The 2026 Newbery & Caldecott Winners
Plus,
How to Use Them in Your Classroom
The literary world just announced the 2026 Newbery & Caldecott award winners, and I’m already planning how to use these gorgeous books in my classroom. If you’re like me and get a little thrill when new award-winners drop, this one’s for you.
Let’s dive into the winners, and then I’ll show you exactly how I’m using three of the Caldecott books to jumpstart memoir writing in February. Because why just read beautiful books when you can turn them into meaningful writing opportunities?
2026 Newbery & Caldecott winners
2026 Newbery Medal Winners
All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson
A powerful story about finding your voice and navigating family, identity, and creativity in a world that doesn’t always make space for you.
Why This Book Shines:
Watson captures the internal struggle of wanting to be seen and heard while also honoring your roots and family expectations. Her protagonist’s journey is both specific and universal.
For Educators:
This book is perfect for upper elementary and middle school students who are beginning to ask big questions about identity, creativity, and belonging. It’s an excellent mentor text for personal narrative writing, including memoir writing, and can spark meaningful discussions about voice—both literal and figurative—in your classroom.
About the Author:
Renée Watson is a celebrated author known for her commitment to amplifying voices and experiences in children’s literature. Her previous works include Piecing Me Together (a Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Award winner) and Some Places More Than Others. Watson’s storytelling consistently centers young people navigating complex worlds with grace, humor, and resilience.
Newbery Honor Books:
The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli – Karina Yan Glaser
A visually stunning and emotionally resonant story that blends illustration and text in innovative ways.
A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez – María Dolores Águila
A lyrical exploration of heritage, memory, and the stories we carry across generations.
The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story – Daniel Nayeri
A powerful historical fiction novel that brings an often-overlooked perspective of WWII to young readers.
The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest – Aubrey Hartman, illustrated by Marcin Minor
A delightfully spooky adventure that proves middle-grade horror can be both thrilling and heartfelt.
2026 Caldecott Medal Winner
Fireworks illustrated by Cátia Chien
A stunning, wordless celebration of family, tradition, and the magic of shared moments during a Lunar New Year celebration.
A Glimpse into the Story:
Through gorgeous, expansive illustrations, we follow a young child and their family as they celebrate Lunar New Year. The anticipation builds as the family prepares, gathers, and waits for the main event: fireworks. When they finally burst across the sky, Chien’s artwork explodes with color, movement, and emotion! Children from all background and native languages can enjoy this story!
Why This Book Shines:
Wordless picture books are powerful tools in the classroom, and Fireworks is a masterclass in visual storytelling. Chien uses color, composition, and pacing to guide readers through the narrative arc without relying on text. The Lunar New Year celebration is beautifully rendered, offering readers a window into traditions they may not be familiar with.
For Educators:
This book is a gift for teaching visual literacy, inference, and narrative structure. It’s also a fantastic mentor text for memoir and personal narrative writing. Students can study how Chien captures a specific moment in time through sensory details and then apply that to their own memory writing.
About the Illustrator:
Cátia Chien is a celebrated illustrator whose work has graced numerous picture books. Fireworks showcases her ability to convey emotion and narrative through illustration alone. What a true testament to her skill as a visual storyteller!
Caldecott Honor Books:
Every Monday Mabel – Jashar Awan
A tender story about a girl’s weekly library ritual and the childhood treasures we hold dear. Perfect for sparking conversations about routines, rituals, and the small moments that shape our lives.
Our Lake – Angie Kang
A beautifully illustrated meditation on memory, place, and loss. This book explores a father-child connection to a lake and how places hold our memories even after loss. It’s a powerful mentor text for writing about special people and places.
Stalactite & Stalagmite: A Big Tale from a Little Cave – Drew Beckmeyer
A clever and charming exploration of geology, friendship, and the natural world told through the “lives” of cave formations.
Sundust – Zeke Peña
A visually stunning journey that blends fantasy and reality in imaginative ways.
How I’m Using These in the Classroom
Here’s where it gets good… I’m using Fireworks, Every Monday Mabel, and Our Lake as mentor texts to launch memoir and personal narrative writing this month. Each book opens up a different angle for students to explore their own memories!
Fireworks: Special Events & Holiday Memories
The Hook: This wordless picture book captures the wonder of experiencing fireworks during Lunar New Year through a child’s eyes.
Writing Connection: After reading, have students brainstorm special memories they have of holidays or events in their life. Think: birthday parties, cultural celebrations, family traditions, the first snow, a special concert or game they attended.
Prompt Ideas:
“Describe a moment when you felt pure joy during a celebration.”
“What’s a tradition your family has that makes you feel connected?”
(remind students this doesn’t have to be BIG, but rather something that was special to them
Every Monday Mabel: Hobbies, Obsessions & Childhood Treasures
The Hook: This book follows a girl and her weekly library visits, a ritual that becomes a cherished part of her childhood.
Writing Connection: Have students discuss and brainstorm fun hobbies, obsessions, or special rituals they had (or still have). This could be a beloved toy, a TV show they were obsessed with, library trips like Mabel, collecting rocks, Saturday morning pancakes…anything that felt important to them!
Prompt Ideas:
“What’s something you used to do every week that you looked forward to?”
“Tell me about an item, show, or activity that was special to you when you were younger.”
Our Lake: Special People & Places
The Hook: A tender story about a father and child’s connection to a lake—and how that place holds memories even after loss.
Writing Connection: This one goes deep. Students can write about a special person or a special place from their past. The father in the story has passed away, so this opens the door to talk about grandparents, relatives, or even pets they’ve lost. The lake itself represents a meaningful location, so students can also write about a place they vacationed, a spot they always visited with family, or anywhere that holds significance.
Prompt Ideas:
“Who is someone special in your life (past or present) and why do they matter to you?”
“Describe a place that feels like home to you, even if it’s not your house.”
Don’t Miss These Books
Whether you’re a teacher looking for new read-aloud, a librarian updating your collection, or a parent searching for quality literature, the 2026 Newbery and Caldecott winners are must-reads. I encourage you to share their work with your students and celebrate the incredible contributions they’re making to children’s literature.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some memoir writing to facilitate (and a stack of award-winning books calling my name).
Happy reading!
(Curious about last year’s Newbery Winner? Check it out!)
