It was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. Together with the Newbery Medal, it is the most prestigious of American children's book award.
Randolph Caldecott Medal 2011
"
A Sick Day for Amos McGee
" illustrated by Erin E. Stead, written by Philip C. Stead, a Neal Porter Book, published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing
Caldecott Honor Books
"
Interrupting Chicken" 
illustrated and written by David Ezra Stein, published by Candlewick Pres
Randolph Caldecott Medal 2010
The Lion and the Mouse
illustrated and written by Jerry Pinkney
Two Caldecott Honor Books also were named :
All the World
, illustrated by Marla Frazee, written by Liz Garton Scanlon and published by Beach Lane Books; and
Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors
, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski, written by Joyce Sidman and published by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Randolph Caldecott Medal 2009 Winners
Winner: Beth Krommes, illustrator of the House in the Night
written by Susan Marie Swanson and published by Houghton Mifflin Company, is the 2009 Caldecott Medal Winner.
Three Caldecott Honor Books were named:
A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever
, written and illustrated by Marla Frazee and published by Harcourt, Inc.;
How I Learned Geography
, written and illustrated by Uri Shulevitz and published by Farrar Straus Giroux;
A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams
, illustrated by Melissa Sweet, written by Jen Bryant and published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
2008 -The Invention of Hugo Cabret
by Brian Selznick Review
"With characteristic intelligence, exquisite images, and a breathtaking design, Selznick shatters conventions related to the art of bookmaking....This is a masterful narrative that readers can literally manipulate." School Library Journal (Starred Review) (read more)
2007- Flotsam
by David Wiesner Powells.com Staff Pick
A day at the beach like no other! A boy finds an old camera that has washed ashore and thus begins an incredible story-in-pictures. As beautiful and intriguing as any of his previous books, Flotsam is a Wiesner classic — a treat for kids and adults alike.
2006- The Hello, Goodbye Window
by Norton Juster and Chris Raschka Publisher Comments
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. Told in her voice, her story is both a voyage of discovery and a celebration of the commonplace wonders that define childhood. It is also a love song devoted to that special relationship between grandparents and grandchild.
2005- Kitten's First Full Moon
by Kevin Henkes Synopsis
From one of the most beloved picture book creators of today comes a memorable new character and a suspenseful adventure. Kitten sees her first full moon, but she thinks it's a bowl of milk and tries to get at it. (read more)
2004- The Man Who Walked Between the Towers
by Mordicai Gerstein Publisher Comments
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 Review
"[A] smart, sassy object lesson....The fun of this is in the spacing and sequencing of the heavily ink-outlined drawings....Tremendous physical humor delivers a gentle lesson about accepting friends as they are." Connie Fletcher, Booklist
2002- The Three Pigs
by David Wiesner
Publisher Comments
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 wolfs huffing and puffing blows the first pig right out of the story... and into the realm of pure imagination. The transition signals the start of a freewheeling adventure with characteristic David Wiesner effects — cinematic flow, astonishing shifts of perspective, and sly humor, as well as episodes of flight. (read more)
2001
So You Want To Be President?
by Judith St. George
2000
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat 
by Simms Taback
1999
Snowflake Bentley
by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
1998
Rapunzel by Paul O. Zelinsky
1997
Golem
by David Wisniewski
1996
Officer Buckle and Gloria 
by Peggy Rathmann
1995
Smoky Night 
by Eve Bunting
1994
Grandfather's Journey
by Allen Say
1992
Tuesday
by David Wiesner
1991
Black and White
by David Macaulay
1990
Lon Po Po: A Red-riding Hood Story From China
by Ed Young
1989
Song and Dance Man
by Karen Ackerman
1988
Owl Moon
by Jane Yolen
1987
Hey, Al 
by Arthur Yorinks
1986
The Polar Express 
by Chris Van Allsburg
1985
Saint George and the Dragon
by Margaret Hodges
1984
The Glorious Flight: Across the Channel With Louis Bleriot, July 25, 1909 
by Alice Provensen
1983
Shadow 
by Blaise Cendrars
1982
Jumanji 
by Chris Van Allsburg
1981
Fables 
by Arnold Lobel
1980
Ox-cart Man
by Donald Hall
1979
The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses
by Paul Goble
1978
Noah's Ark 
by Peter Spier
1977
Ashanti To Zulu: African Traditions 
by Margaret W. Musgrove
1976
Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears: A West African Tale 
by Verna Aardema
1975
Arrow To the Sun: A Pueblo Indian Tale 
by Gerald Mcdermott
1974
Duffy and the Devil 
by Harve Zemach
1973
The Funny Little Woman
by Arlene Mosel
1972
One Fine Day 
by Nonny Hogrogian
1971
A Story, a Story: An African Tale
by Gail E. Haley
1970
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
by William Steig
1969
The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship: A Russian Tale 
by Arthur Ransome
1968
Drummer Hoff 
by Barbara Emberley
1967
Sam Bangs and Moonshine 
by Evaline Ness
1966
Always Room for One More
by Sorche Nic Leodhas
1965
May I Bring a Friend?
by Beatrice Schenk De Regniers
1964
Where the Wild Things Are 
by Maurice Sendak
1963
The Snowy Day 
by Ezra Jack Keats
1962
Once a Mouse... : A Fable Cut in Wood
by Marcia Brown
1961
Baboushka and the Three Kings: Ruth Robbins 
by Ruth Robbins
1960
Nine Days To Christmas
by Marie Hall Ets
1959
Chanticleer and the Fox 
by Geoffrey Chaucer
1958
Time of Wonder 
by Robert Mccloskey
1957
A Tree Is Nice 
by Janice May Udry
1956
Frog Went A-courtin' 
by John Langstaff
1955 Cinderella by
Charles Perrault
1954
Madeline's Rescue
by Ludwig Bemelmans
1953
The Biggest Bear
by Lynn K. Ward
1952
Finders Keepers
by Nicolas Will
1951
The Egg Tree 
by Katherine Milhous
1950
Song of the Swallows 
by Leo Politi
1949
The Big Snow 
by Berta Hader
1948
White Snow, Bright Snow 
by Alvin Tresselt
1947
The Little Island 
by Golden Macdonald
1946
The Rooster Crows: A Book of American Rhymes and Jingles 
by Maud Petersham
1945
Prayer for a Child 
by Rachel Field
1944
Many Moons 
by James Thurber
1943
The Little House 
by Virginia Lee Burton
1942
Make Way for Ducklings 
by Robert Mccloskey
1941
They Were Strong and Good
by Robert Lawson
1940
Abraham Lincoln 
by Ingri D'aulaire
1939
Mei LI 
by Thomas Handforth
1938
Animals of the Bible: A Picture Book
by Dorothy P. Lathrop