Booksology The first solo YMA event was held at the Chicago Hilton on January 26, 2026, and was attended by award committee members, local librarians, literature enthusiasts, and the media. Hundreds of people arrived to celebrate youth literature despite record cold temperatures and more than 10 inches of snow. The energy was high, excitement was hard to contain, and many noted that this single event really helped create a special feeling. ALA Executive Director Daniel Montgomery also noted in his opening remarks that the YMA was celebrating the 150th anniversary of the founding of the American Library Association.
Here are the winners and finalists in the various categories of the Youth Media Awards. Find the best audiobooks, picture books, children’s literature, picture books, middle school, and young adult titles from the past year. This is a veritable treasure trove of good books, selected and supported by librarians across the country.
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2026 Youth Media Awards Winners and Winners
john newbery medal
This award recognizes the year’s most outstanding contributions to American children’s literature.
randolph caldecott medal
This award is given to the most prominent American children’s picture book artist/illustrator.
Michael L. Prinz Award
This award recognizes the year’s best work of young adult literature.
Theodor Seuss Geisel Award
This award recognizes the author and illustrator of the best American book for beginners. Must be published in English in the US
Children’s Literature Heritage Award
This award recognizes an author or illustrator who has made a lasting contribution to children’s literature.
ALSC Children’s Literature Lecture Award
This gives writers, critics, researchers, or other children’s literature enthusiasts the opportunity to prepare papers that will be considered important contributions to the field of children’s literature.
Margaret A. Edwards Award
This award is given for a lifetime of achievement in writing for young people.
Robert F. Cybert Medal
This award recognizes the author and illustrator of the best informational book published in English in the United States.
Mildred L. Batchelder Award
The award is given to a publisher for a book published for children that is considered to be an outstanding contribution to translated literature.
- Winner: Croco by Azul López, translated by Kit Maude
- Honors: The Adventures of Cipollino by Gianni Rodari (author), Dasha Tolstikova (illustrator), Antony Shugaar (translator); From Memen to Mori by Shinsuke Yoshitake (author), Ajani Oroe (translator) Baba and the Tea Picker by Xu Bin (author), Yu ying (illustrator), Shan Chen (translator); The Pilgrim Codex by Vivian Mansour (author), Emmanuel Valtierra (illustration), Carlos Rodríguez Cortez (translator)
Asian/Pacific American Literary Award
These awards recognize the best children’s literature about Asian American and Pacific Islander American culture and heritage.
Sidney Taylor Book Award
These awards recognize the best works of Jewish literature that focus on the Jewish experience for young readers.
Pula Belpré Award
These awards recognize Latinx authors and illustrators whose work celebrates the Latinx experience.
Coretta Scott King Book Award
These awards recognize the best books by African American authors and illustrators.
American Indian Youth Literature Award
In even-numbered years, this award is given to the best writing or illustration by or about Indigenous peoples.
- Picture Book Winner: Chooch In collaboration with Andrea L. Rogers and Rebecca Leigh Kuntz
- Picture Book Honors: “Braided Roots” by Pasha Westbrook and illustrated by Madeline Goodnight; “Fierce Aunts” by Laurel Goodluck and illustrated by Steph Littlebird; “To Be a Girl” by Joy Harjo and illustrated by Adriana Garcia; “Raven’s Ribbon” by Tasha Spilett and illustrated by Daniel Ramirez; “We Weave” by Daniel W. Vandever and illustrated by Deonovei Mitchell.
- Intermediate Winner: Buffalo Dreamer by Violet Duncan
- Intermediate Honors: Jo Jo Makoons: The Super-Scary Sleepover by Dawn Quigley, illustrated by Tara Audibert. Lost at Windy River by Trina Rathgeber (author), Alina Pete (illustrator), Jillian Dolan (colorist). I was fooled by Elise McMullen-Ciotti. The Red Bird was danced by Dawn Quigley. Cameron Mukwa ribbon skirt. Summer of the Bone Horse by Virginia Driving Hawk Snave and Steph Littlebird
- Young Adult Award Winner: Legendary Frybread Drive-In (edited by Cynthia Leitch Smith)
- Young Adult Awards: “Cheyne Rende” by Darcy Little Badger, “Sisters in the Wind” by Angeline Bouley, “Super Indian: Volume 3” by Arigon Starr, “Unfinished” by Cheryl Isaacs, and “Where Wolves Don’t Die” by Anton Troyer.
Schneider Family Book Award
These awards recognize the best books representing the disability experience.
stonewall book award
These awards recognize the best LGBTQ+ books published in English.
- “Halfway to Somewhere” by Jose Pimienta, winner of the Stonewall Book Award for Children’s Literature
- Winner of the Stonewall Book Award for Children’s Literature: Call Me Gray by Andrew Larsen (author), Belles Larsen (author), and Talulah Fontaine (illustrator). The Ink Witch by Steph Cherrywell; Ollie In Between by Jess Callans; Woods and Words by Sarah Holly Ackerman and Naoko Stoops.
- “One of the Boys” by Victoria Zeller, winner of the Stonewall Book Award for Young Adult Literature
- Winner of the Stonewall Book Award for Young Adult Literature: The Devil Is Like Us, by LT Thompson he is obsessed with me Hiccup by Corey Liu, Sarah Miller, Some the Girl by Jennifer Mason-Black
William C. Morris Award
This award is given to the best debut young adult book.
YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults
This award recognizes the best nonfiction written for young people.
alex award
These awards recognize the best books published for adults but with great appeal for young people.
odyssey award
These awards are given to outstanding audiobooks for children and young people.
These aren’t the only “Best” youth literature honors. Throughout this week, you’ll see more lists of great books for young readers. Check out Children’s Notables, The Rainbow List, RISE: A Feminist Book Project, The Best Fiction for Young Adults, and Great Graphic Novels for Teens. Clicking the link will take you to the landing page for those listings. The latest list titles include 2026, with some published now and others coming soon.
Other lists to check out include the new Outstanding Comics for Young Adults and Outstanding Comics for Children awards.
