1. Caldecott Award Illustrators by Annette Janssen “Many persons became concerned that the artists creating picture books for children were as deserving of honors and encouragement as were the authors of children’s books.” In 1937, a division of the ALA accepted the idea that children’s pictures books should receive a special award. “This medal is to be given to the artist who had created the most distinguished picture book of the year and named in honor of the 19th century English illustrator Randolph J. Caldecott.” It was also decided that awards would also be given for “runners up.” Caldecott was one of the most influential children’s illustrators of the 19th century.

2. Dorothy P. Lathrop zMrs. Lathrop illustrated the first Caldecott Medal winning book in 1938 titled “Animals of the World.” The book pictured and told about animals in the Old and New Testaments. zShe also illustrated the 1930 winner of the Newberry Medal titled “Hitty, Her First 100 Years.” zShe was one of the most influential and prolific illustrators of the 30’s and 40’s. zShe employed many different styles when illustrating books, including stipple and pen and ink work. She usually gravitated towards books about animals.

3. Robert McCloskey zBorn in Ohio and won a scholarship 1932 to the Vesper George Art School in Boston. He also studied at the National Academy of Design in New York. He went into commercial art, yet tired of this and moved back to Ohio. zHis first book, which he wrote and illustrated is titled, “Lentil.” It was followed by “Make Way for Ducklings,” which won the Caldecott Medal in 1942. McCloskey said: “I first noticed the ducks when walking through the Boston Public Garden on my way to art school. When I returned to Boston 4 years later, I noticed the traffic problem of the ducks and heard a few stories about them. The book sort of developed from there.” This book has sold over 2 million copies worldwide. zMcClosky would go on to win Caldecott Honor awards in 1949, 1953, and 1954. zIn 1958 he won his second medal for “Time of Wonder.” He was the first artist to ever receive the Caldecott Medal twice.

4. Marcia Brown zMrs. Brown was born in Rochester, New York in 1918. She attended the New York College for Teachers and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1940. She also attended an art academy in China. z“Study coupled with travel to Italy, Hawaii, the West Indies and Mexico proved invaluable in providing her with the experience needed to write and illustrate her own works as well as adapt traditional and exotic fairy tales and folktales.” zAlthough the woodcut is her favorite medium, she chooses the artistic style which best seems to fit the project which she is working on. zShe won Caldecott Honor Awards in 1948, 1950, 1951, 1954, and 1955. She won Caldecott Medals in 1955, 1962, and 1983.

5. Marie Hall Ets zBorn in 1893 in Wisconsin. As a child, she loved exploring the forests and woods. She studied at the New York school School of Fine and Applied Art. zHer first book, written in 1939, was followed by the book “The Story of a Baby.” This was one of the first children’s books to show the development of a fetus. zMrs. Ets won Caldecott Honor Awards in 1945, 1952, 1956, 1957, and in 1966. zShe won the Caldecott Medal in 1960 for her book “Nine Days to Christmas.” This book was written about a Mexican girl taking part in a traditional Christmas celebration. Although this book does have splashes of color, most of her books are sketches in black and white.

6. Barbara Cooney zShe was born in Brooklyn in 1917 and attended Smith College, where she studied art history. She would eventually regret this and wished that she had studied art. She said; “I have felt way behind technically: and what I’ve learned I have had to teach myself. To this day, I don’t consider myself a very skillful artist.” zShe began illustrating children’s books and in 1959 won her first Caldecott medal for “Chanticleer and the Fox.” zShe won her second award 31 years later for “Ox-Cart Man.” zShe won the National book Award in 1983 for “Miss Rumphius.” zHer style is considered primitive or folk art. zShe wrote and illustrated 15 books, and illustrated over 100 more.

7. zHe became an author and illustrator at age 19. His first book was published in 1981. zIn 1994, he won a Caldecott honor award for “Owen.” zHis novel “Olive’s Ocean,” won a Newberry Honor Award in 2003. zIn 2005, he won his first Caldecott Medal for “Kitten’s First Full Moon.” zHe has written dozens of children’s books and has written 7 novels. z“I remember drawing at a very early age. I loved it. And my parents and teachers told me that I was good--that made me love it all the more.” Kevin Henkes

8. Chris Raschka zWinner of the 2006 Caldecott Medal for “The Hello, Goodbye Window.” zHis other works include a New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Children’s Book and an ALA Notable Children’s Book. zRaschka said: “I always try to treat the book itself as the artwork. I don’t want you to stop while you’re reading one of my books and say, ‘Oh, what a gorgeous illustration!’ I want you to stop at the end of the book and say, ‘This is a good book.’”