2026-2027 Nominees
Picture Book
Broken by X. Fang
CeeCee: Underground Railroad Cinderella by Shana Keller, illustrated by Laura Freeman
Dog vs. Strawberry by Nelly Buchet, illustrated by Andrea Zuill
Don’t Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson, illustrated by Dan Santat
Erno Rubik and His Magic Cube by Kerry Aradhya, illustrated by Kara Kramer
A Friend for Eddy by Ann Kim Ha
Gina Kaminski Saves the Wolf by Craig Barr-Green, illustrated by Francis Martin
Hope in a Jar by Deborah Marcero
I Know How to Draw an Owl by Hilary Horder Hippely, illustrated by Matt James
The Interpreter by Olivia Abtahi, illustrated by Monica Arnaldo
Just in Case: Saving Seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault by Megan Clendenan, illustrated by Birttany Cicchese
Sometimes I Feel Like an Oak by Danielle Daniel, illustrated by Jackie Traverse
The Spy in the Museum: How Rose Valland Saved Art from the Nazis by Erin McGuire
Stalactite & Stalagmite: A Big Tale from a Little Cave by Drew Beckmeyer
Ursula Upside Down by Corey R. Tabor
Chapter Books: Grades 3-5
The Experiment by Rebecca Stead
Growing Home by Beth Ferry, illustrated by The Fan Brothers
The House Next Door by Ellen Oh
Octopus Moon by Bobbie Pyron
Pocket Bear by Katherine Applegate, illustrated by Charles Santoso
The Secret of Moonrise Manor (A Raven Gallows Mystery, Book 1) by Stephanie Bearce
Severe and Unusual Weather by Jessie Ann Foley
The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner
Vanya and the Wild Hunt by Sangu Mandanna
Will’s Race for Home by Jewel Parker Rhodes, illustrated by Olga and Aleksey Ivanov
Graphic Novels: Grades 3-5
Creaky Acres by Calista Brill, illustrated by Nilah Magruder
Creature Clinic by Gavin Aung Than
Diary of a Nature Nerd by Tiffany Everett
Good Boy by Andy Hirsch
I’m a Dumbo Octopus! A Graphic Guide to Cephalopods by Anne Lambelet
Jupiter Nettle and the Seven Schools of Magic by Sangu Mandanna, illustrated by Pablo Ballesteros
Millie of the Manor by Karina Evans, illustrated by Andrea Bell
Mr. Muffins: Defender of the Stars by Ben Kahn, illustrated by Georgeo Brooks
Speak Up, Santiago! : A Hillside Valley Graphic Novel by Julio Anta, illustrated by Gabi Mendez
Story Spinners: A Sisterly Tale of Danger, A Princess, and Her Crew of Lady Pirates by Cassandra Federman