Our 2025 Mock Caldecott Program

Every year at my K-3 school we do a Mock Caldecott program. Here’s a run down of how we’re Mock Caldecotting this year.

Week 1

• I’ve learned over time that too much detail can bog down the entire process (especially for lower elementary) so I do my best to keep it simple. I introduce the Caldecott. I show the honor and the medal. I explain it’s given for the best illustrations. I talk about how it’s chosen. I explain that soon we’ll be reading books that might win and our school will be choosing our favorite.
• We read a past winner. I’m reading Kitten’s First Full Moon with kindergarten, This is Not My Hat with 1st grade, Beekle with 2nd and Finding Winnie with 3rd grade. When finished, I ask students why they think it won. Discussions about art ensue.
• We watch the most recent (2024) Caldecott announcements to get a feel for what it’s like:

Weeks 2-3

• We read two mock Caldecott books back to back. After we finish each one, I ask students if anything stood out to them about the illustrations. Discussions about art ensue.
• After reading the two books, students pick the one they thought had the best illustrations. For K-1 it’s a show of hands, for 2-3 we vote via a google form – this is just an informal “Which of the two had the strongest illustrations?” vote. The official vote comes in week 4.

Week 4

• We review all the books. I remind students that the Caldecott Medal is an award for the illustrations. Students vote via a google form. Or here’s an alternative: paper ballots showing all four book covers. Students circle their choice.

After

• I add up the votes. Most votes gets the medal, the next closest batch of vote getters receive honors. I announce the winners to students!
• Fast forward to Monday, January 27, 2025. I show the 2025 Youth Media Awards video to students. Did any of our Mock Caldecott picks get awards?

Here are the books we’re reading this year. Admittedly, it’s a limited list. Be sure to check out the Mock Caldecott list on Goodreads, the discussion list at the Calling Caldecott blog, Mr. Schu and Colby Sharp’s Mock Caldecott list, and the Caldecott predictions at A Fuse #8 Production for more ideas:

How do YOU Mock Caldecott? Leave advice in the comments.

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