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Take the Mock Caldecott Challenge 2019

December's Blueberry Bookshelf invites you to once again take part in a Mock Caldecott Challenge. After scouring many professional blogs and websites related to possible Caldecott contenders for 2018, as the real contenders are a closely guarded secret, Jen Mulcahy (Center School LMS) and I have compiled the following list for a Mock Caldecott Challenge. While we have all of the titles in our collection at BHS, students will not be checking them out until the contest is over so that all will have equal access to the books during library time. You can find these titles at the local libraries and sometimes they are available on YouTube. Students have begun to read and be read some of these titles. I hope as families you will join this fun conversation by reading together and judging the 25 titles according to the four criteria listed below. The “real” Caldecott winner will be announced live on Monday, January 28, 2019, during the American Library Association Mid-Winter Conference. For our Mock Challenge, you and your children will choose one book as the winner and four books for the honor. (Don't forget to use the 4 criteria when choosing!) Please submit your votes by Thursday, January 24, 2018, in order to be tallied and announced prior to the live announcement.

Will the “real” winners be among our 25?

The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of English illustrator Randolph Caldecott who lived in the 1800’s. He was the illustrator of the book “John Gilpin’s Ride.” The Caldecott medal shows a scene from this book. The award is given out every year by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. In 1937, Rene’ Paul Chambellan designed the Caldecott Medal. It is a bronze medal with the winner’s name and the date engraved on the back. Books that came close to winning were called “runners-up”. In 1971, that term was changed to “honor books”. These medals look the same as the award except they are silver instead of bronze.

Who Chooses the Caldecott Award?

Each year 15 members of the Association for Library Services to Children are chosen to be on the Caldecott committee. They read hundreds and hundreds of books so they can decided which one is the best.

They use 4 criteria to arrive at the winners:

Criteria 1: The illustration technique is well done. The technique could be painting, pencil drawings, collage, ink printing, chalk, or any other technique.

Criteria 2: The illustrations are a good match for the mood and themes of the story. This means that the illustrations might look dark and scary for a mystery book or bright and colorful for a book about good friends.

Criteria 3: The illustrations are critical to the understanding of the story. This means there are details of the story you might not understand if only the words were read.

Criteria 4: Children will want to pick up the book and read it. The book must be for children and something children will enjoy. (Randolph Caldecott Committee Manual, 2009)