I love our whole-school Mock unit. Every class participates in a Mock - Geisel, Caldecott, Newbery. There's a lot of prep work before we even get to start reading. The hardest part? Selecting the books that will be read by the students and teachers. Last year I started something new. Our school goes up to the 4th grade. It's their last year to participate in the Mocks. They are always sad about that so to extend their experience with it, I invite the 4th graders to help me select next year's books.
The last few weeks of school, when things start winding down, the 4th grade teachers read books during their #classroombookaday time that have some Caldecott buzz. The students are familiar with the criteria so they are ready to help select the books. Last year was my first year trying this out - and I'm so glad I did! Their top choice last year was one I didn't think they would really relate to... Sophie Blackall's Hello Lighthouse. Good thing I listened to them and kept that book in!
Here's what the teachers read with the students:
Carl and the Meaning of Life
by Deborah Freedman
The Undefeated
illustrated by Kadir Nelson
written by Kwame Alexander
My Heart
by Corinna Luyken
Going Down Home With Daddy
illustrated by Daniel Minter
written by Kelly Starling Lyons
Sea Bear: A Journey for Survival
by Lindsay Moore
Another
by Christian Robinson
My Papi Has a Motorcycle
illustrated by Zeke Peña
written by Isabel Quintero
¡Vamos! Let's Go to the Market
by Raúl the Third
You Are Home: An Ode to the National Parks
by Evan Turk
All of these selections had students who loved the book and illustrations for one reason or another, but the top three choices were:
1. ¡Vamos! Let's Go to the Market
2. You Are Home
3. Sea Bear
Not sure what other picture books that will be published later in the year will also make it into our official 2020 Mock Caldecott, but I will absolutely keep these three in!
Now, onto our future Mock Newbery list! Just like our Mock Newbery Club, I had 4th graders who chose to join this club. These kids choose to join and we meet 1-2 times each month over their recess time! We called our meetings Mock Newbery Selection Committee and they knew they were reading books that may be chosen for next year's Mock Newbery Club.
Books on their list included:
Extraordinary Birds
by Sandy Stark-McGinnis
Over the Moon
by Natalie Lloyd
Shouting at the Rain
by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
The Bridge Home
by Padma Venkatraman
The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, USA
by Brenda Woods
August Isle
by Ali Standish
The Lost Girl
by Anne Ursu
New Kid
by Jerry Craft
Caterpillar Summer
by Gillian McDunn
Maybe a Mermaid
by Josephine Cameron
We didn't start meeting until the end of April which left only 5 weeks to read. Not all of the books were read due to timing. In the future, I would start the club earlier, if possible.
Books they were very passionate about included:
1. August Isle
2. The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, USA
3. New Kid
It looks like we're going to have a great 2020 Mock season! What books are on your lists... so far?
