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2026 ALA Award Winners
The moment has arrived – the winners of the 2026 ALA Youth Media Awards have been announced. Each year, the American Library Association presents prestigious honors, including the Newbery, Caldecott, and Coretta Scott King Awards, among others. Reminding children of the joy of reading while sparking curiosity, we want to congratulate this year’s winners, which include stories of change, tales of hope and resilience, and books that celebrate the wonder of life.
And the winners are:
The John Newbery Medal
With its long history, the Newbery is the most recognizable children’s book award given “to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.”
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Through the eyes of Sage, a teenager grappling with the loss of her best friend, Renée Watson’s powerful, beautifully written novel explores the many layers of grief. With raw honesty and moments that heal, it offers a glimmer of hope in the midst of unimaginable sadness.
Honorees: The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli, A Sea of Lemon Trees, The Teacher of Nomad Land, The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest
The Randolph Caldecott Medal
The Caldecott Medal is “one of the most prestigious awards a children’s illustrator can get. Every year, it is awarded to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.”
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With vibrant illustrations and playful prose, Matthew Burgess and Cátia Chien capture the fleeting magic of a summer day in the city. Two siblings splash through water hydrants, cool off with juicy watermelon slices, and watch fireworks light up the sky, creating memories that will last a lifetime.
Honorees: Every Monday Mabel, Our Lake, Stalactite & Stalagmite, Sundust
The Coretta Scott King Awards
The Coretta Scott King Awards are “given to exceptional African American authors and illustrators of children and YA literature who demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values.”
Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award
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First love meets a summer of change in Arriel Vinson’s lyrical coming-of-age novel. The neighborhood roller rink has always been a refuge, but as wheels spin and hearts race, it faces closure. Now Jaelyn must navigate the loss of the community she can’t imagine living without.
Coretta Scott King Author Book Award
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Will and his father embark on a treacherous journey across the American West in search of land to call their own in this riveting, historically grounded tale from Jewell Parker Rhodes.
Honorees: The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze, The Library in the Woods, Split the Sky
Coretta Scott King Illustrator Book Award
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When Junior’s family moves into town, he discovers a secret library that opens his eyes to the wonder of reading. Calvin Alexander Ramsey and R. Gregory Christie’s enlightening and heartfelt tale explores family bonds and a young boy’s journey through literacy.
Honorees: André: André Leon Talley, City Summer, Country Summer
Coretta Scott King/Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement
Kadir Nelson, the celebrated author and the illustrator of such books as The Undefeated, Salt in His Shoes and many more beloved children’s stories won this year’s Coretta Scott King/Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement.