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.”