Mock Caldecott 2026 discussion

Out of so many good books the Caldecott Committee must choose one winner.

Baby Bear Sees Blue by Ashley Wolff
Boy and Bot by Ame Dyckman
Z Is for Moose by Kelly Bingham
A Home for Bird by Philip C. Stead

Are any of these books a possible contender?

I enjoyed Baby Bear Sees Blue and thought the pictures were beautiful. I loved Z is for Moose and children love that story and the pictures are very engaging. I have not yet read Boy and Bot but Home for Bird has stolen my heart. I love this book and it has been my favorite Caldcott Contender that I have read so far.

I would like to recommend "Too Tall Houses" by Gianna Marino as a Caldecott contender. Although "Use in story time" is one of my picture book criteria for judging great books, I don't think you can argue with the wonderful illustrations and creative story of this book. I love its autumn glow throughout. Gianna lives in N. California.

I've read Baby Bear Sees Blue, Boy and Bot, and Z is for Moose. I liked all three of them as well as the engaging pictures, but don't feel that these 3 are contenders. I have yet to read A Home for Bird.

Paula wrote: "I've read Baby Bear Sees Blue, Boy and Bot, and Z is for Moose. I liked all three of them as well as the engaging pictures, but don't feel that these 3 are contenders. I have yet to read A Home for..."

I loved Z is for Moose but I don't see it as a Caldecott. It's a terrific book, though.

I love A Home for Bird - both the story and the illustrations. The colors are vivid without being loud, with lots of details that don't jump out right away but are there to look at more closely.

The only one I haven't been able to get my hands on is A Home for Bird. I really enjoyed the other three. Z for Moose is hilarious. Baby Bear is really sweet, adn Boy and Bot is a great book about friendship. I liked them a lot, but I still love Extra Yarn and And Then It's Spring - they're still my picks for the Caldecott.

This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen may be a contender. It has received 6 starred reviews. I like his previous book too - I Want My Hat back.

I love Baby Bear Sees Blue, but I don't think it's a contender. It's done well, but what it's doing isn't fresh or new - it reminds me of the books I loved as a child. It's definitely going into my storytime rotation.

I've loved sharing Z is for Moose with preschoolers and early elementary students, but I just can't see the artwork as distinguished.

A Home for Bird, on the other hand, stands out from the crowd. It's likely to inspire strong opinions, and while the journey of Vernon and Bird has a very classic feel to it, the illustrations are anything but. I don't love it as much as Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat, but there is much to discuss about these illustrations. I would definitely expect it to be a contender.