Mock Caldecott 2026 discussion

by Matt Myers

Saturday by Oge Mora

You Are Home: An Ode to the National Parks by Evan Turk

Hey, Water! by Antoinette Portis

My apologies for being late this month, doesn't December come quickly?

What did you think of these publications? Could any be a future Caldecott?

From this list, like Saturday by Oge Mora. At a best books of 2019 workshop this weekend at the Eric Carle Museum, we shared many Caldenotts, as well as Caldecott contenders. Finding that my favorites may be more appropriate for an adult audience. So many beautiful books this year deal with serious themes eloquently.

Hum and Swish
This beautiful book about a little girl playing at the beach and creating in the sand is illustrated with gorgeous, and almost realistic, acrylic and oil paintings. The text is deceptively simple, with about one sentence per page. A succession of people ask the little girl what she is making, and her answer every time is "I don't know." She is simply enjoying playing and creating with no particular goal in mind. She appreciates that the senior woman painter who arrives does not ask her what she is making. Ultimately, both finish their projects, which are revealed in all their glory. The illustrations fully capture the beauty of a peaceful day at the beach and go far beyond the text in depicting the action in the story.

Saturday
Mora excels at both writing and illustrating a picture book; she knows how to pace the book just right, and she excelled at the repeating "chorus" of the story. The adorable, stylized illustrations were created with acrylic paint, china markers, patterned paper and old-book clippings. I expect this book, her second, will receive as many accolades as did her first one.

You Are Home
The gorgeous pastel illustrations celebrate 25 national parks around the US, mostly in majestic double-page spreads. Yosemite National Park is even exalted in a double fold-out page. The lyrical text speaks of animals and plants living in the parks, and of multi-ethnic human visitors to the parks. Back matter includes a map of the US (including Alaska and Hawai'i) with the locations of the parks marked, and a some brief notes about the parks and the animals featured throughout the book.

Hey, Water
Water in all its forms and manifestations, from puddle to swimming pool, from stream to ocean. Includes information about the 3 states of water and the water cycle in the back of the book. The illustrations are very nice.

Of these 4 books, Hum and Swish and Saturday are my picks for Caldecott love.

Beverly wrote: "You Are Home
The gorgeous pastel illustrations celebrate 25 national parks around the US, mostly in majestic double-page spreads. Yosemite National Park is even exalted in a double fold-out page. T..."

This was one of my favorites of the year

Another grouping where each title is worthy of the Caldecott. In fact, a piece of original art from each book was selected by a jury of children's book artists and industry professionals that currently appear in the Original Art exhibit at The Society of Illustrators Museum in Manhattan. The artwork from each of these books is amazing. Hum and Swish was the most exciting for me out of the four selections. The detail was amazing. I liked the text slightly less than the art. The artwork for You Are Home was very grand. It is gorgeous to be sure. But so much of the artwork was cut out to fit the picture book size. My favorite for the Caldecott is Saturday. I attended a reading by the author/illustrator. The book was personal for Oge Mora. She became emotional talking about the outings she had with her mother as a child and how much they meant to her. I think children will respond the most to Saturday. I hope the committee loves it, too.

Hum and Swish, Saturday, and Hey, Water! are 3 of my favorites from 2019. I think Hum and Swish is a more "distinguished" contender. The art in the other two do not feel as unique this year.