The Call that Changes Everything (or Not)

The scenario is by now familiar to those in the children’s book world. On a January morning—this year it’s January 28, from Seattle—one author and one illustrator will receive a phone call from the Newbery or Caldecott committee, naming them the newest recipient of the ALA’s prestigious awards. (This year’s announcement signals an additional milestone, as the Caldecott celebrates its 75th anniversary; its slightly older Newbery sibling has been awarded since 1922.) The attendant flurry of interviews and appearances follows, as does the predicted bump in sales for the freshly stickered books. But how do things change in the lives of the winners? We caught up with each of the Newbery and Caldecott medalists of the past five years to find out.