2027 Elementary Nutmeg Nominees

Updated April 28, 2026
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1

Amina Banana and the formula for friendship /
Safadi, Shifa Saltagi,
Paper Book
Meet Amina Banana! She's a determined and clever third grader, and star of a new chapter book series with a STEM twist. Perfect for readers of The Questioneers and Junie B. Jones! Amina loves bananas, science, and all things yellow! Her family recently arrived from Syria to...

2

Detective Beans and the case of the missing hat /
Chen, Li,
Paper Book
Meet Detective Beans, the best kitten detective in town, equipped with his tie, brown trench coat, and--GASP. It's gone! His detective hat is missing! Discover the charming, whimsical, and mysterious world of Detective Beans in this new graphic novel series for middle grade readers.

3

Ern_o Rubik and his Magic Cube /
Aradhya, Kerry,
Paper Book
This first picture book biography of Rubik's Cube creator Erno Rubik reveals the obsession, imagination, and engineering process behind creating an iconic puzzle. Celebrating 50 years of the most popular puzzle in history! An Ezra Jack Keats Illustrator Honor Book...

4

How this book got red /
Chiu Greanias, Margaret,
Paper Book
None of the panda books are ever about red pandas! Red is going to do something about that. When Red discovers a new book about pandas, she can't wait to read it! Except it's about only one kind of panda, and red pandas are completely left out. Red never gets to read stories about...

5

Jumper :
Lanan, Jessica,
Paper Book
A Sibert Honor book From critically acclaimed illustrator of The Lost Package comes a bold nonfiction story following a day in the life of a backyard jumping spider - meticulously researched and utterly charming. What if you were small as a...

6

Listen :
Stocker, Shannon.
Paper Book
* Schneider Family Book Award Winner * A gorgeous and empowering picture book biography about Evelyn Glennie, a deaf woman, who became the first full-time solo percussionist in the world. A robust author's note brings further detail and highlights Evelyn's own voice. ...

7

Millie Fleur's poison garden /
Mandin, Christy,
Paper Book
*A great book for holiday gifting, and one of the best picture books of 2024! *An instant New York Times and Indie Bestseller! Wednesday Addams meets The Curious Garden in this delightfully peculiar story. Millie Fleur's Poison Garden is a...

8

Perfect /
Brown, Waka T.,
Paper Book
*Bank Street Best Book of the Year * Study of Multicultural Children's Literature Best Book of the Year * CCBC Choices Title * Oregon Spirit Book Award Honor Author Waka T. Brown and artist Yuko Jones join forces for this picture book about a young girl who learns to...

9

This is how we talk :
Slice, Jessica,
Paper Book
From the creators of This Is How We Play is a new jubilant, inclusive, luminously illustrated picture book that celebrates all the ways we communicate with each other. A NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR We sign, write, clap! We tap, stim,...

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