Mock Caldecott Finalists - Batch 3

Each January, the American Library Association awards the Caldecott Medal to the artist of "the most distinguished American picture book for children." The 2016 winners were announced last week, but first- and second-graders are still making it through our Mock Caldecott list. After finishing up our list of 12 titles, these two will be moving on to the final vote in a couple of weeks:

Toys Go Out

penguinrandomhouse.com

Written by Emily Jenkins
Illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky

(Being the wintertime adventures of a curious stuffed buffalo, a sensitive plush stingray, and a book-loving rubber ball.)

A quiet celebration of wonder and exploration. Not as laugh-out-loud hilarious as some of our other selections, but sweet and gently humorous. Heard after reading: "That was nice."

Rude Cakes
Rowboat Watkins

goodreads.com

Don't be a rude cake.

They have no manners.

But they make adorable jaunty little hats for cyclopses.

Step-by-step instructions for drawing your own Rude Cake are here.