Mock Caldecott 2026 discussion

Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion by Shannon Stocker




If You Find a Leaf by Aimée Sicuro




Endlessly Ever After: Pick Your Path to Countless Fairy Tale Endings! by Laurel Snyder




Because Claudette by Tracey Baptiste


Some exciting recommendations by the group and a couple I'm very excited about.

What did you think of them?

All extraordinary picture books! If You Find a Leaf by Aimee Sicuro is my favorite of the four books shown. It is actually one of my favorite 2022 releases. Her work reminds me of the great Lois Ehlert's style and art. I would love for this title to win a 2023 Caldecott. My next favorite book on this list is Endlessly Ever After. I am a huge fan of both the author and illustrator. Dan Santat's illustrations are detailed, lively and fun. Definitely in the running for a Caldecott! I love Listen as well!

Endlessly Ever After
This "pick your path" book has Little Red Riding Hood going on numerous adventures, some of which end well, and some of which end with her, well, not quite so alive. Endlessly fun and amusing; and with fantastic illustrations by Caldecott-award winning Dan Santat. His illustrations are larger than those in many picture books, since this one is over-sized, and they convey the action, hilarity, or solemnity of the scenes with panache.

Because Claudette -
The portraitures in this book are realistic. Faces and hands are genuinely depicted – realistically representing a time of civil rights activism and the look of the 50s /60s. The author and illustrator did a marvelous job of depicting the emotions of an electric time of tension in the Deep South, so that children can understand this civil rights movement. May do well in the Caldecott race!!!


Endlessly Ever After is a poetry book with a collection of fairy tales rolled into one fairy tale! A 5 to 8-year-old (and anyone else) will have a great time telling, retelling, and changing endings to this book. There are many classic fairy tales for the reader to recreate. For the first read, it is good to read this book with a child. Some of the endings are bright and cheerful; some are not so much; the illustrations are essential in making these points! Of course, a reader can retrack and change the dark ending to safer ones. A lot of What ifs, Red Riding Hood went this way instead of that way. A great book for discussions of safe and unsafe! The pictures are large and very engaging…. large eyes, teeth, and dark woods, with bright paths to this way and that. May be in the Caldecott mix!!!

If You Find a Leaf
A short, simple story in which a child imagines many ways to use a leaf. The illustrations are lovely, being executed in ink, watercolor, charcoal, photography and collage. Real leaves were integrated into each illustration. And a wonderful extra: in the back matter, the author/illustrator explains to young artists how to make their own leaf collage.

Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion - a true story of a young girl, Evelyn Glennie, who became deaf at an early age. She fought to overcome her disabling condition and train as a musician. She became a renowned, highly respected musician throughout the world as a percussionist. Hers is a story of marvel and wonder – one that should speak to everyone that you can do anything you set your mind to do, with diligence and hard work.

The author’s note explains that the author, like Evelyn Glennie whom she writes about, also is a musician with disabilities. She, too, was told “You can’t do these things.” And she has, and so has Evelyn. The author is a great storyteller!

The illustrations in this book are deep, vibrant in color with a nice contrasting appeal. Not sure about Caldecott, only because it seems she lives in Germany.

Carol wrote: "Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion - a true story of a young girl, Evelyn Glennie, who became deaf at an early age. She fought to overcome her disabling condition and train..."

Check out Everywhere With You, also illustrated this year by Devon Holzwarth. It is so fantastic. She was born in Washington D.C. so good to go for a Caldecott :)

I liked all four of the picture books, but I have to say that Because Claudette is my personal favorite of the bunch. Its illustrations are gorgeous and empowering, and I love how it highlights a young person who was able to make a difference against great odds. Of course, Listen also successfully features a young woman determined to be heard and acknowledged; I agree that the illustrations are imaginative and expressive. Endlessly Ever After would have been a delight in my house when my kids were young; though I'm not a big fan of "choose your own adventures" formats, this one rises above the stereotype with its fun text and engaging illustrations. Finally, I waited months to get my hands on If You Find a Leaf and enjoyed seeing how Sicuro imagined leaves being used in various contexts in this lovely fall book. I hope at least one of them is recognized with a Caldecott!