The Cardoza family's gift of their Caldecott collection is unique because it beautifully encapsulates the spirit of City Day. Chris Dow Head of School
Picture books bearing the gold Caldecott Medal seal have been a treasured part of life in the Cardoza household for two decades. This year, the Cardozas decided it was time to share the power of those books by gifting their collection to Chicago City Day School.
"We hope they provide an invitation to explore," said Kathleen Cardoza, whose two children graduated from City Day. "You never know what will spark a child's imagination. These books did that for my kids, and it feels wonderful knowing that they'll be available to City Day students for years to come."
The Cardozas' collection, which features Caldecott winners from the program's earliest days through its 75th anniversary year, is now displayed in City Day's Haffner Library. The display includes a special illustration created by Colleen Cardoza, Kathleen's daughter and a member of City Day's Class of 2018.
Head of School Chris Dow expressed deep gratitude for the Cardozas' donation.
"The Cardoza family's gift of their Caldecott collection is unique because it beautifully encapsulates the spirit of City Day," he said. "These are the very books that inspired their children's love of reading and their own passion for instilling and nurturing that love in their children.
"And now, the story comes full circle, as the books are displayed to continue to foster that love of reading and all that comes along with it — creativity, imagination, curiosity, and more — for future generations of City Day students and parents."
The Caldecott Medal, named after English illustrator Randolph Caldecott, is awarded annually to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book of the year. The Caldecott was first awarded in 1938. It is considered one of the two most prestigious awards to be given to picture books, the other being the Newbery Medal, which goes to a book's author.
When their children were young, Kathleen Cardoza and her husband, Keith, began putting Caldecott winners in their children's Easter baskets each year. Enjoying the books together became a beloved family tradition. Kathleen said she and her husband have precious memories of reading the books to their children at night.
"These books truly fostered a love of reading and a love of art in our home," Kathleen said.
The Cardoza children are now in college. Colleen is studying at Parsons School of Design in New York City. Her brother Michael, a member of City Day's Class of 2020, is studying at Georgetown University in Washington D.C.
As part of her family's gift to the school, Colleen created an illustration that features two young children — modeled after her and her brother — reading The Spider and the Fly, one of the included books.
"I liked being able to include a lot of the motifs and characters from different Caldecott books," said Colleen, who is pursuing a degree in illustration at Parsons. "And I wanted to show the familial aspect of the tradition — it's a nice wholesome moment."
City Day librarian Jennifer Gray said the collection will be a huge asset for her and her students.
"I can't wait to share these books with all of my students, but senior kindergarten in particular," Mrs. Gray said. "In senior kindergarten, we do an extended study of the Caldecott-winning illustrators and their books. This collection will add so much to our unit of study!"
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