March 22nd--Why can't I be like Caldecott?

March 22, 1886 was the day Randolph Caldecott was born. This Englishman became an artist and illustrator, and inspired an award that goes each year to the most distinguished illustrated book for children in the American market.

The Caldecott Medal honors the best, but we find that even the nominees for the medal are fabulous. Among our favorites are Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! and Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type. That second one is a particularly quirky book about cows that trick a farmer by typing letters.

To celebrate the day, we recommend a trip down to the local library and scope out any nominees or winners of the award. Most libraries don't keep a separate Caldecott section, so scope out the American Library Associations annually updated list before you go. It's at http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/caldecotthonors/caldecottmedal.cfm#00s.