Book challenges and awards
Sibert nonfiction and Schneider Family awards, 2026 winners and honors
The Sibert Medal is for the year's best nonfiction for children. The Schneider Family Book Award honors books that show the experience of disability. This list is the 2026 winners and honors for the younger and middle grade age bands.
Taken from the American Library Association's January 26, 2026 Youth Media Awards announcement, Oct 2026. The Schneider teen 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.
Alberto Salas Plays Paka Paka con la Papa
Sara Andrea Fajardo, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal · Ages 5-9
2026 Sibert medal.
Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon
At Last She Stood: How Joey Guerrero Spied, Survived, and Fought for Freedom
Erin Entrada Kelly · Ages 10-14
Go Tell It: How James Baldwin Became a Writer
Quartez Harris, illustrated by Gordon C. James · Ages 6-10
2026 Sibert honor.
Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon
The History of We
Nikkolas Smith · Ages 5-9
2026 Sibert honor.
Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon
Silenced Voices: Reclaiming Memories from the Guatemalan Genocide
Pablo Leon · Ages 12-16
2026 Sibert honor and Pura Belpré young adult honor.
Watch for: Describes genocide; written for teens.
Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon
A World Without Summer: A Volcano Erupts, A Creature Awakens, and the Sun Goes Out
Nicholas Day, illustrated by Yas Imamura · Ages 10-14
2026 Sibert honor.
Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon
Wanda Hears the Stars: A Blind Astronomer Listens to the Universe
Amy S. Hansen with Wanda Díaz Merced, illustrated by Rocio Arreola Mendoza · Ages 5-9
2026 Schneider younger children winner (ages 0-8). Also on the 2026-27 Texas Bluebonnet list.
Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon
Bat and the Business of Ferrets
Elana K. Arnold, illustrated by Charles Santoso · Ages 6-9
2026 Schneider younger children honor.
Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon
I Hear the Snow, I Smell the Sea
Janice Milusich, illustrated by Chris Raschka · Ages 4-8
2026 Schneider younger children honor.
Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon
Where Only Storms Grow
Alyssa Colman · Ages 9-13
2026 Schneider middle grade winner (ages 9-13).
Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon
Octopus Moon
Bobbie Pyron · Ages 9-13
2026 Schneider middle grade honor.
Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon
The Strongest Heart
Saadia Faruqi · Ages 9-13
2026 Schneider middle grade honor.
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.