Mock Caldecott 2026 discussion

The Fabled Life of Aesop: The Extraordinary Journey and Collected Tales of the World’s Greatest Storyteller by Ian Lendler

The Bear's Garden Marcie Colleen

Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera by Candace Fleming

Magnificent Homespun Brown: A Celebration by Samara Cole Doyon

Could any of these selections be a future Caldecott award winner?

I love every one of these selections. The Fabled Life of Aesop is perfection. Pamela Zagarenski is a previous Caldecott award winner. Her illustrations are dreamy and whimsical. They compliment Lendler’s writing beautifully. This title is an extremely strong Caldecott contender. The Bear’s Garden is illustrated by Alison Oliver. It is very child friendly and beautiful. The Honeybee is incredibly realistic and informative. This will be the go to children’s book on all things bees. A lovely non-fiction title. Magnificent is a beauty. Very original and lots of fun.

I was able to find The Bear's Garden, Honeybee, and Magnificent Homespun Brown on YouTube.
The Bear's Garden reminded me quite a bit of Peter Brown's The Curious Garden: growing a garden in a city space. I really liked the story and illustrations.
The woman reading Honeybee unfortunately showed only the right side of the book, instead of the entire spread. But the illustrations I did see were riveting and the information fascinating.
Magnificent Homespun Brown: while I liked the poetic celebration of all things brown, I was not as enthusiastic about the illustrations.
I am looking forward to seeing the physical books for myself.

Magnificent Homespun Brown: A Celebration has tremendous value to help younger children (of all race and nationalities) see and understand their self worth, in these troubled times of late.

With a prepared storyteller and planned questions and discussions, this book can be a valuable teaching and learning tool! It would be best shared with early primary and intermediate ages. Taking a positive look at WHO I AM is powerful and healthy for readers to ponder and discuss.

I believe it will rate high on a Caldecott consideration list.

Agree with Laura. Honeybee is a must in a science / nature collection for children. The illustrations do resemble photographs but are actually honey-toned oil paintings on paper! There is a breathtaking surprise near the center of the book. Very impressive. Caldecott consideration.

Honeybee
Just today got a hardback copy of this book. Here is my review:
Fabulous oil paintings depict close ups of worker bees at work inside and outside the hive. Fascinating information follows one summer worker bee from the moment she breaks out of her cell until her natural death about a month later. Includes a double gate-foldout showing the bee's first flight. Additional facts about honeybees is included in the back matter, with a short website list and bibliography. I would be very happy for this book to receive a Caldecott Award or Sibert Award.

The Fabled Life of Aesop: The Extraordinary Journey and Collected Tales of the World’s Greatest Storyteller by Ian Lendler

Lendler bookends the little that is known about Aesop and his life on either side of 10 of the better known fables attributed to him. Further information of Aesop and fables, plus a short bibliography, is included in the back. Caldecott Honor illustrator Zagarenski supplies wonderful, surrealistic paintings for the book.

Stunning illustrations and very informative for young audience. I learned a lot too! It's nonfiction but reads almost like a picture book. I say this one is worthy of a Caldecott.

Beverly wrote: "The Fabled Life of Aesop: The Extraordinary Journey and Collected Tales of the World’s Greatest Storyteller by Ian Lendler

Lendler bookends the little that is known..."

I was impressed with this title, too. Beautiful illustrations and I really enjoyed the biography aspect.

Honeybee: These illustrations are detailed, up-close, captivating and impressive. I’m not sure the reader would so thoroughly understand the lifecycle without the text, but the illustrations are certainly complimentary and set the mood for the worker-bee’s purposeful life.

Magnificent Homespun Brown: This is a wonderful celebration of positive self-image and connection with nature through shades of brown. The illustrations are lovely and express the joyous mood and appreciation for nature, but I’m not sure they sufficiently tell the story alone. So although a contender, I’m not sure it would win.

Linda wrote: "

Stunning illustrations and very informative for young audience. I learned a lot too! It's nonfiction but reads almost like a picture ..."

This illustrator has a knack for engaging the eye with lovely detail (see Sleep like a Tiger, The Whisper, Henry and Leo). Zagarenski's use of color and (seemingly) random details keep the reader engaged and avidly seeking more detail. The color pallette ties all the stories together as the stories move from fox to lion to hare, etc. A great read-aloud, you can dip into one fable and set the book aside- or read several fables in one sitting.

I adore Honeybee. I loved it when I first read it, and then even more so upon rereading it months, and many picture books, later. The illustrations are gorgeous and show Rohmann's depth as an artist. Although the pictures dazzle the eyes enough to win an award, the words complement the visual display wonderfully - I love how Fleming builds suspense through the depictions of the bee's short, busy, but varied lifetime. I can imagine this would be a fun book to read to children. I hope it gets some love from the committee. A lovely collaboration!

I also enjoyed the blending of allegory and real life in The Fabled Life of Aesop and the visual celebration of a young girl's inner beauty shining through in The Magnificent Homespun Brown.