What’s the Children’s Lit EGOT?

Recently, John Legend joined what might be the most exclusive club in show biz – people who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award, also called an E.G.O.T.

It made me wonder what the children’s book equivalent of an EGOT is, and of course, who is in the club.

The awards would have to be ones that anyone could potentially win, so I settled on Boston Globe-Horn Book, National Book Award, Caldecott, and Newbery. B.N.C.N. Let’s call it the Benson.

Key:
B = Boston Globe/Horn Book Award
Na = National Book Award
C = Caldecott
New = Newbery

(H) = Honor
(S) = Shortlist
(A) = Authored a Caldecott winning book
(I) = Illustrated a Newbery winning book

In the BNCN Club (but it’s a slight stretch)

Jacqueline Woodson B(H), Na, C(A), New(H)

Woodson has won three Boston Globe-Horn Book Honors (in all three categories, no less) for Locomotion (Fiction), Brown Girl Dreaming (Nonfiction), and Pecan Pie Baby (Picture Book) a National Book Award for Brown Girl Dreaming (and shortlisted for Locomotion and Hush), she has authored a book that won a Caldecott Honor (Coming Home Soon, illustrated by E.B. Lewis – not technically an award, but I’m counting it), and has won multiple Newbery honors (Brown Girl Dreaming, After Tupac & D Foster, Feathers, and Show Way).

Maurice Sendak B, Na, C, N(I)

I was surprised to see him here, to be honest. He’s won a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award (for Outside Over There), a National Book award (during a period of time where there was a picture book award, for Outside Over There), a Caldecott Medal (for Where the Wild Things Are) and seven Caldecott Honors, and – surprise – he illustrated a Newbery winner (The Wheel on the School – not technically an award, but I’m counting it)

*EDITED TO ADD (Thanks Eric Carpenter)*

William Steig B(H), Na, C, New(H)

Two Boston Globe Honors (Doctor DeDoto, The Amazing Bone), a National Book Award (during a period of time where there was a picture book award, for Doctor DeSoto) and shortlist (Dominic), Caldecott Medal (for Sylvester & the Magic Pebble) and Honor (for The Amazing Bone). Newbery Honors for Doctor DeSoto and Abel’s Island

Sort of in the BNCN Club (but it’s a bigger stretch)

Cynthia Rylant B, Na(S), C(A), New

Rylant won a two Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards (Missing May and Appalachia) and an Honor (God Went to Beauty School), was shortlisted for a National Book Award (during the period of time when they gave a picture book award, for When I Was Young in the Mountains), authored two books that won a Caldecott Honors (When I Was Young in the Mountains, The Relatives Came), and won a Newbery Medal (Missing May) and Honor (A Fine White Dust).

Almost in the BNCN Club

Virginia Hamilton B, Na, New
Katherine Paterson B, Na, New
Lloyd Alexander B, Na, New
Kate DiCamillo B, Na, New
Kevin Henkes B(H), C, New(H)
Louis Sachar B, Na, New

This of course raises the question of which active creators could potentially reach the BNCN club. Looks like DiCamillo and Henkes are your best bets.

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