2026 ALA Awards
Congratulations, ALA Book Award Winners and Honorees!
2026 Newbery Honor
A Newbery Honor Award Book!
A fox and a badger begrudgingly team up to change their destinies in this endearing middle grade novel Featuring black-and-white illustrations throughout, this critically acclaimed novel brings Deadwood Forest to life through both words and art. Perfect for fans of Kate DiCamillo and Katherine Applegate.
? “Heartbreaking, marvelously funny, and generously redemptive.” –Kirkus, starred review
Clare is the undead fox of Deadwood Forest. Here, leaves grow in a perpetual state of fall: not quite dead, but not quite alive—just like Clare. Long ago, he was struck by a car, and, hovering between life and death, he was given the choice to either cross into the Afterlife or become an Usher of wandering souls. Clare chose the latter: a solitary life of guiding souls to their final resting place.
Clare’s quiet and predictable days are met with upheaval when a badger soul named Gingersnipes knocks on his door. Despite Clare’s efforts to usher her into the Afterlife, the badger is unable to leave Deadwood. This is unprecedented. Baffling. A disturbing mystery which threatens the delicate balance between the living and the dead.
Desperate for help, Clare and Gingersnipes set out on a treacherous journey to find Hesterfowl—the visionary grouse who recently foretold of turmoil in Deadwood. But upon their arrival, Hesterfowl divulges a shocking revelation that leaves Clare devastated, outraged, and determined to do anything to change his fate.
2026 Coretta Scott King Book Award Author Winner
★ A New York Times bestseller! ★
★ “Rhodes deftly captures a unique aspect of this historical event, with a perspective that is often under-represented in historical fiction. A poignant and honest look at the trials of racism that defined the historic land rush; a must-buy.” —School Library Journal, starred review
Bestselling and award-winning author Jewell Parker Rhodes goes West in this thrilling adventure story about a son and his father who set out to win land during the Oklahoma Land Rush—if they can survive the journey.
It’s 1889, barely twenty-five years after the Emancipation Proclamation, and a young Black family is tired of working on land they don’t get to own.
So when Will and his father hear about an upcoming land rush, they set out on a journey from Texas to Oklahoma, racing thousands of others to the place where land is free—if they can get to it fast enough. But the journey isn’t easy—the terrain is rough, the bandits are brutal, and every interaction carries a heavy undercurrent of danger.
And then there’s the stranger they encounter and befriend: a mysterious soldier named Caesar, whose Union emblem brings more attention—and more trouble—than any of them need.
All three are propelled by the promise of something long denied to them: freedom, land ownership, and a place to call home—but is a strong will enough to get them there?
Includes stunning black-and-white illustrations throughout!
Book Club Guide
- Will opens the book with the words, “My father is a far-thinking man” (p. 1). By the end, he describes himself using those same words but “with different dreams” (p. 190). What do you think Will means by “far-thinking”? How are Will’s dreams different than those of Father? How are Father’s different than Grandpa’s? What does one generation pass on to the next?
- Will and his family face a number of scary situations on their race to Oklahoma. What does it mean to be afraid? What does it mean to be brave? What does it mean to survive?
- Will notes that “reading is something I can do that Father and Grandpa can’t” (p. 31). How does Will’s ability to read help him? Why do words, language, and stories matter?
- Caesar and Father are both role models for Will. How are they different? What does Will learn from each of them?
- Caesar tells Will that “a war won doesn’t necessarily change people’s minds, hearts. Hate doesn’t disappear” (p. 73). What do you think Caesar means by this? How can you change minds and hearts?
- Father keeps secrets from Will. Are secrets always a bad thing? Can you ever know everything about another person?
- Will maintains a close relationship with both Belle and Midnight. How do animals and nature help and hinder Will? Why is it important to respect nature?
- On his journey, Will encounters conflict and violence in different forms. Do you think violence can solve problems? How do characters’ choices create or diffuse conflict?
- After his adventures, Will insists that “the boy in me is done” (p. 169). Why does he think that? Is he right? What do you think makes the difference between a child and an adult?
- In the Afterword, Jewell Parker Rhodes asks “Is land to be enjoyed and cared for by all? Should it be owned? By the few? the many? Is land a prerequisite for power and wealth? Or a necessary refuge for a family, a community? A home?” (p. 194-5). How do Will and the members of his family think about land, home, and freedom? What do you think?
2026 Coretta Scott King Book Award Author Honor
In this haunting story about family, legacy, and sacrifice, a young Black girl living in a Texas sundown town must find the courage to stand up for what’s right even when it means facing impossible choices—perfect for fans of Dear Martin and The Hate U Give.
Fifteen-year-old Lala Russell is doing a bad job at being a Black girl. She has social justice fatigue, and she doesn’t want to join the Black Alliance Club at her school (even though she agrees with them). A gifted cellist, she’s focused on leaving her small town and accomplishing her goals and dreams. But Lala has also inherited another gift, her grandmother Sadie’s gift of foresight. She has visions of the future—and they always come true.
In Davey, the Texas sundown town she lives in, there is growing tension, as a Black organization attempts to diversify the nearly all-white part of town. Amidst violent protests, Lala has a vision. In it, a Black teenage boy is shot in the chest by a white homeowner. Now Lala has a mission: find the boy and save him.
But Grandma Sadie has a vision too. After the boy’s murder, a wave of protests breaks out. And the outrage over the casual and frequent slaying of unarmed Black children will result in unprecedented change. Change that won’t happen if the vision is altered. Lala is faced with an existential question—can she allow herself to sacrifice one life to, in turn, save many? And if so, whose life will she choose?
2026 Pura Belpré Award Honor for Illustration
★Winner of the Pura Belpré Award Honor for Illustration!★ ★A Hugo Award Finalist!★ ★A Locus Award winner!★ ★A National Bestseller!★
The picture book debut from #1 New York Times bestselling author Leigh Bardugo and World Fantasy Award winner John Picacio.
It’s time to join the party! Adventure awaits readers of all ages on Día de Muertos in this stunningly original and lushly illustrated tour de force about family, love, and overcoming grief.
Everyone in the neighborhood was getting ready for the party.
Everyone knew somebody on the guest list . . .
This was the day the dead returned.
There’s a party tonight, but Cala doesn’t want to go. While her family prepares for the celebration, Cala grieves her grandfather and tries to pretend she’s not afraid.
But when she is separated from her family at the cemetery, Cala encounters four mysterious riders who will show her she is actually quite brave after all.
Brimming with magic and humor, The Invisible Parade is the first picture-book collaboration between award-winner John Picacio and New York Times bestselling Leigh Bardugo. Set on the night of Día de Muertos, Cala’s story is one of love, loss, and the courage that can be found in unexpected places.
“An understated masterclass in processing grief through culture.” ―Booklist, starred review
2026 Stonewall Honors
For fans of Amari and the Night Brothers and The Okay Witch comes a hilarious and affirming cozy fantasy about the adventures of a girl who discovers she is the descendant of a powerful witch coven.
Becca Slugg is bored. It’s the tail end of summer, and it feels like she’s done nothing but run errands for her family’s Cape Disappointment Beach Inn,
argue with her frustratingly overprotective mother, and have one-sided conversations with the giant spider living by the dumpsters out back.
When Becca wishes for something to happen, she doesn’t expect her wish to manifest in the form of an unwelcome visit from her mom’s sinister and estranged sister, Malatrice. It turns out Becca’s aunt is a powerful witch—and when she doesn’t get the help she wants from Becca’s mom, she unleashes a devastating ink spell. Becca is left with a mindless puppet for a mother and a whole lot of questions—like Can I castspells with the ink in my veins, too?
With the help of Natalya, her mother’s tarantula familiar, and Oddvar, a friendly troll living in the motel’s ice machine, a distraught but determined Becca sets out to uncover her own magical abilities and find the ingredients for a potion that will cure her mother. Besides, how hard can it be to find mermaid eggs, troll teeth, and the most precious possession of a Witch-Queen?
This magical adventure is equal parts hilarious and exhilarating, with a sassy, talking tarantula being just the tip of the iceberg.
Jennifer’s Body meets Heartstopper in this terrifying, tender, and bitingly hilarious supernatural horror about a boy who must save his best friend from a demon that wants to steal his heart—literally.
Ren says he’s in love, but Colin knows better.
Sure, he can’t remember much about how it all began. But he remembers dancing at a club he and Ren were too young to dance in. He remembers the boys who harassed them on their way home. He remembers a ghost emerging from the trees, and a white hand reaching for Ren through a thick fog. What Colin can’t remember is what happened next. Only two things are clear to him: Ren is different now, and the new guy vying for his heart is not who he claims to be.
With the help of two unlikely allies and a cranky old medium, Colin must learn to conquer his self-doubt and save his best friend from a love that could cost him his life.
Equal parts campy and bewitching, Corey Liu’s debut YA novel explores predation, isolation, and what happens when a childhood dream of fairytale romance turns into a deadly nightmare.
2026 Sibert Award Honor
Discover the story of young James Baldwin in this ode to the legendary writer and the power of the written word—with exquisite prose from acclaimed poet Quartez Harris, and breathtaking illustrations from New York Times bestselling creator and Caldecott Honoree Gordon C. James.
The first time Jimmy read a book the words clung to him like glitter…
Before James Baldwin was a celebrated novelist, essayist, playwright, poet, and activist, he was a boy who fell in love with stories. Words opened up new worlds for young Jimmy, who read and wrote at every opportunity. He ultimately realized his dreams of becoming an author and giving voice to his community, and in doing so he showed the world the fullness of Black American life.
This picture book biography of an American icon is a poetic introduction to James Baldwin and celebration of the power of language. Additional biographical information and personal notes from the author and illustrator round out this stunning celebration of Baldwin’s life and work.
★ Lyrical, accessible true story of an American icon, with bonus information at the back of the book
★ Beautiful, vibrant art from Gordon C. James, two-time winner of the Kirkus Prize, a Caldecott honoree, and Coretta Scott King honoree, and Society of Illustrators Gold Medalist!
★ Celebrates the power of reading, hard work, and following your dreams
2026 American Indian Youth Literature Award Honor for Picture Books
★ “Spillett captures the joy of the round dance, and a feeling of belonging and connection offered in intergenerational Indigenous community.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ “Simple and tender.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
From New York Times bestselling author Tasha Spillett and illustrator Daniel Ramirez comes a joyous intergenerational celebration of gender self-expression and acceptance through an Indigenous lens.
In the spirit of beloved books like Julián is a Mermaid, here is a moving intergenerational story celebrating identity, self-expression, and the realization that even within our traditions, there is room for beautiful reinvention.
GNCRT Outstanding Comics Honor Books
For readers of Dog Man and The Bad Guys comes a fun and zany early graphic novel series starring a crew of scissor-wielding hairdresser superheroes saving the city from evildoers bent on creating havoc and bad haircuts.
The Snips is a superhero series filled with action, adventure, comedy, and hijinks for readers who love Dav Pilkey and animated television shows like Scooby-Doo and Guess Who. The Snips aren’t your average heroes – Casco, Patty, Letty, Nubes, and Flealix the Dog make up Scissor City’s beloved crew of crime-fighting, mystery-solving barbers! But not everyone in Scissor City is a fan of their dazzling dos and wacky hair inventions. Buzz and Boffo Buzzington, the descendants of the creator of the buzz cut, have been desperately trying to find a way to overthrow the Snips, restore Buzz Corp—their family’s company—to the top of the hair-cutting world, and finally earn the respect of their father Biff Buzzington Sr. Can the Snips keep the citizens of Scissor City safe from the hijinks of the Bad Buzz Boyz and still give amazing hairdos?
This easy-to-read graphic novel series will be perfect for kids 7-10, those who are reluctant readers or newly independent readers, as well as kids who just like jokes, puns, and outrageous humor.
And don’t miss the next book in the Snips series: Enter the Wigmaster!
An Eisner Award Nominee
A GNCRT Outstanding Comics Award Honor Book
“Beautiful, spooky, and emotional.” —Kirkus
“Excruciatingly heart-wrenching and deeply affecting, drawn with nostalgia and care.” —Booklist, starred review
“Supernatural suspense keeps readers on their toes while complex characterizations create fodder for nuanced and empathetic discussion surrounding mental health stigma and bullying.” — Publishers Weekly
“A bold accomplishment that provides an unflinching yet compassionate look at schizoaffective disorder, and how love can help those living with it.” – School Library Journal
In this lush and romantic queer horror graphic novel, a troubled teen disappears from his small town—sending his loved ones on a paranormal journey to bring him home.
Noah is heartbroken. He returns from Bible camp to find that Alex, his secret boyfriend, has had a breakdown and disappeared. He wishes more than anything that he hadn’t left that day.
Sky is determined. She’ll stop at nothing to find her childhood friend, even if it means alienating the people she loves.
Izzy is ashamed. She knew something weird was going on with Alex, and she didn’t say anything to her boyfriend, Jamie—Alex’s twin brother. If she had, would Alex still be here?
Jamie is angry. Angry at Alex for being gone, angry at himself for not noticing something was wrong, and angry at his long-dead mother, Desdemona, who had problems of her own.
But what if there was something more to Desdemona’s demons? Why is Jamie seeing her ghost? And can he get past his hatred of her if it means finding out what happened to his brother?
2026 Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement
Featured Titles
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Basket Ball
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We Are the Ship
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Abe’s Honest Words
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Moses
2027 Children’s Literature Lecture Award Winner
