30 Contenders? Our Updated Mock Newbery List
Our latest Heavy Medal Mock Newbery list includes 30 excellent children's books, all of which could be possible contenders for the 2026 Newbery Medal.
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April Suggestions Now Open: We’re building our early Mock Newbery list
Our second round of Mock Newbery suggestions is now open. Share up to five titles that you feel might belong in a discussion of the best books of 2025.
Fifteen early Mock Newbery 2026 Contenders
We have 15 early Mock Newbery 2026 contender. A mix of fantasy, realistic fiction, a graphic novel, historical fiction.
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Book Discussion
And the Newbery winner is….
Another year, another surprising Newbery winner. View Steven and Emily's live thoughts here on the 2025 Youth Media Award announcements.
Predictions for the ALA Youth Media Awards
STEVEN: It’s five days until the 2025 Newbery Medal will be announced, which means: Predictions! We do this every year, and the record shows that if you’re looking for accuracy, pay attention to Emily and ignore mine. EMILY: Uhh you’re really loading the pressure on here Steven… why? STEVEN: In [...]
Heavy Medal Update: It’s Newbery Week!
As we enter the final week of Heavy Medal discussions there are lots of dates and deadlines to keep an eye on!
More Recent Posts
First Mock Newbery 2026 Suggestion Call: Early Contenders
We're 10 months away from the 2026 Newbery Medal announcement, but it's never too early to start reading. If you've read any early 2025 publications that might have a chance at the Medal, add your suggestions to our monthly list between now and March 8th.
Goodbye for now
Heavy Medal will return for monthly suggestion posts in March 2025 and the regular season begins in September.
Looking Ahead: Early Thoughts about 2026 Newbery Contenders
The 2025 Newbery winner has finally been announced, so we take a short look ahead at possible contenders for the 2026 Medal.
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And the Newbery winner is….
Another year, another surprising Newbery winner. View Steven and Emily's live thoughts here on the 2025 Youth Media Award announcements.
Heavy Medal Reader’s Poll Results
Over 140 ballots were cast in our Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Reader's Poll. Full results here...
And the Heavy Medal Zoom winners are…
After much discussion, two Mock Newbery 2025 winners were determined Friday afternoon.
Predictions for the ALA Youth Media Awards
STEVEN: It’s five days until the 2025 Newbery Medal will be announced, which means: Predictions! We do this every year, and the record shows that if you’re looking for accuracy, pay attention to Emily and ignore mine. EMILY: Uhh you’re really loading the pressure on here Steven… why? STEVEN: In seven years of predictions on […]
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Recent Comments
Apr 12, 2025
Marjie Podzielinski on April Suggestions Now Open: We’re building our early Mock Newbery list
"Laurie Halse Anderson Rebellion 1776 ..."
Apr 11, 2025
Emily Mroczek on April Suggestions Now Open: We’re building our early Mock Newbery list
"OLD SCHOOL- Gordon Korman. OUR LAKE- Angie Kang TEAR THIS DOWN- Barbara Dee. IT'S ALL OR NOTHING VALE ..."
Apr 9, 2025
Steven Engelfried on April Suggestions Now Open: We’re building our early Mock Newbery list
"Just read THE BOY WHO LIVED IN A SHELL after Leonard and Bina both praised it. It's always exciting when you can say: I ..."
Apr 9, 2025
Rebecca Moore on April Suggestions Now Open: We’re building our early Mock Newbery list
"Here are my recommendations: "All the blues in the sky," Renee Watson "It’s all or nothing, Vale," Andrea Arango "R ..."
Apr 9, 2025
Jesse Shirtz on April Suggestions Now Open: We’re building our early Mock Newbery list
"I've only read one book that fits the parameters so far this year and I think it could definitely be a contender! WILL'S ..."
Apr 8, 2025
Heather Marvel on April Suggestions Now Open: We’re building our early Mock Newbery list
"After last year's round of heartbreaking "bad moms" stories, I am tickled that badgers are a trend for spring and that y ..."
Apr 8, 2025
Jenny on April Suggestions Now Open: We’re building our early Mock Newbery list
"Another ineligible title I'd otherwise love to see in the mix here is THE HOUSE ON THE CANAL by Thomas Harding and Britt ..."
Apr 8, 2025
Steven Engelfried on April Suggestions Now Open: We’re building our early Mock Newbery list
"This month I’ve got two really good fiction books, plus a picture book, a poetry collection, and a nonfiction title: ..."
Apr 8, 2025
Steven Engelfried on April Suggestions Now Open: We’re building our early Mock Newbery list
"I don’t have the book in front of me, but the SLJ review notes that there are 8 new poems and 60 that were previously ..."
Apr 7, 2025
Sabrina "Bina" Ponce on April Suggestions Now Open: We’re building our early Mock Newbery list
"Adding my votes for MAX IN THE LAND OF LIES by Adam Gidwitz and A WORLD WORTH SAVING by Kyle Lukoff. Also agree with ..."
Apr 7, 2025
Heather Marvel on April Suggestions Now Open: We’re building our early Mock Newbery list
"I am still waiting on All the Blues, and I just got my copy of Undead Forest so I will have to wait and see if those mak ..."
Apr 7, 2025
Leonard Kim on April Suggestions Now Open: We’re building our early Mock Newbery list
"THE SECRET OF MOONRISE MANOR by Stephanie Bearce -- it's a given that Gidwitz will be discussed. This book struck me as ..."
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