The Carle Honors Past Honorees

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.

Past Honorees

Seventeenth Annual Carle Honors 2024

September 26, 2024
The New-York Historical Society
Artist: Uri Shulevitz
Angel: We Need Diverse Books, represented by Ellen Oh
Mentor: The Horn Book, represented by Elissa Gershowitz
Bridge: KidLit TV, represented by Julie Gribble
NEW! Inspiration Award: Marlo Thomas
HOST: Leslie Odom, Jr.

Sixteenth Annual Carle Honors 2022

September 29, 2022
Guastavino’s
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

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 Schön
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