Since January, Lolly, Martha, and I have been collecting picture books that might be talked about come Caldecott time. Our first challenge is to make a list that pleases us. Just us. Some of the two dozen titles are there because they will be fun to argue about; some because one of us was wowed by the art; and still other books gain a spot on the list because other people are talking about them. Right now, the list is still in flux. There are already too many titles for us to talk about here because other books will undoubtedly come to our attention over the next few months.

Because lists tend to get passed around, we need to make one thing clear: THIS IS NOT A SHORT LIST FOR THE CALDECOTT MEDAL. No such list exists. This is simply a list of books we want to gab about to show (we hope) how the process works on the real committee. We have no idea what is rising to the top in the minds of the committee members, and we will never know all the books discussed by the committee that don't make the final cut.

Here is our list so far. (It's only September, remember.) What we need from you, our online collection of really smart people, is suggestions. What might we have missed? After you read through our list, look through your shelves. In the comments, tell us which books YOU hope might win the Caldecott. (And, while you are there, let us know if we have something on the list that seems ineligible for one reason or another.)

Bluebird by Bob Staake

Building Our House and Big Snow by Jonathan Bean

Bunnies on Ice by Johanna Wright

Busy-Busy Little Chick illustrated by Brian Pinkney, written by Janice N. Harrington

Daisy Gets Lost by Chris Raschka

The Dark illustrated by Jon Klassen, written by Lemony Snicket

Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle

Grandma and the Great Gourd illustrated by Susy Pilgrim Waters, retold by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Have You Seen My New Blue Socks? and Bear and Bee by Sergio Ruzzier

Inside Outside by Lizi Boyd

Lifetime illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal, written by Lola M. Schaefer

Little Red Writing illustrated by Melissa Sweet, written by Joan Holub (and/or Brave Girl, also illustrated by Melissa Sweet)

Locomotive by Brian Floca

Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown

Mr. Wuffles! by David Wiesner

My Name Is Ruby by Phillip C. Stead

Nino Wrestles the World by Yuyi Morales

Odd Duck illustrated by Sara Varon and written by Cecil Castellucci

On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky, written by Jennifer Berne

Water in the Park illustrated by Stephanie Graegin, written by Emily Jenkins

Xander’s Panda Party illustrated by Matt Phelan, written by Linda Sue Park

 

So—have at it. Are there titles on our list that surprised you? What have we missed?

Let us know what you love this year!