Mock Caldecott 2026 discussion

It's our last month of reading before the awards are given out in January. Do you think any of these award worthy?

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by William Joyce

Chopsticks by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

One Cool Friend by Toni Buzzeo

One Special Day by Lola Schaefer

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore is Caldecott gold for sure. I also love Abraham Lincoln's Dream by Lane Smith. Boot and Shoe and A Story for Bear are other favorite Caldecott contenders of mine.

I have a question about The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore. I am hoping that someone can help clear this up for me. Does this book meet the criteria of the Caldecott Medal, especially in the area of being "original work"? Since it was originally a short film before it was a book, does this make it ineligible? I copied the criteria from the ALA website on the Caldecott rules below:

"The term "original work" may have several meanings. For purposes of these awards, it is defined as follows:
"Original work" means that the illustrations were created by this artist and no one else. Further, "original work" means that the illustrations are presented here for the first time and have not been previously published elsewhere in this or any other form. Illustrations reprinted or compiled from other sources are not eligible."
(http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/...)

Of this group, my vote goes to One Cool Friend. The zany blue grid backgrounds, sparse use of color, and the many visual details foreshadowing the ending won me over on my first read-through. Looking at it again, I'm impressed at the way the illustrations convey the action and move across the page, carrying you through this wacky story.

While I'm a big fan of The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, I hadn't previously considered it as Caldecott material. I believe that the short film is based on the book, not the other way around. That would make the book the original work, would it not? If it is eligible, it is a gorgeous book, but it's difficult for me personally to separate the experience of watching the amazing short film from the illustrations in the book.

I've read them all except Chopsticks by Amy Krouse Rosenthall. I loved them all, but think The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore and One Cool Friend could be contenders as well. I also loved Abraham Lincoln's Dream by Lane Smith and think that could be a contender as well.

We just finished our Mock Caldecott at work, and chose Unspoken by Henry Cole, with "honors" going to And Then It's Spring by Julie Fogliano and Oh, No! by Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann...

Ed wrote: "I have a question about The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore. I am hoping that someone can help clear this up for me. Does this book meet the criteria of the Caldecott Medal, especia..."

Ed, you bring up an excellent point and I can't find any research about this particular book. My instinct tells me no but at the same time I'm really not sure at all. I appreciate the heads up though and we will watch and see.

I believe the Fantastic Flying Books does meet the criteria. Although the short film was made, the story had to come first, right? It is such a glorious picture book. Truly deserves to receive a Caldecott. Keeping my fingers crossed :)

Kristen wrote: "It's our last month of reading before the awards are given out in January. Do you think any of these award worthy?

The Fanta..."

I think the author of One Special Day lives and works in Canada. Maybe she is a US citizen and therefore eligible? Does anyone know?

I loved The Fantastic Flying Books- the short film, too! Beautiful theme. My students loved this one a lot, too. Chopsticks is so fun. I used it in lessons for personification and puns. One Cool Friend is cute - nice surprise ending. Love Elliott!

My vote goes to One Cool Friend. I read this to several 1-3 grade classes and they loved it. The design is gorgeous with the shapes and colors moving you through the pages. The story is funny and at a level that kids "get". I would vote for this over The Fantastic Flying Books, which is also very clever. I bought the app for my iPad and read it with the students. The illustrations are beautiful but not as unique and design rich as One Cool Friend.

One Cool Friend is wonderful. So clever and witty and the illustrations are just perfect.

The storybook for The Fantastic Flying books did not come first, the film short was created prior to this! This Oscar nominated short was created in 2011.

Since the Fantastic Flying Books picture book was published in 2012, it should qualify as a Caldecott contender. The idea/storyline/short film was probably in the works for a long time prior to the book's release. I don't think that fact should harm FFB chance for a Caldecott. We will find out soon enough.

We have a mock Caldecott program at our library each year in January. Until recently, we had not discussed the Fantasic Flying Books because our list is based on the the number of starred reviews in five or six journals. This book did not receive enough to make our list. There is no actual "Caldecott list" used by the Caldecott Committee. The discussion about eligibility is interesting and I wanted to know if the book was eligible, so I contacted the chairman of the Caldecott Committee. She said that she could not state if a book was eligible, because that is part of the Caldecott Committee discussions.
According to the rules to be eligible a book must be...
1) a picture book for children.
2) published in the US in English the previous year - books published in other countries in previous years are not eligible.
3) Illustrations be original work.
4) The author and illustrator must live in the US, not be a casual or occasional visitor.
5) The award is for distinguished illustrations. The award is not for didactic intent or for popularity.

The Caldecott rules state that ""original work" means that the illustrations are presented here for the first time and have not been previously published elsewhere in this or any other form." The Caldecott Committee has to make that decision.
If the illustrations are taken directly from the short film, I think if may not be eligible.

Melissa Davis
Librarian

We just finished our Annual Mock Caldecott Event. The winners were somewhat surprising. First, we had more books that ever, about 70 titles. The groups were more divided about their selections than in previous years.

Our winner was Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen.
Our Honor selections in no particular order are... Unspoken: A Story From the Underground Railroad by Henry Cole, Spirit Seeker: John Coltrane's Musical Journey by Gary Golio and Rudy Gutierrez, Fifty Cents and a Dream: Young Booker T. Washington by Jabari Asim and Bryan Collier (Artist)

Good luck to all the illustrators that are in the running! My personal favorites are "A Home for Bird" by Philip C. Stead and "Each Kindness" by Jacqueline Woodson illustrated by E.B. Lewis, "This is Not my Hat by Jon Klassen, "Green" by Laura Vaccaro Seeger and "Unspoken" mentioned above.

Melissa