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All the Caldecott Winners Since 1938

If you’d like a printable copy of this Caldecott winners list that you can take to your library or screenshot on your phone for easy access, just pop in your email address below and it’ll come right to your inbox!

When I was a school librarian, one of my favorite units was talking about Caldecott winners.

(If you’re new to the Caldecott award, it’s an award given out each year by the American Library Association – specifically by the Association for Library Service to Children division – for the most distinguished American picture book for children).

“Most distinguished” is a pretty subjective term and I loved showing my classes various Caldecott winners over the year (it’s been around since the 1930s!) and having them decide which ones they thought were worthy of the Caldecott medal and which ones they would NOT have slapped a shiny gold sticker on.

Each year, I love doing a Mock Caldecott where I read 20-30 picture books getting a lot of buzz and pick my own winners before the official announcement is made in late January or early February.

If you’re looking for a full list of all the Caldecott winners, here are all the Caldecott books (both the Caldecott medal winner plus the Caldecott Honor books for each year) since the Caldecott was first given.

caldecott winners

This is a great list to work from if you want to explore different picture books across many decades – you’ll see some you know well and that are wildly popular and others that you’ve probably never heard of before and that are hard to find copies of!

Note that the award is given the year AFTER the book was published. So the 2025 Caldecott Winner is a book published in 2024 and the 1987 winner was published in 1986 and so forth. (Confusing? Yes).

However you choose to use this list of Caldecott winners, I hope it’ll be helpful!

2025

2025 Caldecott Medal Winner

chooch helped book



Chooch Helped by Andrea L. Rogers, illustrated by Rebecca Lee Kunz


2025 Caldecott Honors:

2024

2024 Caldecott Medal Winner

big



Big by Vashti Harrison


2024 Caldecott Honors:

2023

2023 Caldecott Medal Winner

hot dog book



Hot Dog by Doug Salati


2023 Caldecott Honors:

2022

2022 Caldecott Medal Winner

watercress book


Watercress by Andrea Wang, illustrated by Jason Chin


2022 Caldecott Honor Books:

2021


2021 Caldecott Medal Winner

we are water protectors book


We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Michaela Goade



2021 Caldecott Honor Books:

2020

2020 Caldecott Medal Winner

the undefeated book


The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander, illustrated by Kadir Nelson


2020 Caldecott Honor Books:

2019


2019 Caldecott Medal Winner

hello lighthouse book




Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall



2019 Caldecott Honor Books:

2018


2018 Caldecott Medal Winner

wolf in the snow book


Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell


2018 Caldecott Honor Books:

2017


2017 Caldecott Medal Winner:

2017 Caldecott Honor Books:

2016


2016 Caldecott Medal Winner:

finding winnie


Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick, illustrated by Sophie Blackall


2016 Caldecott Honor Books:

2015


2015 Caldecott Medal Winner:

2015 Caldecott Honor Books:

2014

2014 Caldecott Medal Winner:

locomotive book



Locomotive by Brian Floca


2014 Caldecott Honor Books:

2013


2013 Caldecott Medal Winner:

this is not my hat book


This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen


2013 Caldecott Honor Books:

2012


2012 Caldecott Medal Winner:

a ball for daisy book



A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka

2012 Caldecott Honor Books:

2011


2011 Caldecott Medal Winner:

A Sick day for Amos McGee


A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead, illustrated by Erin E. Stead


2011 Caldecott Honor Books:

2010

2010 Caldecott Medal Winner:

lion and the mouse


The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney


2010 Caldecott Honor Books:

2009


2009 Caldecott Medal Winner:

the house in the night



The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson, illustrated by Beth Krommes


2009 Caldecott Honor Books:

2008


2008 Caldecott Medal Winner:

Hugo Cabret book



The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick



2008 Caldecott Honor Books:

2007


2007 Caldecott Medal Winner:

flotsam


Flotsam by David Wiesner


2007 Caldecott Honor Books:

2006


2006 Caldecott Medal Winner:

the hello, goodbye window book


The Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster, illustrated by Chris Raschka


2006 Caldecott Honor Books:

2005


2005 Caldecott Medal Winner:

kittens first full moon


Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes



2005 Caldecott Honor Books:

2004


2004 Caldecott Medal Winner:

2004 Caldecott Honor Books:

2003


2003 Caldecott Medal Winner:

my friend rabbit book


My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann


2003 Caldecott Honor Books:

2002


2002 Caldecott Medal Winner:

the three little pigs


The Three Pigs
by David Wiesner


2002 Caldecott Honor Books:

2001


2001 Caldecott Medal Winner:

so you want to be the president book



So You Want to Be President? by Judith St. George, illustrated by David Small


2001 Caldecott Honor Books:

2000

2000 Caldecott Medal Winner:

2000 Caldecott Honor Books:

1999


1999 Caldecott Medal Winner:

snowflake bentley book


Snowflake Bentley
by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, illustrated by Mary Azarian


1999 Caldecott Honor Books:

1998


1998 Caldecott Medal Winner:

rapunzel book



Rapunzel by Paul O. Zelinsky



1998 Caldecott Honor Books:

1997


1997 Caldecott Medal Winner:



Golem by David Wisniewski



1997 Caldecott Honor Books:

1996


1996 Caldecott Medal Winner:




Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann



1996 Caldecott Honor Books:

1995


1995 Caldecott Medal Winner:



Smoky Night by Eve Bunting, illustrated by David Diaz



1995 Caldecott Honor Books:

1994


1994 Caldecott Medal Winner:

1994 Caldecott Honor Books:

1993


1993 Caldecott Medal Winner:

mirette on the high wire



Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully




1993 Caldecott Honor Books:

1992


1992 Caldecott Medal Winner:



Tuesday by David Wiesner


1992 Caldecott Honor Book:

1991


1991 Caldecott Medal Winner:



Black and White by David Macaulay



1991 Caldecott Honor Books:

1990


1990 Caldecott Medal Winner:

1990 Caldecott Honor Books:

1989


1989 Caldecott Medal Winner:




Song and Dance Man by Karen Ackerman, illustrated by Stephen Gammell


1989 Caldecott Honor Books:

1988


1988 Caldecott Medal Winner:




Owl Moon by Jane Yolen, illustrated by John Schoenherr



1988 Caldecott Honor Book:

1987


1987 Caldecott Medal Winner:



Hey, Al by Arthur Yorinks, illustrated by Richard Egielski




1987 Caldecott Honor Books:

1986


1986 Caldecott Medal Winner:



The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg


1986 Caldecott Honor Books:

1985


1985 Caldecott Medal Winner:


Saint George and the Dragon by Margaret Hodges, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman


1985 Caldecott Honor Books:

1984


1984 Caldecott Medal Winner:

1984 Caldecott Honor Books:

1983


1983 Caldecott Medal Winner:



Shadow
by Marcia Brown



1983 Caldecott Honor Books:

1982


1982 Caldecott Medal Winner:


Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg

1982 Caldecott Honor Books:

1981


1981 Caldecott Medal Winner:




Fables
by Arnold Lobel



1981 Caldecott Honor Books:

1980


1980 Caldecott Medal Winner:

ox-cart man book


Ox-Cart Man
by Donald Hall, illustrated by Barbara Cooney


1980 Caldecott Honor Books:

1979


1979 Caldecott Medal Winner:

1979 Caldecott Honor Books:

1978


1978 Caldecott Medal Winner:


Noah’s Ark
by Peter Spier


1978 Caldecott Honor Books:

1977


1977 Caldecott Medal Winner:



Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions
by Margaret Musgrove, illustrated by Leo & Diane Dillon


1977 Caldecott Honor Books:

1976


1976 Caldecott Medal Winner:



Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears
by Verna Aardema, illustrated by Leo & Diane Dillon

1976 Caldecott Honor Books:

1975


1975 Caldecott Medal Winner:


Arrow to the Sun
by Gerald McDermott


1975 Caldecott Honor Books:

1974


1974 Caldecott Medal Winner:



Duffy and the Devil by Harve Zemach, illustrated by Margot Zemach


1974 Caldecott Honor Books:

1973


1973 Caldecott Medal Winner:



The Funny Little Woman
by Arlene Mosel, illustrated by Blair Lent


1973 Caldecott Honor Books:

1972


1972 Caldecott Medal Winner:


One Fine Day
by Nonny Hogrogian


1972 Caldecott Honor Books:

1971


1971 Caldecott Medal Winner:



A Story A Story
by Gail E. Haley

1971 Caldecott Honor Books:

1970


1970 Caldecott Medal Winner:

1970 Caldecott Honor Books:

1969


1969 Caldecott Medal Winner:


The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship
by Arthur Ransome, illustrated by Uri Shulevitz

1969 Caldecott Honor Book:

1968


1968 Caldecott Medal Winner:



Drummer Hoff
by Barbara Emberley, illustrated by Ed Emberley

1968 Caldecott Honor Books:

1967


1967 Caldecott Medal Winner:



Sam, Bangs & Moonshine by Evaline Ness



1967 Caldecott Honor Book:

1966


1966 Caldecott Medal Winner:

always room for one more


Always Room for One More
by Sorche Nic Leodhas, illustrated by Nonny Hogrogian

1966 Caldecott Honor Books:

1965


1965 Caldecott Medal Winner:

may I bring a friend



May I Bring a Friend?
by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers, illustrated by Beni Montresor


1965 Caldecott Honor Books:

1964


1964 Caldecott Medal Winner:

where the wild things are


Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak



1964 Caldecott Honor Books:

1963


1963 Caldecott Medal Winner:

the snowy day book


The Snowy Day
by Ezra Jack Keats


1963 Caldecott Honor Books:

1962


1962 Caldecott Medal Winner:



Once a Mouse
retold and illustrated by Marcia Brown


1962 Caldecott Honor Books:

1961


1961 Caldecott Medal Winner:

Baboushka and the Three Kings by Ruth Robbins, illustrated by Nicolas Sidjakov

1961 Caldecott Honor Book:

1960


1960 Caldecott Medal Winner:




Nine Days to Christmas
by Marie Hall Ets and Aurora Labastida


1960 Caldecott Honor Books:

1959


1959 Caldecott Medal Winner:



Chanticleer and the Fox by Geoffrey Chaucer, illustrated by Barbara Cooney



1959 Caldecott Honor Books:

1958


1958 Caldecott Medal Winner:



Time of Wonder
by Robert McCloskey



1958 Caldecott Honor Books:

1957


1957 Caldecott Medal Winner:





A Tree is Nice
by Janice Udry, illustrated by Marc Simont


1957 Caldecott Honor Books:

1956


1956 Caldecott Medal Winner:



Frog Went A-Courtin’ by John Langstaff, illustrated by Feodor Rojankovsky



1956 Caldecott Honor Books:

1955


1955 Caldecott Medal Winner:



Cinderella, or the Little Glass Slipper by Charles Perrault, illustrated by Marcia Brown


1955 Caldecott Honor Books:

1954


1954 Caldecott Medal Winner:



Madeline’s Rescue by Ludwig Bemelmans


1954 Caldecott Honor Books:

1953


1953 Caldecott Medal Winner:




The Biggest Bear by Lynd Ward


1953 Caldecott Honor Books:

1952


1952 Caldecott Medal Winner:



Finders Keepers by Will, illustrated by Nicolas



1952 Caldecott Honor Books:

1951


1951 Caldecott Medal Winner:



The Egg Tree
by Katherine Milhous



1951 Caldecott Honor Books:

1950


1950 Caldecott Medal Winner:



Song of the Swallows by Leo Politi


1950 Caldecott Honor Books:
America’s Ethan Allen by Stewart Holbrook, illustrated by Lynd Ward
The Wild Birthday Cake by Lavinia R. Davis, illustrated by Hildegard Woodward
The Happy Day by Ruth Krauss, illustrated by Marc Simont
Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss
Henry Fisherman by Marcia Brown

1949


1949 Caldecott Medal Winner:



The Big Snow
by Berta & Elmer Hader


1949 Caldecott Honor Books:
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
All Around the Town by Phyllis McGinley, illustrated by Helen Stone
Juanita by Leo Politi
Fish in the Air by Kurt Wiese

1948


1948 Caldecott Medal Winner:



White Snow, Bright Snow
by Alvin Tresselt, illustrated by Roger Duvoisin


1948 Caldecott Honor Books:

1947


1947 Caldecott Medal Winner:


The Little Island
by Golden MacDonald, illustrated by Leonard Weisgard



1947 Caldecott Honor Books:

1946


1946 Caldecott Medal Winner:



The Rooster Crows by Maud & Miska Petersham



1946 Caldecott Honor Books:

1945

1945 Caldecott Medal Winner:



Prayer for a Child by Rachel Field, illustrated by Elizabeth Orton Jones



1945 Caldecott Honor Books:

1944

1944 Caldecott Medal Winner:



Many Moons by James Thurber, illustrated by Louis Slobodkin


1944 Caldecott Honor Books:

1943

1943 Caldecott Medal Winner:



The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton

1943 Caldecott Honor Books:

1942

1942 Caldecott Medal Winner:



Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey



1942 Caldecott Honor Books:

1941

1941 Caldecott Medal Winner:



They Were Strong and Good by Robert Lawson



1941 Caldecott Honor Book:

1940

1940 Caldecott Medal Winner



Abraham Lincoln by Ingri & Edgar Parin d’Aulaire



1940 Caldecott Honor Books:

1939

1939 Caldecott Medal Winner:



Mei Li by Thomas Handforth



1939 Caldecott Honor Books:

1938

1938 Caldecott Medal Winner:



Animals of the Bible, A Picture Book by Helen Dean Fish, illustrated by Dorothy P. Lathrop



1938 Caldecott Honor Books:

And if you’d like a printable copy of this Caldecott winners list that you can take to your library or screenshot on your phone for easy access, just pop in your email address below and it’ll come right to your inbox!

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