The Caldecott medal is an award given out each year in the middle of January. This award celebrates an artist who has a picture book with the best illustrations, and the American Library Association chooses it. And I am excited to share a list of books that I believe are strong candidates to be recipients!
2025 Caldecott Predictions on YouTube:
Caldecott Award Criteria
Before diving into the books, below is a list of criteria that librarians across the country use in determining the winner of the Caldecott award. And, remember, this isn’t the most popular book. The winner of this award is solely based on illustrations.
- How well the art is executed. Basically, is it good art?
- How does the art match the story? Are the illustrations a good fit for the tone of the book?
- Is the art important to the story, and do you get insight from the art? Does the art give the reader details and information that the text doesn’t?
- And, most importantly, do the illustrations appeal to kids?
2025 Caldecott Predictions
2025 Caldecott Predictions
Being Home illustrated by Michaela Goade
In Being Home, Caldecott Medalist Michaela Goade continues to break new ground. Her mixed-media illustrations blend pencil, watercolor, and digital elements to tell the story of a young Cherokee girl’s journey with her mother. Goade, who made history as the first Indigenous artist to win the Caldecott Medal with We Are Water Protectors and earned another Honor for Berry Song, creates swirling, glowing images that interweave imagination, tradition, and memory. Her masterful use of texture and color captures the essence of nature, tradition, and family bonds.
Home in a Lunchbox illustrated by Cherry Mo
Cherry Mo’s wordless masterpiece Home in a Lunchbox demonstrates how different artistic styles can convey emotional depth. Through vibrant digital illustrations and exceptional attention to facial expressions and body language, Mo takes readers into young Jun’s emotional journey. The color palette shifts meaningfully throughout – darkening with Jun’s disappointment, then warming as she finds acceptance among her peers. Mo’s visual storytelling creates an intimate connection between reader and protagonist.
Joyful Song illustrated by Susan Gal
Joyful Song exemplifies the perfect marriage of artistic skill and text. The illustrations, created through a combination of watercolor, colored pencil, and digital overlays, burst with energy while maintaining careful attention to detail. The artist’s vibrant color choices amplify the joy of family celebration, while thoughtful focusing techniques direct readers’ attention to key narrative moments.
Touch the Sky illustrated by Chris Park
In Touch the Sky, the artist transforms a familiar setting – a playground swing set – into a canvas for exploring deep emotions. Through dynamic artwork and expressive faces, Park infuses each page with authentic feeling, from frustrated anger to soaring joy. The familiar becomes extraordinary through Park’s fresh perspective and skilled execution.
Life After Whale illustrated by Jason Chin
Jason Chin’s illustrations for Life After Whale demonstrate remarkable scientific accuracy while maintaining child appeal. From the wraparound cover’s submerged whale to the detailed endpapers, Chin creates an immersive aquatic experience. His attention to detail – from the whale’s skin patterns to the changing conditions of her eyes and habitat – balances scientific precision with engaging visual storytelling.
Jump for Joy illustrated by Hadley Hooper
Jump for Joy showcases Hadley Hooper’s innovative approach to a classic theme. Through a combination of collaged art and vibrant paints, Hooper tells the story of a girl and dog seeking friendship. The strategic use of black and white imagery – suggesting the colorless nature of their separate searches – gives way to full color as they find each other, adding meaningful depth to the visual narrative.
Two Together illustrated by Brendan Wenzel
Finally, Brendan Wenzel’s Two Together offers a masterclass in visual storytelling through dual perspectives. The evolution of the dog and cat’s artistic styles throughout the book creates visual surprises while inviting repeated readings to discover subtle foreshadowing details. The progression toward more three-dimensional, realistic rendering raises intriguing questions about the nature of friendship and perception.
Which of these 2025 Caldecott predictions do you think will win the award this year?
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Be sure to save this pin to your favorite read alouds board on Pinterest! You’ll be able to come back to these 2025 Caldecott Predictions when you are ready to read them aloud with your students.
