In January 2008 author/illustrator Brian Selznick ’88 IL learned that his extraordinary children’s novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret (2007, Scholastic) earned the prestigious 2008 Caldecott Medal. Since its publication in 2007, the 526-page illustrated novel has been selected as a finalist in the 2007 National Books Awards, chosen as one of the New York Times’ Ten Best Illustrated Books of the Year, snapped up for movie rights, with the possibility that Martin Scorsese will direct.

In 2007 David Wiesner [RISD ’78, Illustration] learned that his latest book Flotsam won the 2007 Caldecott Medal, making him only the second illustrator ever to have earned the coveted award three times. He won his first Caldecott Medal for Tuesday (1991), chronicling a fantastic invasion of flying frogs, and his second for his ingenious take on The Three Pigs (2001). Renowned for his gift for storytelling without words, Wiesner may have amassed more Caldecott Medal and Honor awards than most, but he’s not alone among RISD graduates to be so recognized; bestselling illustrators Chris Van Allsburg [RISD MFA ’75, Sculpture] and David Macaulay [RISD ’69, Architecture] are among more than half a dozen other RISD-educated artists who have won over the years. In announcing this year’s Caldecott winners, the American Library Association also chose Macaulay for the 2008 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture Award.

Other RISD alumni recognized with Caldecott honors include Marjorie Priceman [RISD ’81, Illustration], in 2006, for Hot Air: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Hot-Air Balloon Ride and in 1996 for Zin! Zin! Zin! a Violin; Brian Selznick [RISD ’88, Illustration], in 2002, for The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins; and Christopher Bing [RISD ’83, Illustration], in 2001, for Casey at the Bat.