Winners for the 2026 Youth Media Awards
/The American Library Association (ALA) today announced the top books and digital media for children and young adults at its Youth Media Awards ceremony in Chicago. Honors include the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Newbery, and Printz Awards, recognizing excellence in children’s and young adult literature across print, video, and audio formats.
A complete list of the 2026 award winners and honor titles follows.
Randolph Caldecott Medal
Caldecott Medal is given to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.
Caldecott Honor Books
John Newbery Medal
Newbery Medal is awarded to the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.
Newbery Honor Books
Michael L. Printz Award
The Michael L. Printz Award honoring the best book written for teens, based entirely on its literary merit.
Printz Honor Books
Sydney Taylor Book Award
Presented to outstanding books for children and teens that authentically portray the Jewish experience.
PICTURE BOOK WINNER
Silver Medalists Picture Book
MIDDLE SCHOOL WINNER
Silver Medalists Middle Grade
Silver Medalist
Gold Medalist
Alex Awards
Given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18.
Alex Award Winners
Coretta Scott King Awards
Given annually to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values. The award commemorates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and honors his wife, Mrs. Coretta Scott King, for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace and world brotherhood.
King Author Winner
King Author Honor Books
King Illustrator Book Winner
King Illustrator Honor Books
Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award
Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award
Coretta Scott King - Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement Award
Presented in even years to an African American author, illustrator or author/illustrator for a body of his or her published books for children and/or young adults, and who has made a significant and lasting literary contribution.
Children's Literature Lecture
The Children's Literature Lecture is an annual event featuring an author, critic, librarian, historian or teacher of children’s literature.
Children's Literature Legacy Award
Honors an author or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made, over a period of years, a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children through books that demonstrate integrity and respect for all children’s lives and experiences.
Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media Award
Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media Award recognizing a digital media producer for creating distinguished digital media for an early learning audience.
Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media Honors
Margaret A. Edwards Award
Honors an author, as well as a specific body of his or her work, for significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature.
Mildred L. Batchelder Award
A citation awarded to an American publisher for a children's book considered to be the most outstanding of those books originally published in a foreign language in a foreign country, and subsequently translated into English and published in the United States
Batchelder Award Winner
Batchelder Honor Books
Odyssey Award
Given to the producer of the best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States.
Odyssey Winner
Odyssey Award Winner for Young Adults
Odyssey Honor Audiobooks
Stonewall Book Awards
Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award given annually to English-language works of exceptional merit for children or teens relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience.
Stonewall Award Winner
Stonewall Book Honors
Stonewall Young Adult Literature
Honor Books for Young Adult Literature
Pura Belpré Awards
Presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.
Youth Illustration Award Winner
Belpré Youth Illustration Honor Books
Pura Belpré Children’s Author Award Winner
Belpré Children’s Author Honor Books
Pura Belpré Young Adult Author Award Winner
Belpré Young Adult Author Honors
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal
Awarded annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published in the United States in English during the preceding year.
Sibert Award Winner
Sibert Honors
Schneider Family Book Award
Honor an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences
Winner for Young Children, Age 0-8
Honor for Young Children
Middle Grade Winner, Age 9-13
Middle Grade Honors
Teen Winner, Age 14-18
Teen Honor
Theodor Seuss Geisel Award
Awarded annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the United States during the preceding year.
Most Distinguished Beginning Reader Book
Geisel Honor Books
“Owl and Penguin,” written and illustrated by Vikram Madan and published by Holiday House; and “A Seed Grows,” written and illustrated by Antoinette Portis and published by Neal Porter Books, an imprint of Holiday House.
YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults
Honors the best nonfiction book published for young adults (ages 12-18) during a Nov. 1 – Oct. 31 publishing year.
YALSA Award for Excellence Winner
YALSA Finalists
Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature
Promotes Asian/Pacific American culture and heritage and is awarded based on literary and artistic merit.
Asian/Pacific American Award for Pasifika Picture Book
Asian/Pacific American Honor Title for Pasifika Picture Book
Children’s Literature Winner
Asian/Pacific American Honor Title for Asian American Picture Book
Asian/Pacific American Award for Children’s Literature
Asian/Pacific American Honor Title for Children’s Literature
Asian/Pacific American Award for Young Adult Literature
Asian/Pacific American Honor Title for Young Adult Literature
William C. Morris Award
Awarded to a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens.
Finalists
American Indian Youth Literature Awards
The American Indian Youth Literature Awards, announced in even years (e.g. 2024, 2026, 2028), were established to identify and honor the very best writing and illustrations by and about American Indians and Alaska Natives. The award is administered by the American Indian Library Association, an affiliate of the ALA.
