The Newbery, Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Printz, and more. The 2026 ALA Youth Media Award honorees have been announced. Check out the books young readers will be talking about all year.
The annual announcement of the American Library Association (ALA) Youth Media Awards is the biggest event of the year in the world of children’s publishing. The very best books and media of the previous year chosen by librarians. And who knows children’s literature better than librarians? The Newbery, Caldecott, Printz, Coretta Scott King, and other ALA Youth Media Awards are some of the most prestigious awards an author or illustrator can aspire to.
The 2025 Youth Media Awards were announced Monday, January 27, during ALA’s LibLearnX conference in Phoenix.
Enjoy exploring this collection of wonderful titles at your library or local book store. There’s something for every interest and taste.
The Alex Awards are given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18. The award is sponsored by the Margaret A. Edwards Trust and administered by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of ALA. Learn more about the Alex Awards.
Beautiful People: My Thirteen Truths about Disability, by Melissa Blake, published by Hachette Go, an imprint of Hachette Books
Big Jim and the White Boy: An American Classic Reimagined, by David F. Walker, illustrated by Marcus Kwame Anderson, published by Ten Speed Graphic, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House
Daughters of Shandong, by Eve J. Chung, published by Berkley, an imprint of Penguin Random House
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins, by P. Djèlí Clark, published by Tordotcom, an imprint of Tor Publishing Group, a division of Macmillan
How to Solve Your Own Murder, by Kristen Perrin, published by Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Random House
I Feel Awful, Thanks, by Lara Pickle, published by Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group
I Was a Teenage Slasher, by Stephen Graham Jones, published by Saga Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster
The Witch of Colchis, by Rosie Hewlett, published by Sourcebooks Landmark, an imprint of Sourcebooks
The Witchstone, by Henry H. Neff, published by Blackstone Publishing
Woman, Life, Freedom, created by Marjane Satrapi, translated by Una Dimitrijević, published by Seven Stories Press
This award, established in Mildred L. Batchelder’s honor in 1966, is a citation awarded to an American publisher for a children’s book considered to be the most outstanding of those books originally published in a foreign language in a foreign country, and subsequently translated into English and published in the United States. The award is administered by ALSC. Learn more about the Batchelder Award.
Award Winner: Yonder, an imprint of Restless Books for Young Readers, is the winner of the 2025 Mildred L. Batchelder Award for John the Skeleton. Originally published in Estonian in 2024 as Luukere Juani juhtumised, the book was written by Triinu Laan, illustrated by Marja-Liisa Plats and translated by Adam Cullen.
John the Skeleton accompanies Gram and Gramps to the grocery store, bathes and sleds with the grandchildren, and lives in the summer kitchen. Vignettes seamlessly present a window to Estonian culture, while saunas, pixies, and linden-blossom tea (pähnähäitsmäi: pah-nah-hites-met-sigh-y) lend cultural authenticity to a child-friendly, medically-accurate, and humorous text.
Honor Books:
The Randolph Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by ALSC to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. Learn more about the Caldecott Medal.
Medal Winner: Chooch Helped, illustrated by Rebecca Lee Kunz, written by Andrea L. Rogers and published by Levine Querido.
Sissy’s brother, Chooch, loves to “help.” However, his contributions often cause frustrations. Chooch Helped is a touching depiction of sibling relationships, family and the importance of making mistakes. Collaged textiles, watercolor and Indigenous motifs celebrate Cherokee culture and language in a universal story all families can see themselves in.
Honor Books:
Administered by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of ALA, the Children’s Literature Legacy Award honors an author or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made, over a period of years, a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children through books that demonstrate integrity and respect for all children’s lives and experiences. Learn more about the Children’s Literacy Legacy Award.
Some of Weatherford’s award-winning works include “Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre,” which won the Coretta Scott King Author Award in 2022, and “BOX: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom,” recipient of the Newbery Medal Honor in 2021. In addition, Weatherford has received multiple NAACP Image Awards and Coretta Scott King Honors. Weatherford’s books primarily focus on African American history and culture, using poetry and prose to bring forgotten stories to life. Her work spans from jazz and civil rights to lesser-known historical events, consistently championing diversity and social justice.
The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are given annually to outstanding African American authors of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values. The award is sponsored by ALA’s Coretta Scott King Book Awards Round Table (CSKBART). Learn more about the CSK Author Award.
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Medal Winner: Twenty-four Seconds from Now…, written by Jason Reynolds, published by Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.
Events roll backward in varying 24 increments of time in this well-crafted, sweet and hilarious love story between two Black teens about to take a huge first step in their relationship. Reynolds’ authentic Black love story told in the believable voice of Neon will pull at your heartstrings and leave the reader wanting more.
Honor Books:
The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are given annually to outstanding African American illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values. The award is sponsored by CSKBART. Learn more about the CSK Illustrator Award.
Medal Winner: My Daddy is a Cowboy, illustrated by C.G. Esperanza, published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS.
In the early hours before dawn, a young girl and her father greet their horses and ride together through the waking city streets. As they trot along, Daddy tells cowboy stories filled with fun and community, friendship, discovery and pride. With vibrant illustrations from award-winning artist C.G. Esperanza, this beautiful picture book is a celebration of Black joy.
Honor Books:
Coretta: The Autobiography of Mrs. Coretta Scott King, illustrated by Ekua Holmes, written by Coretta Scott King with the Reverend Dr. Barbara Reynolds and published by Godwin Books, an imprint of Henry Holt and Company.
Everywhere Beauty is Harlem: The Vision of Photographer Roy DeCarava, illustrated by E.B. Lewis, written by Gary Golio and published by Calkins Creek, an imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers.
Go Forth and Tell: The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller, illustrated by April Harrison, written by Breanna J. McDaniel and published by Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Random House.
The John Steptoe New Talent Award is established to affirm new talent and to offer visibility to excellence in writing and/or illustration which otherwise might be formally unacknowledged within a given year within the structure of the two awards given annually by the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Committee. The award is sponsored by CSKBART. Learn more about the CSK/John Steptoe New Talent Award.
The John Steptoe New Talent Award is established to affirm new talent and to offer visibility to excellence in writing and/or illustration which otherwise might be formally unacknowledged within a given year within the structure of the two awards given annually by the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Committee. The award is sponsored by CSKBART. Learn more about the CSK/John Steptoe New Talent Award.
Author Award: Craig Kofi Farmer, author of Kwame Crashes the Underworld.
Illustrator Award: Jamiel Law, illustrator of Jimmy’s Rhythm & Blues: The Extraordinary Life of James Baldwin.
The annual award is presented in even years to an African American author, illustrator or author/illustrator for a body of their published books for children and/or young adults, and who has made a significant and lasting literary contribution. In odd years, the award is presented to a practitioner for substantial contributions through active engagement with youth using award-winning African American literature for children and/or young adults, via implementation of reading and reading related activities/programs. The award is sponsored by CSKBART. Learn more about the CSK-Virginia Hamilton Award.
Award Winner: Carolyn L. Garnes
“Garnes was instrumental in taking the CSK Books Awards Task Force from an independent entity to being a part of ALA. Because of her work, CSKBART celebrated its 55th anniversary in 2024,” said Award Committee Chair Dr. Emma K. McNamara.
Garnes has spent over 30 years as a practitioner championing books for Black children as a public and school library director and as the founder of the nonprofit Aunt Lil’s Reading Room. She has worked to ensure that librarianship is a welcoming space for people regardless of their race and class.
The Margaret A. Edwards Award, established in 1988, honors an author, as well as a specific body of his or her work, for significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature. The annual award is administered by YALSA and sponsored by School Library Journal. Learn more about the Edwards Award.
Award Winner: Tiffany D. Jackson
Tiffany D. Jackson is the recipient of the 2025 Margaret A. Edwards Award, honoring her significant and lasting contribution to writing for teens for “Allegedly,” “The Awakening of Malcolm X” (co-written with Ilyasah Shabazz), “Grown,” “Let Me Hear a Rhyme,” “The Long Walk” (a short story from the collaborative novel “Blackout”), “Monday’s Not Coming,” and “White Smoke.”
Tiffany D. Jackson’s writing is emotional, authentic and relatable. Her narratives often blend gripping mysteries with powerful social commentary. In “Grown” a girl becomes entangled with a predatory superstar who is found dead. “White Smoke” modernizes the haunted house story through the lens of gentrification and mental illness. In “Allegedly” a teen struggles to reclaim her life while uncovering the truth about a crime.
Jackson’s books shed light on underrepresented voices, making her characters memorable. In “Let Me Hear a Rhyme,” teens honor their deceased friend by turning him into a rap sensation. In “Monday’s Not Coming,” a young girl goes missing and only her best friend notices. “The Awakening of Malcolm X,” delves into Malcolm X’s transformative years in prison. “The Long Walk,” is a short story that looks at young love as two teens confront their unresolved feelings on a walk.
Administered by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of ALA, the Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media Award is given to the producer of the most distinguished digital media for an early learning audience produced in the United States during the preceding year. Learn more about the Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media Award.
Medal Winner: Carl the Collector.produced by Fuzzytown Productions and Spiffy Pictures.
Carl is a thoughtful raccoon with autism, whose unique collections and tight-knit group of friends help him explore his world and navigate everyday challenges. This relatable PBS series, created by author-illustrator Zachariah OHora and neurodiverse artists and performers, offers authentic social-emotional learning that will resonate with all young viewers.
Honor Titles:
The Theodor Seuss Geisel Award is given annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the United States during the preceding year. Winners are recognized for their literary and artistic achievements that demonstrate creativity and imagination to engage children in reading. ALSC administers the award. Learn more about the Geisel Award.
Award Winner: Vacation, written by Ame Dyckman, illustrated by Mark Teague, and published by Beach Lane Books, an imprint of Simon & Shuster Children’s Publishing Division.
Bat, Cat and Rat – three friends – decide they need a vacation. First, they need to earn money, and then they need to decide where to go. When they can’t agree, Bat comes up with the best solution of all: a “staycation.”
In simple but sophisticated illustrations, this easy reader tells an engaging story with some complex words and repetitive text. Young children will find this hilarious story is a favorite to read again and again.
Honor Books:
The William C. Morris YA Debut Award, first awarded in 2009, honors a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens and celebrating impressive new voices in young adult literature. The award is administered by YALSA. Learn more about the Morris Award.
Award Winner: Not Like Other Girls, written by Meredith Adamo and published by Bloomsbury YA, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing.
Award Finalists:
The Newbery Medal is awarded annually by ALSC to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. Learn more about the Newbery Award.
Medal Winner: The First State of Being, written by Erin Entrada Kelly, published by Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
In this masterful blend of science and historical fiction, Kelly captures the essence of 1999 from the music and malls to the collective uncertainty of Y2K. Twelve-year-old Michael and his babysitter Gibby meet Ridge, who is from the future. Ridge teaches them that with every breath they take they’re contributing to history.
Honor Books:
The Odyssey Award is given to the producer of the best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States. The award is jointly given and administered by ALSC and YALSA and is sponsored by Booklist. Learn more about the Odyssey Award.
Award Winner Children: Dreamscape Audio, producer of the audiobook A Plate of Hope: The Inspiring True Story of Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen.
Written by Erin Frankel, narrated by Luis Carlos de La Lombana, and produced by Andy T. Jones for Dreamscape Audio, A Plate of Hope: The Inspiring True Story of Chef José Andrés and the World Central Kitchen is a moving biography of Chef José Andrés, brilliantly brought to life by detailed sound effects, music, and lyrical Castilian accented narration. The audio transports listeners to the World Central Kitchen, where they can almost taste the paella as it sizzles. This story of a renowned humanitarian will inspire all.
Award Winner Young Adult: HarperAudio, producer of the audiobook How the Boogeyman Became a Poet.
Written and narrated by Tony Keith Jr. and produced by Abigail Marks for HarperAudio, How the Boogeyman Became a Poet is a memoir in verse that tells a coming-of-age story of the author as a closeted, gay, Black teen. As Keith details his life in a rhythmic narration, subtle background noise adds texture and depth. Listeners witness Keith overcoming the adversities of racism and homophobia to experience the joys of first loves and self-discovery.
Honor Audiobooks:
Black Girl You Are Atlas, written and narrated by Renée Watson and produced by Brian Ramcharan for Listening Library, an imprint of Penguin Random House.
Dispatches from Parts Unknown, written by Bryan Bliss, narrated by Joy Nash, and produced by Almeda Beynon for HarperAudio, an imprint of HarperCollins.
Girls Like Her, written by Melanie Sumrow, narrated by Melanie Sumrow and January LaVoy, and produced by Abigail Marks for HarperAudio, an imprint of HarperCollins.
You Are Brave, written by Margaret O’Hair and Sofia Sanchez, narrated by Sofia Sanchez, and produced by Paul Gagne and John Pels for Scholastic Audio, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.
The Michael L. Printz Award is an award for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature. It is named for a Topeka, Kansas, school librarian who was a long-time active member of YALSA. The award is administered by YALSA and sponsored by Booklist, a publication of ALA. Learn more about the Printz Award.
Award Winner: Brownstone, written by Samuel Teer, illustrated by Mar Julia and co-published by Versify and HarperAlley, imprints of HarperCollins Publishers,
In 1995, 14-year-old Almudena’s mother wants to fulfill a lifelong dancing dream in Europe, which means Almudena must spend the summer with her father whom she has never met as he restores a historic brownstone. Almudena learns more about her Guatemalan identity, herself and the importance of community. Evocative graphic-novel illustrations elevate this layered, character-driven, fish out of water story of found family.
Honor Books:
The award is named after Pura Belpré, the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth. It is co-sponsored by REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking, an ALA affiliate, ALSC, and YALSA. Learn more about the Pura Belpré Award.
Award Winner: Lola, written by Karla Arenas Valenti and published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House.
Lola is the gripping story of a tween girl living in published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House.modern-day Mexico City, who embarks on a magical adventure in hopes to save her little brother. With surprising twists up to the end, Lola enters the enchanting world of Floresta with the guidance of chaneques, fantastical beings who live in her backyard garden.
Honor Books:
Award Winner: Shut Up, This Is Serious, written by Carolina Ixta and published by Quill Tree Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
Shut Up, This Is Serious is a captivating, contemporary story of a real urban teen experience. It explores the intersections of cultural differences between generations, family dynamics and obligations, mental health, racism, colorism, sexism, teen pregnancy, religion and embracing heritage while staying true to yourself.
Honor Books:
Winner:The Dream Catcher, illustrated by Marcelo Verdad, published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group Inc.
The Dream Catcher is a story about the different types of dreams in this world, including Miguelito’s special dream of raising funds to buy a plane by selling dream catchers and coconuts with his grandfather. The book’s mixed-media illustrations reflect an authentic experience of different life circumstances, while also exhibiting the hope that dreaming keeps alive.
Honor Books:
The Schneider Family Book Awards honor an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences. The award is donated by Dr. Katherine Schneider. Three annual awards are presented for the best Teen, Middle School, and Children’s Book. ALA administers the Awards, and each recipient receives $5000 and a framed plaque. Learn more about the Schneider Family Book Award.
Young Children Winner: A Little Like Magic, written and illustrated by Sarah Kurpiel and published by Rocky Pond Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House.
Ice festivals welcome guests to explore the beauty of sculptures, but the narrator is unsure. She nervously navigates this new setting in her wheelchair. After leaving, she discovers that she lost her horse figurine somewhere in the crowd. She returns to search and discovers magic emerging from the cold.
Young Children Honor:
Middle Grade Winner: Popcorn, written and illustrated by Rob Harrell and published by Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Random House.
It’s picture day. Through a humorously illustrated depiction of the day, Andrew journeys through the catastrophic ups and downs of middle school, while navigating his anxiety and OCD. His anxiety builds, erupts and eventually subsides with the help of his teachers and friends.
Middle Grade Honor:
Teen Winner: Chronically Dolores, written by Maya Van Wagenen and published by Dutton Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House.
A diagnosis of interstitial cystitis and an embarrassing bathroom incident leaves Dolores with a cruel nickname and no friends. To regain her social status, she hatches a plan with the sheltered Terpsichore to fake a friendship. When it all goes awry, Dolores must confront what it really means to be a good friend.
Teen Honor:
The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal is awarded annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published in the United States in English during the preceding year. The award is named in honor of Robert F. Sibert, the long-time President of Bound to Stay Bound Books, Inc. of Jacksonville, Illinois. ALSC administers the award. Learn more about the Sibert Award.
Award Winner: Life After Whale: The Amazing Ecosystem of a Whale Fall, written by Lynn Brunelle, illustrated by Jason Chin, and published by Neal Porter Books, Holiday House.
Life After Whale, is an informational book about the complex ecosystem engendered by the slow decay of a blue whale’s body on the ocean floor.
Honor Books:
Stonewall Book Award–Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award is given annually to English-language works of exceptional merit for children or teens relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience. The award is sponsored by ALA’s Rainbow Round Table. Learn more about the Stonewall Book Award – Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award.
Award Winner Children’s Literature: Lunar Boy, written by Jes and Cin Wibowo and published by HarperAlley, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
Moon-child Indu’s definition of home, family and identity are challenged when he moves to New Earth with his adoptive mother. His loneliness draws him back to the moon. Rooted in Indonesian culture, this luminous graphic novel centers a trans protagonist searching for his place in the universe.
Honor Books Children’s Literature
Award Winner Young Adult Literature Canto Contigo, written by Jonny Garza Villa and published by Wednesday Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group.
Talented singer Rafael wrestles with ego, heart and grief as he prepares for his final high school mariachi competition. His chief vocal rival is Rey, the trans boy who stole his heart months ago. This culturally rich queer romance set in Texas celebrates music, first love and becoming your best self.
Honor Books for Young Adult Literature
The YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction honors the best nonfiction book published for young adults (ages 12-18) during a November 1 to October 31 publishing year. The award is administered YALSA. Learn more about the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction.
Award Winner: Rising from the Ashes: Los Angeles, 1992. Edward Jae Song Lee, Latasha Harlins, Rodney King, and a City on Fire, written by Paula Yoo and published by Norton Young Readers, an imprint of W.W. Norton & Company.
Paula Yoo astutely tackles the events surrounding the 1992 Los Angeles rebellion through the personal stories of Latasha Harlins, Rodney King and Edward Jae Song Lee. Nuanced, balanced and empathetic, these accounts craft a compelling and unforgettable read about race, injustice and hope.
Award Finalists:
A Greater Goal: The Epic Battle for Equal Pay in Women’s Soccer—and Beyond, written by Elizabeth Rusch and published by Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
Homebody, written and illustrated by Theo Parish and published by HarperAlley, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
Shackled: A Tale of Wronged Kids, Rogue Judges, and a Town that Looked Away, written by Candy J. Cooper and published by Calkins Creek, an imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers, a division of Astra Publishing House.
The Unboxing of a Black Girl, written by Angela Shanté and published by Page Street Publishing Co.
Presented by the Association of Jewish Libraries since 1968, the award encourages the publication and widespread use of quality Judaic literature. Gold medals are presented in three categories: Picture Books, Middle Grade, and Young Adult. Honor Books are awarded silver medals, and Notable Books are named in each category. A Body-of-Work Award is given periodically for significant contributions to the genre of Jewish children’s literature. Learn more about the Sydney Taylor Book Awards.
Picture Book Winner: An Etrog from Across the Sea by Deborah Bodin Cohen and Kerry Olitzky, illustrated by Stacey Dressen McQueen and published by Kar-Ben Publishing, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group.
Papa has promised to bring an etrog (citron) for Sukkot from a trading voyage, but when his ship does not appear, Leah and Aaron return to the family’s Hudson Valley homestead, hoping that he will arrive in time to celebrate with them. Hand-painted illustrations are styled after early American folk art.
Picture Book Honors:
Middle Grade Winner: The Girl Who Sang: A Holocaust Memoir of Hope and Survival by Estelle Nadel and Sammy Savos with Bethany Strout, illustrated by Sammy Savos, and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing, is the winner in the Middle Grade category.
In this poignant, thoughtfully illustrated biographical graphic novel, Enia’s happy Jewish childhood in rural Poland is cruelly disrupted when she is forced to hide from the Nazis. Enia, later called Estelle, suffers devastating losses and separations but draws on her inner resources and love of singing to endure.
Middle Grade Honors:
Young Adult Winner: Night Owls by A.R. Vishny, published by Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
Molly and Clara are estries — bread-eating, owl-shifting women vampires — living in an indie cinema/former Yiddish theater. When Molly’s girlfriend vanishes, the sisters team up with reluctant medium Boaz, facing down a monstrous Manhattan underworld to find her before they all disappear. An immersive urban fantasy with a Jewish twist.
Young Adult Honors:
The goal of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature is to honor and recognize individual work about Asian/Pacific Americans and their heritage, based on literary and artistic merit. Learn more about the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature.
The Picture Book Winner: Aloha Everything, written by Kaylin Melia George, illustrated by Mae White and published by Red Comet Press.
Through the medium of hula, a young girl learns the true meaning of aloha. Verses richly interspersed with the Hawaiian language and lush, eye-catching illustrations honor the beauty and vitality of the Hawaiian people, history, ecology and folklore.
Picture Book Honor: The Rock in My Throat, written by Kao Kalia Yang, illustrated by Jiemei Lin and published by Carolrhoda Books, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group Inc.
Children’s Literature Winner: Continental Drifter, written and illustrated by Kathy MacLeod, and published by First Second, an imprint of Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership.
While Kathy loves the idyllic beauty of her father’s hometown in Maine, she doesn’t look like the other kids at summer camp there and misses parts of her life at home in Bangkok, Thailand. With her mixed background, Kathy yearns to belong in Thailand, Maine or simply anywhere.
Children Literature Honor:
Young Adult Literature Winner: Everything We Never Had, written by Randy Ribay, and published by Kokila, an imprint of Penguin Random House.
Ribay tackles generational trauma, mental health, and toxic masculinity in families while interrogating issues of immigration, racism, and class to create a deeply powerful and emotional narrative of four generations of Filipino American teenage boys navigating their identities, dreams, and familial relationships, and ultimately, hope.
Young Adult Literature Honor:
On Let Freedom Read Day, the last day of Banned Books Week, we’re spotlighting an amazing new picture book, “Roar for Reading” by Beth Ferry, illustrated by Andrew Joyner. In this special episode of the How I Library podcast, Ferry dives into the book’s inspiration and the ongoing battle against book banning.
“Roar for Reading” follows a brave little lion named Julius, who learns to speak up and “roar” against book bans. It’s a powerful, fun story for young readers that encourages them to use their voices to protect their favorite books. Ferry uses the acronym R.O.A.R. (Recognize, Organize, Act, Respect) to break down how kids and adults alike can stand up for the freedom to read.
In her interview with host Phil Morehart, Ferry talks about the real-world issue of book banning and why libraries are so important. She shares her hope that Roar for Reading helps kids understand what’s at stake and encourages empathy for others whose access to books is being limited.
Listen to the full episode and check out Beth’s read aloud of “Roar for Reading” on YouTube.
Let’s celebrate Freedom to Read Day with a roar!
The How I Library podcast is available for download or streaming on Soundcloud, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Or listen below.
HowILibrary · Episode 10: Beth Ferry
The book’s publisher, Simon and Schuster, has an activity guide available to accompany Roar for Reading.
Love Andrew Joyner’s artwork in “Roar for Reading”? Check out the Roar for Reading poster and bookmarks available at the ALA Store.
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Beth Ferry is a New York Times bestselling author of numerous picture books for children including “Prunella” and “Stick and Stone.” She also writes chapter books and graphic novels.
Andrew Joyner is an Australian illustrator and cartoonist who lives in Strathalbyn, South Australia, with his family and nineteen pets.
My sister recently texted me, “The local library near the park just reserved a room with internet connection for me even though I’m not a resident. LIBRARIES ARE AMAZING!”
She had been arranging a road trip to introduce her first grandson to members of the family, which included stops in multiple cities across the Midwest. Breaking the long car ride up with a stop at a national park seemed like a solid approach for keeping everyone, but most importantly, a 3-year-old in good spirits. But how to accommodate the daughter-in-law’s scheduled online class? Local library to the rescue.
Now, the fact that libraries are amazing is a commonly held belief in my family. We are all lifelong prolific library users. But my sister was genuinely surprised that a small-town library was so accommodating to someone who wasn’t even a local resident.
When you think of a library, the first thing that likely comes to mind is rows upon rows of books, waiting to be explored. And while libraries are indeed sanctuaries for book lovers, offering everything from the latest bestsellers to timeless classics, they have evolved far beyond their traditional role as mere repositories of literature. Today’s libraries are dynamic community hubs, brimming with resources, services, and opportunities that cater to the diverse needs of everyone in the community. If you haven’t visited your local library lately, you’re missing out on a treasure trove of offerings that extend far beyond the printed page.
During Library Card Sign-up Month, we’ve been asking people to try something new at their library and tell us about it. Here are some of the responses we’ve received so far.
“I checked out a pickleball kit with my library card. My daughter and I played pickleball for the first time and loved it! I love my library!”
Beth from North Carolina
“Our Library started an a.maz.ing collection called “But wait there’s more!” that includes power tools, games, musical instruments, household and tech items and more! I checked out a cricut machine and got a tutorial from one of our crafty librarians and used it to create labels for glassware. So proud of myself! Def will not quit my day job to become a crafter but thrilled I could see what all the fuss is about. YAY Libraries!”
Elizabeth from New Jersey
“…we went traveling utilizing VR glasses. What a trip…visited Florence, London and New York. A library is more than just books to this lifelong learner and my Library Card is my most valuable possession.”
Sandra from Wisconsin
“I took my first knitting class, it was so fun!”
Tina from Massachusetts
“I tried something new- checking out seeds to plant! I got some lavender and some vegetables. If planting/harvesting go well, the library only asks that we dry some seeds and take those to the library. So neat!”
Katelyn from California
Some library lovers told us that they checked out an audiobook for the first time, streamed music, tried chair yoga, and attended Zumba sessions. Others took classes in coding, Portuguese, how to use the library’s 3D printer, and more. We don’t know what your local library offers, but we think it’s worth exploring. Libraries today have programs, services, and some seriously cool stuff – all designed to make your life better in so many ways.
Have you tried something new at your library? Tell us about it during September for the chance to win!
Photo credits:
1. Pickleball Courts 2021 by Marilyn Stone. for Montgomery Parks, MNCPPC. Used under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
2. Cricut machine by factorf2, used under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license (CC BY-SA 2.0)
3. Florence, Italy. Photo from Jonathan Körner jonko, CC0, Wikimedia Commons, posted under Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.
4. Learning to Knit. Photo courtesy of Tina from Massachusetts.
5. Seed library at Baraboo (WI) Library by Jessamyn West. Used under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic ( CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 )
The American Library Association’s Youth Media Awards is the biggest event of the year in the world of children’s publishing—22 separate awards for books and media this year—all chosen by librarians.
Carol Gans of Claverack Free Library in New York is the Grand Prize Winner: A Disney gift card ($150.00 USD value) and a one-year subscription to Disney+ Premium ($109.99 USD value). Carol’s favorite library element is the staff!
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Second Prize winners receive their choice of one ALA Graphics poster. Three winners were selected in the random drawing. Only two are being announced because we’ve had some trouble contacting the third via social media. Check your notifications on social media; you may be our missing winner. If we don’t hear back from the third winner within the next week, we’ll draw another name from the spreadsheet of entries.
Winners Kim Armstrong and Rachel Neff both know how to make the most of their library cards!
When I’m ready to start a new read, I start the search with @hoopladigital and @LibbyApp from my library before checking out @audible#HowILibrary #readingisfundamental pic.twitter.com/6kmyDAVwOu— Kim Armstrong (@karmstr112) September 3, 2023
Last but not least, many thanks to all the authors that told us how they library during Library Card Sign-up Month, including Meg Medina, Mo Willems, Kelly Yang, Brad Meltzer, Bill Konigsberg, Lily Williams, Jerry Craft, Kwame Mbalia, Jenna Lee-Yun, Jason June, and all the comics creators that participated in the ALA Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table #CreatorsGetCarded project.
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It’s a crisp legal pad and a Pilot Precise v5 at the library type of day. Who’s writing?#HowILibrary pic.twitter.com/cBrLLY5oaf— Kwame the Gr8 (@KSekouM) September 8, 2023
Libraries changed my life. I am living, walking proof in the power of libraries! Sept is #LibraryCardSignUpMonth and this is #HowILibrary! ❤️???????? @ALALibrary #FrontDesk #FinallySeen pic.twitter.com/fg6NtiPLHv— Kelly Yang (@kellyyanghk) September 16, 2023
Throughout the month of September, we invited authors and library lovers to share a cherished library moment or tell us what they value most about their library using the hashtag #HowILibrary. Thank you to everyone who participated. There have been some wonderful responses: Mo Willems, Lily Williams, Kelly Yang, and Meg Medina, to name a few.
This story really touched our hearts, so we’re reprinting it with the kind consent of author Jenna Lee-Yun.
The annual announcement of the American Library Association (ALA) Youth Media Awards is the biggest event of the year in the world of children’s publishing-20 separate awards for books and media, all chosen by librarians. And who knows children’s literature better than librarians? The Newbery, Caldecott, Printz, Coretta Scott King, and other Youth Media Awards are some of the most prestigious awards an author or illustrator can aspire to.
The 2023 Youth Media Awards were announced Monday morning, January 30, during ALA’s LibLearnX conference in New Orleans.
Enjoy exploring this collection of wonderful titles at your library or local book store. There’s something for every interest and taste.
The Alex Awards are given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18. The award is sponsored by the Margaret A. Edwards Trust and administered by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of ALA. Learn more about the Alex Awards.
A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting, by Sophie Irwin, published by Pamela Dorman Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House
Babel, Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators’ Revolution, by R. F. Kuang, published by Harper Voyager, an imprint of HarperCollins
Chef’s Kiss, by Jarrett Melendez, illustrated by Danica Brine, published by Oni Press, an imprint of Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group
Daughter of the Moon Goddess, by Sue Lynn Tan, published by Harper Voyager, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
I’m Glad My Mom Died, by Jennette McCurdy, published by Simon & Schuster (9781982185824)”Solito: A Memoir,” by Javier Zamora, published by Hogarth, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House
Solito: A Memoir, by Javier Zamora, published by Hogarth, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House;
The High Desert: Black. Punk. Nowhere, written and illustrated by James Spooner, published by Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
The Kaiju Preservation Society, by John Scalzi, published by Tor Books, an imprint of Tom Doherty Associates, a division of Macmillan Publishing Group
True Biz, by Sara Nović, published by Random House, an imprint and division of Penguin Random House
Wash Day Diaries, by Jamila Rowser, illustrated by Robyn Smith, published by Chronicle Books
Administered by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of ALA, the Children’s Literature Legacy Award honors an author or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made, over a period of years, a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children through books that demonstrate integrity and respect for all children’s lives and experiences. Learn more about the Children’s Literacy Legacy Award.
Award Winner: James E. Ransome
James E. Ransome’s award-winning works include Uncle Jed’s Barbershop, which won the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Award, 1994 and The Creation, recipient of the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award, 1995. In addition, Ransome has received the IBBY Honor Award for The Creation, and the NAACP Image Award for Let My People Go.
The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are given annually to outstanding African American authors of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values. The award is sponsored by ALA’s Coretta Scott King Book Awards Round Table (CSKBART). Learn more about the CSK Author Award.
Medal Winner: Freewater, written by Amina Luqman-Dawson, published by JIMMY Patterson/Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
Honor Books:
The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are given annually to outstanding African American illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values. The award is sponsored by CSKBART. Learn more about the CSK Illustrator Award.
Medal Winner: Standing in the Need of Prayer: A Modern Retelling of the Classic Spiritual, illustrated by Frank Morrison, written by Carole Boston Weatherford and published by Crown Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House.
Honor Books:
The John Steptoe New Talent Award is established to affirm new talent and to offer visibility to excellence in writing and/or illustration which otherwise might be formally unacknowledged within a given year within the structure of the two awards given annually by the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Committee. The award is sponsored by CSKBART. Learn more about the CSK/John Steptoe New Talent Award.
Author Award: We Deserve Monuments, written by Jas Hammonds, is the Steptoe author award winner. The book is published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group.
Illustrator Award: Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement, illustrated by Janelle Washington, is the Steptoe illustrator award winner. The book is written by Angela Joy and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group.
The annual award is presented in even years to an African American author, illustrator or author/illustrator for a body of their published books for children and/or young adults, and who has made a significant and lasting literary contribution. In odd years, the award is presented to a practitioner for substantial contributions through active engagement with youth using award-winning African American literature for children and/or young adults, via implementation of reading and reading related activities/programs. The award is sponsored by CSKBART. Learn more about the CSK-Virginia Hamilton Award.
Award Winner: Dr. Claudette McLinn
Dr. McLinn is the founder and executive director of the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature (CSMCL). She is a retired district supervising librarian for the LA Unified School District with over 34 years of experience, a former bookseller and a much sought-after book award juror/presenter
The Newbery Medal is awarded annually by ALSC to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. Learn more about the Newbery Award.
Medal Winner: Freewater, written by Amina Luqman-Dawson, published by JIMMY Patterson/Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
Honor Books:
The Margaret A. Edwards Award, established in 1988, honors an author, as well as a specific body of his or her work, for significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature. The annual award is administered by YALSA and sponsored by School Library Journal. Learn more about the Edwards Award.
Award Winner: Jason Reynolds
Jason Reynolds’ books include: Long Way Down, Ghost, All American Boys, and When I Was the Greatest, among other titles.
The Michael L. Printz Award is an award for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature. It is named for a Topeka, Kansas, school librarian who was a long-time active member of YALSA. The award is administered by YALSA and sponsored by Booklist, a publication of ALA. Learn more about the Printz Award.
Award Winner: All My Rage, written by Sabaa Tahir, published by Razorbill, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers, a division of Penguin Random House.
Honor Books:
This award, established in Mildred L. Batchelder’s honor in 1966, is a citation awarded to an American publisher for a children’s book considered to be the most outstanding of those books originally published in a foreign language in a foreign country, and subsequently translated into English and published in the United States. The award is administered by ALSC. Learn more about the Batchelder Award.
Award Winner: Just a Girl: A True Story of World War II, originally published in Italian as “Una bambina e basta. Raccontata agli altri bambini e basta,” written by Lia Levi, illustrated by Jess Mason, translated by Sylvia Notini and published by HarperCollins Publishers.
Honor Books:
Different: A Story of the Spanish Civil War, published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., written by Mónica Montañés, illustrated by Eva Sánchez Gómez and translated by Lawrence Schimel;
Dragonfly Eyes, published by Candlewick Press, written by Cao Wenxuan and translated by Helen Wang; and
João by a Thread, published by Elsewhere Editions, written and illustrated by Roger Mello and translated by Daniel Hahn.
The Odyssey Award is given to the producer of the best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States. The award is jointly given and administered by ALSC and YALSA and is sponsored by Booklist. Learn more about the Odyssey Award.
Award Winner: Stuntboy, in the Meantime, is the 2023Odyssey Award winner for children, produced by Taryn Beato for Simon & Schuster Audio, written by Jason Reynolds, and narrated by Guy Lockard, Nile Bullock and Angel Pean with a full cast
Award Winner: The Honeys, produced by Melissa Ellard for Scholastic Audio, is the 2023 Odyssey Award winner for young adults, written by Ryan La Sala and narrated by Pete Cross.
Honor Audiobooks:
The award is named after Pura Belpré, the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth. It is co-sponsored by REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking, an ALA affiliate, ALSC, and YALSA. Learn more about the Pura Belpré Award.
Award Winner: Frizzy, written by Claribel A. Ortega, illustrated by Rose Bousamra and published by First Second, a division of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group.
Honor Books:
The award is named after Pura Belpré, the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth. It is co-sponsored by REFORMA, ALSC, and YALSA. Learn more about the Pura Belpré Award.
Award Winner: Burn Down, Rise Up, written by Vincent Tirado, published by Sourcebooks Fire, an imprint of Sourcebooks.
Honor Books:
The award is named after Pura Belpré, the first Latina librarian at New York Public Library. The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented annually to a Latino/Latina illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth. It is co-sponsored by REFORMA, ALSC, and YALSA. Learn more about the Pura Belpré Award.
Where Wonder Grows, illustrated by Adriana M. Garcia, written by Xelena González and published by Cinco Puntos Press, an imprint of Lee & Low Books Inc.
Honor Books:
The Randolph Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by ALSC to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. Learn more about the Caldecott Medal.
Medal Winner: Hot Dog, illustrated and written by Doug Salati, published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House.
Honor Books:
The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal is awarded annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published in the United States in English during the preceding year. The award is named in honor of Robert F. Sibert, the long-time President of Bound to Stay Bound Books, Inc. of Jacksonville, Illinois. ALSC administers the award. Learn more about the Sibert Award.
Award Winner: Seen and Unseen: What Dorothea Lange, Toyo Miyatake, and Ansel Adams’s Photographs Reveal About the Japanese American Incarceration, written by Elizabeth Partridge and illustrated by Lauren Tamaki, is the 2023 Sibert Award winner. The book is published by Chronicle Books.
Honor Books:
The Schneider Family Book Awards honor an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences. The award is donated by Dr. Katherine Schneider. Three annual awards are presented for the best Teen, Middle School, and Children’s Book. ALA administers the Awards, and each recipient receives $5000 and a framed plaque. Learn more about the Schneider Family Book Award.
Young Children Winner: Listen: How Evely Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion, written by Shannon Stocker, illustrated by Devon Holzwarth, and published by Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Random House.
Middle Grade Winner: Wildoak, written by C.C. Harrington and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.
Teen Winner: The Words We Keep, written by Erin Stewartand published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House.
Young Children Honor:
In the Blue, written and illustrated by Erin Houriganand published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.Middle Grade Winner:
Middle Grade Honor:
Teens Honor: Breathe and Count Back from Ten, written by Natalia Sylvester,and published by Clarion Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
Stonewall Book Award-Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award is given annually to English-language works of exceptional merit for children or teens relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience. The award is sponsored by ALA’s Rainbow Round Table. Learn more about the Stonewall Book Award – Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award.
Award Winner Children’s Literature: Love, Violet, written by Charlotte Sullivan Wild, illustrated by Charlene Chua and published by Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, a division of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group.
Award Winner Young Adult Literature: When the Angels Left the Old Country, written by Sacha Lamb and published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido, is the 2023 recipient of the Stonewall Book Awards-Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Young Adult Literature Award.
Honor Books for Children’s Literature:
Honor Books for Young Adult Literature:
The Theodor Seuss Geisel Award is given annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the United States during the preceding year. Winners are recognized for their literary and artistic achievements that demonstrate creativity and imagination to engage children in reading. ALSC administers the award. Learn more about the Geisel Award.
Award Winner: I Did It!, written and illustrated by Michael Emberley, is the 2023 Geisel Award winner. The book is published by Holiday House.
Honor Books:
The William C. Morris YA Debut Award, first awarded in 2009, honors a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens and celebrating impressive new voices in young adult literature. The award is administered by YALSA. Learn more about the Morris Award.
Award Winner: The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen, written by Isaac Blum, published by Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers, a division of Penguin Random House.
Award Finalists:
The YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction honors the best nonfiction book published for young adults (ages 12-18) during a November 1 to October 31 publishing year. The award is administered YALSA. Learn more about the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction.
Award Winner: Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist for Justice, written by Tommie Smith and Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Dawud Anyabwile and published by Norton Young Readers, an imprint of W. W. Norton & Company.
Award Finalists:
Presented by the Association of Jewish Libraries since 1968, the award encourages the publication and widespread use of quality Judaic literature. Gold medals are presented in three categories: Picture Books, Middle Grade, and Young Adult. Honor Books are awarded silver medals, and Notable Books are named in each category. A Body-of-Work Award is given periodically for significant contributions to the genre of Jewish children’s literature. Learn more about the Sydney Taylor Book Awards.
Picture Book Winner: The Tower of Life: How Yaffa Eliach Rebuilt Her Town in Stories and Photographs, by Chana Stiefel, illustrated by Susan Gal and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.;
Middle Grade Winner: Aviva vs. the Dybbuk, by Mari Lowe and published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido.
Young Adult Winner: When the Angels Left the Old Country, by Sacha Lamb and published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido.
Picture Book Honors:
Middle Grade Honors:
Young Adult Honors:
The goal of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature is to honor and recognize individual work about Asian/Pacific Americans and their heritage, based on literary and artistic merit. Learn more about the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature.
The Picture Book Winner: From the Tops of the Trees, written by Kao Kalia Yang, illustrated by Rachel Wada and published by Carolrhoda Books, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group.
Children’s Literature Winner: Maizy Chen’s Last Chance, written by Lisa Yee and published by Random House Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House.
Youth Literature Winner: Himawari House, written and illustrated by Harmony Becker and published by First Second, an imprint of Macmillan.
Picture Book Honor: Nana, Nenek & Nina written and illustrated by Liza Ferneyhough and published by Dial Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers, a division of Penguin Random House.
Children’s Literature Honor: Troublemaker, written by John Cho, with Sarah Suk and published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
Youth Literature Honor: The Silence that Binds Us, written by Joanna Ho and published by HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins.
Every year, thousands of library users submit nominations for the American Library Association (ALA)’s I Love My Librarian Award-but only 10 outstanding nominees can receive this prestigious honor. This year’s newly announced winners have truly gone above and beyond to serve and empower their communities, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“During an unprecedentedly challenging year, librarians have risen to the occasion, providing much-needed resources to their communities from a safe distance,” ALA president Julius C. Jefferson, Jr. shared in a press release. “Congratulations to this year’s I Love My Librarian Award winners, who have worked tirelessly to assist, engage, and empower the people they serve.”
Leaders from the library community selected the winners from a pool of 1,865 nominations. The honorees will each receive $5,000, plus a $750 gift to their libraries, both funded by award sponsor Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Here are this year’s winners:
Jayanti AddlemanNominations for this year’s I Love My Librarian Awards are open through September 27!
For so many students, the annual school book fair is something to look forward to all year—it’s a chance to explore all the coolest new books and pick out the very best titles to take home. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, in-person book fairs are out of the question, but librarians and publishers are working together to bring the experience online.
Iowa’s Sheldon School District just wrapped up their virtual Fall Book Fair, which allowed local children to discover amazing new reads from the safety of their homes. Families had the option to shop via a traditional online store on Scholastic’s website, or to get the full book fair experience through virtual reality.
Through the latter, readers could click around a 360-degree simulation of a school gymnasium, filled with bookshelves, posters, character cutouts, and balloons. While it’s hard to beat the experience of browsing a real-life book store in person, the virtual reality version keeps the fun going during this era of social distancing.
“It makes it way more interactive than just a website where you go into a store and look through different books,” district librarian Jan Kinderknecht told the N’West Iowa REVIEW.
Beyond the fun they provide for kids, school book fairs like Sheldon School District’s are also a key source of funding for libraries: a portion of the revenue goes back to the school, which librarians can use to purchase even more books and educational materials to share with their communities.
“The rewards we earn are put back into the school,” West Virginia librarian Ashley Knotts, whose elementary school has also hosted a virtual book fair this year, told Mountain Statesman. “This helps us keep new reading material on our shelves for all of our students to enjoy.”
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