Nutmeg Nominees and Winners

Other Book Awards:

Batchelder Award to the most outstanding book first published outside the United States in a language other than English, and subsequently translated.

Belpre Award for best Latino children’s literature.

Caldecott Medal given by American Library Association to the artist who created the most distinguished picture book.

Carnegie Medal for outstanding video production.

Geisel Award the most outstanding book for beginner readers.

Newbery Medal ALA award for the most distinguished American children’s book.

Odyssey Award to the producer of the best audiobook for children and/or young adults.

Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal to the author and illustrator of the most distinguished informational book.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Award to an author or illustrator with a substantial and lasting contribution to children’s literature.

A list of all the 2025 award winners and honor selections follows:

John Newbery Medal

John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature: “The First State of Being,” written by Erin Entrada Kelly, is the Newbery Medal winner. The book is published by Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Newbery Honor Books

Four Newbery Honor Books also were named: "Across So Many Seas," written by Ruth Behar and published by Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House; "Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All," written and illustrated by Chanel Miller and published by Philomel, an imprint of Penguin Random House; "One Big Open Sky," written by Lesa Cline-Ransome and published by Holiday House; and "The Wrong Way Home," written by Kate O’Shaughnessy, A Borzoi Book, published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House.

Randolph Caldecott Medal

Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children: “Chooch Helped,” illustrated by Rebecca Lee Kunz and written by Andrea L. Rogers, is the Caldecott Medal winner. The book was published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido.

Caldecott Honor Books

Four Caldecott Honor Books also were named: "Home in a Lunchbox," illustrated and written by Cherry Mo and published by Penguin Workshop, an imprint of Penguin Random House; "My Daddy Is a Cowboy," illustrated by C.G. Esperanza, written by Stephanie Seales and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS; "Noodles on a Bicycle," illustrated by Gracey Zhang, written by Kyo Maclear and published by Random House Studio, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House; and "Up, Up, Ever Up! Junko Tabei: A Life in the Mountains," illustrated by Yuko Shimizu, written by Anita Yasuda and published by Clarion Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Coretta Scott King Book Awards

Coretta Scott King Book Awards recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults.

“Twenty-four Seconds from Now...,” written by Jason Reynolds, is the King Author Book winner. The book is published by Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.

“My Daddy Is a Cowboy,” illustrated by C.G. Esperanza, is the King Illustrator Book winner. The book is written by Stephanie Seales and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS.

King Author Honor Books

Three King Author Honor Books were selected: “Black Girl You Are Atlas,” written by Renée Watson, illustrated by Ekua Holmes and published by Kokila, an imprint of Penguin Random House; “Black Star, written by Kwame Alexander and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group; and “One Big Open Sky,” written by Lesa Cline-Ransome and published by Holiday House.

King Illustrator Honor Books

Three King Illustrator Honor Books were selected: "Coretta: The Autobiography of Mrs. Coretta Scott King," illustrated by Ekua Holmes, written by Coretta Scott King with the Reverend Dr. Barbara Reynolds and published by Godwin Books, an imprint of Henry Holt and Company; "Everywhere Beauty Is Harlem: The Vision of Photographer Roy DeCarava," illustrated by E.B. Lewis, written by Gary Golio and published by Calkins Creek, an imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers; and "Go Forth and Tell: The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller," illustrated by April Harrison, written by Breanna J. McDaniel and published by Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award

“Kwame Crashes the Underworld," written by Craig Kofi Farmer, is the Steptoe author award winner. The book is published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing.

Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award

“Jimmy’s Rhythm & Blues: The Extraordinary Life of James Baldwin,” illustrated by Jamiel Law, is the Steptoe illustrator award winner. The book is written by Michelle Meadows and published by Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement

Carolyn L. Garnes is the winner of the Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. The award pays tribute to the quality and magnitude of beloved children’s author Virginia Hamilton. Garnes has spent over 30 years as a practitioner championing books for Black children as a public and school library director and as the founder of the nonprofit Aunt Lil’s Reading Room.

Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature

The Printz Award is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

“Brownstone,” written by Samuel Teer, illustrated by Mar Julia and co-published by Versify and HarperAlley, imprints of HarperCollins Publishers.

Four Printz Honor Books

“Bright Red Fruit,” written by Safia Elhillo and published by Make Me a World, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House; “Compound Fracture,” written by Andrew Joseph White and published by Peachtree Teen, an imprint of Peachtree Publishing Company Inc.; “The Deep Dark,” written by Molly Knox Ostertag and published by Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.; and “Road Home,” written by Rex Ogle and published by Norton Young Readers, an imprint of W.W. Norton & Company Inc.

Schneider Family Book Award

Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience.

Schneider Younger Children's Award

“A Little Like Magic,” written and illustrated by Sarah Kurpiel and published by Rocky Pond Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House, wins the award in the Younger Children’s category (ages 0 to 8).

Schneider Younger Children Honor Books

“Monster Hands,” written by Karen Kane and Jonaz McMillan, illustrated by Dion MBD and published by Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House; and “You’re So Amazing!,” written by James and Lucy Catchpole, illustrated by Karen George and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group.

Schneider Middle Grade Award

“Popcorn,” written and illustrated by Rob Harrell and published by Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Random House, is the winner in the Middle Grade category (ages 9 to 13).

Schneider Middle Grade Honor Books

“Louder Than Hunger,” written by John Schu and published by Candlewick Press; and “Shark Teeth,” written by Sherri Winston and published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

Schneider Young Adult Award

“Chronically Dolores,” written by Maya Van Wagenen and published by Dutton Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House, is the winner in the Young Adult category (ages 14-18).

Schneider Young Adult Honor Books

"Light Enough to Float,” written by Lauren Seal and published by Rocky Pond Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House; and “On the Bright Side,” written by Anna Sortino and published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

Alex Awards for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences

“Beautiful People: My Thirteen Truths About Disability,” by Melissa Blake, published by Hachette Go, an imprint of Hachette Books;

“Big Jim and the White Boy: An American Classic Reimagined,” written by David F. Walker, illustrated by Marcus Kwame Anderson, published by Ten Speed Graphic, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House;

“Daughters of Shandong,” by Eve J. Chung, published by Berkley, an imprint of Penguin Random House;

“Dead Cat Tail Assassins,” by P. Djèlí Clark, published by Tordotcom, an imprint of Tor Publishing Group, a division of Macmillan;

“How to Solve Your Own Murder: A Novel,” by Kristen Perrin, published by Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Random House;

“I Feel Awful, Thanks,” written and illustrated by Lara Pickle, published by Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group;

“I Was a Teenage Slasher,” written by Stephen Graham Jones, published by Saga Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster;

“The Witch of Colchis,” by Rosie Hewlett, published by Sourcebooks Landmark, an imprint of Sourcebooks;

“The Witchstone,” by Henry H. Neff, published by Blackstone Publishing;

“Woman, Life, Freedom,” created by Marjane Satrapi, translated by Una Dimitrijević, published by Seven Stories Press.

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) Children's Literature Lecture

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) Children's Literature Lecture is an annual event featuring an author, critic, librarian, historian or teacher of children’s literature. Author Cynthia Leitich Smith will deliver the 2026 ALSC Children’s Literature Lecture. Smith is The New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty books for children and young adults. Her 2018 book “Hearts Unbroken” won the 2020 American Indian Youth Literature Award.

Children’s Literature Legacy Award

Children’s Literature Legacy Award honors an author or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made, over a period of years, a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children through books that demonstrate integrity and respect for all children’s lives and experiences. This year’s winner is Carole Boston Weatherford. Her award-winning works include "Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre," which won the Coretta Scott King Author Award in 2022, and "BOX: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom," recipient of the Newbery Medal Honor in 2021, among others.

The Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media Award

The Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media Award is given to a digital media producer that has created distinguished digital media for an early learning audience. The winner is “Carl the Collector,” produced by Fuzzytown Productions and Spiffy Pictures.

Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media Honors

"Lyla in the Loop," produced by Mighty Picnic and Pipeline Studios; and "The Plate Show," produced by The WNET Group and PRX.

Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults

The winner is Tiffany D. Jackson, whose books include: “Allegedly,” “The Awakening of Malcolm X,” “Grown,” “Let Me Hear a Rhyme,” “The Long Walk” from “Blackout,” “Monday’s Not Coming” and “White Smoke.”

Mildred L. Batchelder Award

Mildred L. Batchelder Award for an outstanding children’s book originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States, and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States: “John the Skeleton” is the Batchelder Award winner. Originally published in Estonian as “Luukere Juhani juhtumised,” the book was written by Triinu Laan, illustrated by Marja-Liisa Plats, translated by Adam Cullen and published by Yonder, an imprint of Restless Books for Young Readers.

Batchelder Honor Books

Batchelder Honor Books also were selected: "Home," published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, an imprint of William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., written and illustrated by Isabelle Simler and translated by Vineet Lal; "Johnny, the Sea, and Me," published by Enchanted Lion Books, written by Melba Escobar, illustrated by Elizabeth Builes and translated by Sara Lissa Paulson; "Mr. Lepron’s Mystery Soup," published by Candlewick Studio, an imprint of Candlewick Press, written by Giovanna Zoboli, illustrated by Mariachiara Di Giorgio and translated by Denise Muir; and "A Sleepless Night," published by Transit Children’s Editions, an imprint of Transit Books, written by Micaela Chirif, illustrated by Joaquín Camp and translated by Jordan Landsman.

Odyssey Awards

Odyssey Award for the best audiobooks produced for children and young adults, available in English in the United States:

“A Plate of Hope: The Inspiring Story of Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen,” produced by Andy T. Jones for Dreamscape Audio, written by Erin Frankel, illustrated by Paola Escobar and narrated by Luis Carlos de La Lombana, is the Odyssey Award winner for children.

“How the Boogeyman Became a Poet,” produced by Abigail Marks for HarperAudio, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, written by Tony Keith Jr. and narrated by Tony Keith Jr. is the Odyssey Award winner for young adults.

Odyssey Honor Audiobooks

“Black Girl You Are Atlas," produced by Brian Ramcharan for Listening Library, an imprint of Penguin Random House, written by Renée Watson, illustrated by Ekua Holmes and narrated by Renée Watson; "Dispatches from Parts Unknown," produced by Almeda Beynon for HarperAudio, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, written by Bryan Bliss and narrated by Joy Nash; "Girls Like Her," produced by Abigail Marks for HarperAudio, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers, written by Melanie Sumrow and narrated by Melanie Sumrow and January LaVoy; "You Are Brave: A Book About Trying New Things," produced by Paul Gagne and John Pels for Scholastic Inc., written by Margaret O’Hair and Sofia Sanchez, illustrated by Sofia Cardoso and narrated by Sofia Sanchez.

Pura Belpré Awards

Pura Belpré Awards honoring Latino writers and illustrators whose children's and young adult books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience:

Belpré Children’s Illustration Award

“The Dream Catcher,” illustrated by Marcelo Verdad, is the Pura Belpré for Illustration Award winner. The book was written by Marcelo Verdad and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group.

Belpré Illustration for Honor Books

"Abuelo, the Sea, and Me, illustrated by Tatiana Gardel, written by Ismée Williams and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing; and "A Maleta Full of Treasures," illustrated by Juana Medina, written by Natalia Sylvester and published by Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

Belpré Children’s Author Award

“Lola,” written by Karla Arenas Valenti, is the Pura Belpré Children’s Author Award winner. The book is published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a division of Penguin Random House.

Belpré Children’s Author Honor Books

"Cruzita and the Mariacheros," written by Ashley Granillo and published by Carolrhoda Books, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group Inc.; and "Ultraviolet," written by Aida Salazar and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.

Belpré Young Adult Author Award

"Shut Up, This Is Serious," written by Carolina Ixta, is the Pura Belpré Young Adult Author Award winner. The book is published by Quill Tree Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Belpré Young Adult Author Honor Books

"Libertad," written by Bessie Flores Zaldívar and published by Dial Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House; and "Wild Dreamers," written by Margarita Engle and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.

The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award

The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most distinguished informational book for children: “Life After Whale: The Amazing Ecosystem of a Whale Fall,” written by Lynn Brunelle and illustrated by Jason Chin, is the Sibert Award winner. The book is published by Neal Porter Books, Holiday House.

Sibert Honor Books

"Call Me Roberto!: Roberto Clemente Goes to Bat for Latinos," written by Nathalie Alonso, illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez and published by Calkins Creek, an imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers; "The Enigma Girls: How Ten Teenagers Broke Ciphers, Kept Secrets, and Helped Win World War II," written by Candace Fleming and published by Scholastic Focus, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.;"The Girl Who Sang: A Holocaust Memoir of Hope and Survival," written by Estelle Nadel and Sammy Savos with Bethany Strout, illustrated by Sammy Savos and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing; and "Wings of an Eagle: The Gold Medal Dreams of Billy Mills," written by Billy Mills and Donna Janell Bowman, illustrated by S. D. Nelson and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group.

Stonewall Book Awards

Stonewall Book Awards - Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award given annually to English-language works of exceptional merit for children or teens relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience:

“Lunar Boy,” written and illustrated by Jes and Cin Wibowo and published by HarperAlley, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, is the recipient of the Stonewall Book Awards – Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s Literature Award.

Stonewall Honor Books for children’s literature

"Marley’s Pride," written by Joëlle Retener, illustrated by DeAnn Wiley and published by Barefoot Books;

"Murray Out of Water," written by Taylor Tracy and published by Quill Tree Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers;

"The Flicker," written by H.E. Edgmon and published by Feiwel & Friends, an imprint of Macmillan Publishing Group;

"What I Must Tell the World: How Lorraine Hansberry Found Her Voice," written by Jay Leslie, illustrated by Loveis Wise and published by Hillman Grad Books, an imprint of Zando.

Stonewall Young Adult Literature

“Canto Contigo,” written by Jonny Garza Villa and published by Wednesday Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group, is the recipient of the Stonewall Book Awards – Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Young Adult Literature Award.

Stonewall Honor Books for Young Adult Literature

Four Honor Books for young adult literature were selected: "Most Ardently: A Pride and Prejudice Remix," written by Gabe Cole Novoa and published by Feiwel and Friends, an imprint of Macmillan Publishing Group;

"Navigating with You," written by Jeremy Whitley, illustrated by Cassio Ribeiro and published by Maverick, Mad Cave Studios;

"Road Home," written by Rex Ogle and published by Norton Young Readers, an imprint of W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.;

"Time and Time Again," written by Chatham Greenfield and published by Bloomsbury YA, Bloomsbury Publishing Inc., part of Bloomsbury Publishing.

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished beginning reader book

“Vacation” written by Ame Dyckman and illustrated by Mark Teague, is the Geisel Award winner. The book is published by Beach Lane Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.

Geisel Honor Books

"Fox versus Fox," written and illustrated Corey R. Tabor and published by Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers;

"Towed by Toad," written and illustrated by Jashar Awan and published by Tundra Books, an imprint of Tundra Book Group, a division of Penguin Random House of Canada.

William C. Morris Award

William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens: "Not Like Other Girls," written by Meredith Adamo, is the Morris Award winner. The book is published by Bloomsbury YA, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Inc., part of Bloomsbury Publishing.

William C. Morris Award finalists

“Aisle Nine,” written by Ian X. Cho and published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, a division of HarperCollins Publishers;

“Dead Things Are Closer Than They Appear,” written by Robin Wasley and published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing;

“Shut Up, This Is Serious,” written by Carolina Ixta and published by Quill Tree Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers;

"The Wilderness of Girls,” written by Madeline Claire Franklin and published by Zando Young Readers, an imprint of Zando.

YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults

“Rising from the Ashes: Los Angeles, 1992. Edward Jae Song Lee, Latasha Harlins, Rodney King, and a City on Fire,” written by Paula Yoo. The book is published by Norton Young Readers, an imprint of W.W. Norton & Company Inc.

YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults finalists

“A Greater Goal: The Epic Battle for Equal Pay in Women’s Soccer—and Beyond” written by Elizabeth Rusch and published by Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers;

“Homebody,” written by Theo Parish and published by HarperAlley, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers;

“Shackled: A Tale of Wronged Kids, Rogue Judges, and a Town that Looked Away,” written by Candy J. Cooper and published by Calkins Creek, an imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers, a division of Astra Publishing House;

“The Unboxing of a Black Girl,” written by Angela Shanté and published by Page Street Publishing Co.

Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature.

The award promotes Asian/Pacific American culture and heritage and is awarded based on literary and artistic merit. The award offers three youth categories including Picture Book, Children’s Literature and Young Adult Literature. The award is administered by the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA), an affiliate of the American Library Association.

This year’s winners include:

The Picture Book winner: “Aloha Everything,” written by Kaylin Melia George, illustrated by Mae Waite and published by Red Comet Press.

Picture Book honor title: “The Rock in My Throat,” written by Kao Kalia Yang, illustrated by Jiemei Lin and published by Carolrhoda Books, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group Inc.

The Children’s Literature title: “Continental Drifter,” written and illustrated by Kathy MacLeod and published by First Second, an imprint of Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing.

Children’s Literature honor titles: “Mabuhay!,” written and illustrated by Zachary Sterling and published by Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.; and Clairboyance, written by Kristiana Kahakauwila and published by Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

The Young Adult Literature winner: “Everything We Never Had,” written by Randy Ribay and published by Kokila, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

Young Adult Literature honor titles: “Lunar New Year Love Story,” written by Gene Luen Yang, illustrated by LeUyen Pham and published by First Second, an imprint of Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing; and “Dragonfruit,” written by Makiia Lucier and published by Clarion Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

The Sydney Taylor Book Award

The Sydney Taylor Book Award is presented annually to outstanding books for children and teens that authentically portray the Jewish experience. Presented by the Association of Jewish Libraries since 1968, the award encourages the publication and widespread use of quality Judaic literature.

Gold Medalists

Picture Book: “An Etrog from Across the Sea," written by Deborah Bodin Cohen and Kerry Olitzky, illustrated by Stacey Dressen McQueen and published by Kar-Ben Publishing, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group Inc.

Middle Grade: "The Girl Who Sang: A Holocaust Memoir of Hope and Survival," written by Estelle Nadel and Sammy Savos with Bethany Strout, illustrated by Sammy Savos and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing;

Young Adult: “Night Owls,” written by A.R. Vishny and published by Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Sydney Taylor Book Award Silver Medalists

Picture Book: "Amazing Abe: How Abraham Cahan's Newspaper Gave a Voice to Jewish Immigrants," written by Norman H. Finkelstein, illustrated by Vesper Stamper and published by Holiday House; "Joyful Song: A Naming Story," written by Lesléa Newman, illustrated by Susan Gal and published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido; "Rising," written by Sidura Ludwig, illustrated by Sophia Vincent Guy and published by Candlewick Press; and "The Tree of Life: How a Holocaust Sapling Inspired the World, written by Elisa Boxer, illustrated by Alianna Rozentsveig and published by Rocky Pond Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

Middle Grade: "Across So Many Seas," written by Ruth Behar and published by Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House; "Finn and Ezra’s Bar Mitzvah Time Loop," written by Joshua S. Levy and published by Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; and "Just Shy of Ordinary," written by A.J. Sass and published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Hachette Book Group.

Young Adult: "The Forbidden Book," written by Sacha Lamb and published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido; and "Trajectory," written by Cambria Gordon and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.

Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, ALA awards guide parents, educators, librarians and others in selecting the best materials for youth. Selected by judging committees of librarians and other children’s experts, the awards encourage original and creative work. For more information on the ALA youth media awards and notables, please visit www.ala.org/yma .