2020 Caldecott Medal Predictions

I’ve been 3 for 5 on my Caldecott predictions the last two years. I’m going to go ahead and call it a bit of a hot streak. With that last sentence, I’ve jinxed myself and you should not trust anything I say in the rest of this post.

But I still have to try. So here are my predictions for 2020 Caldecott glory. They might look very similar to the Mock Caldecott results at my school. What can I say? I’m with the kids.

Caldecott Medal Prediction:

Saturday by Oge Mora

I think it takes a lot for an illustrator to win a Caldecott medal/honor in back-to-back years. We now know Caldecott often calls more than once in an illustrator’s career, but back-to-back is rare. Why do I think a repeat is in the cards for Oge Mora? Because Saturday brings all the Caldecott criteria satisfying elements from 2018’s Thank You, Omu! and (dare I say) improves upon them. The level of visual storytelling Mora employs here is stunning. Perhaps it’s the cut paper style, but it also comes off as fairly subtle.

Caldecott Honor Prediction:

Another by Christian Robinson

It came out early in the year – will this book have the sustained excitement among the Caldecott committee members to pull in an honor (or medal)? I think yes. Robinson’s exceptional handle on visual storytelling is evident from the first scene, in which a stolen cat toy sets the story in motion. I’m guessing Another‘s scifi plot could also help it stand out in committee members minds.

Caldecott Honor Prediction:

Truman by Jean Reidy, illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins

I’ve loved this book from the first time I read it, but re-reading it with students has made me realize just how Caldecott-y it is as well. It’s visually inventive (how many tortoises could fit in that backpack?). It pulls off some of the best page turns in any picture book this year (that endless rug!). A Caldecott Honor makes perfect sense for this book.

Which books do you think will win Caldecott this year?

Filed under: Articles, Best of, Best of 2019