Mock Newbery 2026 discussion

So, it's time to think about reading for this next year. Anybody have anything I need to be on the lookout for?

These books are on my radar-Out of Left Field by Ellen Klages; The Heart & Mind of Francis Pauley by April Stevens; Just Like Jackie by Lindsey Stoddard; The Problim Children by Natalie Lloyd and The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown.

The Wild Robot Escapes is on my list- preordered the book already.

I’m reading an ARC if The Disturbed Girl’s Dictionary by No Nieqa Ramos.
Thus book is heartbreaking and yet the voice of Macy is truly funny and unique.
Puts me in the mind if The Hate U Give.
Probably not newbery but a good read. The language is pretty graphic.

Jacqueline Woodson has a MG level book called The Dream of America coming out in August.

Christopher Paul Curtis has a book coming out at the end of February called The Journey of Little Charlie.

i've read 2018 titles:
The Problim Chidlren (good for fans of Roald Dahl)
The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle (Love, love, love, great character)
Just Like Jackie (debut author, great character voice)
Escape from Aleppo (timely)

There's plenty to look at on this list:

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...

Paul Mosier put out my favorite book of 2017, Train I Ride, and he's got another coming out in 2018 called Echo's Sister.

Gidwitz and Aly, who wrote and illustrated The Inquisitor's Tale: Or, the Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog are putting out two books in a new series. The first is called The Creature of the Pines.

And apparently Kate DiCamillo is putting out a companion novel to Raymie Nightingale. I'll read it, but a bit reluctantly, since Raymie is my least favorite DiCamillo book.

I just read the book, Just Like Jackie by Lindsey Stoddard. So good, a must read.

Highly recommend Varian Johnson's The Parker Inheritance.

Monica wrote: "Highly recommend Varian Johnson's The Parker Inheritance."

Monica, this title is on my TBR list. Thank you for the recommendation.

Would you all be interested in starting the book of the month in February this year?

Kristen wrote: "Would you all be interested in starting the book of the month in February this year?"
Yes!

Monica wrote: "Highly recommend Varian Johnson's The Parker Inheritance."

I recently finished this and agree that The Parker Inheritance should be considered. I recently reviewed a book for SLJ that I adored but have to wait until closer to the pub date.

Kristen wrote: "Would you all be interested in starting the book of the month in February this year?"

Absolutely! Hopefully the ALA awards conference will be earlier next year. The wait for the 2018 announcements has been too long!

Yes!

Suggestions:

A Sky Full of Stars
Just Like Jackie
The Parker Inheritance
The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle
Betty Before X

Sorry, take out The Parker Inheritance--It already available through Scholastic Book Fairs, but it is not published until March.

Consider this instead: The Journey of Little Charlie

I forgot: Escape from Aleppo

I am all for starting in February.

I’m ready to start. Who is the author of a sky full of stars?

Jo, the author of A Sky Full of Stars is Linda Williams Jackson. She is the one who wrote Midnight Without a Moon in 2017. It was published Jan. 2nd.

Yes, I'm ready to get started! I did see that the awards are in January next year.

Let's get started! I just began The Cruel Prince by Holly Black. Really good so far.

Pam wrote: "Yes, I'm ready to get started! I did see that the awards are in January next year."

That is great to hear! Mid-February is too long a wait. It might be hard finding copies of the winners in stores after the announcements. Inventory for the big chains usually take place in January/early February. Unless it is a super popular title much of the kids 2017 stock goes back to the publisher. Room has to be made for new and upcoming titles.

Czechgirl wrote: "Sorry, take out The Parker Inheritance--It already available through Scholastic Book Fairs, but it is not published until March.

Consider this instead: The Journey of Little Charlie"

The Parker Inheritance is a 2018 book and thus eligible.

Monica wrote: "Czechgirl wrote: "Sorry, take out The Parker Inheritance--It already available through Scholastic Book Fairs, but it is not published until March.

Consider this instead: The Journey of Little Char..."

Monica, I was just making suggestions for a February read.

Have we decided on a book for a February read?

I vote for Winterhouse by Ben Gunterson. Super fun and reminded me of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and " Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library".

Just finished The Journey of Little Charlie. It was amazing. https://revingsblog.blogspot.com/2018...

We really should read Little Charlie this year at some point...man, it just blew me away...

I know this will not shake things up like some of the more controversial books we have gone for in the past but it was fun.
Sometimes, we just need a creative, fun book.

I am reading Smart Cookie by Elly Swartz and love it. Check out the cover because that sells it! (But if you read Finding Perfect by Swartz you know the writing is great!)

Reving wrote: "We really should read Little Charlie this year at some point...man, it just blew me away..."

Little Charlie would be a fantastic February or March read!

Vote on the Mock Newbery Listopia list.

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

I am looking forward to reading
Strongheart: Wonder Dog of the Silver Screen by Candace Fleming

The Road to Everafter by Moira Young

Kate wrote: "I am looking forward to reading
Strongheart: Wonder Dog of the Silver Screen by Candace Fleming

The Road to Everafter by Moira Young"

Not only is Strongheart: Wonder Dog of the Silver Screen an amazing read; the illustrations by Eric Rohmann are beautiful. It reminds me of the wonderful days when middle grade readers were always illustrated. It is impossible not to think of The Little House books without remembering Garth Williams warm and stunning illustrations.

What did you think of the announcement? I know we read HELLO UNIVERSE, but it wasn't only very many of our top three lists.

Shari wrote: "What did you think of the announcement? I know we read HELLO UNIVERSE, but it wasn't only very many of our top three lists."

It was a good choice. The author kept getting better with every book she wrote.

I was disappointed. I think a few other titles were more worthy of star medal... Good book, but I was hoping for Orphan Island, it Beyond the Bright Sea.

I was very surprised that most of us didn't have it in our top three.
I really thought that Orphan Island or Refugee would get at least a nod.

I was surprised that all the honors books weren’t middle-grade reads. I know. I know—the rules, but it is the middle-grade ages who tend to follow the Newbery.

Kim wrote: "I was very surprised that most of us didn't have it in our top three.
I really thought that Orphan Island or Refugee would get at least a nod."

I think the ending of Orphan Island proved a deal breaker for the committee. It was pretty unsatisfying.

I have a question that might be out of place in this thread, but do you all have fantastic libraries or deep pockets? 😝. I have neither. I do order books from my small town libraries (I patronize several), but no way can they keep up with all the new titles.

Ideas?

Amy wrote: "I have a question that might be out of place in this thread, but do you all have fantastic libraries or deep pockets? 😝. I have neither. I do order books from my small town libraries (I patronize ..."

Being part of the Goodreads Newbery and Caldecott groups is important. Most of us are avid readers who help suggest the best books out there and upcoming. Even with a tight budget or lack of a large library, we can help narrow your buying/borrowing decisions. Btw, most libraries take book requests from patrons. You submit a title you want to read and the library considers it for purchase. It is a pretty spectacular service.

Amy wrote: "I have a question that might be out of place in this thread, but do you all have fantastic libraries or deep pockets? 😝. I have neither. I do order books from my small town libraries (I patronize ..."

I definitely don't have deep pockets. In fact, because I try to read so many books, I don't buy them. That would get very costly. I work at a library in the children's department and teach an online, middle school literature class so I want to stay up on the current reads. I get everything from the library. As mentioned by others, if my library doesn't have the title, I can request it be ordered. That is not always possible. But through my library I can get the book from any library in the state if it is available. This service is called inter-library loan. Maybe you could ask about that.

What I wonder about is how so many people have read books that haven't even been published yet. Are they ARCs? Is so how domso many people get those?

I read ARC’s through Netgalley.com.

I am an elementary school librarian, so I have a budget which is pretty healthy to buy books.

Funny, Steve -- I was going to say, "I am an elementary school librarian, so I DON'T have a budget which is pretty healthy to buy books!" I use awards lists, journals and the Starred Titles Google Sheet to keep up with new hot titles for our K-2 school. Then I apply for every grant I can get my hands on, and fundraise, fundraise, fundraise.

Amy,
We're teachers. We don't have deep pockets. We have chosen to do work we love and forego the big salaries. So how do we feed our need for an ongoing supply of the newest books? I use three things...
1. ARCs and publishers advance copies. Once I agreed to participate in the Society of Midwest Authors book awards. Since then, publishers have sent me books. Register on Netgallery to get ARCs,

2. Scholastic Book Club. You can get books for about 50% off the cover price. If your class buys books, you'll get bonus points. Of course, you'll spend them on books.

3. Public Libraries. Make friends with the children's librarian at your local public library. She (he?) will happily set aside and hold books for you. My beloved librarian even calls me and tells me which books have been ordered.

Good luck, Amy.

Not out of place at all. It seems like budgets vary as much as access to a certified librarian. Most of the new, new books I read are from the public library, but some I got from Junior Library Guild (once again, my former school library had the Newbery because they got it through JLG) I got a lot of books for our school library through hosting book fairs, and spent quite a bit of time trying to get the best deals at various sites and places.

I do agree with trying NetGalley, too, but that doesn't get the book on your library shelves. However, after reading some books from NetGalley or the public library, it helps me decide how to spend those precious dollars.

Thanks for all the responses! I’m a former teacher and elementary librarian whose husband still works in the field of education, so I’m aware of budgetary limitations. 😉. I also spent five years working at a local public library and often request books there, which they willingly purchase. However, the lag time between my requesting them and their purchasing them is often too great for me to participate here in discussions as they occur. Thank you all for your responses! I will go back and read each one to glean what I can in tips I’m not already employing. Thanks again!

Maggi wrote: "Funny, Steve -- I was going to say, "I am an elementary school librarian, so I DON'T have a budget which is pretty healthy to buy books!" I use awards lists, journals and the Starred Titles Google ..."

Thanks for that Starred Titles list--hadn't seen it! I know I'm lucky to have $