Join us in congratulating the 2026 American Library Association Youth Media Awards winners and honorees!
Keep reading to learn more about these extraordinary books, authors, and illustrators, and don’t forget to explore our free resources perfect for classroom and library use.
Children’s Literature Legacy Award
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 children’s literature.
WINNER
Margaret A. Edwards Award
The Margaret A. Edwards Award honors an author, as well as a specific body of his or her work, for significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature. It recognizes an author’s work in helping adolescents become aware of themselves and addressing questions about their role and importance in relationships, society, and in the world.
WINNER
Candace Fleming
Candace Fleming is the prolific and versatile award-winning author of many books for children and young adults. Death in the Jungle: Murder, Betrayal, and the Lost Dream of Jonestown won a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award and received eight starred reviews. In addition, School Library Journal praised Murder Among Friends, which received four starred reviews, as a "chilling page-turner." The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh received six st...
YA Books by Candace Fleming
M. T. Anderson, Candace Fleming, Stephanie Hemphill, Lisa Ann Sandell, Jennifer Donnelly, Linda Sue Park, Deborah Hopkinson
Chapter Books & Middle Grade by Candace Fleming
Candace Fleming; illustrated by Eric Rohmann
Candace Fleming; illustrated by Mark Fearing
Candace Fleming; illustrated by Ray Fenwick
Candace Fleming; illustrated by Mark Fearing
Picture Books by Candace Fleming
Candace Fleming; illustrated by Deena So'Oteh
Candace Fleming; illustrated by G. Brian Karas
Candace Fleming; illustrated by Eric Rohmann
Candace Fleming; illustrated by Eric Rohmann
Candace Fleming; illustrated by Gérard DuBois
Candace Fleming; illustrated by Lori Nichols
Candace Fleming; illustrated by Nancy Carpenter
PURA BELPRÉ YOUNG ADULT AUTHOR AWARD
Named after Pura Belpré, the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library, this award 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.
WINNER
On the Wings of la Noche
Vanessa L. Torres
Noche is a Lechuza by night, an ethereal jet-black owl who guides the dead to the after. Except now, Noche cannot bring herself to escort her dead girlfriend, whose soul is fading the harder Noche holds on—an aching romance about first and second loves and finding the strength to let go.
ROBERT F. SIBERT INFORMATIONAL BOOK MEDAL
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.
HONOR BOOK
A World Without Summer
Nicholas Day
The true story of how a massive catastrophic eruption plunged the world into darkness, altering the global climate and inspiring the likes of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein—from the award-winning author of The Mona Lisa Vanishes and featuring black-and-white illustrations throughout.
Theodor Seuss Geisel Award
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. The winner(s) are recognized for their literary and artistic achievements that demonstrate creativity and imagination to engage children in reading.
HONOR BOOK
Earl & Worm #2: The Big Mess and Other Stories
Greg Pizzoli
Beloved Geisel Award-winning author Greg Pizzoli is back with book two in the fan favorite early reader series of two unlikely friends, Earl and Worm, that is sure to make kids belly laugh!
Earl and Worm couldn’t be more different–but they also are also the best of friends. So when Earl’s mess gets out of hand, Worm is sure she can help. And when a lucky penny turns rotten, rain-soaked Earl helps Worm see the sunny side. Through it all, the pair’s funny hijinks turn tender . . . and the big mess ends up where they least expect it!
Stonewall Book Award
The first and most enduring award for LGBTQIA+ books is the Stonewall Book Awards, which honors children’s and young adult books for exceptional merit relating to the LGBTQIA+ experience.
WINNER
Halfway to Somewhere
Jose Pimienta
New school, new country, but only half a family?! Embark on a coming of age journey with a middle school teen navigating their parent’s divorce while moving to a new country in this stunning graphic novel.
HONOR BOOK
Hick
Sarah Miller
In this riveting YA non-fiction set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, trace Lorena Hickok–or Hick’s– rise from devastating childhood to renowned journalist, and watch as she forms the most significant friendship and romantic relationship of her life with first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt.
ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN AWARD FOR LITERATURE (APALA)
The Asian Pacific American Award for Literature honors and recognizes individual works reflecting Asian American, Native Hawaiian and/or Pasifika experiences (either historical or contemporary) and cultures created by Asian American, Asian Canadian and/or Pasifika authors and illustrators.
ASIAN AMERICAN PICTURE BOOK WINNER
Many Things At Once
Veera Hiranandani
In this poignant picture book about family and belonging, the child of a Jewish mother and a South Asian father hears stories about her family history. Sometimes she doesn’t feel Jewish enough or South Asian enough, but comes to realize you can feel–and be–many things at once.
YALSA AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN NONFICTION FOR YOUNG ADULTS
YALSA’s Award for Excellence in Nonfiction honors the best nonfiction book published for young adults (ages 12-18) during a Nov. 1 – Oct. 31 publishing year.
WINNER
Death in the Jungle
Candace Fleming
WINNER OF THE 2025 BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK AWARD FOR NONFICTION
EIGHT STARRED REVIEWS!
How did Jim Jones, the leader of Peoples Temple, convince more than 900 of his followers to commit “revolutionary suicide” by drinking cyanide-laced punch? From a master of narrative nonfiction comes a chilling chronicle of one of the most notorious cults in American history.
FINALIST
A World Without Summer
Nicholas Day
The true story of how a massive catastrophic eruption plunged the world into darkness, altering the global climate and inspiring the likes of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein—from the award-winning author of The Mona Lisa Vanishes and featuring black-and-white illustrations throughout.
SCHNEIDER FAMILY BOOK AWARD
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.
HONOR BOOK
I Hear the Snow, I Smell the Sea
Janice Milusich
In this lyrical picture book illustrated by a two-time Caldecott Medalist, share in a blind child’s joyful experience of the changing seasons.
Where I live, seasons change. I know because my fingers and toes, my ears, my mouth and nose, all tell me so.
Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table (GNCRT) Outstanding Comics Award
The Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table (GNCRT) Outstanding Comics Award is given to exceptional graphic novels that appeal to adults, teens, and children in the categories of fiction, nonfiction, and series. These awards aim to increase awareness of the graphic novel medium, raise voices of diverse comic creators, and aid library staff in the development of graphic novel collections.
WINNER – BEST CHILDREN’S SERIES
Witches of Brooklyn series
Witches of Brooklyn
Sophie Escabasse
There’s a new witch in town! Life in Brooklyn takes a strange turn when twelve-year-old Effie discovers her family’s magical powers in this laugh-out-loud graphic novel that’s “charming beyond belief” (Entertainment Weekly)!
Witches of Brooklyn: What the Hex?!
Sophie Escabasse
A tween witch-in-training navigates the highs and lows of growing up in this bestselling graphic novel series that’s “charming beyond belief” (Entertainment Weekly)! In this spellbinding sequel, Effie learns that witches come in all different shapes, sizes—and students!
Witches of Brooklyn: S'More Magic
Sophie Escabasse
You can take a witch out of Brooklyn . . . and put her in the woods? A tween witch-in-training navigates the highs and lows of growing up in this bestselling graphic novel series that’s “charming beyond belief” (Entertainment Weekly)!
Witches of Brooklyn: Spell of a Time
Sophie Escabasse
A tween witch-in-training navigates the highs and lows of growing up in this bestselling graphic novel series that’s “charming beyond belief” (Entertainment Weekly)! This time, Effie and her fellow witch-in-training Garance must find and rescue a missing mermaid.
Witches of Brooklyn: Curse and Reverse
Sophie Escabasse
A tween witch-in-training navigates the highs and lows of growing up in the bestselling graphic novel series that’s “charming beyond belief” (Entertainment Weekly)! This time she must uncover a local witch playing with teens’ emotions.
HONOR – BEST CHILDREN’S SERIES
The Peapod Farm Series
Stepping Stones
Lucy Knisley
The first book in an acclaimed graphic novel series inspired by the author’s own childhood tells an amazing story of unlikely friends, sisters, and home.
Apple Crush
Lucy Knisley
In the second book of a bestselling graphic novel series that explores family, friendship, and change, a former city kid is finally adjusting to life on a farm with two brand-new stepsisters when she faces an even bigger challenge: middle school.
Sugar Shack
Lucy Knisley
In the final volume of the bestselling Peapod Farm series, a city kid turned country girl whose life has been changing nonstop is settling into her new place in the family—only for unexpected drama to strike between sisters.
HONOR BOOK – BEST CHILDREN’S NONFICTION
How to Say Goodbye in Cuban
Daniel Miyares
Here is the dramatic coming-of-age graphic novel memoir of 12-year-old Carlos (who would grow up to become the author’s father), his life during the Cuban Revolution, and his family’s harrowing escape to America.
Sydney Taylor Book Award
The Sydney Taylor Book Award is presented annually to outstanding books for children and teens that authentically portray the Jewish experience. Presented by the Association of Jewish Libraries since 1968, the award encourages the publication and widespread use of quality Judaic literature.
NOTABLE BOOK
Same Page
Elly Swartz
From the beloved author of Hidden Truths comes a novel about take-charge sixth grader Bess Stein, who brings together friends and a group of rockstar librarians called the Book Warriors to fight a book ban happening at her middle school.
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