Book challenges and awards
Coretta Scott King and Pura Belpré awards, 2026 winners and honors
The Coretta Scott King Awards honor Black authors and illustrators; the Pura Belpré Awards honor Latino authors and illustrators. This list is the 2026 children's winners and honors for both, chosen by ALA committees.
Taken from the American Library Association's January 26, 2026 Youth Media Awards announcement, Oct 2026. Belpré young adult winners are on the teen list. 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.
Will's Race for Home
Jewell Parker Rhodes · Ages 8-12
2026 Coretta Scott King author award winner.
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The Library in the Woods
Calvin Alexander Ramsey, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie · Ages 6-10
2026 Coretta Scott King illustrator award winner and an author honor.
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The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze
Derrick Barnes · Ages 8-12
2026 Coretta Scott King author honor.
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Split the Sky
Marie Arnold · Ages 9-13
2026 Coretta Scott King author honor.
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André: André Leon Talley - A Fabulously Fashionable Fairy Tale
Carole Boston Weatherford and Rob Sanders, illustrated by Lamont O'Neal · Ages 5-9
2026 Coretta Scott King illustrator honor.
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City Summer, Country Summer
Kiese Laymon, illustrated by Alexis Franklin · Ages 4-8
2026 Coretta Scott King illustrator honor.
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Popo the Xolo
Paloma Angelina Lopez, illustrated by Abraham Matias · Ages 4-8
2026 Pura Belpré illustrator award winner.
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A-Ztec: A Bilingual Alphabet Book
Emmanuel Valtierra · Ages 3-7
2026 Pura Belpré illustrator honor.
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The Invisible Parade
Leigh Bardugo and John Picacio · Ages 8-12
2026 Pura Belpré illustrator honor. Also on the 2026-27 Texas Bluebonnet list.
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The Pecan Sheller
Lupe Ruiz-Flores · Ages 8-12
2026 Pura Belpré children's author winner.
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A Hero's Guide to Summer Vacation
Pablo Cartaya · Ages 8-12
2026 Pura Belpré children's author honor.
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The Island of Forgotten Gods
Victor Piñeiro · Ages 8-12
2026 Pura Belpré children's author honor.
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A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez
María Dolores Águila · Ages 10-14
2026 Pura Belpré children's author honor and a 2026 Newbery honor.
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More lists
Newbery Honor Books, 2023 to 2026
Honor books are the runners-up the Newbery committee also names.
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 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.