This First Edition Identification Guide assists children's book collectors and booksellers to accurately identify first edition Caldecott Medal books. The Randolph Caldecott Medal is considered by many to be the most prestigious award for American children's book illustration, and has been awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children "to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children" since 1938.The Guide provides detailed information on the first forty-one Caldecott Medal winning books, spanning the years 1938-to-1978, with a chapter for each book containing a thorough bibliography, along with photographs of the first edition book, title page, copyright, and the dust jacket front, front flap, and back flap. Each chapter clearly provides the first edition identification points for the book and dust jacket. This Guide serves to clarify misunderstandings and incorrect identifications circulating throughout the collectible book market by providing the identification points for second and later printings, and to describe the clear differentiation from the first printing. Additionally each chapter provides information for the book collector to contemplate about the potential scarcity and collectibility of each first edition Caldecott.