For our last Homeschool Hub of the year, we held our own Mock Caldecott Awards to pick our favorite picture book. I compiled a list of the books we would read and consider, based on some of the mock Caldecott lists on the internet, and sent it to my families in advance.
I started the program by introducing the award and talking about the criteria in a kid-friendly way. Then, once everyone understood we were focusing on illustrations, we started reading. I read about 6 or so books from the list, letting the kids pick which ones they were most interested in to read next. Then, I sent the kids into groups or with their grownups to keep reading and look at pictures. Each kid got a ballot to vote for their favorite (the winner) and two runner ups (honor books).
Because we all learn and process information differently, and the youngest ones can’t write, I also printed out book covers and taped them to the wall so the kids could cast their votes with colored dot stickers on the book covers (big stickers for first choice, small stickers for honor books).
Once all the votes were in, the older kids helped me count and tally, and then all the kids provided a drum roll while I announced the winner!
Homeschool Hub Mock Caldecott Award Winner: Waiting by Kevin Henkes
Honor Books: The Night World, by Mordicai Gerstein, Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle, and Wolfie the Bunny by Ame Dyckman
Stay tuned in January for the real awards!
