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Please only add picture books published in 2023 that meet the terms and criteria for the Caldecott Award: https://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants...
Terms and Criteria include:
The "picture book for children" must ... "have a collective unity of story-line, theme or concept developed through the series of pictures"; have an intended audience of children up to and including age 14; have a publication date and/or was first available for purchase in the year 2023; be in English (translated works already published elsewhere in the author's language are ineligible); and be a self-contained work with original illustrations that are distinguished and demonstrate excellence of artistic technique and appropriateness of style and interpretation of the story or theme.
Note: the criterion that most often excludes a work on this list is the requirement that the illustrator(s), who receives the award, must reside in or have a residence in the US or US territories.
Caldecott Nominees and Winners:
Caldecott Medal Winners
Caldecott Honor Books
Picture Books by Decade:
2020s, 2010s, 2000s, 1990s, 1980s, 1970s, 1960s, 1950s, 1940s and before
Picture Books by Year:
2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
2020, 2021, 2022
Caldecott Contenders aka Mock Caldecotts by year:
2009
2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
See also
Best Picture Books
Best Popular Picture Books on Goodreads
Children's Picture Books With Beautiful illustrations
Wordless Picture Books
Terms and Criteria include:
The "picture book for children" must ... "have a collective unity of story-line, theme or concept developed through the series of pictures"; have an intended audience of children up to and including age 14; have a publication date and/or was first available for purchase in the year 2023; be in English (translated works already published elsewhere in the author's language are ineligible); and be a self-contained work with original illustrations that are distinguished and demonstrate excellence of artistic technique and appropriateness of style and interpretation of the story or theme.
Note: the criterion that most often excludes a work on this list is the requirement that the illustrator(s), who receives the award, must reside in or have a residence in the US or US territories.
Caldecott Nominees and Winners:
Caldecott Medal Winners
Caldecott Honor Books
Picture Books by Decade:
2020s, 2010s, 2000s, 1990s, 1980s, 1970s, 1960s, 1950s, 1940s and before
Picture Books by Year:
2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
2020, 2021, 2022
Caldecott Contenders aka Mock Caldecotts by year:
2009
2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
See also
Best Picture Books
Best Popular Picture Books on Goodreads
Children's Picture Books With Beautiful illustrations
Wordless Picture Books
Thank you so much for voting on this list and for adding titles that had impressed you over the past year. We did pretty well at predicting some of the 2024 Caldecott winners:
>Medal Winner: Big - written and illustrated by Vashti Harrison (#2 on our list)
>Honor Books:
- In Every Life - written and illustrated by Marla Frazee (#5 on our list)
- Jovita Wore Pants - illustrated by Molly Mendoza and written by Aida Salazar (#46 on our list)
- There Was a Party for Langston - illustrated by brothers Jerome & Jarrett Pumphrey and written by Jason Reynolds (#15 on our list)
- The Truth about Dragons - illustrated by Hanna Cha and written by Julie Leung (a book wholly new to most of our voters b/c it wasn't on our list!)
I have to admit, I was seriously disappointed not to see American Story get any Caldecott recognition because the various forms of artwork presented in the book seemed to be on another level from the rest of the field, especially knowing that Dare Coulter spent years crafting them, but at least she won the Coretta Scott King Illustrator award.
On that note, I have added 7 more picture books awarded medals or honors for the Youth Media Awards that also complied with Caldecott rules (some were illustrated by artists who do not reside in the US or were published prior to 2023). I did this in case you continue to use this list as a resource of the best picture books written in 2023 when doing reader advisory with library patrons or with students.
Looking forward, I have started the 2025 Mock Caldecott List on Goodreads and hope you participate with that list as well. (link: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1... )
Happy Reading!
Beth