Randolph Caldecott Medal and Honor Books

About this book list

The Randolph Caldecott Medal is awarded each year by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association. It recognizes the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children published in the United States during the preceding year. The committee may also name Honor Books. Its criteria focus on artistic technique and the way pictures develop story, theme, character, setting, mood, or information. That emphasis matters when choosing a book: the Caldecott recognizes illustration and pictorial presentation, while the Newbery Medal centers on writing. It is not a popularity contest or an age rating. Medal and Honor labels are both official distinctions, and Honor Books are not presented as a numbered second place. Comparing a year's Medal recipient with its Honor Books can reveal very different visual approaches to storytelling. For younger children, looking through the artwork together may be as important as considering the amount of text.