George shows us the foibles, quirks and humanity of forty-two men who have risen to one of the most powerful positions in the world. Perfect for this election year--and every year!
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback (Illustrator)
2000 MEDAL WINNER: Joseph had a little overcoat, but it was full of holes--just like this book! When Joseph's coat got too old and shabby, he made it into a jacket. But what did he make it into after that? And after that? As children turn the pages of this book, they can use the die-cut holes to guess what Joseph will be making next from his amazing overcoat, while they laugh at the bold, cheerful artwork and learn that you can always make something, even out of nothing.
Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin; Mary Azarian (Illustrator)
1999 MEDAL WINNER: In this Caldecott Medal-winning picture book, the true story of Wilson Bentley and his singular fascination with snowflakes is rendered in rich prose and gorgeous artwork, perfect for the holidays, snow days, and everyday. Wilson Bentley was always fascinated by snow. In childhood and adulthood, he saw each tiny crystal of a snowflake as a little miracle and wanted to understand them. His parents supported his curiosity and saved until they could give him his own camera and microscope. At the time, his enthusiasm was misunderstood. But with patience and determination, Wilson catalogued hundreds of snowflake photographs, gave slideshows of his findings and, when he was 66, published a book of his photos. His work became the basis for all we know about beautiful, unique snowflakes today. This biographical tribute to a very special farmer is the perfect holiday gift or snow day read.
Rapunzel by Paul O. Zelinsky (Illustrator, Retold by); Brothers Brothers Grimm
1998 MEDAL WINNER: Surely among the most original and gifted of children's book illustrators, Paul O. Zelinsky has once again with unmatched emotional authority, control of space, and narrativecapability brought forth a unique vision for an age-old tale. Few artists at work today can touch the level at which his paintings tell a story and exert their hold.Zelinsky's retelling of Rapunzel reaches back beyond the Grimms to a late-seventeenth-century French tale by Mlle. la Force, who based hers on the Neapolitan tale Petrosinella in a collection popular at the time. The artist understands the story's fundamentals to be about possessiveness, confinement, and separation, rather than about punishment and deprivation. Thus the tower the sorceress gives Rapunzel here is not a desolate, barren structure of denial but one of esoteric beauty on the outside and physical luxury within. And the world the artist creates through the elements in his paintings the palette, control of light, landscape, characters, architecture,interiors, costumes speaks to us not of an ugly witch who cruelly imprisons a beautiful young girl, but of a mother figure who powerfully resists her child's inevitable growth, and of a young woman and man who must struggle in the wilderness for the self-reliance that is the true beginningof their adulthood.As ever, and yet always somehow in newly arresting fashion, Paul O. Zelinsky's work thrillingly shows us the events of the story while guiding us beyond them to the truths that have made it endure.
Golem by David Wisniewski (Retold by); David Wisniewski (Illustrator)
1997 MEDAL WINNER: Winner of the 1997 Caldecott Medal Retold from traditional sources and accompanied by David Wisniewski's unique cut-paper illustrations, Golem is a dramatic tale of supernatural forces invoked to save an oppressed people. It also offers a thought-provoking look at the consequences of unleashing power beyond human control. The afterword discusses the legend of the golem and its roots in the history of the Jews. A Caldecott Medal Book.
Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann
1996 MEDAL WINNER: "Besides the beguiling story, the affable illustrations of the smiling Gloria, the accidental mayhem in the background, and the myriad safety tips -- such as 'always pull the toothpick out of your sandwhich' and 'never lick a stop sign in the winter' -- add to the enjoyment. A glorious picture book." -- The Horn Book"Rathmann is a quick rising star in the world of chidren's books. In this book, she again shows her flair for creating real characters, dramatic situations and for knowing what will make young audiences giggle and think." -- Children's Book Review Magazine"Rathman brings a lighter-than-air comic touch to this outstanding, solid-as-a-brick picture book." -- Publisher's Weekly"A five-star performance." -- School Library Journal
Smoky Night by Eve Bunting; David Diaz (Illustrator)
1995 MEDAL WINNER: Winner of the 1995 Caldecott Medal In a night of rioting, Daniel and his mother are forced to leave their apartment for the safety of a shelter. "Diaz has not been afraid to take risks in illustrating the story with thickly textured paintings against a background of torn-paper and found-object collage. Without becoming cluttered or gimmicky, these pictures manage to capture a calamitous atmosphere that finally calms. . . . Both author and artist have managed to portray a politically charged event without pretense orpreaching."--The Bulletin
Grandfather's Journey 20th Anniversary by Allen Say
1994 MEDAL WINNER: When he was a young man, Allen Say's grandfather left his home in Japan to explore the world. He began his journey by crossing the Pacific Ocean on a steamship, then wandered the deserts, farmlands, and cities of North America. Allen Say lovingly tells the story of his own family's cross-cultural history in elegant watercolor paintings that earned him a Caldecott Medal in 1994. This twentieth-anniversary gift edition of the modern classic features downloadable audio and an introduction by Allen Say.
Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully
1993 MEDAL WINNER: One day, a mysterious stranger arrives at a boardinghouse of the widow Gateau- a sad-faced stranger, who keeps to himself. When the widow's daughter, Mirette, discovers him crossing the courtyard on air, she begs him to teach her how he does it. But Mirette doesn't know that the stranger was once the Great Bellini- master wire-walker. Or that Bellini has been stopped by a terrible fear. And it is she who must teach him courage once again. Emily Arnold McCully's sweeping watercolor paintings carry the reader over the rooftops of nineteenth-century Paris and into an elegant, beautiful world of acrobats, jugglers, mimes, actors, and one gallant, resourceful little girl.
Tuesday by David Wiesner
1992 MEDAL WINNER: In David Wiesner's whimsical and elegant New York Times bestseller and Caldecott Medal-winner, the events of a delightfully unpredictable Tuesday invite readers to find the potential for the wondrousness in every day. It begins on Tuesday evening, when the frogs suddenly start to float. . . . Thrill to the humorous cascading adventures that follow in a celebration of possibility unbounded--and of unexpected cause and effect. From the genius of international superstar and three-time Caldecott Medalist David Wiesner, this entertaining, thought-provoking, and nearly-wordless tale unrolls with the precision and clarity of a silent movie. Engaging for all ages, this beloved and innovative classic is a perfect gift to enthrall the young and the young at heart.
Black and White by David Macaulay
1991 MEDAL WINNER: Winner of the 1991 Caldecott Medal Four stories are told simultaneously, with each double-page spread divided into quadrants. The stories do not necessarily take place at the same moment in time, but are they really one story?
Lon Po Po by Ed Young
1990 MEDAL WINNER: This Caldecott Medal-winning, classic retelling of Little Red Riding Hood is one of the most celebrated picture books of our time. With characteristic flair and energy, award-winning artist Ed Young illustrates the ancient Chinese version of the favorite fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood. Young's vibrant, yet delicate, pastels and watercolors add drama to the deftly translated story. ★ ''A gripping variation of Red Riding Hood. This is an outstanding achievement that will be pored over again and again." --School Library Journal, starred review
Song and Dance Man by Karen Ackerman; Stephen Gammell (Illustrator)
1989 MEDAL WINNER: A beautifully nostalgic picture book about one grandfather's younger days that shows you're only as old as you feel! "In this affectionate story, three children follow their grandfather up to the attic, where he pulls out his old bowler hat, gold-tipped cane, and his tap shoes. Grandpa once danced on the vaudeville stage, and as he glides across the floor, the children can see what it was like to be a song and dance man. Gammell captures all the story's inherent joie de vivre with color pencil renderings that leap off the pages. Bespectacled, enthusiastic Grandpa clearly exudes the message that you're only as old as you feel, but the children respond--as will readers--to the nostalgia of the moment. Utterly original."--(starred) Booklist.
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
1988 MEDAL WINNER: Celebrating 30 years of the beloved classic Owl Moon from renowned children's book author Jane Yolen and Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator John Schoenherr! Late one winter night a little girl and her father go owling. The trees stand still as statues and the world is silent as a dream. Whoo-whoo-whoo, the father calls to the mysterious nighttime bird. But there is no answer. Wordlessly the two companions walk along, for when you go owling you don't need words. You don't need anything but hope. Sometimes there isn't an owl, but sometimes there is. Distinguished author Jane Yolen has created a gentle, poetic story that lovingly depicts the special companionship of a young child and her father as well as humankind's close relatiohship to the natural world. Wonderfully complemented by John Schoenherr's soft, exquisite watercolor illustrations, this is a verbal and visual treasure, perfect for reading alound and sharing at bedtime.
Hey, Al by Arthur Yorinks; Richard Egielski (Illustrator)
1987 MEDAL WINNER: Al, a janitor, and his faithful dog, Eddie, live in a single room on the West Side. They eat together, they work together, they do everything together. So what's the problem? Thier room is crowded and cramped; their life is an endless struggle. Al and Eddie are practically at eachothers throats when a large and mysterious bird offers them a new life in paradise. After some debate, they decide to accept. Transported to a gorgeous island in the sky, Al and Eddie are soon living a life of ease and luxury. But they come to find that the grass can be a little too green on the other side. After a dramatic, nearly tragic escape from their paradise prison, both man and dog agree: there really is no place like home. Hey, Al is the winner of the 1987 Caldecott Medal.
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
1986 MEDAL WINNER: The Polar Expressis a treasured holiday tradition. This lavish gift set includes a CD audio recording read by Liam Neeson, a keepsake "All Aboard" ornament, and a note from author Chris Van Allsburg. Awarded the prestigious Caldecott Medal in 1986, The Polar Expresshas sold more than 7 million copies, become a classic holiday movie, and been translated into stage productions that take place across the United States during the holiday season.
Saint George and the Dragon by Margaret Hodges; Trina Schart Hyman
1985 MEDAL WINNER: A Caldecott Medal-winning tale of bravery, perseverance, and peace. Saint George and the Dragon retells the segment from Spenser's The Faerie Queene, in which George, the Red Cross Knight, slays the dreadful dragon that has been terrorizing the countryside for years and brings joy to the land. This beautifully illustrated story is a lovely addition to any collection of fairytales or folk lore.
The Glorious Flight by Alice Provensen (Illustrator); Martin Provensen (Illustrator)
1984 MEDAL WINNER: Winner of the Caldecott Medal, this stunningly illustrated book depicts Louis Bleriot's historic first cross-Channel flight.
Shadow by Marcia Brown (Illustrator, Translator); The French of Blaise Cendrars (Translator)
1983 MEDAL WINNER: Discover the mingling of past and present in this rich African story following Shadow--featuring delightfully spooky art by Caldecott Medal winner Marcia Brown. Shadow itself has no shadow... It goes forth at night to prowl around the fires. It even likes to mingle with the dancers. Thus it is both prowler and dancer. Discover the eerie translation of the poem by Blaise Cendrars about the rich history of African storytellers and shamans passing into memory. Marcia Brown's stunning illustrations in collage, inspired by her travels in Africa, evoke the atmosphere and drama of a life now haunted and enchanted by Shadow--the beliefs of the present and the spirits of the past.
Jumanji 30th Anniversary Edition by Chris Van Allsburg
1982 MEDAL WINNER: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle now Sony's highest grossing film of all time! Over thirty years ago, Peter and Judy first found the game--Jumanji--with the instructions that once the game is started, it must be finished or it will go on forever--and it was then, with this same wonderment, readers found Jumanji, too. Since its original publication, Jumanji has been honored with many awards, including the Caldecott Medal, and in 1996, the surreal story was adapted to fit the big screen for the first time. This special edition of Jumanji contains a downloadable audiobook of the renowned actor Robin Williams reading the timeless tale.
Fables by Arnold Lobel (Illustrator)
1981 MEDAL WINNER: Winner of the Caldecott Medal A pig flying through marshmallow clouds? A camel pirouetting through the desert? Where else could a reader find such marvelous things but in a fable? From the author-illustrator behind beloved Frog and Toad, Arnold Lobel, comes a collection of humorous, silly fables that will delight readers young and old. "The most remarkable of the author-illustrator's 60-plus bestselling award winners." --Publishers Weekly "There is enough cheerful nonsense in Mr. Lobel's fables to endear any child listener." --The New York Times "Lobel has come up with a magical addition to an ancient genre of storytelling." --Newsweek
Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall; Barbara Cooney (Illustrator)
1980 MEDAL WINNER: Winner of the Caldecott Medal Thus begins a lyrical journey through the days and weeks, the months, and the changing seasons in the life of one New Englander and his family. The oxcart man packs his goods - the wool from his sheep, the shawl his wife made, the mittens his daughter knitted, and the linen they wove. He packs the birch brooms his son carved, and even a bag of goose feathers from the barnyard geese. He travels over hills, through valleys, by streams, past farms and villages. At Portsmouth Market he sells his goods, one by one - even his beloved ox. Then, with his pockets full of coins, he wanders through the market, buying provisions for his family, and returns to his home. And the cycle begins again. "Like a pastoral symphony translated into picture book format, the stunning combination of text and illustrations recreates the mood of 19-century rural New England."--The Horn Book
The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses by Paul Goble (Illustrator)
1979 MEDAL WINNER: "There was a girl in the village who loved horses... She led the horses to drink at the river. She spoke softly and they followed. People noticed that she understood horses in a special way." And so begins the story of a young Native American girl devoted to the care of her tribe's horses. With simple text and brilliant illustrations. Paul Goble tells how she eventually becomes one of them to forever run free.
Noah's Ark by Peter Spier
1978 MEDAL WINNER: Caldecott Medal Winner ★ "the book is a triumph, the definitive Noah's Ark."--Publishers Weekly Winner of the Caldecott Medal, an ALA Notable Children's Book, and a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year, Peter Spier's Noah's Ark has been the iconic edition of this tale for over 40 years, in print continuously since its debut in 1977. In Spier's imaginative retelling, readers witness the danger and the grandeur of the terrifying flood but also the lighter moments: Noah's wife jumping on a crate to avoid the rats; Noah shooing all but two bees from a busy hive; and all the animal babies being born in the spring. It's an illustration feat that's both majestic and tender.
Ashanti to Zulu by Margaret Musgrove; Diane Dillon (Illustrator)
1977 MEDAL WINNER: Artists Leo and Diane Dillon won their second consecutive Caldecott Medal for this stunning ABC of African culture. "Another virtuoso performance. . . . Such an astute blend of aesthetics and information is admirable, the child's eye will be rewarded many times over."--Booklist. ALA Notable Book; Caldecott Medal.
Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears by Verna Aardema; Diane Dillon (Illustrator)
1976 MEDAL WINNER: "In this Caldecott Medal winner, Mosquito tells a story that causes a jungle disaster. "Elegance has become the Dillons' hallmark. . . . Matching the art is Aardema's uniquely onomatopoeic text . . . An impressive showpiece." -Booklist, starred review. Winner of Caldecott Medal in 1976 and the Brooklyn Art Books for Children Award in 1977.
Arrow to the Sun by Gerald McDermott
1975 MEDAL WINNER: With vibrant colors and bold geometric forms, Gerald McDermott brilliantly captures the stylized look of Pueblo Indian art in this Caldecott Award-winning retelling of an ancient legend. A young boy searches for his father, but before he can claim his heritage he must first prove his worthiness by passing through the four ceremonial chambers: the kiva of lions, the kiva of snakes, the kiva of bees, and the kiva of lightning. Striking in its simplicity and grace, Arrow to the Sun vividly evokes the Native American reverence for the source of all life--the Solar Fire. Winner of the Caldecott
Duffy and the Devil by Harve Zemach; Margot Zemach (Illustrator)
1974 MEDAL WINNER: Duffy and the Devil was a popular play in Cornwall in the nineteenth century, performed at the Christmas season by groups of young people who went from house to house. The Zemachs have interpreted the folk tale which the play dramatized, recognizable as a version of the widespread Rumpelstiltskin story. Its main themes are familiar, but the character and details of this picture book are entirely Cornish, as robust and distinctive as the higgledy-piggledy, cliff-hanging villages that dot England's southwestern coast from Penzance to Land's End. The language spoken by the Christmas players was a rich mixture of local English dialect and Old Cornish (similar to Welsh and Gaelic), and something of this flavor is preserved in Harve Zemach's retelling. Margot Zemach's pen-and-wash illustrations combine a refined sense of comedy with telling observation of character, felicitous drawing with decorative richness, to a degree that surpasses her own past accomplishments. Duffy and the Devil is a 1973 New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book of the Year and Outstanding Book of the Year, a 1974 National Book Award Finalist for Children's Books, and the winner of the 1974 Caldecott Medal.
Funny Little Woman by Arlene Mosel
1973 MEDAL WINNER: While chasing a dumpling, a little lady is captured by wicked creatures from whom she escapes with the magic for becoming the richest woman in Japan.
One Fine Day by Nonny Hogrogian (Illustrator)
1972 MEDAL WINNER: This humorous retelling of a favorite Armenian folktale is a story small children will follow and read along with ease. "One fine day a fox traveled through the great forest. When he reached the other side he was very thirsty." The jaunty red fox stole milk from an old farm woman, lost his tail under the annoyed woman's knife, and spent the day bargaining to get it back. Awarded the Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished picture book of 1971.
A Story, a Story by Gail E. Haley (Illustrator)
1971 MEDAL WINNER: Discover how an African trickster god made it possible for people to tell stories in this brightly illustrated, Caldecott Medal-winning picture book. Long, long ago there were no stories on earth for children to hear. All stories belonged to Nyame, the Sky God. Ananse, the Spider man, wanted to buy some of these stories, so he spun a web up to the sky to bargain with the Sky God. The price the Sky God asked was Osebo, the leopard-of-the-terrible-teeth, Mmboro the hornet-who-stings-like-fire, and Mmoatia the fairy-whom-men-never-see. Can Ananse capture these sly creatures and give the children of earth stories to tell?
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig (Illustrator)
1970 MEDAL WINNER: Caldecott Medal Winner This deluxe edition of Sylvester and the Magic Pebble truly recaptures that magic for a whole new generation of readers--featuring retouched, vibrant illustrations and William Steig's moving Caldecott Medal acceptance speech. One rainy day, Sylvester finds a magic pebble that can make wishes come true. But when a lion frightens him on his way home, Sylvester makes a wish that brings unexpected results. How Sylvester is eventually reunited with his loving family and restored to his own donkey self makes a story that is beautifully tender and perfectly joyful.
The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship by Arthur Ransome; Uri Shulevitz (Illustrator)
1969 MEDAL WINNER: When the Czar proclaims that he will marry his daughter to the man who brings him a flying ship, the Fool of the World sets out to try his luck and meets some unusual companions on the way. The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship is the winner of the 1969 Caldecott Medal.
Drummer Hoff by Barbara Emberley; Ed Emberley (Illustrator)
1968 MEDAL WINNER: A rhyming, vibrantly illustrated picture book based on the folk song of seven soldiers. Ed Emberley won the 1968 Caldecott Medal for his bold illustrations for Barbara Emberley's jaunty adaptation of the cumulative folk song about soldiers who build a magnificent cannon and Drummer Hoff, who fires it off.
Sam, Bangs and Moonshine by Evaline Ness (Illustrator); BookSource Staff (Compiled by)
1967 MEDAL WINNER: Relates the experiences of a little girl as she learns to tell the difference between makebelieve and real life.
Always Room for One More by Sorche Nic Leodhas
1966 MEDAL WINNER: In this Scottish folk song, a generous family always has room for another person and invites in everyone who passes by.
May I Bring a Friend? by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers; Beni Montresor (Illustrator)
1965 MEDAL WINNER: An imaginative boy brings a surprising array of friends to dine at the palace in this Caldecott Medal-winning picture book. One day, a small boy receives a very special invitation--the King and the Queen have invited him to the castle for tea. He accepts, with one question: "May I bring a friend?" "Any friend of our friend is welcome here," says the King. But their guest's friend turns out to be someone they never expected! Beatrice Schenk de Regniers's rhythmic text and the fantastical, jewellike artwork of Beni Montresor have made this book a favorite for more than twenty-five years.
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak (Illustrator)
1964 MEDAL WINNER: Maurice Sendak's Caldecott Medal-winning picture book has become one of the most highly acclaimed and best-loved children's books of all time. A must for every child's bookshelf. This iconic story has inspired a movie, an opera, and the imagination of generations. When Max dresses in his wolf suit and causes havoc in the house, his mother sends him to bed. From there, Max sets sail to an island inhabited by the Wild Things, who name him king and share a wild rumpus with him. But then from far away across the world, Max smells good things to eat... Let the wild rumpus continue as this classic comes to life like never before with new reproductions of Maurice Sendak's artwork. Astonishing state-of-the-art technology faithfully captures the color and detail of the original illustrations. Sendak himself enthusiastically endorsed this impressive new interpretation of his art. Mary Pols of Time magazine wrote that "what makes Sendak's book so compelling is its grounding effect: Max has a tantrum and in a flight of fancy visits his wild side, but he is pulled back by a belief in parental love to a supper 'still hot." Generations have shared this beautiful picture book, and children of all ages will want to return to it again and again. New York Public Library's #4 book on the list of "Top Check Outs of All Time" One of the National Education Association's "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children" The top picture book in School Library Journal's survey of its readers Maurice Sendak was also the creator of such classics as In the Night Kitchen, Outside Over There, Higglety Pigglety Pop!, and Nutshell Library.
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
1963 MEDAL WINNER: The magic and wonder of winter's first snowfall is perfectly captured in Ezra Jack Keat's Caldecott Medal-winning picture book. This celebrated classic has been shared by generations of readers and listeners, a must-have for every child's bookshelf and a perfect gift for the holiday season. New York Public Library's #1 book on the list of "Top Check Outs of All Time" In 1962, a little boy named Peter put on his snowsuit and stepped out of his house and into the hearts of millions of readers. Universal in its appeal, this story beautifully depicts a child's wonder at a new world, and the hope of capturing and keeping that wonder forever. The quiet fun and sweetness of Peter's small adventures in the deep, deep snow is perfect for reading together on a cozy winter day. Ezra Jack Keats was also the creator of such classics as Goggles, A Letter to Amy, Pet Show!, Peter's Chair, and A Whistle for Willie. (This book is also available in Spanish, as Un dia de nieve.) Praise for The Snowy Day: "Keats made Peter's world so inviting that it beckons us. Perhaps the busyness of daily life in the 21st century makes us appreciate Peter even more--a kid who has the luxury of a whole day to just be outside, surrounded by snow that's begging to be enjoyed." --The Atlantic "Ezra Jack Keats's classic The Snowy Day, winner of the 1963 Caldecott Medal, pays homage to the wonder and pure pleasure a child experiences when the world is blanketed in snow."--Publisher's Weekly
Once a Mouse... by Marcia Brown (Illustrator)
1962 MEDAL WINNER: Marcia Brown retells an Indian fable from the Hitopadesa in this Caldecott Medal-winning tale of a mouse who becomes a tiger. When a small mouse's life is threatened by large jungle predators, a kindly hermit uses magic to change him into a cat, a dog, and a majestic tiger. But the proud tiger must suffer the consequences when he becomes ungrateful and forgets his humble origins. Marcia Brown's magical woodcuts bring this Indian fable to life with the mastery that won her a second Caldecott Medal.
Baboushka and the Three Kings by Ruth Robbins; Nicolas Sidjakov (Illustrator)
1961 MEDAL WINNER: Winner of the 1961 Caldecott Medal The Russian folktale about an old woman's endless search for the Christ child.
Nine Days to Christmas by Marie Hall Ets; Aurora Labastida
1960 MEDAL WINNER: Generations of readers have treasured this 1960 Caldecott Medal winner and its tale of a little Mexican girl's excitement at the approach of Christmas. Ceci eagerly awaits Las Posadas, the traditional nine-day series of yuletide celebrations. This year she'll lead the candlelight procession that reenacts Mary and Joseph's trek to Bethlehem. Meanwhile, Mother takes her to the old marketplace to choose her very first piñata. Ceci is dazzled by the colorful array of options, and after making her choice has second thoughts about the fate of her piñata once the posada takes place. Graced by evocative illustrations, this international holiday classic is now available in a lovely hardcover edition. "The youngest child will be completely transported by this story," noted The Atlantic, and readers of all ages will be charmed by the child's-eye view of Mexican culture.
Chanticleer and the Fox by Geoffrey Chaucer; Barbara Cooney (Illustrator)
1959 MEDAL WINNER: King of the barnyard, Chanticleer struts about all day. When a fox bursts into his domain, dupes him into crowing, and then grabs him in a viselike grip, Chanticleer must do some quick thinking to save himself and his barnyard kingdom. Winner, 1959 Caldecott Medal Notable Children's Books of 1940-1970 (ALA) Winner, 1992 Kerlan Award
Time of Wonder by Robert McCloskey
1958 MEDAL WINNER: Winner of the Caldecott Medal! For fans of Blueberries for Sal, One Morning in Maine, and Make way for Ducklings. "Out on the islands that poke their rocky shores above the waters of Penobscot Bay, you can watch the time of the world go by, from minute to minute, hour to hour, from day to day . . ." So begins this classic story of one summer on a Maine island from the author of One Morning in Maine and Blueberries for Sal. The spell of rain, the gulls and a foggy morning, the excitement of sailing, the quiet of the night, the sudden terror of a hurricane, and, in the end, the peace of the island as the family packs up to leave are shown in poetic language and vibrant, evocative pictures.
A Tree Is Nice by Janice May Udry; Marc Simont (Illustrator)
1957 MEDAL WINNER: Winner of the Caldecott Medal "A radiant and buoyant picture book." --The Horn Book A Tree Is Nice is a classic tale about the beauty of the everyday world. "Simont's watercolors perfectly complement the poetic simplicity of the text, allowing the reader room to engage in his or her own imaginative embroiderings about trees" (Children's Books and Their Creators). Trees are beautiful. They fill up the sky. If you have a tree, you can climb up its trunk, roll in its leaves, or hang a swing from one of its limbs. Cows and babies can nap in the shade of a tree. Birds can make nests in the branches. A tree is good to have around. A tree is nice.
Frog Went A-Courtin' by John Langstaff; Feodor Rojankovsky (Illustrator)
Call Number: 1956 MEDAL WINNER
Publication Date: 1972-04-26
1956 MEDAL WINNER: Winner of the 1956 Caldecott Medal "A favorite old nursery ballad now appears in resplendent new dress. . . . Illustrator Feodor Rojankovsky somehow manages to combine quaintness with sophistication and his doughty frog, the coy mouse . . . and others make charming company."--The New York Times Book Review
Cinderella, or The Little Glass Slipper
Call Number: 1955 MEDAL WINNER
1955 MEDAL WINNER: A wealthy widower has a beautiful young daughter, a girl l of unparalleled kindness and sweet temper. The gentleman marries a proud and haughty woman as his second wife. She has two daughters, who are equally vain and selfish. The girl is forced into servitude by her stepmother, where she is made to work day and night doing menial chores. After the girl's chores are done for the day, she curls up near the fireplace in an effort to stay warm. She often arises covered in ashes, giving rise to the mocking nickname "Cendrillon" (Cinderella) by her stepsisters. Cinderella bears the abuse patiently and does not tell her father, who would have scolded her.
Madeline's Rescue by Ludwig Bemelmans (Illustrator)
Call Number: 1954 MEDAL WINNER
Publication Date: 1953-04-03
1954 MEDAL WINNER: Winner of the Caldecott Medal "In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines lived twelve little girls in two straight lines the smallest one was Madeline." Nothing frightens Madeline--not tigers, not even mice. With its endearing, courageous heroine, cheerful humor, and wonderful, whimsical drawings of Paris, the Madeline stories are true classics that continue to charm readers even after 75 years! When Madeline falls into the river Seine and nearly drowns, a courageous canine comes to her rescue. Now Genevieve the dog is Madeline's cherished pet, and the envy of all the other girls. What can be done when there's just not enough hound to go around? Ludwig Bemelmans (1898-1962) was the author of the beloved Madeline books, including Madeline, a Caldecott Honor Book, and Madeline's Rescue, winner of the Caldecott Medal.
The Biggest Bear by Lynd Ward
Call Number: 1953 MEDAL WINNER
Publication Date: 1952-06-01
1953 MEDAL WINNER: Winner of the 1953 Caldecott Medal Johnny Orchard brings home a playful bear cub that soon becomes huge and a nuisance to the neighbors.
Finders Keepers by Will Lipkind; Mordvinoff Nicolas (Illustrator)
Call Number: 1952 MEDAL WINNER
Publication Date: 1989-08-01
1952 MEDAL WINNER: Two dogs find one bone and have difficulty deciding which of them owns it. "Here is a perfect combination of rollicking story and pictures that have strength, life and humor in every line."--The Horn Book
The Egg Tree by Katherine Milhous (Illustrator)
Call Number: 1951 MEDAL WINNER
Publication Date: 1971-12-01
1951 MEDAL WINNER: One Easter morning, Katy and Carl went on an egg hunt through Grandmom's house. Katy couldn't find anything until she went up to the attic. And there she discovered a very special set of eggs... Grandmom had painted them when she was a little girl. And now, she hung them from the branches of a tiny tree--an Egg Tree! So began a very special Easter tradition. This Caldecott Medal-winning story of a Pennsylvania Dutch Easter will surely inspire children to make Egg Trees of their very own.
Song of the Swallows by Leo Politi
Call Number: 1950 MEDAL WINNER
Publication Date: 2009-09-09
1950 MEDAL WINNER: Song of the Swallows, which won the Caldecott Medal when it was first published in 1948, was written and illustrated by Leo Politi, one of Los Angeles' most beloved artists. It tells the famous story of the yearly return of the swallows to the Mission San Juan Capistrano through the eyes of a small child. Julian, the bell ringer of the Mission, tells Juan, a young boy who also lives at the Mission, the story of the swallows and how--without anyone really knowing why or how--they return each year from their winter home in South America to San Juan Capistrano in California. Thrilled by the story, Juan makes his own small garden in the hope that at least one family of swallows will nest there when they return. This delightful book also includes the music and lyrics for "La Golondrina," a song about the swallows that Politi composed himself, and Spanish phrases are sprinkled throughout the story. This book provides a delightful introduction for young children California's centuries-old Latino heritage and Mission culture.
The Big Snow by Berta Hader (Illustrator); Elmer Hader; Hader Elmer (Illustrator)
Call Number: 1949 MEDAL WINNER
Publication Date: 1967-04-01
1949 MEDAL WINNER: When the geese begin to fly south, the leaves flutter down from the trees and the cold winds begin to blow from the north, the animals of the woods and meadows, big and small, prepare for the long, cold winter ahead when the countryside is hidden under a deep blanket of snow. They gather food and look for warm, snug places in the ground, trees, caves or thickets, where they can find protection against the icy winds. It might have been hard for the birds and animals of the hillside to survive when the Big Snow came if their good friends, who lived in the little stone house, had not remembered to put food out for them. Here, in many beautiful pictures, the Haders show how winter comes to the woodland as the busy animals make their preparations.
White Snow, Bright Snow by Alvin Tresselt; Roger Duvoisin (Illustrator)
Call Number: 1948 MEDAL WINNER
Publication Date: 1947-04-01
1948 MEDAL WINNER: * Caldecott Medal Winner * ALA Notable Book * The classic Caldecott Medal-winning picture book about a neighborhood transformed by a delightful snowfall, from the legendary picture book duo Alvin Tresselt and Roger Duvoisin. When the first flakes fell from the grey sky, the postman and the farmer and the policeman and his wife scurried about doing all the practical things grown-ups do when a snowstorm comes. But the children laughed and danced, and caught the lacy snowflakes on their tongues. All the wonder and delight a child feels in a snowfall is caught in the pages of this book--the frost ferns on the windowsill, the snowman in the yard and the mystery and magic of a new white world. Roger Duvoisin's pictures in soft blue half-tones with brilliant splashes of yellow and red emphasize the happiness and humor as well as the poetic quality of the text. First published in 1947, this classic picture book won the 1948 Caldecott Medal and was the first of eighteen picture book collaborations by Alvin Tresselt and Roger Duvoisin.
The Little Island by Margaret Wise Brown; Leonard Weisgard (Illustrator)
Call Number: 1947 MEDAL WINNER
1947 MEDAL WINNER: Children's book legend Margaret Wise Brown--author of the cherished classic Goodnight Moon--and Caldecott Medal-winner Leonard Weisgard bring young readers an enduring picture book about the magic of nature. Winner of the 1947 Caldecott Medal, this beautifully moving story centers around a little island in the midst of the wide ocean, and the curious kitten who comes to visit. As the seasons pass, the island and the creatures who call it home witness an ever-changing array of sights, smells, and sounds--proving that, no matter how small, we are all an important part of the world.
The Rooster Crows by Maud Petersham (Illustrator); Miska Petersham (Illustrator)
Call Number: 1946 MEDAL WINNER
1946 MEDAL WINNER: The Caldecott Medal-winning collection of classic American rhymes, songs, and jingles. Beautifully rendered illustrations accompany well-known nursery rhymes, counting-out games, skipping-rope songs, finger games, and other schoolyard classics beloved by generations of American children. Collected from across America, The Rooster Crows features rhymes both old and new, and will be a perfect addition to any child's collection.
Prayer for a Child by Rachel Field; Elizabeth Orton Jones (Illustrator)
Call Number: 1945 MEDAL WINNER
1945 MEDAL WINNER: Ideal for sharing, this Caldecott Medal-winning beloved classic presents an illustrated prayer full of the intimate gentleness for familiar things, the love of friends and family, and the kindly protection of God. Bless this milk and bless this bread Bless this soft and waiting bed Where I presently shall be Wrapped in sweet security Winner of the Caldecott Medal and in print since 1941, this is a prayer for boys and girls all over the world. It carries a universal appeal for all ages and brings to our hearts and minds the deep responsibility of preserving for all times the faith and hopes of little children.
Many Moons by James Thurber; Louis Slobodkin (Illustrator)
Call Number: 1944 MEDAL WINNER
1944 MEDAL WINNER: A wise tale of a little princess who wanted the moon and got it. "Grown-ups themselves will find the book hilariously funny. . . . The lovely, squiggly illustrations in color are exactly right."--The New Yorker
The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton
Call Number: 1943 MEDAL WINNER
1943 MEDAL WINNER: Seventy-five years ago, Virginia Lee Burton created the Little House, and since then generations of readers have been enchanted by the story of this happy home and her journey from the pleasures of nature to the bustling city, and back again. In celebration of this beloved classic's seventy-fifth anniversary, this special edition features free downloadable audio (access code printed inside the book).
Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
Call Number: 1942 MEDAL WINNER
Publication Date: 1941-01-01
1942 MEDAL WINNER: Mrs. Mallard was sure that the pond in the Boston Public Gardens would be a perfect place for her and her eight ducklings to live. The problem was how to get them there through the busy streets of Boston. But with a little help from the Boston police, Mrs. Mallard and Jack, Kack, Lack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack arive safely at their new home. This brilliantly illustrated, amusingly observed tale of Mallards on the move has won the hearts of generations of readers. Awarded the Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children in 1941, it has since become a favorite of millions.
They Were Strong and Good by Robert Lawson
Call Number: 1941 MEDAL WINNER
Publication Date: 1940-01-01
1941 MEDAL WINNER: Awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1941, They Were Strong and Good is a classic book that follows the path of one family's journey through American history. Robert Lawson introduces us to his forefathers and with them we brave Caribbean storms, travel to the wharf markets of New York, and fight in the Civil War. Amidst these adventures Lawson's grandparents meet, marry, and raise a family, and later his parents follow the same cycle of life. But this book is more than just the story of one family, it's a social history of our country. It reminds us to be proud of our ancestors--who they were, what they did, and the effect that they had on the nation we live in today. None of them were great or famous, but they were strong and good. They worked hard and had many children. They all helped to make the United States the great nation that it now is. Let us be proud of them and guard well the heritage they have left us.
Abraham Lincoln by Ingri D'Aulaire (Illustrator); Edgar Parin D'Aulaire (Illustrator)
Call Number: 1940 MEDAL WINNER
1940 MEDAL WINNER: Text and illustrations present the life of the boy born on the Kentucky frontier who became the sixteenth president of the United States. America was at a crossroads in 1939 as they debated whether to join the Allies in their battle against Hitler's relentless march across Europe. As European immigrants the d'Aulaires felt keenly the importance of standing against injustice, and saw in Lincoln the archetypal American hero as he stood against the injustice of slavery. It was this spirit they hoped to exemplify in their biography of young Abe as he grew into manhood against the backdrop of the wilderness of Kentucky, the deep woods of Indiana, and the prairies of Illinois. Camping for weeks in Lincoln country, the d'Aulaires imbibed the spirit of the man Lincoln as well as his humor and good will. From his days as a clerk, teaching himself law reading Blackstone, practicing law in Springfield, running unsuccessfully for office, debating Stephen Douglas over the issue of slavery, and ultimately becoming President of the United States, the d'Aulaires have written and beautifully illustrated the life of one of America's most remarkable citizens.
Mei Li by Thomas Handforth (Illustrator)
Call Number: 1939 MEDAL WINNER
1939 MEDAL WINNER: After spending an eventful day at the fair held on New Year's Eve, Mei Li arrives home just in time to greet the Kitchen God.
Animals of the Bible by Dorothy P. Lathrop (Illustrator)
Call Number: 1938 MEDAL WINNER
Publication Date: 1937-01-01
1938 MEDAL WINNER: Dorothy Lathrop's Animals of the Bible won the very first Caldecott Medal when it was originally published in 1937. Now, in honor of the sixtieth anniversary of this prestigious medal and its first recipient, comes this special deluxe edition of Lathrop's award-winning collection of some of the Bible's most extraordinary animals. Thirty richly detailed black-and-white drawings illustrate the favorite stories of the Creation, Noah's Ark, the first Christmas, and many others. A glorious tribute to a great tradition in children's literature, this special anniversary edition will be a keepsake to treasure for years to come.