Mock Caldecott 2026 discussion

A New Day by Brad Meltzer




Outside, Inside by LeUyen Pham




Zonia's Rain Forest by Juana Martinez-Neal




Michelle's Garden: How the First Lady Planted Seeds of Change by Sharee Miller

Even though it's a late posting, it's never too late to read!

What did you think of these publications?

A New Day
I loved this book by Meltzer, but I haven't seen the other August titles yet. Chock full of insane silliness, I loved the whimsical humor of a day of the week quitting, and tryouts being held for a replacement day. The tryouts themselves were a hoot. Dan Santat hits another illustration homerun with his wildly colorful paintings in watercolor, color pencil and crayon. (I voted for Caturday!)

I enjoyed it also! Thanks for sharing!!!

Outside, Inside
This book subtly tells what happened when the pandemic began in March 2020, without actually mentioning the pandemic anywhere except in the author's lengthy note at the back of the book. Only one small vignette of a hospital training session has the word "Covid-19" on a whiteboard. Parents reading the book to their young children will have to explain why everyone went indoors. One page includes a business that had to close. Many of the illustrations of people show them masked and/or social distancing. The digital illustrations are magnificent, using double page spreads, small vignettes, and one double-fold-out page. What makes the illustrations even more special is that Pham used real people and real situations in several of the illustrations. The story also follows a young girl, her father, and her black cat. Young readers can search for the black cat on each page of the book, but the girl and father appear sporadically throughout the book. This book may get some Caldecott love.

Zonia's Rain Forest
This is a beautiful book/story. As explained in an author's note in the back, Zonia is of the Ashaninka people of the Amazonian rain forest, most of whom live in Peru (the author/illustrator's heritage). In the story, Zonia walks around the forest, greeting the various indigenous animals. But on her way home, she comes across a large parcel of land where the trees and other vegetation have been burned off. The text is short and simple, making this very accessible to preschool children. The lovely paintings, created with acrylic, colored pencil, pastel, ink, linocuts, and woodcuts on handmade banana bark paper, perfectly capture the young girl's expressions, the beauty of the animals, and the beauty of the forest. The back matter includes a translation of the story into the Ashaninka language, short essays about the Ashaninka people, the Amazon region, the threats to the Amazon, and a few websites. In addition, the animals that Zonia greets are identified. I think this book would be a great candidate for a Caldecott award or honor; and it may also be a shoo-in for a Belpre award or honor.

*Outside, Inside
I agree with all that Beverly pointed out. When the pandemic began, this author/illustrator started jotting down details about how the world was changing, and eventually she decided to turn these notes into a documentation of the events in the form of a children’s picture book. One beautiful two-page picture spread shows how we all look different (our faces and nationalities), yet the next two-page spread shows how we are the same on the inside, with potential to have and share love. To end the story, there is a four-page open spread that takes a positive look at how our lives have progressed through the pandemic, both inside and outside of our homes. After the first reading of the story, it works to go back through the book and treat it as a wordless book. The pictures on every page have so much to say about how the coronavirus has affected our lives in 2020. A younger child will look at the story and see it as a picture book of people doing things inside and outside of the home. It is fun to follow the neighborhood black cat through the story. First graders and older can appreciate the story as a look at the pandemic and how it changed everything!I see the book as getting Caldecott attention.

*A New Day
This is a delightful picture text book about our BIG feelings and how we can work and play together, living peacefully. Once read to, children will want to re-read this book on their own and explore the pictures! The concept about our big feelings is easy to understand and universal. This is a helpful book to show children how to share and work together - and not push and shove! The illustrations are bright, emotional, and full of color! It has a marvelous centerfold. The author references our big feelings. What can we do to work and play together? I love the quote “ See another point of view.” I can hear children referencing this….so 21st Century style, as taught them by their parents, older siblings, teachers, and coaches! A sheer delightful book for children, libraries, schools, daycare, doctors’ offices, and more! (not tops on my Caldecott list)

* Zonia's Rain Forest - In this beautiful story, Zonia is a little girl that lives and loves her world in the Amazon Rainforest. When she senses danger, she tells her mom the rain forest needs help who urges the little one to do her part. A final look at the little girl shows a look of determination to save the rainforest, and a challenge to all of us is issued, as well. This is a great book to add to a study of the rainforest and its global implications. In the acknowledgments at the back of the book, credit is given to the women artisans of Chazuta, Peru, who made the natural paper used in the illustrations of this book. The paper is from banana bark. The illustrations are muted and seem to accentuate the true colors of the rain forest and its beauty. This surely will be considered in the Caldecott lineup.

Michelle's Garden
Great health unit book for young children. Encourages eating healthy foods, gardening, cooking, and making our world a better place.

Bold colors! Caldecott? not too sure of this.

I enjoyed all of these titles, but Zonia's Rain Forest really stood out for me as the one that is most likely to win an award. The illustrations are gorgeous, utilizing muted and vibrant colors; the text is sweet and engaging; and the message that we need to value and protect the diverse flora and fauna of the world's rain forests packs a powerful punch.

I enjoyed this month's books and agree with much that was expressed in the reviews above. Zonia's Rain Forest is a truly distinguished picture book, in my opinion. The style of illustration fits perfectly with the themes of the book--gentle caring--and so much is conveyed about Zonia, the animals, the rainforest, and the way of life through the gorgeous illustrations! Truly excellent, and accessible to young children. Definitely high on my Caldecott list.

I also think that Outside, Inside is a possible contender. The detailed drawings depict so well the experiences and feelings that many of us shared during the early stages of the pandemic. The topic is addressed in a way that young children can digest, and as someone mentioned above, the illustrations tell the story so well that it can function as a wordless book.

Michelle's Garden and The New Day have vibrant, colorful illustrations, but I don't see them as Caldecott worthy.

Laura wrote: "I enjoyed this month's books and agree with much that was expressed in the reviews above. Zonia's Rain Forest is a truly distinguished picture book, in my opinion. The style of illustration fits pe..."

I agree with you about Outside, Inside. I think it is an incredibly strong Caldecott contender. Juana Martinez-Neal is one of my favorite illustrators. Although the illustrations are wonderful, I didn't love Zonia's Rainforest. It didn't come together for me. I do love Tomatoes for Neela by Padma Lakshmi and illustrated by Juana. The story is terrific and the illustrations are even better.

Laura wrote: "Laura wrote: "I enjoyed this month's books and agree with much that was expressed in the reviews above. Zonia's Rain Forest is a truly distinguished picture book, in my opinion. The style of illust..."

I can understand how some readers may be left wanting by the end of Zonia's Rainforest, as it begs for discussion of the issues raised, and I was so glad that the back matter contained more information. But I loved the understatement and the tone (and the illustrations of course!). I will have to check out Tomatoes for Neela--thank you!

Zonia's Rain Forest
On the one hand, Juana Martinez-Neal has won a Caldecott Honor before and her illustrative style does not vary enough from book to book to likely qualify as distinguished. However, I find myself including her new releases in Mock Caldecott for my students every year because they are captivating, soft to the eye and appropriate for young people but yet serious in topic. Even just the cover of this one is sweet and feels safe - the font is playful, the girl’s rounded features are youthful and predict activity to come; the beige and green earth tones are comforting, and her noticing of the blue butterfly, that plays a continuous role throughout the book, tells the reader how closely this indigenous child notices the nature around her. The edges of Zonia and her colorful friends seem to blend into the background. And the page with the cleared trees and straight lines is stark, static desolate, and depressingly gray in contrast, telling the young reader there has been an unpleasant change. The blue butterfly on the stump seems to almost be pondering the scene with Zonia and wondering what she will do. The book concludes with a sense of hope but also respect for the severity of the rain forest’s situation. This book feels important and introduces the shrinking rain forest’s impact on the native people and animals in a mild manner for young readers. Although I have enjoyed sharing this book with my students, I don’t feel like the art stands out this year.