Caldecott Books - Exodus Books

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Click here for a complete list of Caldecott Medalists and Honor Books, organized by year with ratings, FLAWS, and links to book reviews.

In 1921, Frederic G. Melcher suggested the introduction of a children's book award prize. Adults had their literary prizes, he argued. Why not kids? Are not children's books worthy of serious consideration and applause? he might have urged, standing before the august assembly of the American Library Association's Executive Board, right arm flung across his chest, Hendrik Willem van Loon's The Story of Mankind clutched tightly in his left hand. What about the children?

The persons associated with the aforementioned Board thought Melcher was right and the Newbery Medal was born, but 15 years later he realized he hadn't gone far enough. What about the illustrators of children's books? he thought, snoozing at his desk late one evening. The television was not yet on to keep him awake because there was not yet television. What about the illustrators? The thought plagued him, it got into his bones, and again he took his case before the magisterial Executive Board.

Yes, they agreed, the writers are duly recognized; let also the illustrators be touted and awarded for their efforts! And so it was, in A.D. 1937 that the Caldecott Award was conceived and brought forth, an award for the best children's picture book of the year, named for famed 19th-century British illustrator Randolph J. Caldecott. Books that deserved attention but failed to attain the rank of single very best picture book of the year were to be given honorable mention.

Melcher's heroic efforts were not for naught. The Caldecott Award has consistently gone to books with beautiful, engaging, and/or very fun illustrations, even in recent years. Of course, there are plenty of wonderful picture books that are on no Caldecott list, either as winners or honorably mentioned (to whom, no one is quite sure), and the award is only given to books written and published in the United States of America. But the flame of quality diversion for children continues to burn brightly, and we thank ol' Freddy for his indefatigable efforts, and for the kindness of the Board's acceptance of them.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.

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	Abraham Lincoln by Edgar & Ingri D'Aulaire 75th Anniversary Edition from Beautiful Feet Books Picture Book Biography for 3rd-6th grade 1940 Caldecott Medal winner in Biographies (Location: BIO) $17.95
	Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka from Schwartz & Wade for Preschool-2nd grade 2012 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $17.99
	Big Snow by Berta & Elmer Hader Reprint from Aladdin Paperbacks for Preschool-2nd grade 1949 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.99
	Big Snow by Berta & Elmer Hader Reprint from Macmillan for Preschool-2nd grade 1949 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
	Cinderella by Marcia Brown (translator) from Aladdin Paperbacks Fairy Tales, Fables, and Legends for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1955 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.99 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Drummer Hoff by Barbara Emberley from Simon and Schuster for Nursery-2nd grade 1968 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $6.99
	Finders Keepers by Will and Nicholas Reissue from Houghton Mifflin for Kindergarten-4th grade 1952 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.00
	Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster 1^st edition from Hyperion/Madison Press for Preschool- 2nd Grade 2006 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $18.99
	Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster from Scholastic Inc. for Preschool- 2nd Grade 2006 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Jumanji With CD read by Robin Williams by Chris Van Allsburg, Robin Williams (Narrator) 30th Anniversary Edition from Houghton Mifflin Animal Stories: Fantasy for 1st-3rd grade 1982 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $18.99
	Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes First Edition from Greenwillow Books for Kindergarten-1st grade 2005 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $17.99
	Little Island by Margaret Wise Brown, Leonard Weisgard from Dragonfly Books Picture Books for Preschool-2nd grade 1947 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.99 $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Lon Po Po A Red-Riding Hood Story from China by Ed Young from PaperStar Books Fairy Tales, Fables, and Legends for 1st-4th grade 1990 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $6.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully from PaperStar Books Realistic Fiction for Kindergarten-2nd grade 1993 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.99
	My Friend Rabbit Reissue from Square Fish Publishing for Preschool- 3rd Grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.99
	Nine Days to Christmas A Story of Mexico by Marie Hall Ets from Viking Press for Preschool- 3rd Grade 1960 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
	Nine Days to Christmas A Story of Mexico by Marie Hall Ets from Dover Publications for Preschool- 3rd Grade 1960 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $15.95
	Once a Mouse by Marcia Brown 2^nd edition from Aladdin Paperbacks Fairy Tales, Fables, and Legends for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1962 Caldecott Medal Winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Once a Mouse by Marcia Brown from Atheneum Fairy Tales, Fables, and Legends for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1962 Caldecott Medal Winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
	One Fine Day by Nonny Hogrogian from Aladdin Paperbacks Fairy Tales, Fables, and Legends for 2nd-3d grade 1972 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $6.99
	Rooster Crows A Book of American Rhymes and Jingles by Maud & Miska Petersham Fir from Aladdin Paperbacks for Kindergarten-4th grade 1946 Caldecott Medal winner in Poetry for Children (Location: POET-CHIL) $7.99
	Saint George and the Dragon by Margaret Hodges & Trina Schart Hyman from Little, Brown & Company Fairy Tales, Fables, and Legends for 2nd-3rd grade 1985 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.99
	Sam, Bangs & Moonshine by Evaline Ness from Henry Holt and Company Allegorical and Moral Stories for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1967 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $9.99 $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Sam, Bangs & Moonshine by Evaline Ness from Holt, Rinehart and Winston Allegorical and Moral Stories for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1967 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Sam, Bangs & Moonshine by Evaline Ness from Trumpet Club Allegorical and Moral Stories for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1967 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $1.50 (1 in stock)
	Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead First Edition from Roaring Brook Press for Preschool-2nd grade 2011 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $17.99
	Story, A Story by Gail E. Haley Reprint from Aladdin Paperbacks for Preschool- 3rd Grade 1971 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.99
	They Were Strong and Good by Robert Lawson from Viking Press for 1st-3rd grade 1941 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $18.99
	Three Pigs by David Wiesner 1^st edition from Clarion Books for Preschool-2nd grade 2002 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $18.99
	Time of Wonder by Robert McCloskey from Puffin Books Realistic Fiction for 2nd-4th grade 1958 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Tree is Nice by Janice Udry & Marc Simont from HarperCollins Non-fiction for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1957 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.99 $4.50 (2 in stock)
	Tree is Nice by Janice Udry & Marc Simont from HarperCollins Non-fiction for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1957 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Tuesday by David Wiesner from Clarion Books for Preschool-2nd grade 1992 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $17.99
	White Snow, Bright Snow by Alvin Tresselt from William Morrow & Company Poetry for 1st-3rd grade 1948 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.99
	White Snow, Bright Snow by Alvin Tresselt, illustrated by Roger Duvoisin from Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books Poetry for 1st-3rd grade 1948 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $4.50 (1 in stock)

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