Caldecott Medal

The Randolph Caldecott Medal is the most distinguished award in American picture book illustration, presented annually by the American Library Association (ALA) to the artist of the most outstanding illustrations in an American picture book for children. First awarded in 1938, it honours the tradition established by 19th-century British illustrator Randolph Caldecott, whose vibrant picture books helped define the art form. The medal is administered by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) and selected by a fifteen-member committee of children's librarians. Crucially, the award recognises the illustrator, not necessarily the author—many winning books have separate authors and illustrators, though author-illustrators frequently win as well. The eligible illustrator must be a US citizen or permanent resident, and the book must have been published in English in the United States during the preceding year. Like the Newbery Medal, the Caldecott committee may designate Caldecott Honor books as runners-up of distinguished merit. Both the Medal and Honor books are announced simultaneously each January at the ALA Midwinter Meeting. The Medal is presented at the ALA Annual Conference in the summer. The Caldecott Medal has championed an extraordinary diversity of illustration styles, from Brian Selznick's graphite panoramas in *The Invention of Hugo Cabret* to Jerry Pinkney's wordless watercolours in *The Lion & the Mouse*, from Erin Stead's pencil-and-oil compositions to Kadir Nelson's and Michaela Goade's vivid celebrations of Black and Indigenous American life. It remains the gold standard for picture book art.