Caldecott Medal Winners

The Caldecott Medal is awarded annually 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. A complete list of winners can be found here.

Updated December 23, 2024
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Hot Dog
Salati, Doug
In this gorgeous, calming picture book, a sausage dog takes a trip to the beach to escape a sweltering summer in the city
2023
Big
Harrison, Vashti
Once there was a girl with a big laugh and a big heart and very big dreams. She grew and grew and grew. And it was good... until it wasn't. When the girl grows big, the world begins to make her feel small. She feels out of place and invisible, and soon she isn't...

2024

The undefeated
Alexander, Kwame
Paper Book
This is for the unforgettable. The unafraid. The undefeated. From New York Times bestselling-author Kwame Alexander comes this powerful and important ode to black history: the strength and bravery of everyday people and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world's greatest artists,...
2020
Wolf in the snow
Cordell, Matthew
Paper Book
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?Pictures 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 award...
2018
This is not my hat
Klassen, J.
Paper Book
When a tiny fish shoots into view wearing a round blue top hat (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 as though he'll ever know what happened - will he?

2013

The adventures of Beekle : the unimaginary friend
Santat, Dan
Paper Book
On one very special day an imaginary friend is born on an island far away. Here, he and his other imaginary friends play all day and each night they sit beneath the stars, hoping and waiting for their turn to be picked, to be imagined, by a real child. But this particular imaginary friend waits and...
2015
The lion & the mouse
Pinkney, Jerry.
Paper Book
A stunning, wordless version of one of Aesop's best-loved fables, from one of America's most acclaimed artists.In this Caldecott Medal-winning, wordless picture book, one of America's most acclaimed artists retells one of Aesop's best-loved fables. The fable is a favourite and familiar one: a mouse...

2010

The invention of Hugo Cabret : a novel in words and pictures
Selznick, Brian.
Audiobook

2008

The Polar Express
Van Allsburg, Chris.
Paper Book
Late on Christmas Eve, after the town has gone to sleep, a boy boards a mysterious train that waits for him: the Polar Express bound for the North Pole. When he arrives there, Santa offers him any gift he desires. The boy modestly asks for one bell from the reindeer's harness. It turns out to be a...

1986

Flotsam
Wiesner, David.
Paper Book
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...

2007

Jumanji
Van Allsburg, Chris.
Paper Book
The game under the tree looked like a hundred others Peter and Judy had at home. But they were bored and restless and, looking for something interesting to do, thought they'd give Jumanji a try. Little did they know when they unfolded its ordinary-looking playing board that they were about to be...

1982

Where the wild things are
Sendak, Maurice.
Paper Book
One night Max puts on his wolf suit and makes mischief of one kind and another, so his mother calls him 'Wild Thing' and sends him to bed without his supper. That night a forest begins to grow in Max's room and an ocean rushes by with a boat to take Max to the place where the...

1964


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