And now the moment we’ve all been waiting for! Okay, not that moment (the YMA announcements on Jan. 27), but here at Calling Caldecott it’s what we’ve been working toward since last September. It’s time to select your top three choices for the most distinguished picture book of 2024.

Along with our insightful and dedicated contributors, we’ve covered twenty-nine (if I’ve counted correctly) eligible books as well as the NYT/NYPL’s Best Illustrated list, we’ve dissected and discussed the Caldecott criteria, and we’ve considered the fate of series and sequels in relation to the Caldecott Award.   

After four and a half months of reading, looking, and reflecting, what books stand out? What titles have stayed with you? With this mock vote, we are attempting to mimic the Real Committee’s process, but of course this is nothing like being in the room where it happens. The Caldecott Committee will vote a number of times until there’s a clear first-place winner. And in between votes there’s lots and lots of discussion and debate. (If you're interested in the nuts and bolts, please consult the Caldecott Award Committee Manual.)

For the purposes of this vote, we ask that you choose three books, ranking them in order from first to third. In tabulating the results, the first-place choices will be more heavily weighted (with 4 points) than second- (3 points) and third-place (2 points) picks.  

Remember — this is a mock vote. Calling Caldecott's results have no bearing on the real world, or on the committee's deliberations and choices. We hold the vote so that the blog's readers can feel part of the process. And as we ask every year, please refrain from engaging in or promoting ballot stuffing. It's pointless and counterproductive. 

Without further ado, here is the list of twenty-five books on our mock ballot: 

Ahoy! (Sophie Blackall) 

Being Home (Michaela Goade) 

Call Me Roberto! (Rudy Gutierrez) 

Coretta (Ekua Holmes) 

Dalmartian (Lucy Ruth Cummins) 

Ernő Rubik and His Magic Cube (Kara Kramer) 

Go Forth and Tell (April Harrison) 

Golden Gate (Ellen Heck) 

Home in a Lunchbox (Cherry Mo) 

Joyful Song (Susan Gal) 

Jump for Joy (Hadley Hooper) 

The Last Zookeeper (Aaron Becker) 

Life After Whale (Jason Chin) 

Love Is Hard Work (Victoria Tentler-Krylov) 

The Man Who Didn’t Like Animals (LeUyen Pham) 

The Mango Tree / La mata de mango (Edel Rodriguez) 

My Block Looks Like (Frank Morrison) 

My Daddy Is a Cowboy (C. G. Esperanza) 

Noodles on a Bicycle (Gracey Zhang) 

The Ship in the Window (Matthew Cordell) 

The Table (Jason Griffin) 

They Call Me Teach (James E. Ransome) 

Touch the Sky (Chris Park) 

Two Together (Brendan Wenzel) 

The Yellow Bus (Loren Long) 

When you’ve made your final three choices, in ranked order, head here for the ballot.  

The ballot closes Tuesday, January 21, at noon (ET). We will announce the winner and honor books on Wednesday, January 22, at noon. 

Happy voting, everyone!