The three of us watched the voting in real time yesterday and last night, and woke up early today to check numbers before the balloting closed at 9 am. This is a really exciting time for us, but it can also be heartbreaking as we see some of our favorites are not getting the voter love we had hoped for. Ah, well.

Below are the books that received around 200 total points (that is, a number of first, second, and third place votes, weighted to give first-place votes 4 points, second-place votes 3 points, and third-place votes 2 points, that added up to either close to or over 200). We used that number as a cut-off because there was a clear line of demarcation between these twelve and the rest of the books on the ballot.

And now...drumroll...

Here are the books that are on the second ballot:

The Airport Book by Lisa Brown

Before Morning, illus. by Beth Krommes

Du Iz Tak? by Carson Ellis

Freedom in Congo Square, illus. by R. Gregory Christie

Miracle Man by John Hendrix

Radiant Child by Javaka Steptoe

Some Writer!: The Story of E. B. White by Melissa Sweet

The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles, illus. by Erin E. Stead

They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel

This Is Not a Picture Book! by Sergio Ruzzier

Thunder Boy Jr., illus. by Yuyi Morales

We Found a Hat by Jon Klassen

 

As you probably all know, the Real Committee would most likely need more than two ballots to find their winner, since they need to keep voting until one book has received a majority of first place votes. But this is a Mock Caldecott, and so we will stop at this second ballot. This second ballot will decide our winner and honor books. Now that some books are off the ballot, the votes that went to those books will now go to completely different books. Because of this is a long weekend, the ballot will be open all the way until Wednesday at 9 a.m. So now it's time to vote — and to make a case below in the comments for the ones you think are most worthy. A well-worded case for a particular book could make all the difference for those who are now undecided.

And now, time to vote!