Caldecott v. Newbery: Which is best?

The Randolph Caldecott Medal and the John Newbery Medal are perhaps the two most recognizable awards in children's literature. Both represent outstanding work in the field, and recipients of both awards are often sought out for inclusion in library collections. To receive either award would be a great accomplishment, but is one medal considered to be more prestigious than the other? 

The Newbery Medal is the world's oldest children's book award. Named for the eighteenth-century bookseller, John Newbery, the Newbery Medal is awarded annually by the American Library Association to the most distinguished American children's book published in the previous year.  



The Caldecott Medal is also presented annually by the American Library Association. Named for the nineteenth-century English illustrator, Randolph Caldecott, it is awarded annually to the most distinguished picture book for children published in the previous year.


Both the Caldecott Medal and the Newbery Medal symbolize outstanding work, and recipients of both command respect. However, comparing the two would be like trying to compare apples and oranges. Books nominated for the Caldecott Medal are typically not nominated for the Newbery Medal and vise versa. The Newbery Medal is awarded to authors, and the Caldecott Medal is awarded to illustrators. Since selection committees of the two evaluate entirely different types of work, it is impossible to say that one award is better than the other. Keep an eye out for both when selecting new books, because they are equally important when building a solid children's book collection.

My Friend Rabbit

by Eric Rohmann

2003 Caldecott Medal Winner

With page after page of vibrant images, Eric Rohmann illustrates a story about a young mouse who discovers firsthand what can happen when you let someone else play with your new toy. 


When Mouse gets a new airplane, Rabbit, who is always causing some type of trouble, gets it stuck in a tree right away. Rabbit, wanting to help, hatches a plan to have all the animals climb on top one another so that Mouse, who is on top, can reach the plane. All the animals come toppling down, but luckily the plan works and Mouse and Rabbit take off flying together in the airplane. The pair's success is short lived as the book ends with the two, yet again, stuck in a tree.


My Friend Rabbit presents readers with a great lesson about the ups and downs of friendship. Even though Rabbit causes trouble, Mouse knows his friend means well and loves him in spite of his flaws. Friends are not always perfect people, but they are always there to offer help when it is needed.


With large, simple illustrations that can easily be seen from afar, My Friend Rabbit is a perfect selection for group story time. The bright colors and bold lines of the book's hand-colored relief prints really make the images pop. Also, the manner in which space is used keeps readers focused on the characters and their actions. 


I love books that rely primarily on illustrations to tell a story, because they encourage youngsters to speak up about what they think is happening. True picture books get readers involved during story time and help them develop excitement toward reading. My Friend Rabbit seems to be a story that young children will really enjoy, and as a result, it is a story I highly recommend.

The House in the Night

by Susan Marie Swanson

Pictures by Beth Krommes

2009 Caldecott Medal Winner

The House in the Night is perfect for bedtime reading! The story is written as a poem, with a cumulative pattern that is both interesting and comforting. The story begins by focusing readers on one simple item, a key to house. The books features a logical progression, shifting from one object to another - from the key, to the house, to a light in the house, to a bed in the light, to a book on the bed, and so forth. Although, the poem is short and simple, it presents readers with an imaginative view of a child's bedtime story and what really makes a house a home.

The most captivating aspect of this book is, without a doubt, the beautiful pictures. Krommes uses a simple color pallet of black, white, and yellow to accent her intricate scratchboard drawings. The careful placement of lines creates detailed images that are fun for readers to explore.

The color combination of black, white, and yellow is a favorite of mine. It's fun for clothing, accessories, and interior decorating, so I am excited to have finally found the combination in a children's book. The House in the Night is another new favorite of mine, simply because its images are so eye-appealing. It is the perfect book to display atop a book shelf or in a library window to promote reading.

A Sick Day for Amos McGee

Written by Philip C. Stead

Illustrated by Erin E. Stead

2011 Caldecott Medal Winner

For Amos McGee, each day was pleasantly the same. He would wake early, dress for work, enjoy his breakfast, and catch the 6 a.m. bus to the city zoo. As zookeeper, he had lots of animal friends, and it was part of his routine to visit each of them everyday. He would play chess with the elephant, run races with the tortoise, sit quietly with the penguin, help the rhinoceros with his runny nose, and read stories to the owl. One day Amos' delightful routine was interrupted when he awoke with a horrible cold and had to stay home from work. The animals waited for their friend to arrive, but he never came. Surprisingly, the animals catch a bus to Amos' house! Amos was so excited to see his friends, and they carried out their usual activities as best they could with Amos being ill. He was well cared for and went to sleep that night feeling better, knowing he had so many great friends.

A Sick Day for Amos McGee is a wonderful story about friendship and reciprocating the love that others extend. Amos had been a great friend to the animals, so when he was feeling down, they wanted to be great friends in return. Children are often fond of animals and develop a closeness with pets that sometimes feels like true friendship. This book reminded me of the hours I spent as a child talking to my dog and reading books to my cat, as if they were people. How fun it would have been if my pets could have interacted with me in the same way the zoo animals interacted with Amos McGee!

Erin Stead's pencil and woodblock illustrations give life to the book and tell the story beautifully. Her combination of color and black and white images create a full picture, but call attention to the elements that are most important. In addition, the use of somewhat muted colors livens up the story's pages without distracting readers from the graceful detail of Stead's drawings. Anyone who has ever dabbled in art must truly appreciate the skill required to create Amos' soft hair or the subtle lines in the elephant's skin. A Sick Day for Amos McGee's unique illustrations are truly worthy of special recognition.

Flotsam

by David Wiesner

2007 Caldecott Medal Winner

In nautical terms, the word flotsam refers to a floating accumulation of miscellaneous stuff. Wiesner's picture book Flotsam is the colorful portrayal of a young beachcomber's discovery. He goes to the beach to study the various things the tide brings ashore, but finds more than he could have ever imagined when he finds an old, underwater camera washed up in the sand. Illustrations guide readers through the action as the boy takes the film to be developed, anxiously awaits to see the photos, reacts to the surprising images, contemplates what he has found, and decides to cast the camera back into the ocean so another child can witness the magical life that lives below the surface.

Flotsam encompasses numerous elements characteristic of a great picture book. The story promotes diversity through the portrayal of various races and characters of both genders. The illustrations are highly original and detailed in a way that promotes interactive discussion between readers. In addition, the size and layout of images is perfect for not only individual reading but group storytelling as well. The vivid colors captivate readers, while the thin lines and smooth texture are easy on the eye. 

Even though I marveled at the author's artistic ability, I enjoyed his creativity most of all. Who would have ever imagined a mechanical fish swimming in the sea, aliens on the ocean floor, an octopus reading a book, a blow fish air balloon, underwater cities, or a team of pulling seahorses? Wiesner possess an imagination that readers of all ages will appreciate.

Kitten's First Full Moon

by Kevin Henkes

2005 Caldecott Medal Winner

Kitten's First Full Moon is a delightful story about a young kitten's quest for a bowl of milk. After mistaking the round, white-colored moon as milk, the kitten experiences a series of pitfalls, which leave her feeling tired and still hungry. Kitten accidentally eats a bug while trying to lick the moon, falls off a porch, goes on a never-ending chase through a garden, pointlessly climbs a tree, and jumps into a pond all in an effort to reach the desirable bowl of milk. Feeling defeated, Kitten returns home and, to her surprise, finds a bowl of milk on the porch waiting for her. In the end, Kitten goes to sleep feeling satisfied, because she finally got to enjoy her bowl of milk.

Kitten's story combines suspense and humor in a way that young children will appreciate. The beautiful black and white illustrations, although simple in color, perfectly present Kitten's actions and emotions. The images seem to bring Kitten's journey to life and are perfect for helping preschoolers and kindergartners follow along. In addition, the rhythmic text makes the story perfect for reading aloud.

Kitten's First Full Moon is a new favorite of mine, because it brings back the secure feeling I had as a child, knowing that someone would take care of me, even if I couldn't do it myself. Every child should get to go to sleep at night feeling safe, satisfied, and peaceful, just as Kitten did.

Turtle in Paradise

by Jennifer L. Holm

2011 Newbery Honor Book

Holm presents the entertaining story of Turtle, the young daughter of a live-in housekeeper. When her mother takes a job working for a woman who despises children, Turtle is sent to live with her Aunt Minerva (Minnie) in Key West. Turtle's realist attitude and tough exterior come in handy as she settles into her new surroundings and adjusts to life with three rowdy male cousins: Beans, Kermit and Buddy. At first, she isn't allowed membership in her cousins' Diaper Gang, which cares for fussy babies and holds a secret formula for diaper rash. However, with her wit and accidental discovery of a treasure map, she ultimately gains their respect. Turtle and the Diaper Gang go on a nerve-racking adventure that keeps readers guessing. In the end, Turtle learns a great deal about the relatives she never knew, and most importantly, a valuable lesson about herself and the importance of family.


Turtle in Paradise is the perfect combination of history and fiction! The story is sprinkled with bits of historical information about Key West life during the Depression era. References to events, publications, and entertainers of the 1930s add educational value to the story itself, while photos and an author's note provide a more complete look at the period that inspired Turtle in Paradise. 


Although the plot of Turtle in Paradise is wildly creative, the book's strength is in its details. Holm's descriptions are so vivid that readers can easily visualize every aspect of the story. As an adult, reading about how the youngsters spent their summer brought back memories of my own childhood and the imaginative ways I tried to entertain myself during summer months. The book is truly a work that can be appreciated by a wide range of ages and abilities.