Kids have returned to school and Summer Reading Programs are far in the rear-view mirror… it’s time to get ready for a Mock Election program at your library, bookstore, or school! The REAL announcement of these major children’s literature awards (Batchelder, Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Geisel, Newbery, Printz, Sibert, Stonewall, and more) is just two months away.
Now’s the time to prepare a program focusing on:
- picture books (Mock Caldecott)
- nonfiction books (Mock Sibert)
- books originating in another country and translated into English (Mock Batchelder)
- books affirming and celebrating the Latino cultural experience (Mock Pura Belpré)
- or another type of book which will be celebrated in January at the 2026 Youth Media Awards
Your Mock Election program could be a small discussion group involving interested children’s room staff at your library or it could be a giant affair involving an entire school of students along with teachers and parents. It could take place entirely online or at a bookstore. The options are nearly limitless!
A variety of resources are available to help you get ready to host your own Mock Election program such as The Newbery Practitioner’s Guide by Laura Schulte-Cooper or The Newbery and Caldecott Mock Elections by Kathleen Simonetta.
Our own ALSC Blog has a wealth of information about offering Mock YMA programs. Check out this sampling of blog posts:
- Utilizing Technology for Mock Caldecott by Jessica Beal for the ALSC Children and Technology committee
- Birds of a Feather Mock Together by Angela Moffett for the Program Coordinating committee
- Hosting Your Own Mock Awards by Maria Trivisonna
- Maybe your next Mock Award Program should be a Mock Batchelder by Paula Holmes
- You Too Can Host a Mock Award by Maria Trivisonna
- Guerilla Programming: Mock Caldecott Edition by Jacqueline (Jacquie) Kociubuk
- Mocking Masters: Future Librarians Dive into a Mock Caldecott by Tess Prendergast for the ALSC Membership committee
- Hosting Your Own Mock Youth Media Award by Melissa Sokol for the Public Awareness committee
- Mock Elections Season is Upon Us, Time to Make Lists by Emily Mroczek-Bayci
- Hosting a Mock Award Discussion with Kids by Amy Seto Forrester for the School-Age Programs and Services committee
- Hosting a Mock Newbery Book Club: Terrific collaboration between school and public librarians by Armin Arethna and Mary Ann Scheuer
- How to Foster Appreciation of Fine Art for Children: Hold a Mock Election! by Dan Bostrom
- Mock Newbery Book Club by Sarah Abercrombie for the School-Age Programs and Services committee
- Reading for the Mock Awards by Teresa Walls
Once you’ve held your Mock Election, don’t forget to submit your results to the ALSC Blog’s 2026 Mock YMA Results page. To add your mock election results to this Results page, please use this form.
Have you hosted a Mock YMA Election Program in the past? Are you planning to host one this year? Tell us about it in the comments below!