UW–Madison’s Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) received a major honor from the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, which on Wednesday unveiled its 2025 Carle Honors.
These awards recognize the individuals and organizations whose creative vision and long-term dedication have had a profound effect on picture books and the vital role they play in arts appreciation and early literacy.
“For over 60 years, the staff of the CCBC has been promoting literacy and high-quality literature for youth, and children and teens’ access to books, including books reflecting diverse identities and experiences. It is an honor to have this work recognized by our peers,” says Tessa Michaelson Schmidt, the director of the Cooperative Children’s Book Center.
The award winners are selected each year by a committee chaired by children’s literature historian and critic Leonard S. Marcus. The committee recognizes four distinct awards: Artist, for lifelong innovation in the field; Angel, whose generous resources are crucial to making illustrated children’s book art exhibitions, education programs, and related projects a reality; Bridge, individuals or organizations who have found inspired ways to bring the art of the picture book to larger audiences through work in other fields; and Mentor, editors, designers, and educators who champion the art form.
The CCBC was recognized in the Angel category, with the Carle Museum of Picture Book Art explaining that “since its founding in 1963, the CCBC has provided opportunities for engagement with and critical thinking about children’s and young adult literature and related issues. A book examination center funded to serve librarians and educators in Wisconsin but with reach and impact far beyond the state, the library has promoted the importance of high-quality literature and diverse books for children and teens for decades through thematic bibliographies and its annual recommended list, CCBC Choices. The CCBC’s award-winning intellectual freedom work, which began in 1978, and its commitment to documenting representation in books for youth through the annual CCBC Diversity Statistics, are among the singular ways this small library has tremendous impact.”
The award winners are selected each year by a committee chaired by children’s literature historian and critic Leonard S. Marcus. The committee recognizes four distinct awards: Artist, for lifelong innovation in the field; Angel, whose generous resources are crucial to making illustrated children’s book art exhibitions, education programs, and related projects a reality; Bridge, individuals or organizations who have found inspired ways to bring the art of the picture book to larger audiences through work in other fields; and Mentor, editors, designers, and educators who champion the art form.
The CCBC was recognized in the Angel category, with the Carle Museum of Picture Book Art explaining that “since its founding in 1963, the CCBC has provided opportunities for engagement with and critical thinking about children’s and young adult literature and related issues. A book examination center funded to serve librarians and educators in Wisconsin but with reach and impact far beyond the state, the library has promoted the importance of high-quality literature and diverse books for children and teens for decades through thematic bibliographies and its annual recommended list, CCBC Choices. The CCBC’s award-winning intellectual freedom work, which began in 1978, and its commitment to documenting representation in books for youth through the annual CCBC Diversity Statistics, are among the singular ways this small library has tremendous impact.”
In addition to the CCBC, the 2025 Carle Honors honorees were: Artist: George Ford; Bridge: Seattle Children’s Theatre; and Mentor: Andrea Davis Pinkney.
“The 2025 Carle Honors will again celebrate the highest ideals of our children’s book community,” Marcus, Carle Honors Committee Chair and founder of the Carle Honors, said in a news release. “Together, our honorees exemplify the many kinds of dedicated hard work and rare talent that go into the making and sharing of picture book and art experiences that children love and remember for a lifetime.”
The honorees will be celebrated at the museum’s annual gala and fundraiser at The New York Historical in New York City on Thursday, Sept. 25. The evening will be hosted by Mac Barnett, a New York Times bestselling author and 2025-2026 U.S. National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.
Founded by Eric and Barbara Carle in 2002, The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is the “international champion of picture book art,” according to the news release. The museum is located in Amherst, Massachusetts, and houses a “rich and deep collection of art of more than 300 picture book artists, including Eric Carle (“The Very Hungry Caterpillar”), and illuminates its collection through exhibitions, education, programming, and art-making.”
To learn more about this award and the museum — including much more information about all of this year’s award winners — check out the news release here.
“The 2025 Carle Honors will again celebrate the highest ideals of our children’s book community,” Marcus, Carle Honors Committee Chair and founder of the Carle Honors, said in a news release. “Together, our honorees exemplify the many kinds of dedicated hard work and rare talent that go into the making and sharing of picture book and art experiences that children love and remember for a lifetime.”
The honorees will be celebrated at the museum’s annual gala and fundraiser at The New York Historical in New York City on Thursday, Sept. 25. The evening will be hosted by Mac Barnett, a New York Times bestselling author and 2025-2026 U.S. National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.
Founded by Eric and Barbara Carle in 2002, The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is the “international champion of picture book art,” according to the news release. The museum is located in Amherst, Massachusetts, and houses a “rich and deep collection of art of more than 300 picture book artists, including Eric Carle (“The Very Hungry Caterpillar”), and illuminates its collection through exhibitions, education, programming, and art-making.”
To learn more about this award and the museum — including much more information about all of this year’s award winners — check out the news release here.
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