Skip to Main Content (Press Enter)

Pre-K

Growing Reader

Our Favorite Caldecott Medal & Honor Books

by the Brightly Editors

Background image credit: Yarko Malinova/Shutterstock

When you see a Caldecott Medal sticker shining off the cover of a picture book, you know it’ll have some truly gorgeous illustrations. Awarded in recognition of the most distinguished American picture book for children, these titles are some of the most stunning and extraordinary picture books for kids and are well-worth a spot on your family’s bookshelf. These are some of our favorite Caldecott winners and honor titles.

Caldecott Winners

Watercress

Watercress

by Andrea Wang, illustrated by Jason Chin

Also available from:

This Is Not My Hat

This Is Not My Hat

by Jon Klassen

Also available from:

A Ball for Daisy

A Ball for Daisy

by Chris Raschka

Also available from:

So You Want to Be President?

So You Want to Be President?

by Judith St. George, illustrated by David Small

Also available from:

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

by Simms Taback

Also available from:

Rapunzel

Rapunzel

by Paul O. Zelinsky

Also available from:

Officer Buckle and Gloria

Officer Buckle and Gloria

by Peggy Rathmann

Also available from:

Mirette on the High Wire

Mirette on the High Wire

by Emily Arnold McCully

Also available from:

Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China

Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China

by Ed Young

Also available from:

Song and Dance Man

Song and Dance Man

by Karen Ackerman, illustrated by Stephen Gammell

Also available from:

Owl Moon

Owl Moon

by Jane Yolen, illustrated by John Schoenherr

Also available from:

The Glorious Flight: Across the Channel with Louis Bleriot

The Glorious Flight: Across the Channel with Louis Bleriot

by Alice and Martin Provensen

Also available from:

Ox-Cart Man

Ox-Cart Man

by Donald Hall, illustrated by Barbara Cooney

Also available from:

Noah's Ark

Noah's Ark

by Peter Spier

Also available from:

Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions

Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions

by Margaret Musgrove, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon

Preorder from:

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears

retold by Verna Aardema, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon

Also available from:

Arrow to the Sun

Arrow to the Sun

by Gerald McDermott

Also available from:

The Funny Little Woman

The Funny Little Woman

retold by Arlene Mosel, illustrated by Blair Lent

Also available from:

The Snowy Day

The Snowy Day

by Ezra Jack Keats

Also available from:

Time of Wonder

Time of Wonder

by Robert McCloskey

Also available from:

Madeline's Rescue

Madeline's Rescue

by Ludwig Bemelmans

Also available from:

The Little Island

The Little Island

by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Leonard Weisgard

Also available from:

Make Way for Ducklings

Make Way for Ducklings

by Robert McCloskey

Also available from:

They Were Strong and Good

They Were Strong and Good

by Robert Lawson

Also available from:

Caldecott Honor Books

Wonder Walkers

Wonder Walkers

by Micah Archer

Also available from:

The Cat Man of Aleppo

The Cat Man of Aleppo

by Karim Shamsi-Basha and Irene Latham, illustrated by Yuko Shimizu

Also available from:

Double Bass Blues

Double Bass Blues

by Andrea J. Loney, illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez

Also available from:

Alma and How She Got Her Name

Alma and How She Got Her Name

by Juana Martinez-Neal

Also available from:

Du Iz Tak?

Du Iz Tak?

by Carson Ellis

Also available from:

Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer

Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer

by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Ekua Holmes

Also available from:

Last Stop on Market Street

Last Stop on Market Street

by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Christian Robinson

Also available from:

The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky's Abstract Art

The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky's Abstract Art

by Barb Rosenstock, illustrated by Mary GrandPré

Also available from:

Sam and Dave Dig a Hole

Sam and Dave Dig a Hole

by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen

Also available from:

Journey

Journey

by Aaron Becker

Also available from:

One Cool Friend

One Cool Friend

by Toni Buzzeo, illustrated by David Small

Also available from:

Interrupting Chicken

Interrupting Chicken

by David Ezra Stein

Also available from:

Coming on Home Soon

Coming on Home Soon

by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by E.B. Lewis

Also available from:

A Child's Calendar

A Child's Calendar

by John Updike, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman

Also available from:

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly

by Simms Taback

Also available from:

Alphabet City

Alphabet City

by Stephen T. Johnson

Also available from:

John Henry

John Henry

by Julius Lester, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

Also available from:

Time Flies

Time Flies

by Eric Rohmann

Also available from:

The Stinky Cheese Man

The Stinky Cheese Man

by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Lane Smith

Also available from:

Seven Blind Mice

Seven Blind Mice

by Ed Young

Also available from:

Tar Beach

Tar Beach

by Faith Ringgold

Also available from:

The Talking Eggs

The Talking Eggs

by Robert D. San Souci, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

Also available from:

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins

by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman

Preorder from:

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

by James Marshall

Also available from:

Mirandy and Brother Wind

Mirandy and Brother Wind

by Patricia McKissack, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

Also available from:

Rumpelstiltskin

Rumpelstiltskin

by Brothers Grimm, illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky

Also available from:

Little Red Riding Hood

Little Red Riding Hood

by Trina Schart Hyman

Preorder from:

When I Was Young in the Mountains

When I Was Young in the Mountains

by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Diane Goode

Also available from:

The Bremen Town Musicians

The Bremen Town Musicians

by Ilse Plume

Also available from:

Fish for Supper

Fish for Supper

by M.B. Goffstein

Also available from:

Jambo Means Hello

Jambo Means Hello

by Muriel Feelings, illustrated by Tom Feelings

Also available from:

Moja Means One

Moja Means One

by Muriel Feelings, illustrated by Tom Feelings

Also available from:

Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse

Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse

by Leo Lionni

Also available from:

Frederick

Frederick

by Leo Lionni

Also available from:

Rain Makes Applesauce

Rain Makes Applesauce

by Julian Scheer, illustrated by Marvin Bileck

Preorder from:

Swimmy

Swimmy

by Leo Lionni

Also available from:

The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night

The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night

by Peter Spier

Also available from:

Inch by Inch

Inch by Inch

by Leo Lionni

Also available from:

Umbrella

Umbrella

by Taro Yashima

Also available from:

Fly High, Fly Low

Fly High, Fly Low

by Don Freeman

Also available from:

Play with Me

Play with Me

by Marie Hall Ets

Also available from:

Crow Boy

Crow Boy

by Taro Yashima

Also available from:

One Morning in Maine

One Morning in Maine

by Robert McCloskey

Also available from:

Bartholomew and the Oobleck

Bartholomew and the Oobleck

by Dr. Seuss

Also available from:

Blueberries for Sal

Blueberries for Sal

by Robert McCloskey

Also available from:

Andy and the Lion

Andy and the Lion

by James Daugherty

Also available from:

Wee Gillis

Wee Gillis

by Munro Leaf, illustrated by Robert Lawson

Also available from: