Mock Caldecott 2026 discussion

Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre by Carole Boston Weatherford



The Highest Tribute: Thurgood Marshall’s Life, Leadership, and Legacy by Kekla Magoon



Watch Me: A Story of Immigration and Inspiration by Doyin Richards

I thought we would take a look at some non-fiction this month, or inspired by true stories publications. Jonathan Hunt has written about how non-fiction publications have more difficulty winning the Caldecott, or Newbery, awards. He's also written about how Women prefer fiction and men prefer non fiction. What are your thoughts about non-fiction? Do you agree with him? Do you think these publications are distinguished?

Does Vali Mintzi (illustrator of Osnat and Her Dove) live in Jerusalem? If so, I believe this book would not be eligible.

These were all fantastic! I especially loved Unspeakable and Osnat and Her Dove, though I do have to second Stacy's comment that I don't think Osnat is eligible; the illustrator does appear to live abroad.

Women prefer fiction and men prefer non fiction. What are your thoughts about non-fiction? Do you agree with him?..."

In answer to your question, I (female) do prefer fiction. When I do read non-fiction, it is mostly about animals of all kinds, whether wild or domestic. For example, I have read most of Sy Montgomery's books about her adventures with different kinds of animals, most of James Herriot's books, and several of Gerald Durrell's memoirs.

I love non-fiction picture books! They are usually meticulously researched and contain fascinating information that is not common knowledge. Everything Carole Boston Weatherford writes is stellar. I'm all in whenever I see her name on a title. Watch Me is one of the first books I purchased in 2021. I love it! The Highest Tribute is glorious and Osnat and her Dove is fantastic. Osnat isn't eligible for an award but it is a terrific read. I don't think women prefer fiction over non-fiction. Not one bit.

Osnat and Her Dove: The True Story of the World's First Female Rabbi by Sigal Samuel.

Thank you for catching that the illustrator lives abroad. I have removed it from our reading this month.

WATCH ME is a contender for illustrations. It's Joe Cepeda at his best. While the text aims for inspirational, it's a bit didactic.

BEAR ISLAND is a touching story of love and loss. Louise, the assertive, fearless protagonist, is a wonderful role model. I'm keeping this book on my short list for now.

While all three of these selections are amazing, Unspeakable blows the others out of the water. Movingly illustrated and carefully told for the age group. Weatherford and Cooper have made THE book on this topic that I feel everyone should have to read.

All three books are wonderful stories, but the illustrations of Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre blew me away.

I enjoyed all of these books, but I agree with others that Unspeakable is in a class all its own as an offering of historical non-fiction. Not only is the text informative but its lyricism eloquently paints the glorious pride and bustling beauty of Greenwood and then rushes headlong to the town's tragic destruction, a terrible event in our nation's history that I never learned about in school. The illustrations by Floyd Cooper, whose grandfather survived the Tulsa massacre, are simply gorgeous and evocative of the artistic styles of the Harlem Renaissance. I hope this treasure gets some sort of recognition.

Non-fiction told for the young to understand is fantastic! Watch Me is a great example. The very young hear it more as a story of a little boy that becomes a doctor someday. The older children can begin to understand the essence of the story...immigration, determination, inspiration. And so Watch Me gets a strong vote on my part for Caldecott potential. The illustrator uses a paintbrush loaded with marbled paint, mingled paint, and a speckled look -- a palette of shades of blue, teal, lime green, earthy browns yellows and orange. Such a new global refreshing paint look for 2021!

Likewise, take a look at another great immigration story...Watercress by Andrea Wang, illus. by Jason Chin.

Could Watercress and Watch Me tie for Caldecott Gold?

**** Unspeakable This is an eye-opener in Black American history. But it is a sad story. Hopefully, stories like this will, somehow, strengthen love, hope, and humility in the minds and hearts of all Americans. The illustrations are done with oil paint and a technique called erasure, so that the images have a muted look of past, historical events. A sad photo is on the back end pages of the destroyed Black community in Tulsa . - The array of books this early 2021 are amazing. I think this book will land top five in the Caldecott Award!

As others have noted,Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre is powerful. I don’t remember learning about the Tulsa Massacre in school. Weatherford & Cooper have shared this information in an honest yet approachable way to responsibly expose upper elementary students to this significant, racist event. Cooper’s oil-erasure illustrations of expressive, realistic people in a mostly neutral/brown color scheme evoke a sense of looking back to a somber time. Although I think this book - text and illustrations - are excellent, the illustrative style is familiar from other Cooper books (A Ride to Remember: A Civil Rights Story), so I don't know if they will be considered distinguished for Caldecott.

The The Highest Tribute: Thurgood Marshall’s Life, Leadership, and Legacy highlights Thurgood Marshall’s important role in civil rights & US government history. The book’s slightly larger size & crisp, bold illustrations assert an aura of strength, confidence, justice, and importance. This book is attractive, informative, empowering & inspiring. Another excellent and important history addition, but not necessarily Caldecott worthy for the illustrations alone.

I expect both of these picture books to contend for the Coretta Scott King Book Award.

I have not yet read Watch Me.

I agree that Unspeakable is in a class of its own and is a very important book. It is award-bound, I hope. Watch Me didn't grab me as much as other immigrant stories. And can anyone help me with the illustration of the airplane--why does it come AFTER he has arrived in America? Doesn't it belong _before_ the page "His family and friends were right"? I must be missing something--please fill me in!

Laura, I believe the plane is heading away from America because some people were telling Joe to return to Africa. Go to the previous spread. Hope I helped!

Laura wrote: "Laura, I believe the plane is heading away from America because some people were telling Joe to return to Africa. Go to the previous spread. Hope I helped!"

Yes thanks--I was just confused because Joe didn't leave.