Mock Caldecott 2026 discussion

Fireworks: A Sizzling Picture Book about Summer in the City―A Perfect Fourth of July Read by Matthew Burgess and illustrated by Catia Chien.




Don't Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson and illustrated by Dan Santat.




A Gift of Dust: How Saharan Plumes Feed the Planet by Martha Brockenbrough and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal.




The Gathering Table by Antwan Eady and illustrated by London Ladd.


What do you think? Are they Caldecott contenders?

They are all very well done, but Gift of Dust stood out to me as special. It is one I will peruse again and again as I share it with my students next year.

I will share Don't Trust Fish, also, as it is laugh out loud funny and I love to hear my students laugh when I read.

Don't Trust Fish
I agree that this is a laugh out loud book, and I do think young readers will find it quite funny.
It starts out looking like a primer on different classes of animals, begining with mammal, reptile, and bird, These illustrations look stiff and formal as in a textbook. But then the fish is all signature Santat. Most of the book goes on to tell the reader why they should not trust fish, for all the vile and malicious things they do, including plans to take over the world. Then suddenly the reader is back to the primer with amphibian. The final double-page spread reveals the author of all the anti-fish rhetoric. The contrast between the textbook-style illustrations and Santat's wild and quirky cartoons is funny. I would vote for this book for a Caldecott--the world needs more humorous Caldecott winners!

I still cannot get over my love for Every Peach is a Story by Masumoto. It remains my favorite of the year so far.

I just noticed the illustrator of Every Peach lives and works in Toronto and New York. Hopefully the New York counts for a Caldecott.

Fireworks
After the two children spend the day in a park, eating watermelon and running through water leaks, they head up to the roof of the building to watch the fireworks. Chien used pastels, pencils, paint, and scratch board to bring the pink, white, and blue fireworks to life. The grand finale is on a double-page gatefold and is spectacular. Frankly, I liked the depiction of the fireworks better than the depiction of the humans. Anyway, a very colorful ode to fireworks.

I also loved Every Peach is a Story as well. The back matter says that the illustrator lives and works in Canada and New York. I believe she has a Canadian citizen though. Where Are You Brontë? made me cry. I love the 2 page spread at the table with many of dePaola’s characters represented. Where the Deer Slip Through is beautiful.