Award Highlights
Maizy Chen's Last Chance
Lisa Yee
Twelve year-old Maizy discovers her family’s Chinese restaurant is full of secrets in this irresistible novel that celebrates food, fortune, and family.
10 Awards and counting
Alabama
Tree Hole Homes
Melissa Stewart; illustrated by Amy Hevron
2024, Yellowhammer Picture Book Award, Nominee
Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute
Talia Hibbert
2024, Yellowhammer Young Adult Book Award, Nominee
Arizona
Courage Like Kate
Anna Crowley Redding; illustrated by Emily Sutton
2026, Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award, Nominee
Arkansas
Pepita Meets Bebita
Ruth Behar and Gabriel Frye-Behar; illustrated by Maribel Lechuga
2026, Arkansas Diamon Primary Book Award, Nominee
Little Rosetta and the Talking Guitar
Written and illustrated by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow
2026, Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Award, Nominee
California
All Are Welcome (An All Are Welcome Book)
Alexandra Penfold; illustrated by Suzanne Kaufman
2021-2022, California Young Reader Medal, Nominee
Colorado
The Stupendous Switcheroo: New Powers Every 24 Hours
Mary Winn Heider and Chad Sell
2026, Colorado Children’s Book Award, Nominee
Those Are Not My Underpants!
Melissa Martin; illustrated by Troy Cummings
2024, Colorado Children’s Book Award, Nominee
Connecticut
The Green Piano
Roberta Flack with Tonya Bolden; illustrated by Hayden Goodman
2024, Charter Oak Children’s Book Award, Nominee
Iveliz Explains It All
Andrea Beatriz Arango; illustrated by Alyssa Bermudez
2025, Nutmeg Book Award, Nominee
DC
This Story Is Not About a Kitten
Randall de Sève; illustrated by Carson Ellis
2023, Capitol Choices, Selection
Delaware
Ice Cream Man
Glenda Armand and Kim Freeman; illustrated by Keith Mallet
2025, Delaware Diamonds, Nominee
Vote for Our Future!
Margaret McNamara; illustrated by Micah Player
2021-2022, Delaware Diamonds, Nominee
The Bug Girl
by Sophia Spencer, the Bug Girl Herself, with Margaret McNamara; illustrated by Kerascoët
2021-2022, Delaware Diamonds, Nominee
Florida
Benny Ramírez and the Nearly Departed
José Pablo Iriarte
2025-2026, Sunshine State Young Readers Award , Selection
Futureland: Battle for the Park
H.D. Hunter; illustrated by Khadijah Khatib
2025-2026, Sunshine State Young Readers Award , Selection
Georgia
The Last Stand
Antwan Eady; illustrated by Jerome & Jarrett Pumphrey
2026, Georgia Children’s Book Award, Nominee
That Always Happens Sometimes
Kiley Frank; illustrated by K-Fai Steele
2026, Georgia Children’s Book Award, Nominee
Hawaii
Futureland: Battle for the Park
H.D. Hunter; illustrated by Khadijah Khatib
2026, Nēnē Book Award, Nominee
Snow Angel, Sand Angel
Lois-Ann Yamanaka; illustrated by Ashley Lukashevsky
2024, Ānuenue Book Award, Winner
The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. (as told to his brother)
David Levithan
2022-2023, Nēnē Book Award, Nominee
Illinois
A Royal Conundrum (The Misfits)
Lisa Yee; illustrated by Dan Santat
2026, Bluestem Book Award, Nominee
A Royal Conundrum (The Misfits)
Lisa Yee; illustrated by Dan Santat
OLA Sequoyah Book Award Masterlist
NO Is All I Know!
Chris Grabenstein; illustrated by Leo Espinosa
2025-2026, Young Hoosier Book Award, Nominee
Indiana
Ice Cream Man
Glenda Armand and Kim Freeman; illustrated by Keith Mallet
2025-2026, Young Hoosier Book Award, Nominee
Iowa
Kansas
Lasagna Means I Love You
Kate O'Shaughnessy
2026, William Allen White Children’s Book Award, Nominee
Buffalo Fluffalo
Bess Kalb; illustrated by Erin Kraan
2025, Bill Martin Jr. Picture Book Award, Winner
Kentucky
Louisiana
The Boy Who Loved Maps
Kari Allen; illustrated by G. Brian Karas
2024, Louisiana Reader’s Choice, Selection
Maine
We Are Big Time
Hena Khan; illustrated by Safiya Zerrougui
2026, North Star Young Adult Book Award, Nominee
Impossible Creatures
Katherine Rundell; illustrated by Ashley Mackenzie
2026, Maine Student Book Award, Nominee
The Mona Lisa Vanishes
Nicholas Day; illustrated by Brett Helquist
2025, North Star Young Adult Book Award, Nominee
The Eyes and the Impossible
Dave Eggers; illustrated by Shawn Harris
2025, Maine Student Book Award, Nominee
Maryland
We Are Big Time
Hena Khan; illustrated by Safiya Zerrougui
2025-2026, Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, Nominee
The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman
Gennifer Choldenko
2025-2026, Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, Nominee
The Mona Lisa Vanishes
Nicholas Day; illustrated by Brett Helquist
2025-2026, Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, Nominee
Massachusetts
We Are Big Time
Hena Khan; illustrated by Safiya Zerrougui
2026, Massachusetts Children’s Book Award, Nominee
Michigan
Long Road to the Circus
Betsy Bird; illustrated by David Small
2022, Michigan Notable Books, Selection
Minnesota
The Smartest Kid in the Universe, Book 1
Chris Grabenstein
2024, Minnesota Youth Reading Award, Honor
Mississippi
The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. (as told to his brother)
David Levithan
2023, Magnolia Book Award, Nominee
Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe
Jo Watson Hackl
2020, Mississippi Library Association Children’s Author Award, Winner
Missouri
NO Is All I Know!
Chris Grabenstein; illustrated by Leo Espinosa
2026, Building Block Book Award, Winner
A Royal Conundrum (The Misfits)
Lisa Yee; illustrated by Dan Santat
2026, MASL Readers’ Award, Nominee
Montana
Goldilocks for Dinner
Susan Montanari; illustrated by Jake Parker
2022, Montana Treasure State Book Award, Nominee
Nebraska
The Mona Lisa Vanishes
Nicholas Day; illustrated by Brett Helquist
2025-2026, Meadowlark Award, Nominee
Nevada
This Story Is Not About a Kitten
Randall de Sève; illustrated by Carson Ellis
2026, Nevada Young Readers Award, Nominee
New Hampshire
We Are Big Time
Hena Khan; illustrated by Safiya Zerrougui
2026, Great Stone Face Book Award, Nominee
Impossible Creatures
Katherine Rundell; illustrated by Ashley Mackenzie
2026, Great Stone Face Book Award, Nominee
New Jersey
Unstoppable Us, Volume 1: How Humans Took Over the World
Yuval Noah Harari; illustrated by Ricard Zaplana Ruiz
2025, Garden State Teen Book Award, Nominee
New Mexico
Momo Arashima Steals the Sword of the Wind
Misa Sugiura
2024, Land Of Enchantment Book Award, Nominee
New York
When Beavers Flew
Kristen Tracy; illustrated by Luisa Uribe
2024, NYPL Best Books for Kids, Selection
We Are Big Time
Hena Khan; illustrated by Safiya Zerrougui
2024, NYPL Best Books for Kids, Selection
The Night Market
Seina Wedlick; illustrated by Briana Mukodiri Uchendu
2024, NYPL Best Books for Kids, Selection
North Carolina
Don't Trust Cats
Dev Petty; illustrated by Mike Boldt
2026, North Carolina Children’s Book Award, Nominee
A Royal Conundrum (The Misfits)
Lisa Yee; illustrated by Dan Santat
2026, North Carolina Children’s Book Award, Nominee
Yoshi, Sea Turtle Genius
Lynne Cox; illustrated by Richard Jones
2024-2025, North Carolina Children’s Book Award, Nominee
This Story Is Not About a Kitten
Randall de Sève; illustrated by Carson Ellis
2025, North Carolina Children’s Book Award, Selection
North Dakota
Buffalo Fluffalo
Bess Kalb; illustrated by Erin Kraan
2026, North Carolina Children’s Book Award, Nominee
Nana Akua Goes to School
Tricia Elam Walker; illustrated by April Harrison
2022, North Dakota Children’s Book Award, Nominee
Ohio
The Reappearance of Rachel Price
Holly Jackson
2026, Ohio Buckeye Children’s and Teen Book Award, Nominee
Impossible Creatures
Katherine Rundell; illustrated by Ashley Mackenzie
2026, Ohio Buckeye Children’s and Teen Book Award, Nominee
Oklahoma
The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman
Gennifer Choldenko
2026, OLA Sequoyah Book Award Masterlist , Nominee
The Bees of Notre-Dame
Meghan P. Browne; illustrated by E. B. Goodale
2025, OLA Sequoyah Book Award Masterlist, Nominee
The Bees of Notre-Dame
Meghan P. Browne; illustrated by E. B. Goodale
2024, Oklahoma Book Award, Nominee
The Bees of Notre-Dame
Meghan P. Browne; illustrated by E. B. Goodale
2025, OLA Sequoyah Book Award Masterlist, Nominee
Oregon
The Mona Lisa Vanishes
Nicholas Day; illustrated by Brett Helquist
2026, Oregon Reader’s Choice Award, Nominee
Pennsylvania
The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman
Gennifer Choldenko
2026, Keystone To Reading Secondary Book Award, Nominee
Yoshi, Sea Turtle Genius
Lynne Cox; illustrated by Richard Jones
2024-2025, Keystone To Reading Elementary Book Award, Nominee
Whale Fall
Melissa Stewart; illustrated by Rob Dunlavey
2024-2025, Pennsylvania Young Readers’ Choice Award, Nominee
Whale Fall
Melissa Stewart; illustrated by Rob Dunlavey
2024-2025, Keystone To Reading Elementary Book Award, Nominee
The Mona Lisa Vanishes
Nicholas Day; illustrated by Brett Helquist
2024-2025, Keystone To Reading Elementary Book Award, Nominee
Rhode Island
My Lost Freedom
George Takei; illustrated by Michelle Lee
2026, Rhode Island Children’s Book Award, Nominee
The List of Things That Will Not Change
Rebecca Stead
2022, Rhode Island Children’s Book Award, Nominee
South Carolina
The Mona Lisa Vanishes
Nicholas Day; illustrated by Brett Helquist
2026, South Carolina Book Awards, Nominee
A Royal Conundrum (The Misfits)
Lisa Yee; illustrated by Dan Santat
2026, South Carolina Book Awards , Nominee
South Dakota
Iveliz Explains It All
Andrea Beatriz Arango; illustrated by Alyssa Bermudez
2026, South Dakota Teen Choice Award, Nominee
Buffalo Fluffalo
Bess Kalb; illustrated by Erin Kraan
2026, Prairie Bud Children’s Book Award, Nominee
Be Careful, Xiao Xin!
Alice Pung; illustrated by Sher Rill Ng
2026, Prairie Bud Children’s Book Award, Nominee
Tennessee
The Last Stand
Antwan Eady; illustrated by Jerome & Jarrett Pumphrey
2026, Volunteer State Book Award, Nominee
Tamales para Navidad (Tamales for Christmas Spanish Edition)
Stephen Briseño; illustrated by Sonia Sánchez; translated by Maria Camila Correa
2026, Volunteer State Book Award, Nominee
Texas
We Are Big Time
Hena Khan; illustrated by Safiya Zerrougui
2024-2025, Texas Little Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List, Selection
Tig and Lily: Up Late!
Dan Thompson
2024-2025, Texas Little Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List, Selection
Utah
The Mona Lisa Vanishes
Nicholas Day; illustrated by Brett Helquist
2026, Beehive Book Award, Nominee
Vermont
Impossible Creatures
Katherine Rundell; illustrated by Ashley Mackenzie
2026, Golden Dome Book Award, Nominee
The Mona Lisa Vanishes
Nicholas Day; illustrated by Brett Helquist
2024-2025, Golden Dome Book Award, Nominee
Virginia
The Green Piano
Roberta Flack with Tonya Bolden; illustrated by Hayden Goodman
2024, Virginia Reader’s Choice Award, Nominee
Blue Bison Needs a Haircut
Scott Rothman; illustrated by Pete Oswald
2024, Virginia Reader’s Choice Award, Nominee
Washington
The Mona Lisa Vanishes
Nicholas Day; illustrated by Brett Helquist
2026, Evergreen Teen Book Award, Nominee
Tate's Wild Rescue
Jenny Turnbull; illustrated by Izzy Burton
2026, Washington Children’s Choice Picture Book Award, Nominee
Wisconsin
Overview, Young Explorer's Edition
Benjamin Grant with Sandra Markle
2021, Wisconsin State Reading Association Recommends List, Selection
The Boy at the Back of the Class
Onjali Q. Raúf
2021, Wisconsin State Reading Association Recommends List, Nominee
Wyoming
Impossible Creatures
Katherine Rundell; illustrated by Ashley Mackenzie
2026, Indian Paintbrush Book Award, Nominee
The Mona Lisa Vanishes
Nicholas Day; illustrated by Brett Helquist
2024, Indian Paintbrush Book Award, Nominee
The Last Stand
Antwan Eady; illustrated by Jerome & Jarrett Pumphrey
2026, Georgia Children’s Book Award, Nominee
That Always Happens Sometimes
Kiley Frank; illustrated by K-Fai Steele
 
		
