In his 1975 Caldecott Award acceptance speech, Gerald McDermott reflects on the artist’s role as a modern-day shaman, one who channels vision into symbolic form to awaken the imagination.
Drawing from myth, personal experience, and a deep respect for children’s innate visual awareness, he argues for the vital importance of visual literacy in early education. Through this powerful address, Gerald challenges creators and educators alike to nurture the aesthetic spirit in children and honor the picture book as a profound artistic medium.
