Celebrate Picture Book Month 2022

Since 1938, the Caldecott Medal has been awarded every year by the American Library Association to the “artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.” Watercress, illustrated by Jason Chin and written by Andrea Wang, was the Caldecott winner in 2022.

The Caldecott Medal is named for English illustrator Randolph Caldecott (1846-1886). Caldecott is credited with originating the modern picture book by using his colorful illustrations to help tell the story rather than simply reflect the written words. Created by Rene Paul Chambellan in 1937, the bronze medal’s design is based on one of Randolph Caldecott’s illustrations for The Diverting History of John Gilpin. It features the image of a man riding a runaway horse surrounded by geese, dogs and children.

To celebrate Picture Book Month in 2022, enjoy some of these gorgeous nonfiction picture books chosen by John Schu and Colby Sharp for their 2023 Mock Caldecott List, illustrated by Kate Berube, Sophie Blackall, Jason Chin, Christopher Denise, Chioma Ebinama, Eric Fan, Terry Fan, Deborah Freedman, Michaela Goade, Madelyn Goodnight, Edward Hemingway, Molly Idle, Yas Imamura, Rafael López, Deborah Marcero, Zahra Marwan, Meghan McCarthy, Daniel Minter, Frank Morrison, Christopher Silas Neal, Doug Salati, Erin E. Stead, Young Vo, and Gracey Zhang.

And here we collected Jazzy’s 2022 Picture Book Month Bookshelf for you.

Watercress by Andrea Wang

Action!: How Movies Began by Meghan McCarthy

Nigel and the Moon by Antwan Eady

Gibberish by Young Vo

Tiny Dino by Deborah Freedman

Love in the Library by Maggie Tokuda-Hall

Where Butterflies Fill the Sky: A Story of Immigration, Family, and Finding Home by Zahra Marwan

The Sun Is Late and So Is the Farmer by Philip C Stead

Powwow Day by Traci Sorell

Pigeon & Cat by Edward Hemingway

Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall

Hot Dog by Doug Salati

The Year We Learned to Fly by Jacqueline Woodson

John's Turn by Mac Barnett

Berry Song by Michaela Goade

Emile and the Field by Kevin Young

Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the Sky by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond

Kick Push by Frank Morrison

Knight Owl (The Knight Owl #1) by Christopher Denise

Out of a Jar by Deborah Marcero

Lizzy and the Cloud by Terry Fan

Witch Hazel by Molly Idle

Over and Under the Waves (Over and Under) by Kate Messner