The Carle Honors Past Honorees

Each year, The Carle Honors recognize individuals in the picture book field for their dedication and creative vision.

The four honorees are selected by a committee chaired by children’s book historian, author, and critic Leonard S. Marcus, founder of the Honors. Awards are given in the following categories:

Artist. Given to an individual who has shown lifelong innovation in the field.
Mentor. For an editor, designer, or educator who has championed the art form.
Angel. For an individual whose generous resources are crucial to making picture-book art exhibitions, education programs, and related projects a reality.
Bridge. For an individual who has found inspired ways to bring the art of the picture book to larger audiences through work in other fields.

Carle Honors awards ceremony
We’ve been presenting The Carle Honors awards to visionaries and leaders in the picture book world since 2006. 

Past Honorees

Sixteenth Annual Carle Honors 2022

September 29, 2022
Artist: Faith Ringgold
Angel: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, represented by President Jeff Conyers
Mentor: Cheryl & Wade Hudson
Bridge: Ajia (阿甲)
Watch

The 2021 Virtual Carle Honors and Art Auction

September 23, 2021

Artist: Raúl Colón

Angel: Every Child a Reader, represented by Carl Lennertz

Mentor: Patricia Aldana

Bridge: Dennis M. V. David and Justin G. Schiller

Watch

The Very Virtual Benefit and Auction 2020

September 24, 2020

Watch

Fourteenth Annual Carle Honors 2019

September 26, 2019

Guastavino’s

Artist: Melissa Sweet

Angel: REFORMA, represented by Kenny Garcia

Mentor: David Saylor

Bridge: Chihiro Art Museum, represented by Takeshi Matsumoto

Hosts: Grace Lin and Alvina Ling   

Thirteenth Annual Carle Honors 2018

September 27, 2018

Guastavino’s

Artist: Paul O. Zelinsky

Angel: The Sendak Fellowship & Workshop, represented by Lynn Caponera and Dona Ann McAdams

Mentor: Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop

Bridge: The Bologna Children’s Book Fair, represented by Elena Pasoli

Host: Andrea Davis Pinkney

2018 Carle Honors Honorees with Eric Carle

The 2018 Carle Honors

Lynn Caponera, Dona Ann McAdams, Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop, Eric Carle, Andrea Davis Pinkney, Paul O. Zelinsky, Elena Pasoli, and Michael Neugebauer at The 2018 Carle Honors.

Twelfth Annual Carle Honors 2017

September 28, 2017

Guastavino’s

Artist: Ed Young

Angel: Dr. John Y. Cole

Mentor: Bank Street Writers Lab, represented by Chairperson Dr. Cynthia Weill

Bridge: Anthea Bell

Presenter: Jack Gantos

Eleventh Annual Carle Honors 2016

September 28, 2016

Guastavino’s

Artist: Allen Say

Angel: Lee & Low Books, represented by Jason Low

Mentor: Regina Hayes

Bridge: Steven Heller

Presenter: Gregory Maguire    

Tenth Annual Carle Honors 2015

September 24, 2015

Guastavino’s

Artist: Helen Oxenbury

Angel: The Cotsen Children’s Library at Princeton University, represented by Corinna Cotsen and Andrea Immel

Mentor: Neal Porter

Bridge: Joan Bertin

Presenter: David Macaulay

Ninth Annual Carle Honors 2014

September 18, 2014

Guastavino’s

Artist: Jerry Pinkney

Angel: Reach Out and Read, represented by Brian Gallagher and Dr. Perri Klass

Mentor: Dr. Henrietta Mays Smith

Bridge: Françoise Mouly

Presenters: Tony and Angela DiTerlizzi

Eighth Annual Carle Honors 2013

September 26, 2013

Guastavino’s

Artist: Chris Van Allsburg

Angel: Lynda Johnson Robb and Carol H. Rasco

Mentor: Phyllis Fogelman Baker

Bridge: Barbara Bader

Co-Chairs: Tony and Angela DiTerlizzi

Seventh Annual Carle Honors 2012

September 20, 2012

Guastavino’s

Artist: Lane Smith

Angel: Kent L. Brown, Jr.

Bridge: Christopher Cerf

Mentor: Frances Foster

Co-Chairs: Jules Feiffer, Kate Feiffer, and Norton and Jeanne Juster

Sixth Annual Carle Honors 2011

September 22, 2011

Guastavino’s

Artist: Lois Ehlert

Angel: Jeanne Steig

Bridge: Karen Nelson Hoyle

Mentor: Michael Di Capua

Co-Chairs: Jerry and Gloria Jean Pinkney and Maurice Sendak

Fifth Annual Carle Honors 2010

September 30, 2010

Guastavino’s

Artist: David Macaulay

Angel: Allan and Kendra Daniel

Bridge: Nancy Schon

Mentor: Stephen Mooser & Lin Oliver

Co-Chairs: Les and Zora Charles and Chris and Lisa Van Allsburg

Fourth Annual Carle Honors 2009

September 24, 2009

Midtown Loft and Terrace

Artist: Alice Provensen

Angel: Kyle Zimmer

Bridge: Blouke and Marianne Carus

Mentor: Walter Lorraine

Co-Chairs: Jon Scieszka and Jamie Lee Curtis

Third Annual Carle Honors 2008

September 23, 2008

The University Club

Artist: Maurice Sendak

Angel: Jim and Vanita Oelschlager

Bridge: Jim Trelease

Mentor: Susan Hirschman

Co-Chairs: Tony Kushner, Gregory Maguire, Twyla Tharp, Chris Van Allsburg, and Paul O. Zelinsky

Second Annual Carle Honors 2007

October 2, 2007

The University Club

Artist: Ashley Bryan

Angel: Martin and Lillie Pope

Bridge: Twila Liggett

Mentor: Margaret McElderry

Presenters: Jane Bayard Curley and Leonard S. Marcus

Inaugural Carle Honors 2006

September 25, 2006

The University Club

Artist: Rosemary Wells

Angel: Helen Bing

Bridge: Morton Schindel

Mentor: Ann Beneduce

Presenters: Jane Bayard Curley and Leonard S. Marcus