Book challenges and awards
Batchelder translated books and Odyssey audiobooks, 2026
The Batchelder Award goes to the best children's book first published in another country and translated into English. The Odyssey Award honors the best audiobook for children and teens. These are the 2026 winners and honors.
Taken from the American Library Association's January 26, 2026 Youth Media Awards announcement, Oct 2026. 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.
Croco
Azul López, translated by Kit Maude · Ages 4-8
2026 Batchelder winner. Translated from Spanish.
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The Adventures of Cipollino
Gianni Rodari, illustrated by Dasha Tolstikova, translated by Antony Shugaar · Ages 6-10
2026 Batchelder honor.
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From Memen to Mori
Shinsuke Yoshitake, translated by Ajani Oloye · Ages 4-8
2026 Batchelder honor.
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Picking Tea with Baba
Xu Bin, illustrated by Yu Yin, translated by Shan Chen · Ages 4-8
2026 Batchelder honor.
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Pilgrim Codex
Vivian Mansour, illustrated by Emmanuel Valtierra, translated by Carlos RodrĂguez Cortez · Ages 10+
2026 Batchelder honor.
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Clack, Clack! Smack! A Cherokee Stickball Story (audiobook)
Traci Sorell, illustrated by Joseph Erb · Ages 5-9
2026 Odyssey winner, children. Narrated by the author and a full cast.
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Trans History: From Ancient Times to the Present Day (audiobook)
Alex L. Combs and Andrew Eakett · Ages 13+
2026 Odyssey winner, young adult. Narrated by the authors and a full cast.
Watch for: Teen nonfiction; preview.
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Soundtrack (audiobook)
Jason Reynolds · Ages 13+
2026 Odyssey honor. Full-cast narration.
Watch for: Teen audiobook; preview.
Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon
The Dead of Summer (audiobook)
Ryan La Sala · Ages 13+
2026 Odyssey honor. Narrated by Pete Cross and A'rese Emokpae.
Watch for: Teen audiobook; preview.
Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon
Legendary Frybread Drive-In: Intertribal Stories (audiobook)
Cynthia Leitich Smith (editor) · Ages 13+
2026 Odyssey honor and Printz winner. Full cast.
Watch for: Teen audiobook; preview.
Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon
Whale Eyes: A Memoir About Seeing and Being Seen (audiobook)
James Robinson · Ages 13+
2026 Odyssey honor. Written and narrated by the author.
Watch for: Teen audiobook; preview.
Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon
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.