The American Library Association (ALA) announced the top books, digital media, video and audio books for children and young adults—including the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Newbery and Printz awards—at its Youth Media Awards Announcements in Chicago. We proudly congratulate all our award-winning authors.
Select the titles below to access audio clips, excerpts, reading guides, and more.
Caldecott Honor
Our Lake by Angie Kang (Kokila)
Sundust by Zeke Peña (Kokila)
Coretta Scott King Book Award
Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement
I Have a Dream by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., illustrated by Kadir Nelson (Anne Schwartz Books)
Author Honor
The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze by Derrick Barnes (Viking Books for Young Readers)
Illustrator Honor
City Summer, Country Summer by Kiese Laymon, illustrated by Alexis Franklin (Kokila)
John Steptoe New Talent Award Author
Under the Neon Lights by Arriel Vinson (G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers)
Alex Award
The Girls Who Grew Big by Leila Mottley (Knopf)
What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown (Random House)
The Favorites by Layne Fargo (Random House)
Hole in the Sky by Daniel H. Wilson (Doubleday)
These Heathens by Mia McKenzie (Random House)
The Whyte Python World Tour by Travis Kennedy (Doubleday)
ALSC Children’s Literature Lecture Award
Flying and Other Lessons by Ellen Oh (Yearling)
American Indian Youth Literature Award Winner
Buffalo Dreamer by Violet Duncan (Nancy Paulsen Books)
2026 Asian Pacific American Award for Literature
Picture Book Winner
Many Things at Once by Veera Hiranandani, illustrated by Nadia Alam (Random House Studio)
Picture Book Honor
A Vaisakhi to Remember by Simran Jeet Singh, illustrated by Japneet Kaur (Kokila)
Children’s Literature Legacy Award and the Margaret A. Edwards Award
Imogene’s Last Stand by Candace Fleming, illustrated by Nancy Carpenter (Dragonfly Books)
Mine! by Candace Fleming, illustrated by Eric Rohmann (Anne Schwartz Books)
Narwhal: Unicorn Of the Arctic by Candace Fleming, Illustrated by Deena So’Oteh (Anne Schwartz Books)
Oh, No! by Candace Fleming, illustrated by Eric Rohmann (Dragonfly Books)
Clever Jack Takes the Cake by Candace Fleming, illustrated by G. Brian Karas (Dragonfly Books)
Fabled Fifth Graders of Aesop by Candace Fleming (Yearling)
Amelia Lost by Candace Fleming (Yearling)
Eleanor Roosevelt’s in My Garage! by Candace Fleming, illustrated by Mark Fearing (Schwartz & Wade)
Fatal Throne: The Wives of Henry VIII Tell All Murder Among Friends by M. T. Anderson, Candace Fleming, Stephanie Hemphill, Lisa Ann Sandell, Jennifer Donnelly, Linda Sue Park, and Deborah Hopkinson (Anne Schwartz Books)
Strongheart: Wonder Dog by Candace Fleming, illustrated by Eric Rohmann (Yearling)
The Family Romanov by Candace Fleming (Anne Schwartz Books)
Murder Among Friends by Candace Fleming (Anne Schwartz Books)
The Great and Only Barnumby Candace Fleming, illustrated by Ray Fenwick (Schwartz & Wade)
Rise And Fall of Charles Lind by Candace Fleming (Schwartz & Wade)
Excellence in Nonfiction
American Spirits by Barb Rosenstock (Calkins Creek)
White House Secrets by Gail Jarrow (Calkins Creek)
2026 Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table (GNCRT) Outstanding Comics Award
Best Series Award Honors
Apple Crush by Lucy Knisley (Random House Graphic)
Stepping Stones by Lucy Knisley (Random House Graphic)
Sugar Shack by Lucy Knisley (Random House Graphic)
Best Series Award Winners
Witches of Brooklyn by Sophie Escabasse (Random House Graphic)
Curse and Reverse by Sophie Escabasse (Random House Graphic)
What the Hex?!by Sophie Escabasse (Random House Graphic)
S’More Magic by Sophie Escabasse (Random House Graphic)
Spell of a Timeby Sophie Escabasse (Random House Graphic)
Nonfiction Award Honor
How to Say Goodbye in Cuban by Daniel Miyares (Anne Schwartz Books)
Outstanding Comics Children’s Fiction Winner
Froggy by Paige Walshe (Flying Eye Books)
Mildred L. Batchelder Award Honor
Picking Tea with Baba by Xu Bin, illustrated by Yu Yin, and translated by Shan Chen (Charlesbridge
Pura Belpré Award
Children’s Author Honor
A Hero’s Guide to Summer Vacation by Pablo Cartaya (Kokila)
YA Author Winners
On the Wings of la Noche by Vanessa L. Torres (Knopf Books for Young Readers)
YA Author Honors
Rosa by Any Other Name by Hailey Alcaraz (Viking Books for Young Readers)
The Story of My Anger by Jasminne Mendez (Dial Books)
Youth Illustration Winner
Popo the Xolo by Paloma Angelina Lopez, illustrated by Abraham Matias (Charlesbridge)
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Honor
The History of We by Nikkolas Smith (Kokila)
Schneider Family Book Award
Best Young Children’s Book Winner
Wanda Hears the Stars by Amy S. Hansen and Wanda Díaz Merced, illustrated by Rocio Arreola Mendoza (Charlesbridge)
Best Young Children’s Book Honor
I Hear the Snow, I Smell the Sea by Janice Milusich, illustrated by Chris Raschka (Anne Schwartz Books)
Honor in the Middle Grade Category
Octopus Moon by Bobbie Pyron (Nancy Paulsen Books)
Medal in the Young Adult Literature Category
Whale Eyes by James Robinson, illustrated by Brian Rea (Penguin Workshop)
Honor in the Young Adult Literature Category
The Poetry of Car Mechanics by Heidi E. Y. Stemple (Wordsong)
Sydney Taylor Book Awards
Notable
Same Page by Elly Swartz (Yearling)
Notable in the Picture Book Category
Fanny’s Big Idea: How Jewish Book Week Was Born by Richard Michelson, illustrated by Alyssa Russell (Rocky Pond Books)
Winner in the Picture Book Category
Shabbat Shalom: Let’s Rest and Reset by Suzy Ultman (Rise x Penguin Workshop)
Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Honor
Earl & Worm #2: The Big Mess and Other Stories by Greg Pizzoli (Knopf Books for Young Readers)
YALSA Book Awards
2026 William C. Morris Award Finalist
First Love Language by Stefany Valentine (Penguin Workshop)
Excellence in Nonfiction in Nonfiction Winner
A World Without Summer: A Volcano Erupts, A Creature Awakens, and the Sun Goes Out by Nicholas Day, illustrated by Yas Imamura (Random House Studio)
Excellence in Nonfiction Finalist
Death in the Jungle: Murder, Betrayal, and the Lost Dream of Jonestown by Candace Fleming (Anne Schwartz Books)
2026 Odyssey Awards
Winner for Excellence in Audiobook Production for Young Adults
Trans History: From Ancient Times to the Present Day by Alex L. Combs and Andrew Eakett
Narrated by Alex L. Combs, Andrew Eakett, and a Full Cast (Listening Library)
Odyssey Honor
Soundtrack by Jason Reynolds
Narrated by a Full Cast (Listening Library)
Odyssey Honor
Whale Eyes: A Memoir About Seeing and Being Seen by James Robinson
Narrated by James Robinson (Listening Library)
Learn More About our Odyssey Winners and Honors Here.
