Library and Information Science

The Caldecott award was established in 1938 as the first award for children’s picture books in the United States. Each year the Caldecott Medal is awarded by the Association for Library Services for Children (in 1938, it was the Section for Library Work with Children), the children’s service division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book published in the previous year. For more than sixty years since it was established, it has had a great influence on illustrators, publishers, librarians and those who are concerned with children’s books not only in the United States but also all over the world.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the significance and the cause of success of this award by studying its history and many facts behind it. It was found that the fact “the award by the children’s librarians in the United States” has supported strongly its position and authority for many years. As selecting and diffusing good children’s books have been recognized as the children’s librarians’ mission, for them the Caldecott award is the proof of their professional work. Also the economic and social situation of the United States at each period cannot be overlooked. In the United States, to trace the award means to trace the movement and change of libraries and the society.