Mock Newbery 2026 discussion

December is almost here. We have read a lot of great books, but have we missed your favorite?

What would you like to read in December?

Full Cicada Moon by Marilyn Hilton

I loved the Marvels (Brian Selznick) -- it would be my pick for Newbery this round, but do you know if it is eligible, or will it fall on the same exclusion that Hugo Cabret did?

Tamsyn wrote: "I loved the Marvels (Brian Selznick) -- it would be my pick for Newbery this round, but do you know if it is eligible, or will it fall on the same exclusion that Hugo Cabret did?"

While not excluded as such, it will be a challenge given the following criteria (that stymied me the year I was on the Committee grappling with how to make a case for Hugo Cabret):

"The committee is to make its decision primarily on the text. Other components of a book, such as illustrations, overall design of the book, etc., may be considered when they make the book less effective."

Excellent discussion on "what is text?" in terms of The Marvels and its Newbery chances here: http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/2015/...

Thanks for the Heavy Medal blog link, Monica. I coincidentally had friends on your committee (Micki) and on the Caldecott that year, and was so thrilled with their choice for Hugo. I agree with the point made in the blog that in this book the text could more easily stand alone, so I am hopeful that they will make a case for it this year!

The Marvels
The Hired Girl
Chasing Secrets
Masterminds

The Tale of Rescue

Kristen wrote: "December is almost here. We have read a lot of great books, but have we missed your favorite?

What would you like to read in December?"


I would say "The Marvels", "George" or "A Night Divided"

Kim wrote: "Kristen wrote: "December is almost here. We have read a lot of great books, but have we missed your favorite?

What would you like to read in December?"


I would say "The Marvels", "George" or "A..."

Great selections. I would be interested in what the community would think about George.

I'm I interested in George As well

I'm I interested in George As well

Tamsyn wrote: "Thanks for the Heavy Medal blog link, Monica. I coincidentally had friends on your committee (Micki) and on the Caldecott that year, and was so thrilled with their choice for Hugo. I agree with the..."



Mikki! How I still miss her. Wouldn't it be cool if this Committee pulled it off?

Read George; it was a bit dull.

Also read A Night Divided. On the one hand, it presents an aspect of history that has received little attention; on the other, the writing was fairly pedestrian, and the plot and character development were somewhat skimpy. (But perhaps THE FALSE PRINCE trilogy has just set too high a standard for anything else Nielsen writes, so I'm always expecting her books to be clever, funny page-turners - and this is not.)

I vote for The Marvels.

(The Hired Girl is a terrific book with a truly memorable main character, but it's a YA title in my opinion. Haven't read any of the others.)

I still do not have a favorite for the Newbery.

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Laura wrote: "Kim wrote: "Kristen wrote: "December is almost here. We have read a lot of great books, but have we missed your favorite?

What would you like to read in December?"


I would say "The Marvels", "G..."



My library mother/daughter book club is reading it and though it is a very controversial subject the author handles it so well.

Crenshaw by Applegate

I just finished Dear Hank Williams by Kimberly Williams Holt
the story is told entirely in letters to Hank Williams who was just beginning to become famous. Tate is growing up in the late 40's, post war, rural America.
Near the end Holt drops a totally unsuspected bombshell that brought on sudden tears.
I don't know if students will love this book, but I sure did. Newbery, probably not, but very good writing.

So many books, so little time...to reread.
What about:
Symphony of the city of the dead
The boys who challenged hitter
This side of wild
Terrible Typhoid Mary
The hired girl

Librarygarden wrote: "So many books, so little time...to reread.
What about:
Symphony of the city of the dead
The boys who challenged hitter
This side of wild
Terrible Typhoid Mary
The hired girl"

I wasn't crazy about The Boys Who Challenged Hitler. Great topic but it didn't come together right for me. Loved Terrible Typhoid Mary and The Hired Girl. This Side of Wild is a good choice as well.

I absolutely loved The Hired Girl narrated by Rachel Botchan on audible! My favorite book this year, BUT I'm having a hard time finding a reader in 6th grade that it fits. Definitely an upper level read.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed A Handful of Stars by Cynthia Lord. The story appears deceptively simple, but the book provides meaningful exploration of complex themes, such as personal courage, fighting prejudice and social contributions of migrant workers.

So many great choices! After running a mock Caldecott in my library I told the students I'd never be able to be on a committee! I wouldn't be able to choose! ;)
Some of my favorites from this year are:
Echo
Crenshaw
Fish in a Tree
Circus Mirandus
The Honest Truth
Handful of Stars
The Marvels
Dear Hank Williams
I also LOVED Sunny Side Up -probably the most impactful book I've read all year.

Haven't finished A Night Divided...feels slow moving but in very interested in the topic! :)

Oh and Orbiting Jupiter! So so so good!!

I know December has already started, But if you are planning on doing one more book before the ala conference, my vote would be a Night divided. I've heard a lot of great things about it, and the topic is really interesting to me. My other pick would be fish in a tree, which I would enjoy discussing. It's very good but not perfect.

I know December has already started, But if you are planning on doing one more book before the ala conference, my vote would be a Night divided. I've heard a lot of great things about it, and the topic is really interesting to me. My other pick would be fish in a tree, which I would enjoy discussing. It's very good but not perfect.

I know December has already started, But if you are planning on doing one more book before the ala conference, my vote would be a Night divided. I've heard a lot of great things about it, and the topic is really interesting to me. My other pick would be fish in a tree, which I would enjoy discussing. It's very good but not perfect.

I know December has already started, But if you are planning on doing one more book before the ala conference, my vote would be a Night divided. I've heard a lot of great things about it, and the topic is really interesting to me. My other pick would be fish in a tree, which I would enjoy discussing. It's very good but not perfect.

I know December has already started, But if you are planning on doing one more book before the ala conference, my vote would be a Night divided. I've heard a lot of great things about it, and the topic is really interesting to me. My other pick would be fish in a tree, which I would enjoy discussing. It's very good but not perfect.

I know December has already started, But if you are planning on doing one more book before the ala conference, my vote would be a Night divided. I've heard a lot of great things about it, and the topic is really interesting to me. My other pick would be fish in a tree, which I would enjoy discussing. It's very good but not perfect.

Angie wrote "I also loved Sunny Side Up -probably the most impactful book I've read"

Sunny Side Up also resonated with me personally because of issues with drug abuse in my family this year.

Does anyone have new nonfiction read aloud suggestions for a fifth grade teacher? She is considering Becoming Maria or Most Dangerous but I haven't gotten to read either yet to recommend... Thank so much!

Cara wrote: "Does anyone have new nonfiction read aloud suggestions for a fifth grade teacher? She is considering Becoming Maria or Most Dangerous but I haven't gotten to read either yet to recommend... Thank s..."

Becoming Maria is great. Most Dangerous might be for a slightly higher grade level but incredibly well written and fascinating. There is a young adult version of Boys in the Boat. I would recommend it for 7th grade and up but there are so many extras and wonderful tidbits it might be a good choice. Also a young reader version of I am Malala. Can't go wrong there. Little Author in the Big Woods by McDonough is a fairly recent title about the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder. This Side of Wild by Gary Paulsen is my number 1 choice for your age group. Autobiography of the Hatchet etc. authors life.

Cara wrote: "Does anyone have new nonfiction read aloud suggestions for a fifth grade teacher? She is considering Becoming Maria or Most Dangerous but I haven't gotten to read either yet to recommend... Thank s..."

I wouldn't recommend Becoming Maria for 5th grade - maybe 7th and up? Some professional reviews say grad 9 & up or age 12 and up. It's intense, dark, and doesn't really have a clear narrative for a good chunk of the beginning.

Cara wrote: "Does anyone have new nonfiction read aloud suggestions for a fifth grade teacher? She is considering Becoming Maria or Most Dangerous but I haven't gotten to read either yet to recommend... Thank s..."

What about Terrible Typhoid Mary? It looks long, but it's only about 150 pages. All the notes and back matter take up about 1/3 of the text block. I really enjoyed it and have thought it's a certain student to sell the book to, but as a read aloud I think a class could really get into it.

I concur that Most Dangerous is for older kids....

Who wrote most dangerous?

Jo,

Most Dangerous is written by Steve Sheinkin. The subtitle is Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War.

Librarygarden wrote: "Cara wrote: "Does anyone have new nonfiction read aloud suggestions for a fifth grade teacher? She is considering Becoming Maria or Most Dangerous but I haven't gotten to read either yet to recomme..."

Completely forgot about Terrible Typhoid Mary. Fascinating story and appropriate age group. Also, wonderfully written.