Mock Caldecott 2026 discussion

If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson

Special Delivery by Philip C. Stead

Home by Carson Ellis

My Pen by Christopher Myers

What do you think about the books this month. Do we have a Caldecott contender here?

If You Plant a Seed might be a bit heavy handed, but the beautiful illustrations won me over. I love the one of the birds staring. I think the arguing and fight scene will intrigue children enough that they won't feel the book is too didactic. Will maybe try this in garden programs and see what children think.

Do the illustrations in Special Delivery remind anyone else of Quentin Blake? I enjoy the reassuring, familiar feel of them. I can't help but love Sadie and her dedication to her Great-Aunt Josephine. My 4 year old son also enjoyed this book!

Erin wrote: "Do the illustrations in Special Delivery remind anyone else of Quentin Blake? I enjoy the reassuring, familiar feel of them. I can't help but love Sadie and her dedication to her Gr..."

Yes! I had to double check, even though I knew they couldn't be!

I thought the story of If You Plant a Seed was really lovely and is the perfect compliment to Nelson's style of illustrations. This is probably my favorite book from Nelson ever and definitely my favorite from this month.

I thoroughly enjoyed My Pen. The black and white drawings are beautifully executed, and Myers' imagination runs wild with all the interesting things one can draw. I especially liked the page: "My pen tap-dances on the sky and draws clouds with its feet", depicting the boy dancing upside down.

Erin wrote: "Do the illustrations in Special Delivery remind anyone else of Quentin Blake? I enjoy the reassuring, familiar feel of them. I can't help but love Sadie and her dedication to her Gr..."

Ditto here. I did see a distinct similarity to Blake's style. Very breezy, slapdash, comical illustrations that are perfectly paired with this delightful story. I loved Sadie's determination and resourcefulness in getting that elephant to her lonely aunt Josephine, who of course, is revealed to be surrounded by animals.

I was very impressed by Home as well. The gouache paintings portray a wide variety of domiciles, both human and animal, from great to small, from lavish to plain. The text is short and simple, but never trite. I really liked the 3 spreads where the author asks the reader who they think might live in this particular house. And not all the houses portrayed on the front cover are inside the book.

If You Plant a Seed--The simple story and wonderful illustrations make this book tops for me this month. It's a perfect social skills book.
Special Delivery--Charming story that reminds me of The Christmas Crocodile.
The Pen--Nice story to let people that you should never be afraid to pick up the pen and just try to draw.
Home--Still on the waiting list!

If You Plant a Seed
I agree with Librarygarden--this was my favorite book of this month's selections. The oil paintings were absolutely stunning; and the simple story drove home its point without being preachy.
The words and pictures worked together beautifully; and I loved the spread with the birds looking at the reader face on!

I finally got my hands on a copy of Home. It is a beautiful book with a simple story. I can see it potentially as a mentor text for story writing on a singular topic for students young and old.

I loved Special Delivery! Illustrations were fantastic! Home was great too... I loved that it was 'serious' and then you have a 'Norse God's house' hilarious! :)