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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

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This Is Not My Hat

This Is Not My Hat

by Jon Klassen

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A Ball for Daisy

A Ball for Daisy

by Chris Raschka

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So You Want to Be President?

So You Want to Be President?

by Judith St. George, illustrated by David Small

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Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

by Simms Taback

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Rapunzel

Rapunzel

by Paul O. Zelinsky

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Officer Buckle and Gloria

Officer Buckle and Gloria

by Peggy Rathmann

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Mirette on the High Wire

Mirette on the High Wire

by Emily Arnold McCully

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

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

by Ed Young

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Song and Dance Man

Song and Dance Man

by Karen Ackerman, illustrated by Stephen Gammell

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Owl Moon

Owl Moon

by Jane Yolen, illustrated by John Schoenherr

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The Glorious Flight: Across the Channel with Louis Bleriot

The Glorious Flight: Across the Channel with Louis Bleriot

by Alice and Martin Provensen

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Ox-Cart Man

Ox-Cart Man

by Donald Hall, illustrated by Barbara Cooney

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Noah's Ark

Noah's Ark

by Peter Spier

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Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions

Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions

by Margaret Musgrove, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon

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Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears

retold by Verna Aardema, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon

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Arrow to the Sun

Arrow to the Sun

by Gerald McDermott

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The Funny Little Woman

The Funny Little Woman

retold by Arlene Mosel, illustrated by Blair Lent

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The Snowy Day

The Snowy Day

by Ezra Jack Keats

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Time of Wonder

Time of Wonder

by Robert McCloskey

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Madeline's Rescue

Madeline's Rescue

by Ludwig Bemelmans

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The Little Island

The Little Island

by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Leonard Weisgard

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Make Way for Ducklings

Make Way for Ducklings

by Robert McCloskey

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They Were Strong and Good

They Were Strong and Good

by Robert Lawson

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Caldecott Honor Books

Wonder Walkers

Wonder Walkers

by Micah Archer

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The Cat Man of Aleppo

The Cat Man of Aleppo

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

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Double Bass Blues

Double Bass Blues

by Andrea J. Loney, illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez

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Alma and How She Got Her Name

Alma and How She Got Her Name

by Juana Martinez-Neal

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Du Iz Tak?

Du Iz Tak?

by Carson Ellis

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Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer

Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer

by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Ekua Holmes

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Last Stop on Market Street

Last Stop on Market Street

by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Christian Robinson

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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

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Sam and Dave Dig a Hole

Sam and Dave Dig a Hole

by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen

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Journey

Journey

by Aaron Becker

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One Cool Friend

One Cool Friend

by Toni Buzzeo, illustrated by David Small

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Interrupting Chicken

Interrupting Chicken

by David Ezra Stein

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Coming on Home Soon

Coming on Home Soon

by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by E.B. Lewis

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A Child's Calendar

A Child's Calendar

by John Updike, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman

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There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly

by Simms Taback

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Alphabet City

Alphabet City

by Stephen T. Johnson

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John Henry

John Henry

by Julius Lester, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

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Time Flies

Time Flies

by Eric Rohmann

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The Stinky Cheese Man

The Stinky Cheese Man

by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Lane Smith

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Seven Blind Mice

Seven Blind Mice

by Ed Young

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Tar Beach

Tar Beach

by Faith Ringgold

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The Talking Eggs

The Talking Eggs

by Robert D. San Souci, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

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Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins

by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman

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Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

by James Marshall

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Mirandy and Brother Wind

Mirandy and Brother Wind

by Patricia McKissack, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

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Rumpelstiltskin

Rumpelstiltskin

by Brothers Grimm, illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky

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Little Red Riding Hood

Little Red Riding Hood

by Trina Schart Hyman

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When I Was Young in the Mountains

When I Was Young in the Mountains

by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Diane Goode

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The Bremen Town Musicians

The Bremen Town Musicians

by Ilse Plume

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Fish for Supper

Fish for Supper

by M.B. Goffstein

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Jambo Means Hello

Jambo Means Hello

by Muriel Feelings, illustrated by Tom Feelings

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Moja Means One

Moja Means One

by Muriel Feelings, illustrated by Tom Feelings

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Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse

Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse

by Leo Lionni

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Frederick

Frederick

by Leo Lionni

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Rain Makes Applesauce

Rain Makes Applesauce

by Julian Scheer, illustrated by Marvin Bileck

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Swimmy

Swimmy

by Leo Lionni

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The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night

The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night

by Peter Spier

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Inch by Inch

Inch by Inch

by Leo Lionni

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Umbrella

Umbrella

by Taro Yashima

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Fly High, Fly Low

Fly High, Fly Low

by Don Freeman

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Play with Me

Play with Me

by Marie Hall Ets

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Crow Boy

Crow Boy

by Taro Yashima

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One Morning in Maine

One Morning in Maine

by Robert McCloskey

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Bartholomew and the Oobleck

Bartholomew and the Oobleck

by Dr. Seuss

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Blueberries for Sal

Blueberries for Sal

by Robert McCloskey

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Andy and the Lion

Andy and the Lion

by James Daugherty

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Wee Gillis

Wee Gillis

by Munro Leaf, illustrated by Robert Lawson

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