The Caldecott Medal is named for Randolph Caldecott, one of the most influential children's illustrators working in England in the 1800s. The very first Caldecott Medal was awarded in 1938. This gold medal is awarded yearly to the illustrator of the most distinguished picture book published in the United States in the previous year. Additional distinguished books are named as Caldecott Honor Books, and receive silver medals.
All Caldecott medal winners and honor books are eligible for Gold Medal Books. Please note that a great many of the older books are now out of print, and may be difficult to find. More recent winners may include graphic novels or other books more suitable for older readers, so please be aware of that when choosing titles to read.
Click here for a list of all Caldecott books from 1938-2024.
Caldecott Challenges
Reading Rainbow Badge: Read 10 books illustrated by Caldecott artists that were featured on the PBS series Reading Rainbow.
Folklorist Badge: Read 10 medal winners and/or honor books that are retellings of folktales or fairy tales.
Historian Badge: Read 10 medal winners and/or honor books that tell stories set during real periods in history.
Heritage Badge: Read 10 medal winners and/or honor books that were published before 1960.
Art Study Badge: Chose a Caldecott medal-winning illustrator from the list. Read 10 of their books, including at least one that won the Caldecott award.