I was so excited yesterday when I saw that The Undefeated was the 2020 Caldecott Award winner. It was already on my list of favorite picture books from 2019 and now, with this award, promises to stay in print for many years to come.

As a lover of picture books, the Caldecott is the American Library Association (ALA) award that I follow most closely. It is a prestigious picture book award given for distinguished illustrations. Often the illustrations break a mold, showcasing a new and exciting way to illustrate picture books. Regardless, the illustrations are always captivating and this year’s winner The Undefeated, illustrated by Kadir Nelson, is no exception.

Nelson illustrates Kwame Alexander’s poem celebrating the many accomplishments and amazing perseverance of African Americans. Nelson’s oil paintings of African Americans both past and present pop off the page. Each human likeness has a presence all its own. His illustrations seer the soul and draw the reader in.

But as amazing as Nelson’s illustrations are (and they are amazing), they are enhanced even further by Kwame Alexander’s poetry. Alexander’s words thrum through the reader, a call to action, a call to remember, a call to empowerment. Together Alexander and Nelson have created a powerhouse of a book, a shining example of what a picture book can be when text and illustrations are each allowed the space to do their job.

This symbiotic relationship can be keenly felt by the reader and certainly was felt by the judges at ALA. That is why this book not only won the Caldecott Award, but also a Newbery Honor Award and the Corretta Scott King Award. According to the Coretta Scott King Book Awards page the awards “are given annually to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values. The award commemorates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and honors his wife, Mrs. Coretta Scott King, for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace and world brotherhood.” (Click HERE to read more about this award.) According to the Newbery Medal homepage, this “medal was named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery. It is awarded annually . . . to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.” (Click HERE to learn more about this award.) This is a book with serious staying power!

In Alexander’s afterword, he quotes Maya Angelou, “We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated. It may even be necessary to encounter the defeat, so that we can know who we are. So that we can see, oh, that happened, and I rose. I did get knocked down flat in front of the whole world, and I rose.” In just a few pages, using minimal words, Alexander and Nelson have created an impressive and important book not to missed. End pages offer additional insight into the poem through a personal afterword from Alexander and three pages of information about the many historical figures and events pictured in the book.

(Best for children in 2nd grade and up)