Every year, we are excited to see which children’s books will earn coveted nominations for the Newbery, Caldecott, and Coretta Scott King book awards. The American Library Association announces the winners at their midwinter meeting on the last Monday in January, and children’s librarians across the country shout with glee when their favorites are chosen!
Here at GEPL, the Youth Department staff gets together to hotly debate our own picks for a “Mock Caldecott Awards” process. We’ve been reading books for several months now and have narrowed down the nominees to our own favorites! You can host your own mock awards with your kids if you read several of these picks, and then have a celebration to decide which one you most want to win. The criteria includes a book of strong literary merit, exceptional illustrations, and broad noteworthy appeal. Share your family’s picks with us in the comments!
Here are our GEPL Caldecott Nominees for best picture book of the year:
The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander and Kadir Nelson
Camp Tiger by Susan Choi and John Rocco
When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree by Jamie Deenihan and Lorraine Rocha
Field Trip to the Moon by John Hare
The Fisherman & the Whale by Jessica Lanan
When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle and Juanita Lukoff
Going Down Home with Daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons
Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard and Juan Martinez-Neal
Nine Months: Before a Baby is Born by Paul Miranda and Jason Chin
Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris
My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero
You Are Home: An Ode to the National Parks by Evan Turk
