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LARC Mocks: 2025 Picture Books

Working list of starred reviews to be considered for the Mock Caldecott and Newbery Award

2025 Picture Books

Abtahi, Olivia.  The Interpreter.  PW 10/14/24, K 11/15/24

Alcantara, Jacqueline.  Tios and Primos.  K 12/1/24

Archer, Micha.  Wind Watchers. K 12/15/24

Awan, Jashar. Every Monday Mabel. PW 11/4/24

Brown-Wood, JaNay.  On Our Way! What a Day!  K 11/15/24

Cate, Annette.  Seven Little Ducklings.  K 11/1/24

Clanton, Ben.  Papilio.  K 12/1/24

Cordell, Matthew. To See an Owl. PW 9/30/24

Fajardo, Sara Andrea.  Crack Goes the Cascaron: An Eggcellent Not-Just-For-Easter Shellebration.  SLJ 12/24

Finck, Liana. Mixed Feelings. PW 10/14/24

Harris, Shawn. Let's Be Bees. PW 11/11/24, K 12/15/24

Hrachovec, Anna. Short Dog, Long Dog: A Book of Opposites.  K 12/15/24

Hudson, Cheryl Willis. When I Hear Spirituals. PW 11/11/24

Jones, Keenan. Saturday Morning at the 'Shop. PW 10/14/24

Jonker, Travis.  Caboose.  PW 11/11/24, K 11/15/24

Kuo, Julia. Home is a Wish. PW 10/28/24, K 12/15/24

Laminack, Lester.  A Cat Like That.  K 11/1/24

Lee, Laura G.  Soy Sauce!  K 11/15/24

Limon, Ada.  And, Too, the Fox.  K 11/1/24

Lindstrom, Carole. The Gift of the Great Buffalo. PW 11/4/24

Mahoney, Kristin. A Pocket Full of Rocks. PW 9/30/24, BL 11/1-15/24

Mansour, Vivian.  Pilgrim Codex.  K 12/15/24

Montgomery, Ross.  Ant Party.  SLJ 12/24

Moses, Sheila P.  Sharing the Dream.  BL 11/1-15/24

Nelson, Adiba.  Oshun and Me: A Story of Love and Braids.  K 12/1/24

Park, Linda Sue.  Smiling Eyes.  SLJ 12/24

Pritchard, Caroline Kusin. The Keeper of Stories. PW 11/11/24

Seales, Stephanie. Mi Papa es un cowboy.  SLJ 12/24

Small, Steve.  The Hare Who Wouldn't Share.  K 12/1/24

Smalls, Alexander.  When Alexander Graced the Table.  K 12/1/24

Spillett, Tasha.  Raven's Ribbons. PW 10/21/24,  K 12/1/24

Straub, Emma.  Mama Hug.  K 11/15/24

Tolentino, Marcelo.  Sunday.  K 11/1/24, SLJ 11/24

Waldman, Jenna.  A Purr-fect Passover.  SLJ 12/24

Wan, Joyce.  Be My Yummy ABC.  SLJ 12/24

Wedlick, Seina. Space for Everyone. PW 10/21/24

Wenzel, Brendan.  Good Golden Sun  SLJ 10/24

Yahu, Yaram.  My Afro is a Rising Sun.  SLJ 12/24

 

Caldecott Criteria

  1. In identifying a “distinguished American picture book for children,” defined as illustration, committee members need to consider:
    1. Excellence of execution in the artistic technique employed;
    2. Excellence of pictorial interpretation of story, theme, or concept;
    3. Appropriateness of style of illustration to the story, theme or concept;
    4. Delineation of plot, theme, characters, setting, mood or information through the pictures;
    5. Excellence of presentation in recognition of a child audience.
  2. The only limitation to graphic form is that the form must be one which may be used in a picture book. The book must be a self-contained entity, not dependent on other media (i.e., sound, film or computer program) for its enjoyment.
  3. Each book is to be considered as a picture book. The committee is to make its decision primarily on the illustration, but other components of a book are to be considered especially when they make a book less effective as a children’s picture book. Such other components might include the written text, the overall design of the book, etc.

Note: The committee should keep in mind that the award is for distinguished illustrations in a picture book and for excellence of pictorial presentation for children. The award is not for didactic intent or for popularity.