Randolph Caldecott Award Winning and Honored Books

The Caldecott Medal

The Caldecott Medal, established in 1938, was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. Learn more about this award at Caldecott Medal Home Page.

Below are the Caldecott Medla winning and Honor books awarded to Black illustrators or illustrators of books featuring Black characters. In 2024, Vashti Harrison became the first Black woman to win a Caldecott Medal (read more ▶).


One Book Recieved The Caldecott Award or Honor in 1977

Medal Winner – Leo and Diane Dillon

Book Description: 

Artists Leo and Diane Dillon won their second consecutive Caldecott Medal for this stunning ABC of African culture. "Another virtuoso performance… . Such an astute blend of aesthetics and information is admirable, the child’s eye will be rewarded many times over."—Booklist. ALA Notable Book; Caldecott Medal.

Art from Ashanti Zulu