Mock Caldecott 2026 discussion

There were so many beautiful illustrations this year and some fabulous storytelling. It is a difficult job to narrow it down to one winner.

Our final vote has awarded the Mock Caldecott to:




An American Story by Kwame Alexander, illustrated by Dare Coulter

With Honors to:



Big by Vashti Harrison

Evergreen by Matthew Cordell


Do you agree with our voting?

What do you think the 2024 committee will decide?

What books did your local groups choose, if you held a Mock Caldecott?

This is a nice final selection from our group. I did not select Evergreen, and this is why (from my review), "The pictures are delightful, sketched in pen and ink and colored in watercolors. It is a wonderful chapter book. And what I would call worthy of the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award, for beginner readers." I would give it the Geisel award and allow other top book choices a chance at Caldecott.

An American Story should receive several awards next week. A Caldecott, the Coretta Scott King Award and quite possibly a Newbery. I hope Big becomes a Caldecott award winner. It is beautiful and meaningful. I love Mattew Cordell and was beyond thrilled when his Wolf in the Snow won the Caldecott gold. It is one of my all time favorite picture books. Maybe you have to be of a certain age, but the illustrations for Evergreen are very much like Arnold Lobel's in Miriam Young's book, Miss Suzy circa 1964. Although I wasn't born when it was first released, it became a favorite of mine in the early 70's. I wasn't crazy about the "twist" in Evergreen either. It didn't follow the flow of the book at all and felt forced. I am counting on Tomfoolery! to win a Caldecott. Hopefully the gold. It is remarkable that McClintock was self taught. Every spread in Tofoolery was incredibly well thought out, stunning and perfect. A Caldecott about a book on Randolph Caldecott? Of this caliber? Yes, please!

I agree with Laura that Tomfoolery deserves a Caldecott Award or Honor.