Caldecott winner David Small on 'So You Want to Be President'

David Small

(CNN) -- Writing "So You Want to Be President," says David Small, allowed him to wear two hats: political cartoonist and children's illustrator.

"I thought it would be an interesting way to combine ... the work I've done in almost 30 books for children and the work that I've done for magazines like The New Yorker and newspapers like the (New York) Times and Washington Post," said Small in an interview with CNN.

For his work, Small on Monday was awarded this year's Caldecott Medal for outstanding achievement in children's illustration.

	VIDEO
CNN's Leon Harris interviews Randolph Caldecott Medal winner, David Small Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

"Small's illustrations liberate the presidents from years of bulletin-board duty. He humanizes these oh-so-familiar icons with art that captures the spirit of the individual and collectively provides a genuinely enlightening overview of this unique American institution," said Connie Rockman, chair of the Caldecott Award Selection Committee.

"So You Want to Be President," written by Judith St. George, whimsically leads young readers through a history of the presidency, noting that anyone can be president in the United States (the office has included tall men and short men, fat men and thin men, generals, actors and scholars) -- and discusses job requirements, good points and bad points of the position, and the need for honesty and integrity.

"It's a book that tries to humanize the presidency," says Small.

He's still surprised about the Caldecott. "It didn't seem like the book that would win the award."

Newbery, Caldecott, King awards announced
January 15, 2001

The Randolph Caldecott Medal

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