The American Library Association on Monday awarded its Caldecott Medal to Greenville, S.C. native and Winthrop University graduate Matthew Cordell. The Association gives the annual award "for the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children."
"...wolves are stereotyped into being these bloodthirsty, savage beasts that are out to get people - and a lot of that stereotype and prejudice comes from, I think, from old fairy tales..." - Matthew Cordell
Cordell's book Wolf in the Snow was published in January of last year. Reviewers have raved about the author/illustrator's creative approach to telling a virtually ‘wordless’ story - one which puts a whole new twist on traditional fairy tale images about little girls and wolves.
WFAE's Mark Rumsey reached Cordell by phone at the author's home near Chicago and talked with him about how the book came about, and the message he hopes it sends.
Learn more about Matthew Cordell and see more samples of his work.
