Mock Caldecott 2026 discussion

It's time to make our selections for our Mock Caldecott Poll!


Please post the books that you think are worthy of the 2023 Caldecott award.

The top 20 books that are mentioned the most will be on our voting list.


Thank you


This thread will close on December 30th and voting will commence on December 31st.

Winner- Big by Vashti Harrison

Honors- A Walk in the Woods by Niki Grimes, Jerry Pinkney, and Brian Pinkney
-The Fire of Stars illustrated by Katherine Roy
-Jumper by Jessica Lanan

Big by Vashti Harrison
An American Story illustrated by Dare Coulter and written by Kwame Alexander
Evergreen by Matthew Cordell
Beneath by Cori Doerrfeld
Once Upon a Book by Grace Lin
My Powerful Hair illustrated by Steph Littlebird and written by Carole Lindstrom

An American Story by Alexander
Tomfoolery!...by Markel
Dim Sum Palace by Fang
Big by Harrison
A Walk in the Woods by Grimes
Ancestory...by Salyer
The Bees of Notre Dame by Browne
The Artivist by Smith
Remember by Harjo
There Was a Party for Langston by Reynolds
To See Clearly by Turk
Zora, The Story Keeper by Wilkins
Once Upon a Book by Messner/Lin
The Truth About Max by Provensen
Harlem at Four by Datcher
Chinese Menu by Lin

Evergreen by Matthew Cordell
Big by Vashti Harrison
The Tree and the River by Aaron Becker
An American Story by Kwame Alexander & ill by Dare Coulter
Beneath by Cori Doerrfeld
Once Upon a Book by Grace Lin
My Powerful Hair by Littlebird and Lindstrom
Jumper by Lanan

Once Upon a Book by Grace Lin
Finding Papa by Angela Pham Krans
Evergreen by Matthew Cordell
How Do You Spell Unfair? by Carole Boston Weatherford

An American Story by Kwame Alexander & ill by Dare Coulter
Jumper: A Day in the Life of a Backyard Spider by Jessica LananThe Tree and the River by Aaron Becker
Once Upon a Book by Grace Lin

Big
Once Upon a Book
Jumper
Game of Freedom
Tomfoolery
Party for Langston
A Walk in the Woods
The Tree and the River

An American Story

Big
The Walk
Jumper
There was a party for Langston
An American Story
Woven of the World

Tomfoolery
Simon and the Better Bone
The Tree and the River

Simon and the better bone

Nell Plants a Tree
Finding Papa
Evergreen
Once Upon a Book

Big
Once Upon a Book
There Was a Party for Langston
Evergreen
Artivist by Nikkolas Smith

I'm a bit last minute but if there is still time to submit here is my top 10 Caldecott contenders.
Stars of the Night written by Caren B Stelson illustrated by Selina Alko
Jumper Written and illustrated by Jessica Lanan
Remember written by Joy Harjo illustrated by Michaela Goade
The Tree and the River written and Illustrated by Aaron Becker
Simon and the Better Bone Written and Illustrated by Corey R Tabor
Beneath written and illustrated by Cori Doerrfeild
The Indestructible Tom Crean written and illustrated by Jennifer Themes
Woven of the World written by Katey Howes illustrated by Dinara Mirtalipova
In the Night Garden written and illustrated by Carin Berger
Finding Papa written by Angela Pham Krans illustrated by Thi Bui

Final list, alphabetical, in full with the book that have more votes at the top.

Once Upon a Book - 8
Big - 7
An American Story - 6
Jumper: A Day in the Life of a Backyard Jumping Spider - 6
Evergreen - 5
The Tree and the River - 5
There Was a Party for Langston - 4
A Walk in the Woods - 3
Beneath - 3
Finding Papa - 3
Simon and the Better Bone - 3
Tomfoolery!: Randolph Caldecott and the Rambunctious Coming-of-Age of Children's Books - 3
The Artivist - 2
My Powerful Hair - 2
Remember - 2
Woven of the World - 2


Ancestory: The Mystery and Majesty of Ancient Cave Art - 1
Chinese Menu: The History, Myths, and Legends Behind Your Favorite Foods - 1
Dim Sum Palace - 1
Game of Freedom: Mestre Bimba and the Art of Capoeira - 1
Harlem at Four - 1
How Do You Spell Unfair?: MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee - 1
In the Night Garden - 1
Stars of the Night: The Courageous Children of the Czech Kindertransport - 1
Nell Plants a Tree - 1
The Bees of Notre-Dame - 1
The Fire of Stars: The Life and Brilliance of the Woman Who Discovered What Stars Are Made Of - 1
The Indestructible Tom Crean: Heroic Explorer of the Antarctic - 1
The Truth About Max - 1
The Walk - 1
To See Clearly: A Portrait of David Hockney - 1
Zora, the Story Keeper - 1