Mock Caldecott Workshop

Exploring the Caldecott Criteria

Caldecott Terms and Criteria

“The Medal shall be awarded annually to the artist of the

most distinguished American picture book for children…”

1938 Caldecott

Medal

2010 Caldecott

Medal

Caldecott Terms and Criteria

“The award is restricted to artists who are citizens or

residents of the United States…”

1994 Caldecott

Medal

1990 Not Eligible

Caldecott Terms and Criteria

“A ‘picture book for children’ as distinguished from other

books with illustrations, is one that essentially provides the

child with a visual experience.”

2008 Caldecott

Medal

1990 Caldecott

Honor

Caldecott Terms and Criteria

“The committee in its deliberations is to consider only books eligible for the

award…”

1992 Caldecott

Medal 2002 Caldecott

Medal 2007 Caldecott

Medal

Caldecott Terms and Criteria

“Children are defined as persons of ages up to and

including fourteen and picture books for this entire age

range are to be considered…”

1984Caldecott

Honor

1991Caldecott

Medal

2008Caldecott

Honor

Caldecott Terms and Criteria

“In identifying a ‘distinguished American picture book for children,’…committee

members need to consider… delineation of plot, theme, characters, setting, mood, or information through

the pictures.”

Narrative Elements

Character

Theme

Plot

Setting

Elements of Art

Color

SpaceLine

Shape / Texture

Medium, Style, and Composition

Style

Composition

Medium

Plot / Space

Character / Line

Setting / Texture + Medium

Theme / Color

Elements of Narrative and Art

Caldecott Terms and Criteria

“The committee is to make its decision primarily on the

illustration, but other components of a book are to be considered especially when they make a

book less effective as a children’s picture book.”

1982Caldecott

Honor

2010Caldecott

Honor

Caldecott Terms and Criteria

“The award is not for didactic intent…”

2007Caldecott

Honor

1999Caldecott

Honor

Caldecott Terms and Criteria

“The award is not for…popularity.”

2006Caldecott

Medal2006

Caldecott Honor

2006No Caldecott Recognition

74% of copieschecked out

55% of copieschecked out 9% of copies

checked out

Caldecott Terms and Criteria

Art Considerations• Medium• Style• Composition• Color• Line• Space• Shape

Narrative Considerations

• Plot• Setting• Character• Theme • Information

Caldecott Terms and Criteria

Consider how Art and Narrative work together to create a distinguished picture

book, as defined in the criteria:

“A picture book has a collective unity of story-line, theme, or concept, developed

through the series of pictures of which the book is comprised.”