Mock Newbery 2026 discussion

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

El Deafo by Cece Bell

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Good Job Everyone!

We discussed all of these books.

This list is awesome! I was over the moon for El Deafo! I am so excited for CeCe Bell! Now I need to read The Crossover!

Crossover!!! I've read and loved all three of these but Crossover had a special place in my heart! I'm so happy to see these books being honored!

I am seriously bummed that there were only two honor awards. It was a fantastic year for children's literature. How they could not pick more award worthy books is beyond me :(

It is curious how this committee seemed to limit themselves, while the Caldecott committee went hog wild. Anyone with committee experience know how these extremes happen?

Crossover and El Deaf were two of my favorite books and I don't usually care for verse novels or graphic novels.

I want to thank this group for all the great suggestions this year. I used suggestions to order books for my library and I read as many as I could. I am happy to say that my library had most of the ALA winners and honor books as well as most of the SLJ battle of the book books for this year, Usually we are playing catch up trying to get all the winners. So thank you one and all. I can't wait to see what you suggest next.

Carol, thanks for the mention of SLJs Battle of the Kids' Books. This, for those who don't know, is a fun tourney where we have 16 books from 2015 pitted March Madness bracket style with each judged by a highly distinguished writer judge. You can see this year's contenders here: http://blogs.slj.com/battleofthebooks...

We have just started announcing the judges too. So far we have Kelly Barnhill and Holly Black!

Monica wrote: "Carol, thanks for the mention of SLJs Battle of the Kids' Books. This, for those who don't know, is a fun tourney where we have 16 book from 2015 pitted March Madness bracket style with each judged..."

I have been following SLJ BoKBs for the last 4 years. This year my library had all but one book--yay.

It would be fun to do some discussions of the match ups this year.

Jenni wrote: "It is curious how this committee seemed to limit themselves, while the Caldecott committee went hog wild. Anyone with committee experience know how these extremes happen?"

I haven't been on any committees, but have heard former committee members speak about the experience. The Newbery Manual has this to say:

In order to win, "a book must receive at least 8 first choices at four points per vote for a total of at least 32 points, and it must have an 8 point lead over
the book receiving the next highest number of points."

And about honor books:
"Immediately following determination of the winner of the Newbery Medal, and following appropriate discussion, the committee will entertain the following:

"Whether honor books will be named.

"Whether the committee wishes to choose as honor books the next highest books on the original winning ballot or to ballot again.

"If the committee votes to use the award-winning ballot, they must then determine how many honor books to name.

"If the committee chooses to ballot for honor books, only books that received points on the award winning ballot may be included. The same voting procedure is followed as for the award winner.

"If the committee has chosen to ballot for honor books, following that ballot, the committee will vote how many books of those receiving the highest number of points are to be named honor books."

I believe the Caldecott has the same rules about honor books. So, a lot is left up to the committee, and a lot depends on how much consensus there is. At in-person Mock workshops I've been to, where things are run much more informally, it's often pretty easy to see a cut-off point between the books with a LOT of support and the books with fewer points. I was just at a Mock Caldecott where we had a clear winner, and another book with quite a few points, and then all the other books we discussed were trailing far behind. So it made sense to say a winner and one honor book. I'd imagine something similar happened to the Newbery committee this year. Having TONS of Caldecott honors makes me wonder if they struggled to come to consensus, or there were just a lot of books with equal support. Who knows!

Another shout out for the Battle of the Books! I have a Facebook Group of about 15 mothers reading along with their kids in the BoB.

Kristine wrote: "Another shout out for the Battle of the Books! I have a Facebook Group of about 15 mothers reading along with their kids in the BoB."

Oh my, that is wonderful! If you are game, do let Shelley Diaz (sdiaz@mediasourceinc.com) know. She will be writing about those doing things like this. We want to let people know the different ways they can be involved. This sounds wonderful! I can't give my email out here, but I think you can message me here. So pleased to know this.

I have read all three of the Newbery winners 2015! Goosebumps for Cece Bell's El Deafo honor medal! So right!

Brown Girl Dreaming takes me back to my growing up years. Thanks for the 1963 birthyear connection, Jacqueline Woodson! So many memories triggered by your amazing writing.

Crossover is now on my list for upcoming Chat and Chew Lunch Bunch Book Clubs with our fifth graders.

I shared Crossover while book talking for the library's summer reading,
I found it fun to read aloud and a winner with the boys. I did not think it would win the Newbery but was sure it would be a best book. It should be so good book to discuss. Have not read the others but own them to read.

Hi Margo,
I read with interest about your "chat and chew" lunches? I facilitate Choices Chats at lunch with fifth graders and also middle schoolers. Do u discuss 1book or does everyone bring what they r currently reading? Do u meet weekly?
Thank u, nancy

Yes, I, too, was wanting to know more about "Chat and Chew" lunch bunch book clubs.