Award Winning Children's Books

Winners and honor books from the 2026 Youth Media Awards.

Updated February 9, 2026
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Bat and the business of ferrets
Arnold, Elana K.
Paper Book
The bestselling Bat returns! Bat and the Business of Ferrets is the fourth title in National Book Award finalist Elana K. Arnold's heartfelt and widely acclaimed series featuring an unforgettable young boy on the autism spectrum. Bixby Alexander Tam (nicknamed "Bat") is...
Every Monday Mabel
Awan, Jashar
Paper Book
A Caldecott Honor Book Five starred reviews! "An arm-pumping, truck-horn toot to each person reveling in their own 'garbage.'" --BCCB (starred review) From the creator of I'm Going to Build a Snowman comes a "enthusiastic,...
Fireworks
Burgess, Matthew
Paper Book
Fireworks is a sparkling picture book from the award-winning team of Matthew Burgess and Cátia Chien, highlighting the simple delights of a steamy July day in the city as two siblings eagerly anticipate a spectacular fireworks display. POP! As a hot day sizzles into...
Stop that mop!
Fenske, Jonathan
Paper Book
Winner of the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Chase a runaway mop in this hilarious, rhyming Level 1 Ready-to-Read by award-winning author-illustrator Jonathan Fenske! Meet a mop. The mop does not want to mop the slop. See the mop run away. Can anyone stop this mop...
Our lake
Kang, Angie
Paper Book
CALDECOTT HONOR BOOK * A tender and vulnerable exploration of love and loss that follows two boys as they take their first trip back to the lake without their father, from debut author-illustrator Angie Kang. Today, Brother is taking me up to swim in the lake like Father used...
At last she stood : how Joey Guerrero spied, survived, and fought for freedom
Kelly, Erin Entrada
Paper Book
A Robert F. Sibert Honor Book * NCTE Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children Honor Book * An ALA Notable Book * A CCBC Choice * Rise: A Feminist Book Project List * Chicago Public Library Best Book * School Library Journal Best Book * CBC...
City summer, country summer
Laymon, Kiese
Paper Book
CORETTA SCOTT KING ILLUSTRATOR HONOR BOOK * A lyrical picture book from the award-winning author of Heavy, about three Black boys who form a deep connection during a transformative summer trip down South to visit family. On the ground of that garden, covered in...
The teacher of nomad land : a World War II story
Nayeri, Daniel
Paper Book
Winner of the National Book Award * Named Amazon's #1 Children's Book of 2025    In the shadow of World War II, two orphaned siblings embark on a perilous journey across the mountains of Iran--where survival depends on finding a common language in a world torn...
Will's race for home : a western
Rhodes, Jewell Parker
Paper Book
★ Winner of the Coretta Scott King Book Award! ★ ★ A New York Times bestseller! ★ ★ "Rhodes deftly captures a unique ­aspect of this historical event, with a perspective...
Chooch helped
Rogers, Andrea L.
Paper Book
Every big sister knows the feeling: little brothers get away with EVERYTHING! Meet Sissy, who's had it up to here with her two-year-old brother Chooch. No matter what chaos he creates in their loving Cherokee family--and trust us, there's a lot--their parents just smile and say...
All the blues in the sky
Watson, Ren?
Paper Book
Winner of the Newbery Medal | A New York Times bestseller | A USA Today bestseller #1 New York Times bestselling author and Newbery Medal winner Renée Watson explores friendship, loss, and life with grief in this poignant novel in verse and...

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