Caldecott Medal Classics

As we discussed in our previous entry What is a Classic? there are many wonderful Newbery Medal winners. Now to the Caldecotts. The Caldecott has been awarded each year since 1938 and is given by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. This award is distinct from the Newbery in that it is awarded for aesthetic achievement only. That being said, there are some absolutely wonderful books in the list of winners. And it's so important for children to be exposed to quality illustration. It helps develop a sense of beauty, it fuels the imagination, and encourages students to express themselves in drawing, painting, and other mediums. Here are a few of our favorite Caldecott Medal winners.

 Abraham Lincoln by Ingri & Edgar Parin d'Aulaire, 1940 Caldecott Medal Winner

They Were Good and They Were Strong by Robert Lawson, 1941 Caldecott Medal Winner

Paddle-To-The-Sea by Holling C. Holling, 1942 Caldecott Honor Title

Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey, 1942 Caldecott Medal Winner

Yonie Wondernose by Marguerite de Angeli, 1945 Caldecott Honor Title

Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey, 1949 Caldecott Honor Title

Song of the Swallows by Leo Politi, 1950 Caldecott Medal Winner 

America's Ethan Allen by Stewart Holbrook and illustrated by Lynd Ward, 1950 Caldecott Honor Title

One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey, 1953 Caldecott Honor Title

The Steadfast Tin Soldier by Hans Christian Andersen, illustrated by Marcia Brown, 1954 Caldecott Honor Title

The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh, illustrated by Helen Sewell, 1955 Caldecott Honor Title

Chanticleer and the Fox illustrated by Barbara Cooney, 1959 Caldecott Medal Winner

Thy Friend, Obadiah by Brinton Turkle, 1970 Caldecott Honor Title

Noah's Ark by Peter Spier, 1970 Caldecott Medal Winner

Castle by David Macaulay (Houghton), 1978 Caldecott Honor Title

Owl Moon by Jane Yolen, illustrated by John Schoenherr, 1988 Caldecott Medal Winner

John Henry by Julius Lester, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, 1995 Caldecott Honor Title

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein, 2004 Caldecott Medal Winner

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick, 2008 Caldecott Medal Winner

As you can see there are some absolutely gorgeous titles in this list. Books like this are all wonderful additions to your library as you will find your children returning again and again to look at the pictures, notice new details, and relish the beauty found on these pages. I would love to hear what books you remember from your childhood due to the illustrations. One of my personal favorites is Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge, I love Julie Vivas's joyful watercolors. 

So chime in! Share your favorites. And we will be back with more award winning titles in the future.