Book challenges and awards
Teen award winners from ALA, 2026 (Printz, Belpré young adult, Schneider young adult)
These books are written for teens, ages 12 or 14 and up, not for children, so they are flagged here for parents who follow the awards. They are the 2026 Printz Award winner and honors plus the young adult winners of the Belpré and Schneider awards.
Taken from the American Library Association's January 26, 2026 Youth Media Awards announcement, Oct 2026. Preview before handing to a child under 14. Checked 2026-10-25. Nobody paid to be here. The buy links are plain search links, not affiliate links, so Peabody earns nothing from them.
Legendary Frybread Drive-In: Intertribal Stories
Cynthia Leitich Smith (editor) · Ages 13+
2026 Printz Award winner and Odyssey honor. A short story anthology by Native authors.
Watch for: Teen content; preview.
Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon
Cope Field
T.L. Simpson · Ages 14+
The House No One Sees
Adina King · Ages 14+
Sisters in the Wind
Angeline Boulley · Ages 14+
Song of a Blackbird
Maria van Lieshout · Ages 14+
2026 Printz honor. Also on the 2026-27 Georgia Peach teen list.
Watch for: Teen content; preview.
Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon
On the Wings of la Noche
Vanessa L. Torres · Ages 14+
Rosa by Any Other Name
Hailey Alcaraz · Ages 14+
The Story of My Anger
Jasminne Mendez · Ages 14+
Whale Eyes: A Memoir About Seeing and Being Seen
James Robinson, illustrated by Brian Rea · Ages 14+
2026 Schneider young adult winner and Odyssey honor.
Watch for: Teen content; preview.
Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon
The Golden Boy's Guide to Bipolar
Sonora Reyes · Ages 14+
The Poetry of Car Mechanics
Heidi E.Y. Stemple · Ages 14+
More lists
Newbery Medal winners, 2017 to 2026
The Newbery Medal goes each year to the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children, chosen by a committee of librarians.
Newbery Honor Books, 2023 to 2026
Honor books are the runners-up the Newbery committee also names.
Newbery Medal winners worth reading before middle school
Newbery winners go back to 1922, and many older ones feel dated.
Caldecott Medal winners, 2017 to 2026
The Caldecott Medal honors the most distinguished American picture book for children, judged on the illustrations.
Caldecott Honor Books, 2022 to 2026
Honor books are the Caldecott committee's runners-up, and many of them are the ones children ask to hear again.
Caldecott Medal winners from 1980 to 2016 that are still shelf favorites
Older Caldecott winners are the ones many families already own.
Theodor Seuss Geisel Award winners, 2019 to 2026
The Geisel Award goes to the best book for beginning readers each year.
Geisel Honor Books, 2023 to 2026
The Geisel committee also names honor books, which is where many of the funniest early readers show up.