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LARC Mocks: 2025 Chapter Books

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

2025 Chapter Books

 

Ahn, Angela.  The Big Splash.  SLJ 1/25

Alexander, Kwame.  How Sweet the Sound: A Soundtrack for America.  BL 11/1-15/24

Arango, Andrea Beatriz.  It's All or Nothing, Vale. K12/1/24

Bakes, Jules.  Sea Legs. K 12/15/24, SLJ 1/25

Beckett-King, Alasdair. Murder at the Museum. PW 11/11/24

Blakewell, Catherine. Where Shadows Bloom. PW 11/4/24

Blankman, Anne.  The Enemy's Daughter.  SLJ 12/24

Braun-Arnold, Lily. The Last Bookstore on Earth. PW 10/14/24

Bouwman, H.M.  Scattergood.   K 11/1/24

Broach, Elise.  Bulldozer's Big Rescue.  K 11/1/14

Brown, Waka T.  Rick Kotani's 400 Million Dollar Summer.  K 12/15/24

Burgess, Tamika. Danilo Was Here. PW 10/14/24

Bussing, Kim. Cinderella and the Beast. PW 10/14/24

Button, Lana. Brianna Banana, Helper of the Day. PW 10/28/24

Bybee, Veeda and Joy McCullough. Jojo vs. Middle School. PW 11/11/24

Cavalancia, Kaitlyn. Mystery Royale. PW 9/30/24

Chewins, Hayley. I am the Swarm. PW 12/2/24

Currie, Lindsay.  It's Watching.  SLJ  1/25

Dee, Barbara. Tear This Down. PW 10/28/24

Diaz, Dani. Dreamover. PW 10/14/24

DiCamillo, Kate.  Orris and Timble: Lost and Found.  K 1/1/25

Doktorski, Jen. Finding Normal. PW 10/14/24

Florence, Debbi Michiko. A Study in Secrets. PW 12/2/24

Fusco, Kimberly Newton.  The Secret of Honeycake.  K 11/15/24

Galligan, Gale.  Fresh Start.  K 11/1/24, SLJ 12/24

Gao, Laura. Kirby's Lessons for Falling (In Love). PW 12/16-23/24

Gidwitz, Adam.  Max in the Land of Lies: A Tale of World War II.  K 1/1/25

Godwin, Tate. Operation: Cover-Up. PW 10/14/24, K 12/15/24

Guojing. Oasis. PW 11/11/24

Hartman, Aubrey.  The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest.  K 12/1/24

Healy, Kay. The Mysterious New Girl. PW 11/11/24

Korman, Gordon. Old School. PW 10/14/24

Lai, Remy.  Chickenpox.  K 11/15/24

Larson, Hope.  Very Bad at Math.  SLJ 1/25

Leathley, Philippa. Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo. PW 10/14/24

Lobb, M. K. To Steal From Thieves. PW 12/9/24

Lukoff, Kyle.  A World Worth Saving.  PW 10/28/24, K 11/1/24, SLJ 12/24

Mandanna, Sangu.  Vanya and the Wild Hunt.  SLJ 1/25

Marianayagam, Maria.  No Purchase Necessary.  K 11/1/24, SLJ 12/24

McClaren, Meredith.  Crumble.  K 12/1/24

McCullough, Joy. Everything is Poison. PW 10/14/24

McDonald, Megan.  Flower Door Diaries: Eliza and the Flower Fairies.  BL 11/1-15/24

Mendez, Yamile Saied. The Trouble with Sunshine. PW 12/16-23/24

Monsef, Kiyash.  Bird of a Thousand Stories.  K 12/1/24

Mullarky, Alex.  The Edge of the Silver Sea.  K 12/15/24

Munoz, Gloria.  This Is the Year.  BL 11/1-15/24

Ogle, Rex. When We Ride. PW 12/16-23/24

O'Neill, K. A Song for You and I. PW 12/16-23/24

Pinkney, Andea Davis.  And She Was Loved: Toni Morrison's Life in Stories.  BL 11/1-15/24

Prendergast, Gabrielle. The Anxious Exile of Sara Salt.  SLJ 1/25

Rappaport, Doreen.  Beacon of Hope: The Life of Barack Obama.  BL 11/1-15/24

Rhodes, Jewell Parker.  Will's Race for Home.  PW 10/21/24, SLJ 11/24, K 12/15/24

Ries, Ariel Slamet. Strange Bedfellows. PW 12/2/24

Riordan, Rick.  Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Wrath of the Triple Goddess.  K 11/15/24

Robin, Taylor. Hunger's Bite. PW 10/28/24

Rubinstein, Elana.  The Secret of the Scent Map.  SLJ 12/24

Rundberg, Johan.  The Lost Ones. K 12/1/24

Sain, Ginny Myers. When the Bones Sing. PW 12/9/24

Sanders, Lee.  Under the Light of the Fireflies.  BL 11/1-15/24

Shusterman, Neal. All Better Now. PW 10/28/24

Skrypuch, Marsha Forchuk.  Under Attack.  K 11/15/24

Smith, Linda Joan.  The Peach Thief.  BL 11/1-15/24, K 1/1/25

Smith, Sasha Peyton. The Rose Bargain. PW 11/11/24

Steinke, Aron Nels. Speechless. PW 12/16-23/24

Stewart, Erin.  The Forgotten Magic of Zoey Turner.  K 11/15/24

Stuart, Dean.  Cassi and the House of Memories.  K 12/1/24

Taylor, Emily J. The Otherwhere Post. PW 10/28/24

Torres, Vanessa L. On the Wings of La Noche. PW 9/30/24

Stuart, Dean. Cassi and the House of Memories. PW 11/4/24

Venkatraman, Padma.  Safe Harbor.  SLJ 11/24

von Lieshout, Maria. Song of a Blackbird. PW 10/14/24

Watkins, Lala.  Hello, Sun!  SLJ 11/24

Watson, Renee.  All the Blues in the Sky.  K 1/1/25

Wilkinson, Lili. Unhallowed Halls. PW 11/11/24

Witherspoon, Sujin.  Bingsu for Two.  BL 11/1-15/24

Wood, Maryrose.  Bad Badger: A Love Story.  K 12/1/24

Newbery Criteria

1. In identifying “distinguished contribution to American literature,” defined as text, in a book for children,

a. Committee members need to consider the following: Instructions for Paste and Spellcheck

  • Interpretation of the theme or concept
  • Presentation of information including accuracy, clarity, and organization
  • Development of a plot
  • Delineation of characters
  • Delineation of a setting
  • Appropriateness of style.

Note: Because the literary qualities to be considered will vary depending on content, the committee need not expect to find excellence in each of the named elements. The book should, however, have distinguished qualities in all of the elements pertinent to it.

b.Committee members must consider excellence of presentation for a child audience.

2. Each book is to be considered as a contribution to American literature. The committee is to make its decision primarily on the text. Other components of a book, such as illustrations, overall design of the book, etc., may be considered when they make the book less effective.

3. The book must be a self-contained entity, not dependent on other media (i.e., sound or film equipment) for its enjoyment.
 
Note: The committee should keep in mind that the award is for literary quality and quality presentation for children. The award is not for didactic content or popularity.