Mock Caldecott 2027 discussion

Excited to kick off our 2027 reading with these selections. Let's champion the books that bring history to life!




How to Have a Thought: A Walk with Charles Darwin by Nicholas Day and illustrated by Hadley Hooper.




Troubled Waters: A River's Journey Toward Justice by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Bryan Collier




Seven Million Steps: The True Story of Dick Gregory's Run for the Hungry by Derrick Barnes and Christian Gregory and illustrated by Frank Morrison




Basket Ball: The Story of the All-American Game by Kadir Nelson




Many argue that nonfiction publications have an uphill battle when it comes to winning awards.

Do you agree? Could these publications with the Caldecott?

I agree that nonfiction publications have an uphill battle winning the Caldecott Medal (there is always the Sibert Award). I am not interested in any of the above 4 books.

These are not my favorite NF of the year so far, and while I like Basket Ball best, the pictures are often artistic renderings of photos or composited photos, and think the committee may exclude it from contention. If I had to pick one, it'd be Troubled Waters, but I feel like the images lack power for children who don't know what they represent. For NF so far this year I really like Reaching Across the Sky, Fourteen Ways of Looking at Jellyfish, and Marie's Magic Eggs.