2012  A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka

2011  A Sick Day for Amos McGee illustrated by Erin E, Stead

           written by Philip C. Stead

2010  The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney

2009  The House in the Night illustrated by Beth Krommes

          written by Susan Marie Swanson

2008  The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

2007  Flotsam by David Wiesner

2006  The Hello, Goodbye Window illustrated by Chris Raschka

           written by Norton Juster

2005  Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes

2004  The Man Who Walked between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein

2003  My Friend Rabbit  by Eric Rohmann

2002  The Three Pigs by David Wiesner

2001  So You Want to be President?  by David Small

2000  Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback

1999  Snowflake Bentley illustrated by Mary Azarian

          written by Jacqueline Briggs Martin

1998  Rapunzel by Paul O. Zelinsky

1997  Golem by David Wisniewski

1996  Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peffy Rathmann

1995  Smoky Night illustrated by David Diaz

            written by Eve Bunting

1994  Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say

1993  Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Anold McCully

1992  Tuesday by David Wiesner

1991  Black and White by David Macaulay

1990  Lon Po Po:  A Red Riding Hood Story from China 

          by Ed Young

1989  Song and Dance Man illustrated by Stephen Gammell

          written by Karen Ackerman

1988  Owl Moon illustrated by John Schoenherr, written by Jane Yolen

1987  Hey Al illustrated by Richard Egielski, written by Arthur Yorinks

1986  The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

1985  Saint George and the Dragon illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman

           written by Margaret Hodges

1984  The Glorious Flight: Across the Channel with Louis Bleriot

           by Alice and Martin Provensen

1983  Shadow translated and illustrated by Marcia Brown

1982  Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg

1981  Fables by Arnold Lobel

1980  Ox Cart Man illustrated by Barbara Cooney, written by Donald Hall