Mock Caldecott: 2025 Mock Caldecott

Every year, the Association of Library Services to Children, a division of the American Library Association, awards the Caldecott Medal to the artist(s) of the most distinguished American children’s picture book.

Criteria for the Award

• The book must provide the child with a visual experience, one that unifies story elements, such as plot and theme, cohesively through the series of pictures.
• Children must be the target audience, with childhood being defined as up to fourteen years of age. Books within this entire age range may be considered, but the intended age group’s understandings, abilities, and appreciations should be taken into consideration.
• “Distinguished” is
  • marked by eminence and distinction; noted for significant achievement
  • marked by excellence in quality
  • individually distinct
• The work must be original; illustrations reprinted or coupled are ineligible
• The work must be published in the United States; original publications from other countries are ineligible
• The work must be published in the previous year
• The artist must be a United States citizen or have an established, maintained residence in the United States
• The artist’s entire body of work may not be taken into consideration.

from ALSC guidelines for the Caldecott Medal (ala.org/awards) with some emphasis from me

How have we done in previous years? Take a look. Books highlighted in gold indicate the book that won the Caldecott Medal. Books highlighted in silver indicate books that won Caldecott Honors.

2024

Mock Caldecott Medal: There was a Party for Langston by Jason Reynols, illustrated by Jerome and Jarrett Pumphrey  

Mock Caldecott Honors: In Every Life by Marla Frazee; An American Story by Kwame Alexander, illustrted by Dare Coulter; Big by Vashti Harrison

2023

Mock Caldecott Medal: Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall

Mock Caldecott Honors: Also by E.B Goodale; Choosing Brave illustrated by Janelle Washington; Moonlight by Stephen Savage

2022

Mock Caldecott Medal: Watercress illustrated by Jason Chin

Mock Caldecott Honors: Wonder Walkers by Micha Archer; Keeping the City Going by Brian Floca

2021

Mock Caldecott Medal: We Are Water Protectors illustrated by Michaela Goade

Mock Caldecott Honors: A Polar Bear in the Snow illustrated by Shawn Harris; The Oldest Student illustrated by Oge Mora; The Old Truck by Jarrett & Jerome Pumphrey

2020

Mock Caldecott Medal: The Undefeated illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Mock Caldecott Honors: Going Down Home with Daddy illustrated by Daniel Minter; The Roots of Rap illustrated by Frank Morrison; Camp Tiger illustrated by John Rocco

2019

Mock Caldecott Medal: Drawn Together illustrated by Dan Santat

Mock Caldecott Honors: Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall; So Tall Within illustrated by Daniel Minter; Dreamers by Yuyi Morales

2018

Mock Caldecott Medal: After the Fall illustrated by Dan Santat

Mock Caldecott Honors: A Greyhound, a Groundhog illustrated by Chris Appelhans; The Book of Mistakes by Corinna Luyken; Blue Sky, White Stars illustrated by Kadir Nelson; Tony illustrated by Erin Stead; 

If the CRC does not have a copy of the book you'd like to read, consider getting the book through OhioLink.

Here's how:

• Conduct a title search in the CRC's OPAC
• When the results are returned, click the blue Search OhioLink button
• When the record for the book appears, click the green Request button
• Select your pick-up location (Jerome Library) and enter your BGSU email address

Your book will arrive, generally, in 5-7 days.