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The top kids and teen book award winners for 2025

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As a lifelong book lover, I believe there’s something uniquely magical about books for young readers. These books can instill empathy, heighten imagination, and spark a love for adventure and new worlds. They stay with us long after we’ve turned the final page, becoming touchstones of our childhood and beyond.

Each year, the American Library Association (ALA) celebrates these exceptional stories, honoring the best in children’s and young adult literature with the Youth Media Awards, including the prestigious Newbery, Caldecott, Printz, and Coretta Scott King awards, among others. On Jan. 27, this year’s books were announced by the ALA after being chosen by a committee of librarians and other book experts for their creativity, originality, and outstanding contribution to children’s and young adult literature.

Check out the list of this year’s winners below, then explore these award-winning books at your local library or by using the Libby app.


The First State of BeingJohn Newbery Medal (most outstanding contribution to children's literature)

The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly


Chooch HelpedRandolph Caldecott Medal Winner (most distinguished American picture book for children)

Chooch Helped illustrated by Rebecca Lee Kunz and written by Andrea L. Rogers


Twenty-Four Seconds From Now...Coretta Scott King Book Award Winner (recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults)

Twenty-Four Seconds from Now... by Jason Reynolds


Black Girl You Are AtlasKing Author Honor Book

Black Girl You Are Atlas by Renée Watson, illustrated by Ekua Holmes


Black StarKing Author Honor Book

Black Star by Kwame Alexander


One Big Open SkyKing Author Honor Book

One Big Open Sky by Lesa Cline-Ransome


My Daddy Is a CowboyKing Illustrator Book Winner

My Daddy Is a Cowboy illustrated by C.G. Esperanza, written by Stephanie Seales


Kwame Crashes the UnderworldCoretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award

Kwame Crashes the Underworld by Craig Kofi Farmer


BrownstoneMichael L. Printz Award Winner for Excellence in Young Adult Literature

Brownstone by Samuel Teer, illustrated by Mar Julia


A Little Like MagicSchneider Family Book Award Younger Children’s Category Winner (books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience)

A Little Like Magic written and illustrated by Sarah Kurpiel


PopcornSchneider Family Book Award Middle Grade Category Winner (books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience)

Popcorn written and illustrated by Rob Harrell


Chronically DoloresSchneider Family Book Award Young Adult Category Winner (books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience)

Chronically Dolores by Maya Van Wagenen


Beautiful PeopleAlex Awards (10 best adult books that appeal to teens)

Beautiful People: My Thirteen Truths About Disability by Melissa Blake


Big Jim and the White BoyAlex Awards (10 best adult books that appeal to teens)

Big Jim and the White Boy: An American Classic Reimagined by David F. Walker, illustrated by Marcus Kwame Anderson


Daughters of ShandongAlex Awards (10 best adult books that appeal to teens)

Daughters of Shandong by Eve J. Chung


The Dead Cat Tail AssassinsAlex Awards (10 best adult books that appeal to teens)

The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark


How to Solve Your Own MurderAlex Awards (10 best adult books that appeal to teens)

How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin


I Feel Awful, ThanksAlex Awards (10 best adult books that appeal to teens)

I Feel Awful, Thanks written and illustrated by Lara Pickle


I Was a Teenage SlasherAlex Awards (10 best adult books that appeal to teens)

I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones


The Witch of ColchisAlex Awards (10 best adult books that appeal to teens)

The Witch of Colchis by Rosie Hewlett


The WitchstoneAlex Awards (10 best adult books that appeal to teens)

The Witchstone by Henry H. Neff


John the SkeletonMildred L. Batchelder Award Winner (outstanding children’s book originally published in a language other than English)

John the Skeleton by Triinu Laan, illustrated by Marja-Liisa Plats, translated by Adam Cullen


A Plate of HopeOdyssey Award Winner for Children (best audiobook)

🎧 A Plate of Hope: The Inspiring Story of Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen by Erin Frankel, narrated by Luis Carlos de La Lombana


How the Boogeyman Became a PoetOdyssey Award Winner for Young Adults (best audiobook)

🎧 How the Boogeyman Became a Poet written and narrated by Tony Keith Jr.


LolaBelpré Children’s Author Award Winner (honoring Latino writers and illustrators)

Lola by Karla Arenas Valenti


Shut Up, This Is SeriousBelpré Young Adult Author Award Winner (honoring Latino writers and illustrators)

Shut Up, This Is Serious by Carolina Ixta


Life After WhaleRobert F. Sibert Informational Book Award Winner (most distinguished informational book for children)

Life After Whale: The Amazing Ecosystem of a Whale Fall by Lynn Brunelle, illustrated by Jason Chin


Lunar BoyStonewall Book Awards - Children’s Literature Winner (exceptional merit for children or teens relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience)

Lunar Boy written and illustrated by Jes and Cin Wibowo


Canto ContigoStonewall Book Awards - Young Adult Literature Winner (exceptional merit for children or teens relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience)

Canto Contigo by Jonny Garza Villa


VacationTheodor Seuss Geisel Award (most distinguished beginning reader book)

Vacation by Ame Dyckman, illustrated by Mark Teague


Not Like Other GirlsWilliam C. Morris Award (debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens)

Not Like Other Girls by Meredith Adamo


Rising From the AshesYALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults

Rising from the Ashes: Los Angeles, 1992. Edward Jae Song Lee, Latasha Harlins, Rodney King, and a City on Fire by Paula Yoo


Aloha EverythingAsian/Pacific American Awards for Literature - Picture Book

Aloha Everything by Kaylin Melia George, illustrated by Mae Waite


Continental DrifterAsian/Pacific American Awards for Literature - Children’s

Continental Drifter written and illustrated by Kathy MacLeod


Everything We Never HadAsian/Pacific American Awards for Literature - Young Adult

Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribay


An Etrog From Across the SeaSydney Taylor Book Award Gold Medalist - Picture Book (outstanding books that authentically portray the Jewish experience)

An Etrog from Across the Sea by Deborah Bodin Cohen and Kerry Olitzky, illustrated by Stacey Dressen McQueen


The Girl Who SangSydney Taylor Book Award Gold Medalist - Middle Grade (outstanding books that authentically portray the Jewish experience)

The Girl Who Sang: A Holocaust Memoir of Hope and Survival by Estelle Nadel and Sammy Savos with Bethany Strout, illustrated by Sammy Savos


Night OwlsSydney Taylor Book Award Gold Medalist - Young Adult (outstanding books that authentically portray the Jewish experience)

Night Owls by A. R. Vishny


*Title availability may vary by region.

Looking for more award-winning books? You can view the complete list of 2025 winners and honor titles and check out last year’s winners on Libby Life.

RELATED READ: The top children's & young adult book award winners for 2024

Published Jan 30, 2025

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About the Author

Madison Stoneburner Simon is a Marketing & Communications Specialist for OverDrive. When she’s not working, you can find her reading or creating content for her Bookstagram, teaching Pilates, or spending time with her husband and their three perfect pups. She is a proud member of The Junior League of Cleveland and loves volunteering in her community.

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