Caldecott Award Winners

Awarded to the artist of the most distinguished American Picture Book for Children.

The Caldecott Medal

The Caldecott Medal is awarded to the artist of the most distinguished American Picture Book for Children published in the United States during the preceding year. 

Book jacket graphic
Big
Vashti Harrison

Praised for acting like a big girl when she is small, as a young girl grows, "big" becomes a word of criticism, until the girl realizes that she is fine just the way she is.

Caldecott Award
Winner: 2024
Book jacket graphic
Hot Dog
Doug Salati

It’s summer in the city, and this hot dog has had enough! Enough of sizzling sidewalks, enough of wailing sirens, enough of people’s feet right in his face. When he plops down in the middle of a crosswalk, his owner endeavors to get him the breath of fresh air he needs. She hails a taxi, hops a train, and ferries out to the beach. Here, a pup can run!

Caldecott Award
Winner: 2023
Book jacket graphic
Watercress
Andrea Wang ; pictures by Jason Chin

Embarrassed about gathering watercress from a roadside ditch, a girl learns to appreciate her Chinese heritage after learning why the plant is so important to her parents.

Caldecott Award
Winner: 2022
Book jacket graphic
We are water protectors
Carole Lindstrom ; illustrated by Michaela Goade

Water is the first medicine. It affects and connects us all... When a black snake threatens to destroy the Earth and poison her people's water, one young water protector takes a stand to defend Earth's most sacred resource. Inspired by the many indigenous-led movements across North America, this bold and lyrical picture book issues an urgent rallying cry to safeguard the Earth's water from harm and corruption.

Caldecott Award
Winner: 2021
Book jacket graphic
The undefeated
Kwame Alexander ; illustrated by Kadir Nelson

The Newbery Award-winning author of The Crossover pens an ode to black American triumph and tribulation, with art from a two-time Caldecott Honoree.

Caldecott Award
Winner: 2020