May is Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, and there are wealth of books for children and teens introducing key people and historical events important to AANHPI communities. Check out these picks from Booklist Reader!
The school year is wrapping up for many students, giving them even more time to discover some new favorite books. Thankfully, the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association, has released its 2025 Summer Reading Lists just in time. ALSC’s Summer Reading Lists feature books and digital media options to keep children engaged in reading and exploring throughout the summer. Here are some highlights.
Raina Telgemeier is practically a household name when it comes to kids comics, and Scott McCloud wrote one of the foremost books (Understanding Comics) explaining how comics work. Readers inspired by the duo’s latest collaboration, “The Cartoonists Club,” will appreciate these other titles that teach key elements of cartooning and offer stories of kids creating comics together—and sometimes both at the same time.
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:
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.
Schools with a strong school library program—and a certified school librarian—ensure their students have the best chance to succeed. But in too many schools, school library budgets and school librarian positions are being cut. This puts our children’s education and workforce readiness at peril.
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.
Brooklynites are wild about Where the Wild Things Are.
As part of its 125th anniversary, Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) has been counting down the 125 most checked-out books in its history, and Maurice Sendak’s classic children’s picture book took the top spot. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats came in second.
Released in 1963, Where the Wild Things Are tells the story of a young boy named Max who escapes into a make-believe land of oversized, friendly monsters after being sent to his bedroom without supper for misbehaving. The book was awarded a Caldecott Medal in 1964; has sold more than 19 million copies worldwide as of 2009, with 10 million of those being in the United States; and has been adapted into short and feature-length films and even an opera.
Sendak was a Brooklyn native, and BPL has honored the “local” author in the past, including featuring Where the Wild Things Are on a special limited-edition BPL library card in 2017.
BPL considered multiple factors when coming up with its list, such as years since publication, bestseller lists, and checkout and circulation data, the library said in a news release. The list is a who’s-who of literary greats-from Dr. Suess, whose book, The Cat in the Hat, earned the third spot on the list to Judy Blume, whose Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret rounds out the list at number 125. In between, readers can find Charles Dickens (A Christmas Carol), Sandra Cisneros (The House on Mango Street), John Steinbeck (Of Mice and Men), Lois Lowry (The Giver), Aldous Huxley (A Brave New World), Dale Carnegie (How to Win Friends and Influence People), and many more.
In addition to the top-125 book list, BPL’s birthday celebrations include a fascinating online historical timeline of the library; birthday wishes submitted by patrons and booklovers, including video messages from authors like Lois Lowry, Mo Willems, and Judy Blume; and more.
Happy birthday, Brooklyn Public Library!
This morning, 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 the Youth Media Awards, which took place virtually during LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience. Selected by librarians and other literature and media experts, the awards encourage original and creative work in the field of children’s and young adult literature and media.
The 2022 winners are:
The Last Cuentista (Levine Querido), written by Donna Barba Higuera
Watercress, (Neal Porter Books, Holiday House), illustrated by Jason Chin and written by Andrea Wang
Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award
Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre (Carolrhoda Books, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.), written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Floyd Cooper
Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award
Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre (Carolrhoda Books, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.), illustrated by Floyd Cooper and written by Carole Boston Weatherford
Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award
Me (Moth) (Feiwell and Friends, an imprint of Macmillan Publishing Group), written by Amber McBride
Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award
The Me I Choose to Be (Little, Brown, and Company), illustrated by Regis and Kahran Bethencourt and written by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley
The winner is Nikki Grimes, author of Bronx Masquerade, Jazmin’s Notebook, Talkin’ About Bessie, Dark Sons, The Road to Paris, Words with Wings, and Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope
Firekeeper’s Daughter (Henry Holt and Company, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group), written by Angeline Boulley
Schneider Family Book Award for Young Children
My City Speaks (Kids Can Press Ltd.), written by Darren Lebeuf and illustrated by Ashley Barron
Schneider Family Book Award for Middle Grade
A Bird Will Soar (Dutton Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers, a division of Penguin Random House), written by Alison Green Myers
Schneider Family Book Award for Teens
Words in My Hands (Annick Press, Ltd.), written and illustrated by Asphyxia
Light from Uncommon Stars (Tor Books, an imprint of Tom Doherty Associates, a division of Macmillan Publishing Group), by Ryka Aoki
The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot (Harper Perennial, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers), by Marianne Cronin
The Witch’s Heart (ACE, published by Berkley, an imprint of Penguin Random House), by Genevieve Gornichec
The Library of the Dead (Tor Books, an imprint of Tom Doherty Associates, a division of Macmillan Publishing Group), by T.L Huchu
How Lucky (Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers), by Will Leitch
Winter’s Orbit (Tor Books, an imprint of Tom Doherty Associates, a division of Macmillan Publishing Group), by Everina Maxwell
The Rose Code (William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers) by Kate Quinn
Crossing the Line: A Fearless Team of Brothers and the Sport That Changed Their Lives Forever (St. Martin’s Press, an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing, a division of Macmillan Publishing Group), by Kareem Rosser
Lore Olympus, Vol. 1 (Del Rey, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House), by Rachel Smythe
Malice (Del Rey, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House), by Heather Walter
The winner is Grace Lin, author/illustrator of more than 40 books for children, including Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same, and A Big Mooncake for Little Star
Alma’s Way (Fred Rogers Productions)
The winner is A.S. King whose books include SW/TCH, Still Life with Tornado, Ask the Passengers, Glory O’Brien’s History of the Future and Please Ignore Vera Dietz
Mildred L. Batchelder Award for an outstanding children’s book in translation:
Temple Alley Summer (Yonder: Restless Books for Young Readers), originally published in Japanese as Kimyōji Yokochō no Natsu, written by Sachiko Kashiwaba, illustrated by Miho Satake, and translated by Avery Fischer Udagawa
Odyssey Award for best audiobook produced for children
Boogie Boogie, Y’all, produced by HarperAudio/Katherine Tegen Books and written and narrated by C. G. Esperanza
Odyssey Award for best audiobook produced for young adults
When You Look Like Us, produced by HarperAudio/Quill Tree Books, written by Pamela N. Harris and narrated by Preston Butler III
Pura Belpré Youth Illustration Award
¡Vamos! Let’s Cross the Bridge (Versify, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers), illustrated and written by Raúl Gonzalez
Pura Belpré Children’s Author Award
The Last Cuentista (Levine Querido), written by Donna Barba Higuera
Pura Belpré Young Adult Author Award
How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division), written by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland
The People’s Painter: How Ben Shahn Fought for Justice with Art (Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS), written by Cynthia Levinson and illustrated by Evan Turk
Stonewall Book Awards-Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s Literature Award
Too Bright to See (Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Random House), written by Kyle Lukoff
Stonewall Book Awards-Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Young Adult Literature Award
Last Night at the Telegraph Club (Dutton Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers, a division of Penguin Random House), written by Malinda Lo
Fox at Night (Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers), written and illustrated by Corey R. Tabor
Firekeeper’s Daughter (Henry Holt and Company, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group), written by Angeline Boulley
Ambushed!: The Assassination Plot Against President Garfield (Calkins Creek, an imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers), written by Gail Jarrow
American Indian Youth Literature Awards-Picture Book
Herizon (South of Sunrise Creative), written by Daniel W. Vandever [Diné] and illustrated by Corey Begay [Diné]
American Indian Youth Literature Awards-Middle Grade Book
Healer of the Water Monster (Heartdrum, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers), written by Brian Young [Diné] with cover art by Shonto Begay [Diné]
American Indian Youth Literature Awards-Young Adult Book
Apple (Skin to the Core) (Levine Querido), written by Eric Gansworth [Onondaga] with cover art by Filip Peraić
Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature-Picture Books
Watercress (Neal Porter Books), written by Andrea Wang and illustrated by Jason Chin
Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature-Children’s Literature
Amina’s Song (Salaam Reads/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing), written by Hena Khan
Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature-Youth Literature
Last Night at the Telegraph Club (Dutton Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers, a division of Penguin Random House), written by Malinda Lo
Sydney Taylor Book Award-Picture Books
The Passover Guest (Neal Porter Books, Holiday House), by Susan Kusel and illustrated by Sean Rubin
Sydney Taylor Book Award-Middle Grade
How to Find What You’re Not Looking For (Kokila, an imprint of Penguin Random House), by Veera Hiranandani
Sydney Taylor Book Award-Young Adult
The City Beautiful (Inkyard Press), by Aden Polydoros
This year’s winner is Jane Yolen, author of more than 400 books for children and adults
Read more about the 2022 winners and honor books at American Libraries. Find these books and more at your local library!
Looking for great summer reads for the young readers (and pre-readers) in your life? This list of librarian-recommended books for babies through fifth graders is a great place to start. Compiled annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, this list is meant for parents and caregivers and can be used to explore titles that may match or spark their child’s interest. Check these out at your local library!
Antiracist Baby
by Ibram X. Kendi, illustrated by Ashley Lukashevsky
Racial consciousness develops younger than many people realize, and this picture book will give parents and caregivers a launchpad for having these important conversations with their little ones.
Families Belong
by Dan Saks, illustrated by Brooke Smart
A celebration of families loving, singing, and belonging together.
Future Doctor
by Lori Alexander, illustrated by Allison Black
A board book teaching the basics of being a doctor and encouraging Baby that they can be anything.
The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish
by Lil Miss Hot Mess, illustrated by Olga de Dios
Written by one of the first Drag Queen Story Hour performers, this picture book will get kids moving and proudly flaunting their most glamorous selves.
Hurry Up! A Book about Slowing Down
by Kate Dopirak, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal
With repeating refrains, this picture book follows a busy morning and afternoon of a young girl. After school, she learns to slow things down and enjoy what is around her.
I Love My Tutu Too!
by Ross Burach
Every animal loves their tutu and wants to find more animal friends who love their tutus as well. Clever rhymes and a vibrant color palette make this a highly re-readable board book.
I Love You, Baby Burrito
by Angela Dominguez
With a mix of both English and Spanish languages, this book takes you through the act of swaddling a newborn.
Me & Mama
by Cozbi A. Cabrera
A young child enjoys a day with her mama, splashing in the rain and being cozy at home.
A New Green Day
by Antoinette Portis
Poetic riddles create a guessing game as readers explore nature during a summer day.
Raven Squawk, Orca Squeak
by Roy Henry Vickers and Robert Budd, illustrated by Roy Henry Vickers
The sounds of the Pacific Coast are shared in this board book with simple text accompanied by colorful illustrations from an Indigenous artist.
Sing with Me / Canta conmigo
by José-Luis Orozco, illustrated by Sara Palacios
Enjoy six classic children’s songs in both English and Spanish, with charming illustrations.
The Solar System with Ellen / El sistema solar con Ellen
by Patty Rodríguez and Ariana Stein, illustrated by Citlali Reyes
Text in English and Spanish brings our youngest bookworms on a trip through outer space with Ellen Ochoa, the first Latina astronaut.
This Is a Book of Shapes
by Kenneth Kraegel
This board book begins as a simple introduction to shapes and gets sillier and more complex as other shapes that might not be so simple get added!
Two Many Birds
by Cindy Derby
A monitor shouts rules as birds line up to sit in a tree, but when the tree reaches capacity and two more birds hatch, things start to get a little wild.
We All Play
by Julie Flett
With a simple text in English and Cree and soft, beautiful illustrations, this book explores how both animals and humans play.
We Are Little Feminists: On-the-Go
by Brook Sitgraves and Archaa Shrivastav
A board book celebration of how we move, featuring colorful photographs of a variety of people moving in many different ways, highlighting the diversity of people and abilities in our community.
What Sound Is Morning?
by Grant Snider
This simple and beautiful book encourages its readers to consider their morning routines, paying special attention to the sounds and silences that accompany them.
Whose Bones? An Animal Guessing Game
by Gabrielle Balkan, illustrated by Sam Brewster
An informative board book about animal bones and anatomy in the form of a fun guessing game.
You Matter
by Christian Robinson
An uplifting and inspiring book encourages readers to explore the many different people we encounter in our world and our connection to them, highlighting the important mantra of the title, “You matter.”
Baloney and Friends
by Greg Pizzoli
This funny graphic novel for beginning readers stars Baloney the pig alongside his friends Bizz (a bee), Peanut (a horse), and Krabbit (a very cranky rabbit).
Black Is a Rainbow Color
by Angela Joy, illustrated by Ekua Holmes
There’s no black in rainbows, but Black is more than a color. It’s a culture. This picture book celebrates African American history and identity.
Carpenter’s Helper
by Sybil Rosen, illustrated by Camille Garoche
A sweet story about a girl and her family bonding while building a birdhouse in their home.
The Electric Slide and Kai
by Kelly J. Baptist, illustrated by Darnell Johnson
Kai’s family is excited for his aunt’s upcoming wedding, but since every family celebration means dancing, Kai’s worried he will make a fool of himself on the dance floor again. A picture-book celebration of family, love, and overcoming one’s fears.
Eyes That Kiss in the Corners
by Joanna Ho, illustrated by Dung Ho
A picture book filled with wonderful illustrations that encourage children to be proud of who they are and how they look.
A Hatful of Dragons: And More than 13.8 Billion Other Funny Poems
by Vikram Madan
A silly collection of interactive poems and rhymes in a variety of formats with fun illustrations about mummies, dragons, and more!
I Am a Bird
by Hope Lim, illustrated by Hyewon Yum
A little girl, riding on the back of her father’s bike, is wary of the mysterious woman with a bag they pass. One day, she finds out what the bag is for, and her wariness grows into kinship.
Jo Jo Makoons: The Used-to-Be Best Friend
by Dawn Quigley, illustrated by Tara Audibert
This early chapter book follows Jo Jo, a young Ojibwe girl, as she navigates the troubles and tribulations of being in elementary school. This story also includes snippets of the Ojibwe language with more information in the back matter.
Lift
by Minh Lê, illustrated by Dan Santat
Frustrated with her little brother taking over her job of pushing the elevator button, a girl takes a discarded button to transform her closet door into a magical elevator. In the process, she discovers that adventures are more fun when you share them.
Milo Imagines the World
by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Christian Robinson
While on the subway, Milo imagines different stories for the people he sees, but he soon realizes you can’t tell who people really are just by their appearance.
A Place inside of Me: A Poem to Heal the Heart
by Zetta Elliott, illustrated by Noa Denmon
A Black boy, shown all over his neighborhood, experiences a range of emotions: fear, pride, sorrow, and joy.
Sadiq and the Green Thumbs
by Siman Nuurali, illustrated by Anjan Sarkar
Sadiq, a Somali American third-grader, starts a gardening club focused on helping neighbors. Part of a series.
Sharuko: El arqueólogo peruano Julio C. Tello / Peruvian Archaeologist Julio C. Tello
by Monica Brown, illustrated by Elisa Chavarri
In this Spanish-English picture-book biography, readers find out about this Indigenous scientist who found skulls and artifacts in the mountains of Peru as a child and went on to become the founder of modern Peruvian archaeology.
Story Boat
by Kyo Maclear, illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh
Join a little girl and her younger brother as they leave behind the place they know as home and, along the way, make the best of times with what they find. A wonderful refugee story.
We Laugh Alike / Juntos nos reímos: A Story That’s Part Spanish, Part English, and a Whole Lot of Fun
by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand, illustrated by Alyssa Bermudez
Two groups of friends meet in the park, but one group only speaks English, and the other only speaks Spanish. Watch how they play together and discover all sorts of similarities!
What about Worms!?
by Ryan T. Higgins
Tiger is big and brave-except when it comes to worms! When faced with a worm-themed book and then a big group of worms, he must try to overcome his fear.
Your Mama
by NoNieqa Ramos, illustrated by Jacqueline Alcántara
This super fun book is a spin on the “yo mama” jokes. The twist with this book is that everything included here is pleasant, comforting, and warm, with more than just a hint of humor.
Your Place in the Universe
by Jason Chin
An introduction to size, scale, and distance that goes from comparing an eight-year-old’s height with a stack of books to examining the vastness of the universe.
Zonia’s Rain Forest
by Juana Martinez-Neal
Explore Zonia’s home, the Amazon rain forest, and learn as Zonia respects and protects the Peruvian wildlife and her heritage.
Any Day with You
by Mae Respicio
Kaia enters a filmmaking contest, drawing inspiration from the many Filipino tales her great-grandfather tells. When Tatang decides to return to the Philippines, Kaia will do whatever it takes to keep him in California.
Bear
by Ben Queen, illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton
This graphic novel follows a seeing-eye dog, Bear, as he loses his vision and embarks on an exciting adventure to return home after getting lost.
Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch
by Julie Abe
Eva has only a pinch of magic, which makes passing the test to become a novice witch difficult. When she lands in a small coastal town, she sets up a magical repair shop to prove her worth.
The How and Wow of the Human Body: From Your Tongue to Your Toes and All the Guts in Between
by Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz, illustrated by Jack Teagle
A fully illustrated comical tour of the human body focusing on disgusting, incredible, and hilarious facts about our very own, ever-oozing piece of machinery.
Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero
by Kelly J. Baptist
Now the man of the house, a boy finds passion in poetry after discovering his late father’s journal while struggling to hold his house together.
The Last Bear
by Hannah Gold
April’s father has always told her that there are no more polar bears left on Bear Island. When April sees something that looks like a polar bear across the horizon, she is determined to save it.
Pepper Page Saves the Universe!
by Landry Q. Walker, illustrated by Eric Jones
Twenty-fifth-century Pepper Page is obsessed with old comics, but when a high-school science experiment goes wrong and Pepper lands in the middle of a cosmic adventure of her own, Pepper’s reading may not be enough to save her.
Shaking Up the House
by Yamile Saied Méndez
Two sets of First Daughters shake up the White House with hysterical pranks on each other that escalate into an international affair!
Skunk and Badger
by Amy Timberlake, illustrated by Jon Klassen
No one wants a skunk as a roommate, but Badger doesn’t have a choice. His quiet, solitary life is turned upside down by cheery Skunk in this odd-couple tale of friendship.
A Sporting Chance: How Ludwig Guttmann Created the Paralympic Games
by Lori Alexander, illustrated by Allan Drummond
Jewish neurologist Ludwig Guttmann, who escaped Hitler’s Germany, had a revolutionary idea-sports might help patients labeled as “incurables.” Discover how his work evolved into the international Paralympic Games in this biography that includes photos and other illustrations.
Stella Díaz Dreams Big
by Angela Dominguez
Stella learns how to navigate fourth grade, participate in several clubs, and have fun with her family and friends. Third book in a series.
Super Detectives: Simon and Chester Book #1
by Cale Atkinson
A hilarious first volume in a new graphic novel series centered around ghost Simon and human Chester solving the case of a mysterious dog who shows up in their house one day.
Three Keys: A Front Desk Novel
by Kelly Yang
The sequel to Front Desk finds Mia, now part owner of a motel, working to keep the motel afloat while facing anti-immigration sentiment and helping her best friend Lupe when her father is detained as an illegal immigrant.
The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez
by Adrianna Cuevas
Nestor wants to keep his ability to talk to animals a secret, but that’s a challenge when animals go missing in Nestor’s new town and rumors fly about a creature who lives in the forest.
Truman the Dog
by Debbi Michiko Florence, illustrated by Melanie Demmer
First in the My Furry Foster Family series of illustrated chapter books about eight-year-old Kaita, whose family fosters pets until they can find new homes for the animals.
We Are Still Here! Native American Truths Everyone Should Know
by Traci Sorell, illustrated by Frané Lessac
A creatively organized picture book gives both Native and non-Native readers an overview of important topics including forced assimilation, sovereignty, and language.
We Got Game! 35 Female Athletes Who Changed the World
by Aileen Weintraub, illustrated by Sarah Green
With amazing facts and detailed information, this nonfiction book shines a spotlight on amazing female athletes at the top of their game. New players and retired competitors alike are showcased for the mark they have made on the world.
When You Trap a Tiger
by Tae Keller
Lily makes a deal with a magical tiger in an attempt to heal her sick halmoni in this tale celebrating Korean folklore, strong women, and the power of the imagination.
The Year I Flew Away
by Marie Arnold
When 10-year-old Gabrielle moves from Haiti to Brooklyn, she finds that America isn’t quite what she expected. With the help of a magical friend, Marie transforms into the perfect American girl but makes sacrifices in the process.
For more top resources, visit the ALSC Book and Media Awards Shelf.Photo by Marta Wave from Pexels
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