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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Used Books & Materials

	Adventures of Beekle The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat from Scholastic Inc. 2015 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $2.80 (1 in stock)
	Black and White by David Macaulay from Houghton Mifflin for Preschool-3rd grade 1991 Caldecott Medal winner in Oversized Picture Books (Location: PIC-OVER) $6.00 (2 in stock)
	Black and White by David Macaulay from Houghton Mifflin for Preschool-3rd grade 1991 Caldecott Medal winner in Oversized Picture Books (Location: PIC-OVER) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Color Zoo by Lois Ehlert 1^st edition from HarperCollins for Nursery-1st grade 1990 Caldecott Honor Book in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $4.80 (1 in stock)
	Fables by Arnold Lobel from HarperCollins Fairy Tales, Fables, and Legends for Preschool-3rd grade 1981 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.49 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Fables by Arnold Lobel from HarperCollins Fairy Tales, Fables, and Legends for Preschool-3rd grade 1981 Caldecott Medal winner in Oversized Picture Books (Location: PIC-OVER) $6.40 (1 in stock)
	Funny Little Woman by Arlene Mosel & Blair Lent Reissue from Puffin Books 1973 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $5.09 $2.80 (1 in stock)
	Goggles! by Ezra Jack Keats First Printing from Macmillan for Preschool-2nd grade 1970 Caldecott Honor Book in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC) $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster from Scholastic Inc. for Preschool- 2nd Grade 2006 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $3.60 (1 in stock)
	Hosie's Alphabet by Hosea, Tobias and Lisa Baskin, illustrated by Leonard Baskin from Viking Press for Nursery-2nd grade 1973 Caldecott Honor Book in Alphabet & Counting Books (Location: PIC-ALPH) $6.40 (1 in stock)
	Hot Air The (Mostly) True Story of the First Hot-Air Balloon Ride by Marjorie Priceman from Atheneum for Preschool-3rd grade 2006 Caldecott Honor Book in Oversized Picture Books (Location: PIC-OVER) $9.00 (1 in stock)
	Hush! A Thai Lullaby by Minfong Ho & Holly Meade Reprint from Scholastic Inc. for Preschool-1st grade 1997 Caldecott Honor Book in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $5.94 $3.60 (1 in stock)
	In the Small, Small Pond by Denise Fleming from Henry Holt and Company Word Books for Nursery-Kindergarten 1994 Caldecott Honor Book in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $2.40 (2 in stock)
	Journey Cake, Ho! by Ruth Sawyer, illustrated by Robert McCloskey from Viking Press for Preschool- 3rd Grade 1954 Caldecott Honor Book in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC) $6.40 (1 in stock)
	Little House by Virginia Lee Burton from Sandpiper Books Personification Stories for Preschool-3rd grade 1943 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.49 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	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) $7.64 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Marguerite de Angeli's Book of Nursery and Mother Goose Rhymes by Marguerite de Angeli from Doubleday & Company for Nursery-2nd grade 1955 Caldecott Honor Book in Mother Goose & Nursery Rhymes (Location: PIC-MG) $7.20 (3 in stock)
	Marshmallow by Clare Turlay Newberry from HarperCollins for Nursery-1st grade 1943 Caldecott Honor Book in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.64 $3.60 (1 in stock)
	Mei Li by Thomas Handforth Reissue from Doubleday & Company 1939 Caldecott Medal winner in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC) $15.20 (1 in stock)
	Mei Li by Thomas Handforth from Doubleday & Company 1939 Caldecott Medal winner in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC) $12.00 (1 in stock)
	Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters An African Tale by John Steptoe from Scholastic Inc. for Preschool-3rd grade 1988 Caldecott Honor Book in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $2.00 (2 in stock)
	My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann from Scholastic Inc. for Preschool-1st grade Caldecott Medal in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $2.80 (1 in stock)
	My Mother is the Most Beautiful Woman in the World / I Saw the Sea Come In by Becky Reyher, illustrated by Ruth Chrisman Gannett; Alvin Tresselt, illustrated by Roger Duvoisin from Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books for Preschool-2nd grade 1946 Caldecott Honor Book in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC) $7.20 (1 in stock)
	Noah's Ark by Peter Spier from Dell Publishing Bible Stories for Preschool-2nd grade 1978 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.64 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Olivia - Board Book by Ian Falconer from Atheneum Animal Fantasy for Preschool-1st grade 2001 Caldecott Honor Book in Board Books (Location: PIC-BOARD) $3.60 (1 in stock)
	Owen by Kevin Henkes 1^st edition from Greenwillow Books for Preschool-1st grade 1994 Caldecott Honor Book in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $1.60 (1 in stock)
	Owl Moon by Jane Yolen; illustrated by John Schoenherr from Philomel Books for Preschool-3rd grade 1988 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $15.29 $6.40 (1 in stock)
	Owl Moon by Jane Yolen from Scholastic Inc. for Preschool-3rd grade 1988 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $1.60 (1 in stock)
	Red Book by Barbara Lehman 1^st edition from HMH Books for Young Readers for Preschool-1st grade 2005 Caldecott Honor Book in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $6.40 (1 in stock)
	Story of Jumping Mouse A Native American Legend by John Steptoe from Scholastic Inc. Native American Fable for Preschool-2nd grade 1985 Caldecott Honor Book in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $2.00 (1 in stock)
	Story, A Story by Gail E. Haley Reprint from Aladdin Paperbacks for Preschool- 3rd Grade 1971 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $6.79 $3.60 (2 in stock)
	Stray Dog by Marc Simont from Scholastic Inc. for Preschool-2nd grade 2002 Caldecott Honor Book in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $2.00 (1 in stock)
	Talking Eggs by Robert D. San Souci First Edition from Scholastic Inc. for Preschool- 3rd Grade 1990 Caldecott Honor Book in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $2.00 (1 in stock)
	Time Flies by Eric Rohmann from Follett Bound for Preschool- 3rd Grade 1995 Caldecott Honor book in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Truck by Donald Crews from Scholastic Inc. Picture-only Books for Nursery-Preschool 1981 Caldecott Honor Book in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $1.20 (1 in stock)
	Umbrella by Taro Yashima Reprint from Puffin Books for Nursery-1st grade 1959 Caldecott Honor book in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $6.79 $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Yo! Yes? by Chris Raschka from Scholastic Inc. for Preschool-2nd grade 1994 Caldecott Honor Book in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $1.60 (1 in stock)

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