All Caldecott Winners Throughout the Decades
Enjoy this complete list of Caldecott winners throughout the year.
You’ll love reading all of the books that have won the Caldecott Award from the start!
For more reading ideas, visit our extensive list of childrens books for kids!
As we got into the older books for all of the Caldecott winners, some are only available as a used book- meaning they are no longer being published but can be purchased from others.
Really, this only happened with some of the very early Caldecott medal recipients.
All Caldecott Winners

(2022) Watercress by Andrea Wang
A story about the power of sharing memories—including the painful ones—and the way our heritage stays with and shapes us, even when we don’t see it.Â

(2021) We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom
Inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America, We Are Water Protectors issues an urgent rallying cry to safeguard the Earth’s water from harm and corruption―a bold and lyrical picture book written by Carole Lindstrom and vibrantly illustrated by Michaela Goade.

(2020) The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander
Originally performed for ESPN's The Undefeated, this poem is a love letter to black life in the United States.
It highlights the unspeakable trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world's greatest heroes.

(2019) Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall
Watch the days and seasons pass as the wind blows, the fog rolls in, and icebergs drift by. Outside, there is water all around.
Inside, the daily life of a lighthouse keeper and his family unfolds as the keeper boils water for tea, lights the lamp's wick, and writes every detail in his logbook.

(2018) Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell
Paintings rich with feeling tell this satisfying story of friendship and trust. Wolf in the Snow is a book set on a wintry night that will spark imaginations and warm hearts.

(2017) Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat by Javaka Steptoe
Jean-Michel Basquiat and his unique, collage-style paintings rocketed to fame in the 1980s as a cultural phenomenon unlike anything the art world had ever seen.
But before that, he was a little boy who saw art everywhere: in poetry books and museums, in games and in the words that we speak, and in the pulsing energy of New York City.Â

(2016) Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick
Harry Colebourn's real-life great-granddaughter tells the true story of a remarkable friendship and an even more remarkable journey--from the fields of Canada to a convoy across the ocean to an army base in England...
And finally to the London Zoo, where Winnie made another new friend: a real boy named Christopher Robin.

(2015) The Adventures of Beekle, the Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat
This magical story begins on an island far away where an imaginary friend is born.
He patiently waits his turn to be chosen by a real child, but when he is overlooked time and again, he sets off on an incredible journey to the bustling city, where he finally meets his perfect match and--at long last--is given his special name: Beekle.

(2014) Locomotive by Brian Floca
It is the summer of 1869, and trains, crews, and family are traveling together, riding America’s brand-new transcontinental railroad.
These pages come alive with the details of the trip and the sounds, speed, and strength of the mighty locomotives; the work that keeps them moving; and the thrill of travel from plains to mountain to ocean.

(2013) This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
Visual humor swims to the fore as the best-selling Jon Klassen follows his breakout debut with another deadpan-funny tale.

(2012) A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka
Raschka's signature swirling, impressionistic illustrations and his affectionate story will particularly appeal to young dog lovers and teachers and parents who have children dealing with the loss of something special.

(2011) A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead
Every day Amos spends a little bit of time with each of his friends at the zoo, running races with the tortoise, keeping the shy penguin company, and even reading bedtime stories to the owl.
But when Amos is too sick to make it to the zoo, his animal friends decide it’s time they returned the favor. Amos

(2010) The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
Jerry Pinkney's wordless adaptation of one of Aesop's most beloved fables, an unlikely pair learn that no act of kindness is ever wasted.

(2009) The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson
This timeless bedtime tale takes readers through the house in the night, up into the sky, and back home again, all the while reminding us of the presence of love and wonder in our world.

(2008) The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery.

(2007) Flotsam by David Wiesner
A day at the beach is the springboard into a wildly imaginative exploration of the mysteries of the deep, and of the qualities that enable us to witness these wonders and delight in them.

(2006) The Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster
The kitchen window at Nanna and Poppy's house is, for one little girl, a magic gateway. Everything important happens near it, through it, or beyond it.
The world for this little girl will soon grow larger and more complex, but never more enchanting or deeply felt.Â

(2005) Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes
It is Kitten's first full moon, and when she sees it she thinks it is a bowl of milk in the sky. And she wants it. Does she get it? Well, no . . . and yes. What a night!

(2004) The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein
In 1974, French aerialist Philippe Petit threw a tightrope between the two towers of the World Trade Center and spent an hour walking, dancing, and performing high-wire tricks a quarter mile in the sky.
This picture book captures the poetry and magic of the event with a poetry of its own: lyrical words and lovely paintings that present the detail, daring, and--in two dramatic foldout spreads-- the vertiginous drama of Petit's feat.

(2003) My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann
When Mouse lets his best friend, Rabbit, play with his brand-new airplane, trouble isn't far behind. From Caldecott Honor award winner Eric Rohmann comes a brand-new picture book about friends and toys and trouble, illustrated in robust, expressive prints.

(2002) The Three Pigs by David Wiesner
This picture book begins placidly (and familiarly) enough, with three pigs collecting materials and going off to build houses of straw, sticks, and bricks. But the wolf’s huffing and puffing blows the first pig right out of the story . . . and into the realm of pure imagination.Â

(2001) So You Want To Be President? by Judith St. George
This celebration by St. George shows us the foibles, quirks and humanity of forty-two men who have risen to one of the most powerful positions in the world.
Perfect for this election year--and every year!

(2000) Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback
Joseph had a little overcoat, but it was full of holes—just like this book! When Joseph's coat got too old and shabby, he made it into a jacket. But what did he make it into after that? And after that?

(1999) Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
The true story of Wilson Bentley and his singular fascination with snowflakes is rendered in rich prose and gorgeous artwork, perfect for the holidays, snow days, and everyday.

(1998) Rapunzel by Paul O. Zelinsky
A gorgeous retelling of a timeless classic with a wonderful Audio that also accompanies this delightful book.

(1997) Golem by David Wisniewski
Golem is a dramatic tale of supernatural forces invoked to save an oppressed people.
It also offers a thought-provoking look at the consequences of unleashing power beyond human control.

(1996) Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann
Officer Buckle knows more about safety than anyone in the town of Napville. But whenever he tries to share his safety tips, nobody listens - until the day the Napville Police Department buys a police dog named Gloria, who has her own way of demonstrating safety tips.

(1995) Smoky Night by Eve Bunting
In a night of rioting, Daniel and his mother are forced to leave their apartment for the safety of a shelter.Â

(1994) Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say
When he was a young man, Allen Say’s grandfather left his home in Japan to explore the world.
He began his journey by crossing the Pacific Ocean on a steamship, then wandered the deserts, farmlands, and cities of North America.Â

(1993) Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully
Sweeping watercolor paintings carry the reader over the rooftops of nineteenth-century Paris and into an elegant, beautiful world of acrobats, jugglers, mimes, actors, and one gallant, resourceful little girl.

(1992) Tuesday by David Wiesner
The events of a delightfully unpredictable Tuesday invite readers to find the potential for the wondrousness in every day.

(1991) Black and White by David Macaulay
Four stories are told simultaneously, with each double-page spread divided into quadrants.
The stories do not necessarily take place at the same moment in time, but are they really one story?

(1990) Lon Po Po : a Red-Riding Hood Story from China by Ed Young
With characteristic flair and energy, award-winning artist Ed Young illustrates the ancient Chinese version of the favorite fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood.

(1989) Song and Dance Man by Karen Ackerman
A beautifully nostalgic picture book about one grandfather's younger days that shows you're only as old as you feel!

(1988) Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
Wordlessly the two companions walk along, for when you go owling you don't need words. You don't need anything but hope.
Sometimes there isn't an owl, but sometimes there is.

(1987) Hey, Al by Arthur Yorinks
A city janitor and his treasured canine companion are transported by a large colorful bird to an island in the sky, where their comfortable paradise existence threatens to turn them into birds as well.

(1986) The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
For millions of readers around the world, this mysterious journey to the North Pole has become a beloved Christmas classic.Â

(1985) Saint George and the Dragon by Margaret Hodges
Hodges retells an exciting segment from Spenser's The Faerie Queene, in which the Red Cross Knight slays a dreadful dragon that has been terrorizing the countryside for years, bringing peace and joy back to the land.

(1984) The Glorious Flight : Across the Channel with Louis Blériot by Alice and Martin Provensen
This stunningly illustrated book depicts Louis Bleriot's historic first cross-Channel flight.

(1983) Shadow by Blaise Cendrars
Discover the eerie translation of the poem by Blaise Cendrars about the rich history of African storytellers and shamans passing into memory.Â

(1982) Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg
This story about a game that comes startlingly to life is a family favorite that inspires imagination and explores the ever-shifting line between fantasy and reality.

(1981) Fables by Arnold Lobel
A pig flying through marshmallow clouds? A camel pirouetting through the desert? Where else could a reader find such marvelous things but in a fable?
From the author-illustrator behind beloved Frog and Toad, Arnold Lobel, comes a collection of humorous, silly fables that will delight readers young and old.

(1980) Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall
The oxcart man packs his goods - the wool from his sheep, the shawl his wife made, the mittens his daughter knitted, and the linen they wove.
With his pockets full of coins, he wanders through the market, buying provisions for his family, and returns to his home. And the cycle begins again.

(1979) The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses by Paul Goble
There was a girl in the village who loved horses...
With simple text and brilliant illustrations. Paul Goble tells how she eventually becomes one of them to forever run free.

(1978) Noah's Ark by Peter Spier
In Spier's imaginative retelling, readers witness the danger and the grandeur of the terrifying flood but also the lighter moments

(1977) Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions by Margaret Musgrove
Twenty-six African tribal cultures, their respective ceremonies, celebrations, and day-to-day customs are pictorially described here, with some attributes shared by all peoples and some unique to a few.

(1976) Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears by Verna Aardema
This African folk tale is the story of how a tale passes from animal to animal, creating a jungle disaster.

Arrow to the Sun: A Pueblo Indian Tale by Gerald McDermott
A young boy searches for his father, but before he can claim his heritage he must first prove his worthiness by passing through the four ceremonial chambers: the kiva of lions, the kiva of snakes, the kiva of bees, and the kiva of lightning.Â

(1974) Duffy and the Devil by Harve Zemach
Duffy and the Devil was a popular play in Cornwall in the nineteenth century, performed at the Christmas season by groups of young people who went from house to house.Â

(1973) The Funny Little Woman by Arlene Mosel
In Old Japan, a lively little woman who loves to laugh pursues her runaway dumpling—and must outwit the wicked three-eyed oni when she lands in their clutches.

(1972) One Fine Day by Nonny Hogrogian
A fox needs to do some fast talking and walking before he can get his tail sewn back in this delightful cumulative tale.

(1971) A Story, a Story: An African Tale by Gail E. Haley
Once, all the stories in the world belonged to Nyame, the Sky God. He kept them in a box beside his throne.
But Ananse, the Spider man, wanted them - and caught three sly creatures to get them.
This story of how we got our own stories to tell is adapted from an African folktale.

(1970) Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
One rainy day, Sylvester finds a magic pebble that can make wishes come true.
But when a lion frightens him on his way home, Sylvester makes a wish that brings unexpected results.Â

(1969) The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship by Arthur Ransome
When the Czar proclaims that he will marry his daughter to the man who brings him a flying ship, the Fool of the World sets out to try his luck and meets some unusual companions on the way.

(1968) Drummer Hoff by Barbara Emberley
Told in a lively folk verse, several soldiers each bring a different part for a remarkable machine called a cannon - but only one of them gets to fire it off!

(1967) Sam, Bangs & Moonshine by Evaline Ness
Sam is a fisherman's daughter who dreams rich and lovely dreams--moonshine, her father says.
When her tall stories bring disaster to her friend Thomas and her cat Bangs, Sam learns to distinguish between moonshine and reality.

(1966) Always Room for One More by Sorche Nic LeodhasLachie MacLachlan
The generous hero of this enchanting tale is the exception to the rule that the Scots are a thrifty lot. In his "wee house in the heather," where he lives with his family of twelve, he welcomes to his hearth every weary traveler who passes by on a stormy night.

(1965) May I Bring a Friend? by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers
An imaginative boy graciously accepts an invitation from the King and Queen and then invites them to the zoo.

(1964) Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Let the wild rumpus continue as this classic comes to life like never before with new reproductions of Maurice Sendak's artwork.
Astonishing state-of-the-art technology faithfully captures the color and detail of the original illustrations.Â

(1963) The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
In 1962, a little boy named Peter put on his snowsuit and stepped out of his house and into the hearts of millions of readers.
Universal in its appeal, this story beautifully depicts a child's wonder at a new world, and the hope of capturing and keeping that wonder forever.

(1962) Once a Mouse... by Marcia Brown
When a small mouse’s life is threatened by large jungle predators, a kindly hermit uses magic to change him into a cat, a dog, and a majestic tiger.
The proud tiger must suffer the consequences when he becomes ungrateful and forgets his humble origins.Â

(1961) Baboushka and the Three Kings by Ruth Robbins
The Russian folktale about an old woman's endless search for the Christ child.

(1960) Nine Days to Christmas by Marie Hall Ets and Aurora Labastida
Generations of readers have treasured this 1960 Caldecott Medal winner and its tale of a little Mexican girl's excitement at the approach of Christmas.

(1959) Chanticleer and the Fox by Geoffrey Chaucer
King of the barnyard, Chanticleer struts about all day.
When a fox bursts into his domain, dupes him into crowing, and then grabs him in a viselike grip, Chanticleer must do some quick thinking to save himself and his barnyard kingdom.

(1958) Time of Wonder by Robert McCloskey
Lovely watercolor paintings capture the sights and sounds of nature on a Maine Island.

(1957) A Tree is Nice by Janice Udry
A Tree Is Nice is a classic tale about the beauty of the everyday world.

(1956) Frog Went A-Courtin' by John Langstaff
Illustrates the well-known American folk song about the courtship and marriage of the frog and the mouse.

(1955) Cinderella: Or, the Little Glass Slipper by Charles Perrault
A magical adaptation Charles Perrault’s French classic that has bee
n translated and illustrated by Marcia Brown, earning the love of children everywhere.

(1954) Madeline's Rescue by Ludwig Bemelmans
When Madeline falls into the river Seine and nearly drowns, a courageous canine comes to her rescue.
Now Genevieve the dog is Madeline's cherished pet, and the envy of all the other girls. What can be done when there's just not enough hound to go around?

(1953) The Biggest Bear by Lynd Ward
Johnny Orchard brings home a playful bear cub that soon becomes huge and a nuisance to the neighbors.

(1952) Finders Keepers by Will and Nicolas
Two dogs find one bone and have difficulty deciding which of them owns it.Â

(1951) The Egg Tree by Katherine Milhous
One Easter morning, Katy and Carl went on an egg hunt through Grandmom’s house.
Katy couldn’t find anything until she went up to the attic. And there she discovered a very special set of eggs...

(1950) Song of the Swallows by Leo Politi
The famous story of the yearly return of the swallows to the Mission San Juan Capistrano through the eyes of a small child.

(1949) The Big Snow by Berta and Elmer Hader
When the geese begin to fly south, the leaves flutter down from the trees and the cold winds begin to blow from the north, the animals of the woods and meadows, big and small, prepare for the long, cold winter ahead when the countryside is hidden under a deep blanket of snow.

(1948) White Snow, Bright Snow by Alvin Tresselt
All the wonder and delight a child feels in a snowfall is caught in the pages of this book—the frost ferns on the windowsill, the snowman in the yard and the mystery and magic of a new white world.

(1947) The Little Island by Margaret Wise Brown
This beautifully moving story centers around a little island in the midst of the wide ocean, and the curious kitten who comes to visit.

(1946) The Rooster Crows: a Book of American Rhymes and Jingles by Maud and Miska Petersham
Beautifully rendered illustrations accompany well-known nursery rhymes, counting-out games, skipping-rope songs, finger games, and other schoolyard classics beloved by generations of American children.Â

(1945) Prayer for a Child by Rachel Field
This is a prayer for boys and girls all over the world.
It carries a universal appeal for all ages and brings to our hearts and minds the deep responsibility of preserving for all times the faith and hopes of little children.

(1944) Many Moons by James Thurber
A wise tale of a little princess who wanted the moon and got it.Â

(1943) The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton
Seventy-five years ago, Virginia Lee Burton created the Little House, and since then generations of readers have been enchanted by the story of this happy home and her journey from the pleasures of nature to the bustling city, and back again. Â

(1942) Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
Mrs. Mallard was sure that the pond in the Boston Public Gardens would be a perfect place for her and her eight ducklings to live.Â
The problem was how to get them there through the busy streets of Boston.Â
With a little help from the Boston police, Mrs. Mallard and Jack, Kack, Lack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack arive safely at their new home.

They Were Strong and Good
They Were Strong and Good is a classic book that follows the path of one family’s journey through American history.
Robert Lawson introduces us to his forefathers and with them we brave Caribbean storms, travel to the wharf markets of New York, and fight in the Civil War.Â

(1940) Abraham Lincoln by Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire
Abraham Lincoln continues to stand as America's most beloved President. The admiration felt by Americans for Lincoln's humble integrity, his noble statesmanship, and his keen sense of justice are beautifully captured in the d'Aulaires' art and prose.Â

(1939) Mei Li by Thomas Handforth
After spending an eventful day at the fair held on New Year's Eve, Mei Li arrives home just in time to greet the Kitchen God.

(1938) Animals of the Bible by Dorothy P. Lathrop
Thirty richly detailed black-and-white drawings illustrate the favorite stories of the Creation, Noah's Ark, the first Christmas, and many others.
For the full Caldecott award winners and honor recipients:
- Caldecott Award and Honor Books, 2020-Now
- Caldecott Award and Honor Books, 2010-2019
- Caldecott Award and Honor Books, 2000-2009
- Caldecott Award and Honor Books, 1990-1999
- Caldecott Award and Honor Books, 1980-1989
- Caldecott Award and Honor Books, 1970-1979
- Caldecott Award and Honor Books, 1960-1969
- Caldecott Award and Honor Books, 1938-1959