Award Winners LibGuide: Winner

Caldecott Winner 1938
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.

Caldecott Winner 1939
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. There is New Year's Festival that Mei Li goes to see with her 3 lucky pennies and 3 lucky marbles. She is scared of many of the things there are to do and she goes home where she finds her Kingdom to rule over and she is happy. Young Mei Li disobeys her parents and the traditions of her society by following her brother into the walled city the morning before New Year's Day. The story takes place in China almost a century ago, and readers will delight in this little girl's adventure into the city as well as her attempts to leave the city before the gates close for the night! Mei Li is both curious and brave, and readers will relate to her attempts to prove herself worthy of the trip in her big brother's eyes. The realistic black and white illustrations coincide perfectly with the text, and young listeners will take their time absorbing the details of this foreign time and place. Both authors and artists, Handforth lived in China for several years and claimed that the story was based on a real Chinese girl. Beyond the Chinese cultural markers, children will identify with Mei Li's young spirit.

Caldecott Winner 1940
From his humble beginnings in the Kentucky wilderness to the peak of his career as President, this picture biography brings Lincoln to life for first-time readers. 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 goodwill. 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. This book was awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1940.

Caldecott Winner 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.

Caldecott Winner 1942
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 arrive 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. A beautifully illustrated story about two mallards who are searching for the perfect place to raise a family. Although they don't pick an ideal place everyone does their best to help the ducks when the ducklings arrive. A happy story about ducks raising a family and living in a built-up area.

Caldecott Winner 1943
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. Virginia Lee Burton won the Caldecott Medal in 1943 for her memorable picture book "The Little House, " a poignant story of a cute country cottage that becomes engulfed by the city that grows up around it. The house has an expressive face of windows and doors, and even the feelings of a person, so she's sad when she's surrounded by the dirty, noisy city's hustle and bustle: "She missed the field of daisies and the apple trees dancing in the moonlight." Fortunately, there's a happy ending, as the house is taken back to the country where she belongs.

Caldecott Winner 1944
A wise tale of a little princess who wanted the moon and got it. Princess Lenore isn’t feeling well, and she asks for just one thing, the moon. She is certain this is the only thing that will make her well again. Her father, the King, summons his most trusted advisors and tasks them with securing the moon for the Princess. But to a man, they declare this impossible. Until the Jester arrives and looks at the problem from a different angle. This charming, whimsical story has plenty of sly humor and a few challenging words (surfeit, physician, etc.). Thurber writes about wisdom and the differing perceptions of children and adults. The concept of things being "in the eye of the beholder" is well portrayed by Thurber in this book that is a bit longer than many picture books.

Caldecott Winner 1945
This very special prayer just for children is perfect for even the youngest reader. In this new gift book edition, Caldecott-winning Prayer for a Child is sure to win new fans and become a favorite. Keep growing in faith and joy through Little Simon Inspirations books for your child! Prayer is full of intimate gentleness for familiar things, the love of friends and family, and the kindly protection of God. Though it was written for one little girl, the prayer is for all boys and girls, and it carries a universal appeal for all ages and races. This is a child's bedtime prayer, written in 1941 by Rachel Field, with World War II on everyone's mind. Mrs. Field died suddenly, and a few years later Elizabeth Orton Jones had the responsibility of illustrating it. She took that responsibility seriously, and a lovely job she made of it, too. The illustrations are wonderful.

Caldecott Winner 1946
A 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. This 1946 Caldecott Medalist is a treasure trove for anyone interested in stepping back into parts of American history through the games and jingles that were popular several decades ago. It's interesting to note how some of them have changed a great deal while others have not, and some are still in favor while others have been relegated to the past. The book is divided into Rhymes and Jingles, Finger Games, Rope Skipping Rhymes, Counting-Out Rhymes, Games, and Yankee Doodle. Filled with a plethora of these rhymes, many of which are fun to say, to the eyes of modern readers, the book has a dated quality due to the illustrations, some of which are in vibrant colors and others rendered in more subtle shades.

Caldecott Winner 1947
The little island shares its secrets with a kitten. This book is about how it is on that little island, how the seasons and the storm and the day and night change it, how the lobsters and seals and gulls and everything else lives on it, and what the kitten who comes to visit finds out about it. The Little Island tells all about life on and around a little island, from the changing of the seasons, to the birds, animals, and fish that call it home, the little island is “a part of the world and a world of its own.” The story is classic Margaret Wise Brown (aka Golden MacDonald) with its “here and now” style, subtle rhymes, and detailed run-on descriptions. The illustrations by Leonard Weisgard complement the text perfectly with the island and its inhabitants painted in deep and vibrant earth tones. At times it feels as though you are flipping through a nature book, one of my favorite illustrations in the entire story is the pair of kingfishers, beautifully illustrated as though right out of an Audubon bird book.

Caldecott Winner 1948
The 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 grownups 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.

Caldecott Winner 1949
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. Come Christmastime, the wise owls were the first to see the rainbow around the moon. It was a sure sign that the big snow was on its way. 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.

Caldecott Winner 1950
Song of the Swallows 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.

Caldecott Winner 1951
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. Milhous tells the story of a long-ago Easter when the children spend time at their grandparents’ Pennsylvania farm. Along with their cousins, Katy and Carl hunt for Easter eggs, but Katy isn’t having much luck until she heads for the attic and finds a treasure trove of beautifully decorated eggs in a hatbox.

Caldecott Winner 1952
Two dogs find one bone and have difficulty deciding which of them owns it. Here is a perfect combination of rollicking stories and pictures that have strength, life, and humor in every line. The book Finders Keepers is a lovely little tale that teaches a twisted way of looking at the concept of priorities and what’s really important. In this story, the two main characters are dogs by the name of Nap and Winkle. The argument is based on who gets this bone they dug up if one saw it first but the other touched it first. After looking for a while they came across a farmer who said he would give his opinion on who gets it if they help him get his cart out of a ditch. Once the cart was out the farmer had given them a pile of hay instead of an answer, this was the first time they were tricked into doing something without getting an answer in return. Then a goat came by offering the same answer for the hay so that he could eat. But instead, the goat just offered advice, basically making a threatening comment that unless their teeth are sharper than his horns it would be a bad idea to chase him down. Then they get tricked into letting a barber give them a haircut but afterward leave them with an unhelpful comment that if they look as good as he made them look then who needs a bone. After being unbelievably frustrated they then ask a bigger dog that passes them for advice but this dog just says that it is too big for only one to handle so he took it from them and went his way. The book then takes a turn that I was not expecting with the whole vibe that it was giving off before. Nap and Winkle attack this bigger dog in order to get their bone back. One dog takes the back and the other the head until the bigger dog was too injured to defend himself and walked away, leaving the bone for Nap and Winkle. In the end, they decided that the bigger dog did have a point and that the bone was too big for just one of them to have. So they decided to share it in the celebration that they finally made a very obvious decision but only because of what they went through as friends did they realize it was just much easier to share the bone.

Caldecott Winner 1953
Johnny Orchard brings home a playful bear cub that soon becomes huge and a nuisance to the neighbors. Johnny Orchard lives on a farm at the far end of the valley, near a big woods. Whenever he walks down the road he notices that other barns have bear skins drying on their walls; he’s embarrassed that his family’s barn doesn’t have a bearskin. So he heads into the woods one day, with his rifle, determined to get the biggest bear. What he finds, though is an orphaned bear cub, which he befriends with a piece of maple sugar candy. But when he brings the cub home, problems begin; and they only get worse when the bear grows BIG.

Caldecott Winner 1954
"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.

Caldecott Winner 1955
From the acclaimed and popular illustrator of the New York Times bestseller, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Snow White comes a unique and visually stunning spin on Cinderella, published to coincide with the release of the major motion picture from Walt Disney directed by Kenneth Branagh and featuring an all-star cast. Charles Perrault's story of a sweet-tempered young girl, forced into servitude by her evil stepmother and stepsisters, who finds true love with a handsome prince (with the help of a fairy godmother), has enchanted readers for more than 300 years. In this lavishly illustrated retelling of the classic fairytale, Camille Rose Garcia reimagines Cinderella through her distinctive visual aesthetic. Hers is a Cinderella for the twenty-first century: dark, compelling, vibrant, and enthralling.

Caldecott Winner 1956
A favorite old nursery ballad now appears in a resplendent new dress. Illustrator Feodor Rojankovsky somehow manages to combine quaintness with sophistication and his doughty frog, the coy mouse, and others make the charming company. This is an old Scottish ballad about a frog. It talks about courtin’ but it’s really more about the wedding. The Frog simply walks up to a mouse and asks for her hand and the wedding is on. There is a big celebration. The text is an old Scottish tune that Langstaff wrote up by combining different versions. He was an American folk musician and educator as well as the founder of "Christmas Revels," a Solstice and Christmas stage show which involved the audience in singing and dancing and has been performed annually since the 1970s. Susan Cooper, author of the Dark is Rising series, was a friend to Langstaff and a writer for "Christmas Revels."

Caldecott Winner 1957
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). The 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.

Caldecott Winner 1958
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 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.

Caldecott Winner 1959
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. Canticleer and The Fox is a book about a proud rooster names Chanticleer who has a very beautiful voice and because of this is kidnapped by a Fox. The lesson behind this story is clearly stated towards the end of the book stating, “God bring misfortune to him who is too careless about his self- control as to prattle when he should hold his peace.”

Caldecott Winner 1960
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.

Caldecott Winner 1961
The Russian folktale about an old woman's endless search for the Christ child. “Baboushka and the Three Kings” is a Caldecott Medal award-winning book written by Ruth Robbins along with illustrations by Nicolas Sidjakov and it is about how an old woman named Baboushka meets up with the three kings who asked her if she would accompany them to witness the birth of Jesus. “Baboushka and the Three Kings” is a truly emotional story about hope but it might be a tad bit too sad for smaller children to handle. Ruth Robbins has created a truly emotional story about the power of kindness and determination. Ruth Robbins shows the character Baboushka as a humble and kind-hearted woman who at first had to refuse the three kings’ offer to finish her housework which shows her dedication to her work and then wanting to find the child to give him gifts. Baboushka’s character also helps children learn about the importance of being determined to accomplish your goals in life as Baboushka shows great determination in finding the newborn child.

Caldecott Winner 1962
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. Taken from the classic Indian collection of fables, the Hitopadesha, Once a Mouse... follows the story of an old hermit, who, seeing a tiny mouse continuously in danger from the other animals, seeks to protect him by changing him into progressively larger animals. Transformed first into a cat, then a dog, and finally into a tiger, the mouse becomes proud - resentful of the hermit's reminder of his humble beginnings - until finally, the hermit must take back his gift.

Caldecott Winner 1963
No book has captured the magic and sense of possibility of the first snowfall better than The Snowy Day. Universal in its appeal, the story has become a favorite of millions, as it reveals a child's wonder at a new world and the hope of capturing and keeping that wonder forever. The adventures of a little boy in the city on a very snowy day. Keats's sparse collage illustrations capture the wonder and beauty a snowy day can bring to a small child. 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. The book is notable not only for its lovely artwork and tone but also for its importance as a trailblazer. According to Horn Book magazine, The Snowy Day was "the very first full-color picture book to feature a small black hero", yet another reason to add this classic to your shelves. It's as unique and special as a snowflake.

Caldecott Winner 1964
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.

Caldecott Winner 1965
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.

Caldecott Winner 1966
Lachie MacLachlan, the generous hero of this enchanting tale, is the exception to the rule that the Scots are a thrifty lot. In his "wee house in the heather," where he lives with his family of twelve, he welcomes to his hearth every weary traveler who passes by on a stormy night. "There's always room for one more," says Lachie, and how his grateful guests say a wonderful "Thank you" provides a delightfully warm and tender ending to this hilarious tale of kindness. It’s quite the funny little tale. A family lives in a little house, a family of 12. That would be a whole lot of people. On top of that, anyone passing by, they tell them they have plenty of room so more and more people join them in a big party until the house bursts. So the townspeople rebuild the house bigger and better for them so they can fit an army in it.

Caldecott Winner 1967
Samantha (known as Sam) is a fisherman's daughter who dreams rich and lovely dreams, moonshine, her father says. But when her tall stories bring disaster to her friend Thomas and her cat Bangs, Sam learns to distinguish between moonshine and reality. Sam is a girl who likes to live in her imagination. She can make up the wildest tales. Her friend Thomas believes every word she says. One day she sends Thomas looking for her baby kangaroo when a storm is blowing up and her cat Bangs goes out to help the boy. She feels much guilt when she realizes that her friend could have been hurt by her stories or Moonshine. Her tales got her friend in trouble. It all turns out all right in the end.

Caldecott Winner 1968
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. Drummer Hoff is a book written in the style of a cumulative song. It starts with Drummer Hoff, and throughout the story seven others join him, all to build and fire a cannon. They build the cannon on a grassy field, and in the end, it is overgrown by flowers and plants, and birds are perched on the canon. Drummer Hoff is illustrated in a colorful mosaic style, with ornate patterns drawn within every person and object. Pages with the narrative are a stark contrast to those with the characters, as they are plain white, with only the grassy field at the very bottom of the page. The eye is drawn to the bright jewel-toned illustrations, and once readers get the hang of the story song, they can pay more of their attention to the pictures. Once each character has been presented, for the rest of the book only their head is visible at the bottom page, bringing the attention to the new character introduced in that verse of the song, so to speak. When the cannon is finally fired, the entire page is drawn in red, the smoke from the blast, the grass, the cannon itself, and Drummer Hoff himself, against a brilliant blue background. This red is an angrier color, pairing appropriately with the firing of an explosive, and on the next page is peacefully overgrown by flowers and plants. With only the cumulative song as text, the pictures on the final pages are the epilogue to the firing of the cannon.

Caldecott Winner 1969
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. This is a wonderful folktale that tells of luck and cunning, the triumph of good (even if the person is simple or a fool) over that of treachery and deceit. This Russian folktale tells the story of a poor fool unloved by his parents that gets extremely lucky by winning the hand of a princess with the help of a flying ship and its crew. The images are bright and beautiful with numerous Russian details to supplement the story. Overall, the moral or theme seems to be that God will provide for the good and the simple, not at all a traditional American story. An excellent children’s activity would be to make their own flying ship and crew by allowing them to choose their own cast of characters. Another suggestion would be to make a hat suitable for "air sailing."

Caldecott Winner 1970
Sylvester can't believe his luck when he finds a magic pebble that can make wishes come true. But when a lion jumps out at him on his way home, Sylvester is shocked into making a wish that has unexpected consequences. After overcoming a series of obstacles, Sylvester is eventually reunited with his loving family. Illustrated with William Steig's glowing pictures, this winner of the Caldecott Medal is beloved by children everywhere. This package includes a paperback book along with a CD of this modern classic read by legendary actor James Earl Jones. 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.

Caldecott Winner 1972
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. This book is about a fox who gets its tail cut off by a woman because he drank her milk. The woman would sew back on the fox's tail if the fox brought her some milk. The cow would give the fox milk if brought grass. The grass wanted water, the water wanted a jug, a lady with a jug wanted a bead, the man with a bead wanted an egg, the hen with an egg wanted grain, then a nice man gave him some grain so he can down the line of favors get his tail sewn back on and return to his friends.

Caldecott Winner 1973
A lively little woman who loves to laugh pursues her runaway dumpling, and must outwit the wicked three-eyed oni when she lands in their clutches. A little old woman lives by herself making little rice balls. She has a beautiful little home. One day her rice ball rolls off the table into a crack. The floor gives way and the woman falls down into a tunnel. The neat thing the illustrator does is the whole time she is underground we can see her in relation to her house. There is a row of statues called Jizo Sama and I assume they are keeping the evil spirits underground. They warn her to turn back for the evil Oni are at the end of the road. The woman laughs and runs on not being afraid of Oni. She is enslaved by them and they have her make rice balls with a magic paddle that turns one grain of rice into a potful.

Caldecott Winner 1974
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.

Caldecott Winner 1975
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. As the Sun-Lord fires an arrow to a maiden in the Pueblo tribe, she gives birth to a son, who is ridiculed for not having a father around. He sets out to find his father and finds him as the Sun-Lord after a wise sage turns him into an arrow and fires him into the sun. He completes four trials for his father to prove himself, and when he completes them all, his father asks him to go back to the land of men and spread the magic of the sun.

Caldecott Winner 1976
In this West African folk tale, retold by Verna Aardema, a mosquito brags to an iguana that he spied a farmer digging yams as big as mosquitoes. The iguana scoffs at such a notion and refuses to listen to any more nonsense. Grumbling, he puts sticks in his ears and scuttles off through the reeds and sets off a chain reaction among myriad animals inhabiting the same. This fable is about why mosquitoes buzz in people’s ears (like the title says) and it is caused by a chain of events that go on and on until a branch breaks and an owlet dies. The mother owl hoots up the sun and because she is sad, she will not call up the sun and they are in darkness. It also becomes like ‘there was an old woman who swallowed a fly’ in that each verse gets added as the story goes along.

Caldecott Winner 1977
Describes distinctive life-styles of 26 African tribes in text and stunning pictures. Shanti to Zulu: African Traditions by Margaret Musgrove goes through the alphabet describing and explaining parts of the culture of people living in Africa. For the letter V, the Vai people of Liberia carry heavy baskets on their heads to transport the items that they need. Some women even hold babies at the same time. I learned also about the Hausa men who pray five times a day to Allah for the letter H, and the letter C for Chagga which is a group of children of the same age and sex that grow up together. The work, play and go to school together until they all become adults at the same time together with a special ceremony that they all participate in.

Caldecott Winner 1978
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. The bee and the fox, the sheep, and the ox, two of each kind trudged aboard Noah's famous vessel. Peter Spier uses his own translation of a seventeenth-century Dutch poem about this most famous menagerie. Spier’s wordless picture book is impressive in how it explores different emotions and circumstances that deal with the ark. Sadness sets in when the ark is closed up and all the animals that are unable to board must look on in despair as the waters rise. The book also conveys a strong sense of sacrifice and work ethic. Spier captures Noah’s frustration and worry in the beginning, and also his relief and gratitude at the end of the ordeal by showing how he and his family have been able to endure. The book attests to the marvel of Noah's experience, and it balances the extraordinary nature of the adventure with humorous moments and the stubbornness of certain animals, such as the rats that give Noah’s wife a scare.

Caldecott Winner 1979
Though she is fond of her people, a girl prefers to live among the wild horses where she is truly happy and free. This is a traditional Pueblo Indian folk tale. A young girl loves horses and takes on the care of the tribe’s stock. But during a violent storm, her favorite horse is spooked by the lightning and runs away with the girl on her back; the horse runs so far that they do not know how to get back to the camp. However, they notice a herd of wild horses, led by a spotted stallion, and they join that herd for help and protection. Eventually, the girl returns to her people, but she finds she misses the wild horses whom she has come to love, so she leaves her home to join the wild horses. There is a message here about the relationship between people and the natural world, about protecting the resources of the earth, and being thankful for the gifts received from nature.

Caldecott Winner 1980
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.

Caldecott Winner 1981
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. Arnold Lobel’s writing is witty and inventive as he narrates each fable with a wise and proper air, indicating that the main characters are of high class (which might explain why they are dress in Victorian-era clothing) yet they tried to learn the trials of life as explained by the moral at the end of each fable. Arnold Lobel’s illustrations are also something to be desired as he makes each character colorful and rich and he also draws each animal in the story as realistically as he can. “Fables” is a wonderful book of fables that help teach children about valuable lessons in life and how they must try to be wise in the decisions they make.

Caldecott Winner 1982
The game under the tree looked like a hundred others Peters and Judy had at home. But they were bored and restless and, looking for something interesting to do, though they'd give Jumanji a try. Little did they know when they unfolded its ordinary-looking playing board that they were about to be plunged into the most exciting and bizarre adventure of their lives. In his second book for children, Chris Van Allsburg again explores the ever-shifting line between fantasy and reality with this story about a game that comes startlingly to life. His marvelous drawings beautifully convey a mix of every day and the extraordinary, as a quiet house is taken over by an exotic jungle.

Caldecott Winner 1983
Shadow lives in the forest. It goes forth at night to prowl around the fires. It even likes to mingle with the dancers, Shadow. It waves with the grasses, curls up at the foot of trees. But in the African experience Shadow is much more. The village storytellers and shamans of an Africa that is passing into memory called forth for the poet Blaise Cendrars an eerie image, shifting between the beliefs of the present and the spirits of the past. Shadow, it does not cry out, it has no voice. It can cast a spell over you. It follows man everywhere, even to war. Marcia Brown's stunning illustrations in collage, inspired by her travels in Africa, evoke the atmosphere and drama of a life now haunted, now enchanted by Shadow.

Caldecott Winner 1984
This stunningly illustrated book depicts Louis Bleriot's historic first cross-Channel flight. This is the story of Louis Blériot, who was the first person to fly across the English Channel in the early 1900s. After seeing the first airship crossing over the city of Cambrai, in France, Louis Blériot decides to build a "flying machine". It took him many years and many attempts, but he never gave up. In 1909, after many crashes, the "Blériot XI" succeed in crossing over the channel in 37 minutes. Every attempt to create the flying machine is recorded in this book with a picture that illustrates how each new invention looked like, from the first "draft" too small for a person to sit in it to the airplane that finally crossed the channel. Louis Blériot is showed persevering and positive during the whole story. He not only had to learn how to build a plane, but he also needed to learn to pilot one. He never says he failed, but he "almost flew", "he is learning", "he is getting lots of practice". On every page is also possible to see his family, friends, and community supporting Blériot in this challenge.

Caldecott Winner 1985
A 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 folklore. This is an old folk tale about the legend of Saint George and how he became the patron saint of England based on Sir Edmund Spenser's Renaissance The Faerie Queene.

Caldecott Winner 1986
The Polar Express is a treasured holiday tradition. A young boy is awakened from his Christmas Eve rest by a train that magically appears just outside his home. Ignoring the demands of stranger-danger, the boy climbs aboard, finding the car filled with other youngsters. They are treated to goodies while en route to the north pole where Santa is to offer the first gift of Christmas to one of the passengers in a town-square ceremony attended by all the elves as well as the transported youngsters. Our hero is selected, and when asked what he would like, opts for a single bell from Santa's sleigh.

Caldecott Winner 1987
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? Their room is crowded and cramped; their life is an endless struggle. Al and Eddie are practically at each other's 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. Al the janitor doesn't mind working hard all day, even though he hardly makes enough to pay for a tiny studio and keep food in his and his dog's mouths. But Eddie, the little dog, wishes for space to run around. When a giant toucan pokes his head in the bathroom window one day and offers to take them on a tropical vacation, it seems like a wonderful opportunity. But as the two buddies lounge around in paradise, they find themselves turning into birds! Can they escape?

Caldecott Winner 1988
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 relationship to the natural world. Wonderfully complemented by John Schoenherr's soft, exquisite watercolor illustrations, this is a verbal and visual treasure, perfect for reading aloud and sharing at bedtime.

Caldecott Winner 1989
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.

Caldecott Winner 1990
Lon Po Po is a red riding hood story from China. It fits into both the multicultural and traditional categories of literature. Po Po is the name that the three grandchildren, Shang, Tao, and Paotze call their grandmother. And Lon Po Po means granny wolf. The story follows the traditional pattern of red riding hood. The mother leaves the children alone so that she can visit her mother, and while she is away the wolf comes to their door claiming to be their grandmother. The wolf says that his voice is lower because he has a cold and they let him in, in the dark. While he is lying in bed with the children, he continues to make excuses for his foot having a bush on it, and his hand having thorns on it (a variation on big eyes and sharp teeth). Shang, the eldest and most clever, is suspicious and lights a candle, which the wolf quickly blows out again. Even though it was lit for only a moment, she sees the wolf. Next, she decides to tempt the wolf with ginkgo. All of the children climb the ginkgo tree to get away from the wolf. They convince the wolf that ginkgo is only magical if it is plucked from the tree by the person eating it. But the wolf says that he is too old to climb the tree, so Shang tells him that the children will help him by hoisting him up inside of a basket. It ends well for the children, but not so for the wolf.

Caldecott Winner 1991
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? A boy on a train, sleeping during an overnight trip, unsure of what he's seeing when the train stops. Commuters waiting at the station for their train that's been delayed, ultimately amusing themselves with newspapers to pass the time. A little boy describing a sudden change in his parents, from ordinary and mundane to unpredictable. And cows who escape a field. In David Macaulay's Black and White, four stories are told at once. Will they converge at the end? This postmodern picture book offers multiple perspectives to the reader, and its juxtaposition of seemingly unrelated elements can be confusing to the reader or can be seen as an opportunity to dig deeper and, almost like a puzzle, figure out how everything fits together.

Caldecott Winner 1992
The unpredictable events of a particular Tuesday unroll before the reader with the precision and clarity of a silent movie. The story begins in the early evening on a Tuesday and all is quiet at the pond. All of a sudden, the frogs begin to levitate on their lily pads and travel into a nearby town. They visit a woman watching TV, a man having a snack, and a dog running through a yard. “Tuesday” is an excellent book about the power of using one’s imagination as magic is the main theme here and this book will surely be an instant treat for children who love books dealing with adventure and imagination. I would recommend this book to children ages three and up since the majority of the book is wordless and young children will easily enjoy the illustrations.

Caldecott Winner 1993
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.

Caldecott Winner 1994
Lyrical, breathtaking, splendid words used to describe Allen Say's Grandfather's Journey when it was first published. At once deeply personal yet expressing universally held emotions, this tale of one man's love for two countries and his constant desire to be in both places captured readers' attention and hearts. This tale of one man’s love for two countries and his constant desire to be in both places, as he goes between Japan and the United States over the course of his life.

Caldecott Winner 1995
On 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 or preaching. Smoky Night written by Eve Bunting is a children's book about a boy named Daniel and his mother watching rioting and looting in the streets below them. Daniel and his mother then both go to bed assuming the riots are over, but they quickly learn that their building is then on fire and have to quickly evacuate. However, Daniel is hesitant to leave because he can not find his cat. The search for Daniel's cat continues throughout the whole story and Daniel's cat and his neighbor's cat are finally retrieved and returned to Daniel from a firefighter.

Caldecott Winner 1996
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 sandwich' and 'never lick a stop sign in the winter', add to the enjoyment. A glorious picture book. Rathmann is a quick-rising star in the world of children'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.

Caldecott Winner 1997
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. Some four hundred years ago, according to Jewish legend, a revered Jewish teacher and scholar, Rabbi Loew, shaped a giant man out of clay, a golem, and brought him to life. The golem's task was to vanquish those who persecuted the Jews of Prague, and he performed it almost too well.

Caldecott Winner 1998
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 narrative capability 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 ofRapunzelreaches back beyond the Grimms to a late-seventeenth-century French tale by Mlle. la Force, who based hers on the Neapolitan tale Petrosinellain 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 beginning of 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.

Caldecott Winner 1999
"Of all the forms of water, the tiny six-pointed crystals of ice called snow are incomparably the most beautiful and varied." Wilson Bentley (1865-1931), from the time he was a small boy in Vermont, Wilson Bentley saw snowflakes as small miracles. And he determined that one day his camera would capture for others the wonder of the tiny crystal. Bentley's enthusiasm for photographing snowflakes was often misunderstood in his time, but his patience and determination revealed two important truths: no two snowflakes are alike; and each one is startlingly beautiful. His story is gracefully told and brought to life in lovely woodcuts, giving children an insight into a soul who had not only a scientist's vision and perseverance but a clear passion for the wonders of nature.

Caldecott Winner 2000
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. Joseph appears to be a normal-sized man); it gets too patched and worn so he cuts it down into a jacket. When the jacket gets to frayed he makes it a vest, etc until there is nothing left. From his house, Joseph doesn't look excruciatingly poor; not sure why he can't buy a new coat.

Caldecott Winner 2001
So you want to be President! Why not? Presidents have come in every variety. They've been generals like George Washington and actors like Ronald Reagan, big like William Howard Taft and small like James Madison, handsome like Franklin Pierce and homely like Abraham Lincoln. From the embarrassment of skinny-dipping John Quincy Adams to the mischievous adventure of Theodore Roosevelt's pony, Judith St. George shares the backroom facts, the spitfire comments, and the comical anecdotes that have been part and parcel of America's White House. Hilariously illustrated by Caldecott honor-winning artist David Small, this celebration shows us the foibles, quirks, and the humanity of forty-one men who have risen to one of the most powerful positions in the world.

Caldecott Winner 2002
This Caldecott Medal-winning picture book begins placidly (and familiarly) enough, with three pigs collecting materials and going off to build houses of straw, sticks, and bricks. But the wolf's huffing and puffing blow the first pig right out of the story, and into the realm of pure imagination. The transition signals the start of a freewheeling adventure with characteristic David Wiesner effects, cinematic flow, astonishing shifts of perspective, and sly humor, as well as episodes of flight. Satisfying both as a story and as an exploration of the nature of the story, The Three Pigs takes visual narrative to a new level. Dialogue balloons, text excerpts, and a wide variety of illustration styles guide the reader through a dazzling fantasy universe to the surprising and happy ending. Fans of Tuesday's frogs and Sector 7's clouds will be captivated by old friends, the Three Pigs of nursery fame, and their companions, in a new guise.

Caldecott Winner 2003
Rabbit saves the day in a most ingenious 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. In this picture book story is the universality of the experiences shared by Mouse and Rabbit. Because Mouse loves his friend, he puts up with him, even when he causes trouble. Although Rabbit means well, his solutions to problems often lead to even more problems, and nothing ever goes as he plans. Young and older readers can relate to the story because so many of them have friends just like Rabbit. This simply told tale has a timeless quality about it, and the hand-colored relief prints show Rabbit's gleeful joy as he plays with Mouse's airplane, seemingly unconcerned about the craft becoming stuck in a tree or Mouse's inability to see while he's flying. The simple text follows the two from mishap to mishap. Mouse puts up with Rabbit and joins him in playful adventures but never really tries to change him at all. That makes me wonder about Mouse's patience and tolerance and Rabbit's lack of awareness. What should we do when a friend really is as clueless about consequences as Mouse's friend?

Caldecott Winner 2004
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.

Caldecott Winner 2005
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? 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.

Caldecott Winner 2006
This is a love song devoted 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. Told in her voice, 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 illustrations. The world for this little girl will soon grow larger and more complex, but never more enchanting or deeply felt.

Caldecott Winner 2007
A bright, science-minded boy goes to the beach equipped to collect and examine flotsam, anything floating that has been washed ashore. Bottles, lost toys, small objects of every description are among his usual finds. But there's no way he could have prepared for one particular discovery: a barnacle-encrusted underwater camera, with its own secrets to share and to keep. Each of David Wiesner's amazing picture books has revealed the magical possibilities of some ordinary thing or happening, a frog on a lily pad, a trip to the Empire State Building, a well-known nursery tale. In this Caldecott Medal winner, a day at the beach is the springboard into a wildly imaginative exploration of the mysteries of the deep, and of the qualities that enable us to witness these wonders and delight in them.

Caldecott Winner 2008
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 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.

Caldecott Winner 2009
A spare, patterned text and glowing pictures explore the origins of light that make a house a home in this bedtime book for young children. Naming nighttime things that are both comforting and intriguing to preschoolers, a key, a bed, the moon, this timeless book illuminates a reassuring order to the universe. It is about a house in the night with a book on a bed that talks about the starry night and moon. The story ends with the people in the house going to bed and the house is lit by the stars and moon in the dark sky. The illustrations in this book portray impressionism because of the emphasis on the contrasting dark and light colors throughout the night. Even though the whole story was set during the nighttime, it still depicted the light stars and moon which highlight objects throughout the night. It is a very simple yet pleasing book to read and would be great for young readers.

Caldecott Winner 2010
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.

Caldecott Winner 2011
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. It's a wonderful story, and just fantastical enough to be funny and still touching and charming. And the illustrations are so beautiful and wonderful and fun.

Caldecott Winner 2012
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 book! 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.

Caldecott Winner 2013
From the creator of the #1 New York Times best-selling and award-winning, I Want My Hat Back comes to 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.

Caldecott Winner 2014
The 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!

Caldecott Winner 2015
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 from 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.

Caldecott Winner 2016
A 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 the Winnie-the-Pooh, there was a real bear named Winnie. And she was a girl!

Caldecott Winner 2017
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.

Caldecott Winner 2018
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. The story involves a young girl finding a wolf cub in the woods. When she gets lost, the wolf family protects her and leads her family to her location with their howls. It's a cute story of "friendship and trust" according to the blurb, but I don't like books where, in reality, it probably wouldn't work out this way at all. That girl would be wolf food. Wolf in the Snow is a heartwarming wordless picturebook that hints at the traditional tale of Little Red Riding Hood but has a refreshingly positive representation of wolves in children's literature.

Caldecdott Winner 2019
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.

Caldecott Winner 2020
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.

Caldecott Winner 2021
Inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America, We Are Water Protectors issues an urgent rallying cry to safeguard the Earth's water from harm and corruption--a bold and lyrical picture book written by Carole Lindstrom and vibrantly illustrated by Michaela Goade. Water is the first medicine. It affects and connects us all . . . When a black snake threatens to destroy the Earth And poison her people's water, one young water protector Takes a stand to defend Earth's most sacred resource.