The 2025 Carle Honors Honorees

George Ford (b. 1926) is a pioneering children’s book illustrator and designer who has dedicated his career to inspiring Black people, and especially Black children, with reflections of their own excellence. In 1974, he became the first recipient of the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award, for Ray Charles, written by Sharon Bell Mathis. He is a past president of the Council on Interracial Books for Children; and was an active member of the organization Black Creators for Children. Ford has illustrated dozens of titles, including classics such as Nikki Giovanni’s Ego Tripping, The Story of Ruby Bridges, and Bright Eyes Brown Skin, one of his many collaborations with Just Us Books.

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.

One of the most prominent theatres for young audiences in the world, Seattle Children’s Theatre (SCT) has been igniting imaginations and inspiring young minds for 50 years. Since 1975, SCT has produced nearly 300 shows, many based on picture books and classic children’s literature, reaching more than four million audience members with professional theatre made just for them. SCT believes that every child deserves access to the transformative power of storytelling, which is why they are committed to equity, inclusion, and making theatre accessible to all. Through bold productions, innovative education programs, and community-driven initiatives, SCT creates spaces where every child feels seen, heard, and valued.

Andrea Davis Pinkney’s illustrious thirty-year career as a publishing executive, editor, and author reflects her deep commitment to improving the quality of children’s lives by illuminating culturally relevant stories and depictions. She works tirelessly to bring new talent to the field and bolster publishing’s diversity landscape. Pinkney has authored nearly 50 books for children, garnering numerous Coretta Scott King Book Awards, the Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor, and the Parenting Publications gold medal. Currently Vice President, Executive Editor at Scholastic since 2005, Pinkney also is a four-time NAACP Image Award nominee, New York State Writers Hall of Fame inductee, and recipient of the Regina Medal, Kerlan Award, and American Library Association Children’s Literature Lecture Award for her singular body of work and distinguished contribution to the field of children’s literature.