Newbery/Caldecott 2027 Fall Check-In

It’s been a while since we went over to Goodreads and looked at their 2027 Mock Newbery and Caldecott lists, so let’s take a peek.
As always, it’s important to remember that the lists you are about to see are not in any way official. Since any Goodreads member can vote, they are to be taken with a grain of salt. Consider this a list of books that could potentially be in the awards discussions.
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First up, Newbery. I’ll share the top 5 here, and you can click here for the rest of the list.

This one has shifted a bit since the spring. The Lions’ Run has swapped with The Moon Without Stars. A Scar Like a River has moved up from #5 to #3, and there are two new books on the list: You Are Now Old Enough to Hear This and Birdy.
Next up, Caldecott. Click here for the entire list.

I’d say the top four on this list are pretty consistent with the books that seem to be getting the most attention so far in 2026. The most interesting one is at #5: Seven Million Steps – a great book that has been a bit more under the radar thus far.
Comparing the top four to spring, it’s very similar, with the only change being Navigating Night switching places with While We’re Here.
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About Travis Jonker
Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.
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