Mock Newbery 2026 discussion

"During the selection meetings, the committee discusses all nominated and suggested books before beginning balloting. Each committee member votes for three books, with four points assigned to first choice, three points to second choice, and two points to third choice."



We will narrow our current list down to 10 books for our next round of voting.

Please list in order your three choices for the Newbery award.

Your first pick will be awarded 4 points.
Your second choice will be awarded 3 points.
Your final selection will be awarded 2 points.

Points will not be given to any books mentioned past the third selection and only books from our voting list will be eligible.

The 2024 Mock Newbery voting list:



A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat
Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow
Bea Wolf by Zach Weinersmith
Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist
The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers
The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams by Daniel Nayeri
Wild Bird by Diane Zahler
Mexikid by Pedro Martín
Alebrijes by Donna Barba Higuera
The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla
Remember Us by Jacqueline Woodson
The Storyteller by Brandon Hobson
A Work in Progress by Jarrett Lerner
Gather by Kenneth M. Cadow
The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt
The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity by Nicholas Day
The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh
Hands by Torrey Maldonado
World Made of Glass by Ami Polonsky
The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead
Finally Seen by Kelly Yang
What Happened to Rachel Riley? by Claire Swinarski
A Bit of Earth by Karuna Riazi



This thread will close on January 7th.

The Lost Year #1
Simon Sort of Says #2

1. The Labors of Hercules Beal
2. The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, A Shocking Heist and the Birth of a Global Celebrity
3. The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams

Labors of Hercules Beal
Simon Sort of Says
The Lost Year

The Labors of Hercules Beal
Simon Sort of Says
A First Time for Everything

1. The Lost Year
2. The Mona Lisa Vanishes
3. The Lost Library

1. The Labors of Hercules Beal
2. Bea Wolf
#. The Mona Lisa Vanishes

1. Simon Sort of Says
2. The Eyes and the Impossible
3. The Lost Library

1. Labors of Hercules Beal
2. The Lost Year
3. Simon Sort of Says

The Lost Year
Simon Sort of Says

1. The Lost Year
2. The Mona Lisa Vanishes...
3. The Many Assassinations of Samir the Seller of Dreams

1. The Mona Lisa Vanishes
2. The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams
3. The Lost Year

1. Labors of Hercules Beal
2. Eyes and the Impossible
3. Simon Sort of Says

1. Labors of Hercules Beal
2. Mona Lisa Vanishes
3. First Time for Everything

1. The Lost Year
2. The Labors of Hercules Beal
3. The Mona Lisa Vanishes

1. Alebrijes
2. A First Time for Everything
3. The Eyes and the Impossible

1. The Labors of Hercules Beal
2. The Fire The Water & Maudie McGinn
3. The Lost Year

1. The Lost Year
2. The Mona Lisa Vanishes
3. A First Time For Everything

1. Lost Year by Katherine Marsh
2. Mona Lisa Vanishes by Nicholas Day
3. Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams by Daniel Nayeri

The Labors of Hercules Beal
A First Time for Everything
Remember Us

1. The Labors of Hercules Beal.

2. The Many Assignations of…

3. The Lost Year.

1. The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams
2. The Eyes & the Impossible
3. Bea Wolf

1. The Labors of Hercules Beal
2. The Mona Lisa Vanishes
3. Simon Sort of Says

1. Bea Wolf
2. A Work in Progress
3. Mexikid

1. The Lost Year
2. Labors of Hercules Beal
3. Simon Sort of Says

1. The Labors of Hercules Beal
2. Simon Sort of Says
3. The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams

1. The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt
2. A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat
3. The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers

1. The Many assassins of Samir the sell of dreams
2. A work in progress

1. Remember Us
2. Labors of Hercules Beal
3. The Eyes and the Impossible

1. Mona Lisa Vanishes
2. Mexikid
3. Simon Sort of Says

1. The Lost Year
2. Simon Sort of Says
3. Eb and Flow

1. Simon
2. Fire, the Water
3. Remember Us

1. Labor of Hercules Beal
2. The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn
3. The Lost Year

The Lost Library
The Lost Year
Labor of Hercules Beal

1. Labors of Hercules Beale
2. The Lost Year
3. Simon Sort of Says

1. Remember Us
2. The Labors of Hercules Beale
3. A First Time for Everything

1- The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn
2- Remember Us
3- The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams

1) The Labors of Hercules Beal
2) Simon Sort of Says
3) The Lost Library

1. Labors of Hercules Beal
2. Lost Year
3. Mona Lisa Vanishes

For some reason the last word of my second title isn’t showing- it was The Lost Year- that is a little confusing since there are two titles with Lost. If anyone is willing- I’d love to read the reason you are selecting your titles for the next round. That helps me decide how to prioritize my TBR list and recommend titles to students. Thanks and Happy New Year to everyone!!

1. The Lost Year - Katherine Marsh
2. Simon Sort of Says
3. Labors of Hercules Beal

Shella wrote: "For some reason the last word of my second title isn’t showing- it was The Lost Year- that is a little confusing since there are two titles with Lost. If anyone is willing- I’d love to read the rea..."

Got it! Thank you Shella.

Final ranking:

The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt - 84
The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh - 62
Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow - 44
The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity by Nicholas Day - 35
The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams by Daniel Nayeri - 24
A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat - 17
The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers - 15
Remember Us by Jacqueline Woodson - 15
The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla - 13
The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead - 10



Bea Wolf by Zach Weinersmith - 9
A Work in Progress by Jarrett Lerner - 6
Mexikid by Pedro Martín - 5
Alebrijes by Donna Barba Higuera - 4
Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist - 2



Wild Bird by Diane Zahler - 0
The Storyteller by Brandon Hobson - 0
Gather by Kenneth M. Cadow - 0
Hands by Torrey Maldonado - 0
World Made of Glass by Ami Polonsky - 0
Finally Seen by Kelly Yang - 0
What Happened to Rachel Riley? by Claire Swinarski - 0
A Bit of Earth by Karuna Riazi - 0