2021 Mock-Caldecott Roundup
Welcome to the roundup of my 2021 Mock-Caldecott!
In advance of the January 22-26 ALA awards, where the Caldecott honor books will be announced, I posted nomination essays for three of the many exemplary picture books of 2020.
If you’ve seen my previous posts, you’ll know I personally nominated SWASHBY AND THE SEA, illustrated by Caldecott Honor-recipient Juana Martinez-Neal; PRAIRIE DAYS, illustrated by Micha Archer; and LIFT, illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat. But what about all the other fantastic picturebooks of 2020? From secret experiments to moving houses, read on for a full roundup of my ten favorite picture books of the year!
The confident Black narrator of this book is proud of everything that makes him who he is. He’s got big plans, and no doubt he’ll see them through—as he’s creative, adventurous, smart, funny, and a good friend. Sometimes he falls, but he always gets back up. And other times he’s afraid, because he’s so often misunderstood and called what he is not. So slow down and really look and listen, when somebody tells you—and shows you—who they are. There are superheroes in our midst! An upbeat, empowering, important picture book from the team that created the award-winning Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut.
This stunning book is inspired by the thousands of children Sophie Blackall has met during her travels around the world in support of UNICEF and Save the Children. Imbued with warmth and humor, a glorious guide to our home planet, and a call for us to take care of both Earth and each other.
In a world built for Perfect Pets, Barnabus is a Failed Project, half mouse, half elephant, kept out of sight until his dreams of freedom lead him and his misfit friends on a perilous adventure. This suspenseful, poignant and magical story about following your dreams and finding where you truly belong will draw readers into a surreal, lushly detailed world in which perfection really means being true to yourself and your friends. A stunning picture book from international bestsellers The Fan Brothers, joined by their brother Devin Fan.
A sweet-and-salty friendship story perfect for pirate-lovers learning new ways to communicate while at a distance. The curmudgeonly Swashby is sure to win hearts as well as laughs, and the message-related mishaps in the story create an opportunity for spelling and sounding out new words while learning from home. A delightful story with illustrations truly redolent of the seashore.
A child reflects on the meaning of being Black in this moving and powerful anthem about a people, a culture, a history, and a legacy that lives on. Stunningly illustrated by Caldecott Honoree and Coretta Scott King Award winner Ekua Holmes, Black Is a Rainbow Color is a sweeping celebration told through debut author Angela Joy’s rhythmically captivating and unforgettable words.
From the award-winning and bestselling creators of Drawn Together comes the fantastic tale of a magical elevator that will lift your spirits—and press all the right buttons! Using their dynamic comics-inspired storytelling, acclaimed author Minh Lê and Caldecott Medal-winning artist Dan Santat carry readers on a journey of ups, downs, and twists and turns that will send hearts—and imaginations—soaring.
Told from the perspective of a Native American child, this bold and lyrical picture book written by Ojibwe/Métis author Carole Lindstrom and illustrated by Tlingit artist Michaela Goade is a powerful call to action to defend Earth’s natural resources—inspired by the Dakota Access Pipeline protests and similar movements led by Indigenous tribes all across North America. A bold and lyrical picture book about protecting nature's most sacred resources.
A delicate, stunning account of life on the prairie from Newbery medalist Patricia MacLachlan. Patricia MacLachlan applies her lyrical, sparse voice and vibrant, tender art from Micha Archer to transport readers to the prairie of her youth in this stunning celebration of the beauty in the world.
From the New York Times best-selling author behind The Quiet Book comes a mindful contemplation on the many ways nature affects our everyday lives, even when we’re stuck inside. This thought-provoking picture book poetically underscores our powerful and enduring connection with nature, not so easily obscured by lives spent indoors. Rhythmic, powerful language shows us how our world is made and the many ways Outside comes in to help and heal us, and reminds us that we are all part of a much greater universe. Emotive illustrations evoke the beauty, simplicity, and wonder that await us all . . . outside.
In the tradition of Virginia Lee Burton’s The Little House comes a heartfelt story about a father and son learning to accept the new while honoring and celebrating the old. When the time comes, they do leave the blue house behind—there was never any choice, not really—but little by little, they find a way to keep its memory alive in their new home.