App State’s Jewel Davis leads Caldecott Medal selection

Appalachian State University’s Jewel Davis read more than 800 children’s books in 2025, searching for the one that would stand above the rest.

As chair of the committee that selected this year’s prestigious Randolph Caldecott Medal winner, Davis evaluated hundreds of picture books to determine which illustrated story would leave the most lasting impression on young readers.

Davis, instructional materials center librarian and the Martha and Nancy Lee Bivens Distinguished Professor in App State’s University Libraries, said the experience was both an honor and a chance to help elevate stories that spark a love of reading.

“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 brings that expertise into the classroom, helping guide future educators, librarians, and storytellers.

“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.”

Among her roles, Davis manages the university’s Instructional Materials Center, which serves as a model pre-K–12 school media center. She teaches library courses in collaboration with the Reich College of Education and leads outreach to K–12 schools across northwest North Carolina. She also coordinates professional development programs for school librarians, in-service educators, and App State students preparing to become teachers.

That experience helped lead to her appointment to a national leadership role in children’s literature.

SELECTING THE CALDECOTT WINNER

The American Library Association’s Caldecott Medal is the nation’s most celebrated award for picture books, recognizing artistic excellence and influence on young readers since 1937.

Davis was appointed to lead 14 librarians from across the country in selecting the 2026 winner.

“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.”

Davis and the committee selected “Fireworks,” written by Matthew Burgess and illustrated by Cátia Chien, as this year’s Caldecott Medal winner.

“Every person who picks up this book will find moments of universal joy in childhood,” Davis said. “What makes ‘Fireworks’ truly distinguished is how fully the illustrations translate that joy onto the page. There’s as much wonder in children splashing in a fire hydrant as there is in a sky full of fireworks — and while the finale might be the fireworks, the real magic is in the shared moments that lead up to it.”

Davis said she hopes the selection highlights the importance of picture books not only for children, but also for the adults who read with them.

PREPARING NEXT GENERATION OF LIBRARIANS

Davis said she applied the same philosophy used in selecting the Caldecott winner to her teaching at Appalachian State, encouraging education students to focus on contemporary literature.

“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.”

Davis said chairing the Caldecott Award Selection Committee has strengthened her perspective in the classroom and expanded her knowledge of children’s literature.

“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.”

As App State students prepare for careers in libraries and education, Davis said collaboration remains central to the profession.

— AKC