For more information about the origins of the Caldecott Medal, please see The Caldecott Medal and the Man for Whom it was Named. I am giving a brief synopsis of each book along with a comment about the artwork here and there. I am also including lists of the Honor winners for each year. I hope you enjoy my series. Comments are welcomed!!
1978
“Noah’s Ark” by Peter Spier
In the beginning of this book, there is a poem by Jacobus Revius entitled “The Flood.” It is all about the great flood for which Noah had to build his great ark. The rest of the book shows details of how Noah got the animals onto the ark, the 40 days and nights of rain, how Noah cared for the animals while they were on the ark, and what happened when the rains ended. A delightful picture book.
Honor Books
- “Castle” by David Macaulay
- “It Could Always Be Worse” retold and illustrated by Margot Zemach
1979
“The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses” by Paul Goble
This book tells the tale of a Native American girl who loves horses. She loves them so much that she spends all of her spare time with them and can read them in a way that no one else in her village can. One day when a terrible storm comes, she is riding one of the horses and the herd gets lost. The morning after the storm, the girl is awakened by a horse who says he is the leader of all of the wild horses. The girl lives with the wild horses. Will she ever return to her family and village?
Honor Books
- “Freight Train” by Donald Crews
- “The Way to Start a Day” illustrated by Peter Parnall; text: Byrd Baylor
1980
“Ox-Cart Man” illustrated by Barbara Cooney; text: Donald Hall
“Ox-Cart Man” tells the story of a New England farmer who packs up his ox cart one day with all of the goods that he and his family have made or collected all year. He walks into town with his ox pulling the cart and sells all of the goods. He also sells his ox and cart to buy things in the village for his family. When he returns, the cycle begins again, including raising a young ox. I have one thing to say about the illustrations in this book: when my daughter saw them, she said, “Wow!”
Honor Books
- “Ben’s Trumpet” by Rachel Isadora
- “The Garden of Abdul Gasazi” by Chris Van Allsburg
- “The Treasure” by Uri Shulevitz
1981
“Fables” by Arnold Lobel
“Fables” is just what the title says — it’s a collection of fables. A fable is a story that has a moral. All of the fables in this book are only one page long, but each is accompanied by an illustration. The illustrations compliment each fable perfectly.
Honor Books
- “The Bremen-Town Musicians” retold and illustrated by Ilse Plume
- “The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher” by Molly Bang
- “Mice Twice” by Joseph Low
- “Truck” by Donald Crews
1982
“Jumanji” by Chris Van Allsburg
Yes, this is the book on which the 1995 film was (loosely) based. Judy and Peter are left home alone for an afternoon and are told not to make a mess because their parents are bringing guests home in the evening. When they go to the park, they find a board game under a tree and decide to bring it home. But when they start to play and the things on the board actually begin to come true, will Judy and Peter survive long enough to finish the game? All of the illustrations in this book are black and white, but they are done in such detail that they almost look like photographs.
Honor Books
- “Where the Buffaloes Begin” illustrated by Stephen Gammell; text: Olaf baker
- “On Market Street” illustrated by Anita Lobel; text: Arnold Lobel
- “Outside Over There” by Maurice Sendak
- “A Visit to William Blake’s Inn: Poems for Innocent and Experienced Travelers” illustrated by Alice & Martin Provensen; text: Nancy Willard
See also:
Winners of the Caldecott Medal: 1938-1942
Winners of the Caldecott Medal: 1943-1947
Winners of the Caldecott Medal: 1948-1952
Winners of the Caldecott Medal: 1953-1957
Winners of the Caldecott Medal: 1958-1962
Winners of the Caldecott Medal: 1963-1967
Winners of the Caldecott Medal: 1968-1972
Winners of the Caldecott Medal: 1973-1977