100 Scope Notes

Departure Time: When Legendary Illustrators Got Nuts (+ Giveaway)

What does it cost to take a creative risk?

Jul 31 • Travis Jonker

29

13

8

🤫 Off the Record: GOLDFINCHES

Caldecott thoughts I'd never say in a committee room

Jul 15 • Travis Jonker

21

4

3

Caldecott Critique: GOLDFINCHES by Mary Oliver, illustrated by Melissa Sweet (+ Giveaway)

Heads up to paid subscribers: this post is fully free, but watch for the GOLDFINCHES Off the Record email Wednesday morning.

Jul 14 • Travis Jonker

31

9

17

June 2026

Why Did They Win? A 2025 Caldecott Honor Examination

Why did the books that won, win?

Jun 23 • Travis Jonker

17

4

5

My Biggest Professional Regret: I Leveled the Library

What I know now that I didn't know then.

Jun 9 • Travis Jonker

39

15

10

May 2026

Caldecott Frontrunner: Blessing or Curse?

Two discoveries that will help decide 2027.

May 26 • Travis Jonker

15

3

5

Caldecott Critique: NAVIGATING NIGHT by Julie Leung and Angie Kang (+ Giveaway)

Claude Monet, Ezra Jack Keats, and Michael Jordan with his eyes closed.

May 12 • Travis Jonker

57

5

26

April 2026

Always the Honor, Never the Medal

Why some legendary illustrators are stuck in the Caldecott Honor "friend zone"

Apr 28 • Travis Jonker

19

5

3

Kirkus Reviews' Sickest Burns

These books may have won Caldecott, but Kirkus begs to differ.

Apr 14 • Travis Jonker

64

41

8

March 2026

40 is the New 32: Why Caldecott Medal Winners Have Gotten Longer

Using the 🔥Ultimate Caldecott Database🔥 to make some surprising discoveries.

Mar 24 • Travis Jonker

18

9

2

The Oscars Hate Comedy. Is Caldecott Any Better?

Let's answer this question.

Mar 15 • Travis Jonker

28

11

4

Caldecott Critique: 102 by Matthew Cordell

Fever dreams, ballpoint pens, and Swedish cinema

Mar 3 • Travis Jonker

26

4

2