Here are the winners of the 2026 ALA Youth Media Awards, announced Monday, January 26 in Chicago.

John Newbery Medal
Honors author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.
All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson

Randolph Caldecott Medal
Awarded to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.
Fireworks illus. by Cátia Chien, written by Matthew Burgess

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award
Honors to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the United States.
Stop That Mop! by Jonathan Fenske

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. 
Candace Fleming

Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media
Given to a digital media producer that has created distinguished digital media for an early learning audience. 

Weather Hunters, produced by WeatherHunters, Inc. and Silver Creek Falls Entertainment

Odyssey Award
Given to the producer of the best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States.
Children's (0-14) Award
Clack, Clack! Smack! A Cherokee Stickball Story, produced by Arnie Cardillo and Debra Cardillo for Live Oak Media. Written by Traci Sorell, illus. by Joseph Erb. Narrated by the author and a full cast

Young Adult (12-18) Award
Trans History: From Ancient Times to the Present Day, produced by Iris McElroy and Juan Garcia Ticoulat for Listening Library. By Alex. L. Combs and Andrew Eakett. Narrated by the authors and a full cast.

Robert F. Sibert Medal
Awarded to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published in the United States in English.
Alberto Salas Plays Paka Paka con la Papa by Sara Andrea Fajardo, illus. by Juana Martinez-Neal

Mildred L. Batchelder Award
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. 
Croco, published by Tapioca Stories, written and illustrated by Azul López

ALSC Children's Literature Lecture Award
Given to an author, critic, librarian, historian, or teacher of children’s literature, of any country, who shall prepare a paper considered to be a significant contribution to the field of children’s literature. 
Kwame Alexander

Pura Belpré Awards
Presented 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. 
Illustration
Popo the Xolo, illus. by Abraham Matias, written by Paloma Angelina Lopez

Children's Author
The Pecan Sheller by Lupe Ruiz-Flores

Young Adult Author
On the Wings of la Noche by Vanessa L. Torres 

Michael L. Printz Award
Presented to a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature.
Legendary Frybread Drive-In: Intertribal Stories, edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith

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.

Death in the Jungle: Murder, Betrayal, and the Lost Dream of Jonestown by Candace Fleming

William C. Morris Award
Honors a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens. 
All the Noise at Once by DeAndra Davis

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
Candace Fleming

Alex Awards
Books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18

The Favorites by Layne Fargo
The Girls Who Grew Big by Leila Mottley
Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert by Bob the Drag Queen
Hole in the Sky by Daniel H. WIlson
Insectopolis: A Natural History by Peter Kuper
Plum by Andy Anderegg
Sonita: My Fight Against Tyranny and My Escape to Freedom by Sonita Alizada
These Heathens by Mia McKenzie
What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown
The Whyte Python World Tour by Travis Kennedy

Coretta Scott King Book Awards
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. 

Coretta Scott King Author Award
Will's Race for Home by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award
The Library in the Woods, illus. by R. Gregory Christie, written by Calvin Alexander Ramsey 

Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award
Arriel Vinson for Under the Neon Lights

Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement 
Kadir Nelson

Stonewall Book Award
Given to English-language works of exceptional merit for children or teens relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender experience. 

Children's Literature
Halfway to Somewhere by Jose Pimienta 

Young Adult
One of the Boys by Victoria Zeller

Schneider Family Book Awards
Honor an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences. 

Younger Children 
Wanda Hears the Stars: A Blind Astronomer Listens to the Universe by Amy S.  Hansen with Wanda Díaz Merced

Middle Grade 
Where Only Storms Grow by Alyssa Colman

Teens 
Whale Eyes: A Memoir About Seeing and Being Seen by James Robinson

Sydney Taylor Book Awards
Recognizes titles for children and teens that exemplify high literary standards while authentically portraying the Jewish experience.

Picture Book 
Shabbat Shalom: Let's Rest and Reset by Suzy Ultman

Middle Grade 
Neshama by Marcella Pixley

Young Adult
D.J. Rosenblum Becomes the G.O.A.T by Abby White

Body of Work Award
Uri Shulevitz

Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature
Honors and recognizes individual works by Asian/Pacific American authors that highlight Asian/Pacific American cultures and experiences. 

Asian American Picture Book 
Many Things at Once by Veera Hiranandani

Pasifika Picture Book
Kaho'olawe: The True Story of an Island and Her People by Kamalani Hurley

Children's Literature
Hungry Bones by Louise Hung

Young Adult Literature
The Red Car to Hollywood by Jennie Liu

American Indian Youth Literature Awards 
Awarded biennially, the awards honor the best writing and illustrations by Native Americans and Indigenous peoples of North America. For this year, books needed to have been published between October 1, 2023, and September 31, 2025

Picture Book
Chooch Helped by Andrea L. Rogers, illus. by Rebecca Lee Kunz

Middle Grade
Buffalo Dreamer by Violet Duncan 

Young Adult 
Legendary Frybread Drive-In: Intertribal Stories, edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith