Mock Caldecott 2026 discussion

The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld

The Stuff of Stars by Marion Dane Bauer

Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal

A Stone for Sascha by Aaron Becker


Thank you all for voting on our poll.
What do you think of these titles? Is there a future Newbery award in this group of books?

The Rabbit Listened is one of my top 3 choices for the Caldecott gold medal. Blue by Laura Vaccaro Seeger and Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love are my other two top picks. Cori Doerrfeld is fairly new to the picture book scene. But she has quickly become a tour de force. The Rabbit Listened is extraordinary. It is reminiscent of the clever yet deceptively simple genius of Kevin Henkes. Perfection!

The Stuff of Stars is glorious. The text is fantastic but oh, those illustrations! Ekua Holmes is a wonder. The two page spread with the horses is incredible. So is the spread with the whales and frogs and wooly mammoths. Every page is a stunner. A very strong contender!

A Stone for Sascha. Beautiful illustrations by the incredibly talented Aaron Becker. Previous Caldecott winner for the stunning book, Journey. I don't love this wordless, pet loss picture book, however. It starts out promisingly enough then becomes completely disjointed. I am never thrilled with picture books that you have to explain completely to a child. If a parent is buying A Stone for Sascha to help with pet loss, well this won't do it. Blue by Laura Vaccaro Seeger takes on life and pet loss to perfection. That is a title I am rooting to win an award.

Alma and How She Got Her Name is an important story about names and one's heritage. Unique, warm, endearing artwork. There are so many amazing picture book's this year. If many Caldecott honor awards are given in 2019, this book may have a good chance at winning one.

The Rabbit Listened is a glorious book. The illustrations are simple and original (I feel like it would usually be another child who knocks over the blocks) and I love the way that they reflect the animals' "typical" characteristics. It gives it another layer of depth that goes even beyond its powerful message.

I loved the story of The Rabbit Listened and added to our social emotional learning book list. I am not sure it is a Caldecott contender.

Why don't you think it is a contender? I love Vaccaro-Seeger's Blue but I am not sure it is a contender.

Alma and How She Got Her Name
I really liked the story itself, but even though I liked the illustrations, I didn't consider them of Caldecott quality.

The Rabbit Listened
I loved the story and the illustrations. I thought that the illustrations were exceptional at depicting and extending the text. I also thought that the array of emotional expressions was outstanding.

A Stone for Sascha
This is certainly an ambitious book. I had a bit of difficulty following the story line, until I realized that the pictures need to be interpreted by the maps on the end papers. The digitally painted illustrations, some in panels, and some in single- or double-page spreads are lovely. This is certainly not a book for pre-school children. An adult will probably have to help explain it to young school-age children.

Charlene wrote: "I loved the story of The Rabbit Listened and added to our social emotional learning book list. I am not sure it is a Caldecott contender."
I agree.. love the story but I don't think the illustrations are a Caldecott.

The Stuff of Stars
I agree that the illustrations in this book are stunning. And the illustrator created hand-marbled paper for the book.