Award Winning Children's Books

Winners and honor books from the 2026 Youth Media Awards.

Updated February 9, 2026
Carver County Library Carver County Library
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Award Winning Children's Books

Winners and honor books from the 2026 Youth Media Awards.

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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,...
Stalactite & Stalagmite : a big tale from a little cave
Beckmeyer, Drew
Paper Book
A Caldecott Honor Book Four starred reviews! "Both gloriously expansive and goofy--in short, everything young readers could ask for." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) A hilarious and thought-provoking picture book about two little cave rock...
Fireworks
Burgess, Matthew
Paper Book
WINNER OF THE 2026 CALDECOTT MEDAL! * SEVEN STARRED REVIEWS * A NEW YORK TIMES/NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST ILLUSTRATED CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR * THE SOCIETY OF ILLUSTRATORS GOLD MEDAL WINNER * KIRKUS' BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR * BOOKLIST'S EDITOR'S CHOICE PICKS OF THE...
Buffalo dreamer
Duncan, Violet
Paper Book
NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST * An illuminating novel about the importance of reclaiming the past, based on the author's family history Summer and her family always spend relaxed summers in Alberta, Canada, on the reservation where her mom's family lives. But this year is turning...
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...
The undead fox of Deadwood Forest
Hartman, Aubrey
Paper Book
A Newbery Honor Award Book! A fox and a badger begrudgingly team up to change their destinies in this endearing middle grade novel--perfect for fans of Kate DiCamillo and Katherine Applegate. Featuring black...
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 for Young People's Literature Page-turning WW2 hidden history masterfully told by award winner Daniel Nayeri 1941. The German armies are storming across Europe. Iran is a neutral country occupied by British forces on one side,...
Octopus moon
Pyron, Bobbie
Paper Book
A deeply moving middle grade novel in verse about a girl struggling with depression when she starts fifth grade amidst a sea of changes. A 2025 School Library Journal Best Book of the Year Pearl loves watching the majestic loggerhead turtles and octopuses...
Lost at Windy River : a true story of survival
Rathgeber, Trina
Paper Book
★"Colorful illustrations in classic comic-book style help readers explore the challenging landscape. An excellent choice for a book report and good addition to a children's nonfiction collection." -- School Library Journal (SLJ), starred review It takes courage and bravery to survive...
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 | A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year | A Kirkus Best Book of the Year | A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year | A Chicago Public Library...
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