Jewel Davis, librarian and professor at Appalachian State University, served as chair of the committee responsible for selecting the 2026 Randolph Caldecott Medal winner. In her role, Davis read more than 800 children’s books in 2025 to determine which illustrated story would make a lasting impression on young readers.
“The chance to help select the most distinguished picture book of the year, knowing that millions of children will read it, is a profound responsibility and a career dream,” said Davis. “Realizing that this decision will shape children’s lives forever is monumental, and I’m proud of the impact it will make.”
Davis also works directly with students at Appalachian State University (App State), guiding future educators, librarians and storytellers. She manages the university’s Instructional Materials Center, teaches library courses in collaboration with the Reich College of Education, and leads outreach to K–12 schools across northwest North Carolina. Her work includes professional development programs for school librarians, in-service educators and App State students preparing for teaching careers.
“Literacy, reading, research and lifelong learning are the foundation of every library,” said University Libraries Dean Sue Polanka. “It is our duty to engage users with high-quality reading materials, helping them learn, understand and find acceptance and belonging in their world — and I hope every child has access to a librarian as caring and knowledgeable as professor Davis.”
The Caldecott Medal is awarded by the American Library Association for excellence in picture book illustration. As chair of this year’s selection committee, Davis led 14 librarians from across the country through a process she described as both challenging and rewarding.
“My vision was really grounded in human-centered leadership,” she said. “I wanted the committee to move slowly and thoughtfully, and that intentional pacing built trust, which strengthened our work and helped us come to a consensus. I had to recognize that disagreement is both expected and valuable. Each committee member brings a deep well of experience in youth literature, so we feel very strongly about our decisions.”
“I hope this affirms the value of engaging deeply with children’s literature, as both an artistic practice and a shared human experience,” said Davis. “These books have universal lessons and stories that can reach us all if we just open ourselves to the possibility of what’s within these pages.”
Davis encourages her students at App State to consider how contemporary picture books reflect current experiences for today’s children.
“I challenge them to remember that today’s picture books are written for today’s children,” she said. “The classics will always be there, but the contemporary books reflect the lives, questions and experiences of children who are actually navigating the world now. Distinguished books today are representative, powerful and deeply respect young readers — that’s the standard I think is worth continuing to uphold.”
She added that leading the Caldecott Award Selection Committee gave her new perspectives for her teaching.
“It’s less about changing my practice and more about sharpening what I’ve already begun to develop in my career,” she said. “I now feel like I’m better able to help students see how individual books sit within the larger landscape of visual storytelling, and I can talk more firmly about quality and distinction, with greater specificity.”
Davis highlighted collaborative decision-making as central to both her profession and her recent leadership experience.
“Some of the strongest moments in this process came from listening, being open and having our thinking challenged,” she said. “It really allowed our ideas to evolve through discussion. What makes the work successful is having a shared commitment to trust one another and to be open to learning from one another. I think with this in mind, we can transform the world.”
In addition to Davis’ recognition by ALA this year, DeAndra Miller—who writes under DeAndra Davis—received ALA’s 2026 William C. Morris Award for her debut novel “All the Noise at Once.” Miller is a teaching assistant professor in App State’s Department of English whose novel tells the story of a Black autistic teen grappling with his brother’s arrest.
Both awards were announced at ALA’s 2026 Youth Media Awards ceremony held January 26 in Chicago.
Appalachian State University serves over 21,000 students through its undergraduate and graduate programs on campuses spanning 1,200 acres designed for academic life as well as residential use (https://www.appstate.edu). The university belongs to the University of North Carolina System (https://www.appstate.edu) and has received national recognition for its academics from outlets such as U.S. News & World Report (https://www.appstate.edu). With facilities located in Boone and Hickory plus online offerings statewide (https://www.appstate.edu), App State prepares students for global citizenship focused on sustainability (https://www.appstate.edu).
