Addressing the problem of sex stereotyping in the literature children are exposed to before they enter school, a study examined the extent to which sex role stereotyping exists in Caldecott Award winning books. The examination of 44 books published between 1937 and 1980 revealed 7 major categories of blatant sex stereotyping: (1) the achievements of females are attributed to their good looks, (2) norms are established that limit the aspirations and self-concept of females, (3) males perform all of the brave and important deeds, (4) females most frequently show strong emotion, (5) females are stereotyped in domestic roles, (6) males sit idly by while females perform domestic occupations, and (7) only males are depicted in a variety of occupations. These findings suggest that there is a significant reinforcement of sex role stereotyping in children's picture books--especially in the years when attitudes are most formative. Concerned educators, librarians, and parents can respond to these stereotypes by balancing the literature program with nonsexist books, developing an understanding of stereotypes, and providing counterexamples. (HOD)