It has been a long while since I posted on this blog. Eight months to be exact. There are a multitude of reasons for that including considering what my purpose is for this space, who my audience really is (intended and actual), what do I have to say that isn’t being said in other spaces, and just being downright busy. Oh, and there is also that whole 2026 Caldecott Committee thing that is taking up the majority of my time outside of my main job as an elementary librarian. So I’ve been reflecting and reading and learning and evaluating and resting, but not blogging. And now it’s summer “break” and timing gets a bit more relaxed but the to-do list gets longer. Yet the last post I had was for Native American Heritage Month. It was necessarily the last time I was able to post book recommendations because of the policies of being on the Caldecott Committee, so it’s a forced break for 15 months of talking about picture books in online spaces. And that’s ok, but I didn’t want to leave the blog without saying something about why it has been so quiet.
In addition, we spent the past year in an ELA curriculum adoption cycle at my school. Throughout the process of selecting a knowledge building curriculum that still supports our literacy values I was reminded of something that is at the heart of my work: read alouds have a place in our schools and classrooms at every level. #ClassroomBookADay is not going away. One thing I know for sure is that a high volume of intentionally selected read alouds gives us an opportunity to create joyful experiences around text and provide so many more benefits. It evens the playing field for all kids by making text accessible. It allows us to connect more deeply to topics and themes and build background and content knowledge. It provides opportunities to bring in representation that might otherwise be missing from the rest of the curriculum. And that brings value to the time we dedicate to read aloud. Think back to your school experiences: what was most memorable to you? I’d be willing to bet there is a read aloud or two that made a strong enough impact on your developmental years that you still remember it to this day. And that still matters for today’s kids to have.
So, what am I doing with this post? Reminding myself, and all of you, of what matters. Reclaiming this space as a place for my personal reflection and learning through writing about education and librarianship and books. But also relieving myself of the pressure to *have* to post regularly. Having this space is important, and I hope you find value in the posts it contains, but I also need to find that balance more and more, so this is that disclaimer that when I have something to say, I will share it, and I hope you stick around for those periodic times.
This has always been a space for me to recommend books – and with the Caldecott Committee year, that has to be on a hiatus – but it will be back next year. And goodness am I excited to tell you about some of the 2025 picture books that have blown me away! But that will have to wait until after the announcements of the winners and honors in January.
In the meantime I am continuing to deepen my understanding of art in children’s literature and growing more detailed in my critical analysis skills. And we have a long way to go yet – it’s only June! That has been one of the most unanticipated aspects of this experience so far, for which I am so grateful: I hadn’t realized being part of the committee is also like taking a college course about children’s literature! It has been fantastic to do that reading alongside so very many picture books.
There are parts of the award committee process that we are required to keep confidential forever to provide a safe environment in which to have deep and honest discussions throughout the reading year and deliberation discussions. That said, I am able to share my personal opinions about any books after the committee part is completed and announced. And I can’t wait for that, so please stick around for the book recommendations to come when that time arrives!
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