For months, teachers, librarians, parents, children, and others who love children's books have been wondering and debating about the Caldecott and Newbery winners for 2001. These are the two most highly regarded awards for children's literature in the United States. The suspense ended on Monday, January 15, 2001, when the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), announced the 2001 winners of the Randolph Caldecott Medal and the John Newbery Medal.

The Randolph Caldecott Medal
According to the ALA, the Randolph Caldecott Medal "...honors the illustrator of the year's most distinguished American picture book for children." It is an annual award and has been presented every year since 1938. The award is named after a 19th century English illustrator, who was known for his picture book illustrations. You will find cover art and descriptions of each of the 2001 winners on the Caldecott Medal Home Page.

Caldecott awards went to the following illustrators for their work illustrating these picture books:

2001 Caldecott Medal Winner
So You Want to Be President was illustrated by David Small, with text by Judith St. George. The publisher is Philomel.
2001 Caldecott Honor Books
Casey at the Bat was illustrated by Christopher Bing, with text by Ernest Lawrence Thayer. The publisher is Handprint.
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type was illustrated by Betsy Lewin, with text by Doreen Cronin. The publisher is Simon & Schuster.
Olivia was written and illustrated by Ian Falconer. The publisher is Atheneum.

The John Newbery Medal
The John Newbery Medal is an annual award of the ALSC, which was first awarded in 1922. The Newbery Medal "...honors the author of the year's most outstanding contribution to children's literature." It is named after a highly regarded 18th century English publisher and bookseller. You will find cover art and descriptions of each of the 2001 winners on the Newbery Medal Home Page.

Newbery awards went to the following authors for their work in writing these books:

2001 Newbery Medal Winner
A Year Down Yonder was written by Richard Peck and published by Dial Books for Young Readers.
2001 Newbery Honor Books
Because of Winn-Dixie was written by Kate DiCamillo and published by Candlewick Press.
Hope Was Here was written by Joan Bauer and published by G.P. Putnam's Sons
Joey Pigza Loses Control was written by Jack Gantos and published by Farrar, Staus, and Giroux.
The Wanderer was written by Sharon Creech and published by Joanna Cotler Books, HarperCollins.

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