American Library Association Award Winners 2026

For a complete list of ALA awards winners or to watch the announcement ceremony visit, https://www.ala.unikron.com

 

Pura Belpré Pura Belpré Awards

Pura Belpré Awards honoring Latino writers and illustrators whose children's and young adult

books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience.

Belpré Children’s Illustration Award

“Popo the Xolo,” illustrated by Abraham Matias, written by Paloma Angelina Lopez and

published by Charlesbridge.

Belpré Illustration Honor Books

“A-Ztec: A Bilingual Alphabet Book,” illustrated and written by Emmanuel Valtierra and

published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido

“The Invisible Parade,”illustrated by John Picacio, written by Leigh Bardugo and John Picacio and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

Belpré Children’s Author Award

“The Pecan Sheller,” written by Lupe Ruiz-Flores and published by Carolrhoda Books, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.

Belpré Children’s Author Honor Books

"A Hero’s Guide to Summer Vacation," written by Pablo Cartaya and published by Kokila, an

imprint of Penguin Random House

“The Island of Forgotten Gods,” written by Victor Piñeiro and published by Sourcebooks Young Readers, an imprint of Sourcebooks Kids

“A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez,” written by María Dolores Águila and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing.

Belpré Young Adult Author Award

"On the Wings of la Noche," written by Vanessa L. Torres and published by Alfred A. Knopf, an

imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House.

Belpré Young Adult Author Honor Books

“Rosa by Any Other Name,” written by Hailey Alcaraz and published by Viking, an imprint of

Penguin Random House.

"Silenced Voices: Reclaiming Memories from the Guatemalan Genocide," written and illustrated by Pablo Leon and published by HarperAlley, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. 

“The Story of My Anger,” written by Jasminne Mendez and published by Dial Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

Coretta Scott King Book Awards

Coretta Scott King Book Awards recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults.

King Author Award Book

“Will’s Race for Home,” written by Jewell Parker Rhodes, is the King Author Book winner. The book is published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

King Author Honor Books

“The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze,” written by Derrick Barnes and published by Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

“The Library in the Woods,” written by Calvin Alexander Ramsey, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie and published by Carolrhoda Books, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. 

“Split the Sky,” written by Marie Arnold and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

King Illustrator Award Book

“The Library in the Woods,” illustrated by R. Gregory Christie and written by Calvin Alexander Ramsey, is the King Illustrator Book award winner. This book is published by Carolrhoda Books, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.

King Illustrator Honor Books

"André: André Leon Talley–A Fabulously Fashionable Fairy Tale," illustrated by Lamont O’Neal, written by Carole Boston Weatherford and Rob Sanders and published by Henry Holt and Company, an imprint of Macmillan Publishing Group.

"City Summer, Country Summer," illustrated by Alexis Franklin, written by Kiese Laymon and published by Kokila, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award

Arriel Vinson for “Under the Neon Lights,” published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement

Kadir Nelson is the winner of the Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. The award pays tribute to the quality and magnitude of beloved children’s author Virginia Hamilton. Nelson is a renowned artist and storyteller whose work as both author and illustrator appears in over 30 children’s books. He has received numerous honors for his contributions to children’s literature, including the Caldecott Medal, Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award, Robert F. Sibert Medal, and multiple New York Times Best Illustrated Book distinctions.

John Newbery Medal

John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature. 

“All the Blues in the Sky,” written by Renée Watson and published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing.

Newbery Honor Books

“The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli," written and illustrated by Karina Yan Glaser and published by Allida, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

”A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez," written by María Dolores Águila and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing.

”The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story," written by Daniel Nayeri and published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido.

”The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest," written by Aubrey Hartman, illustrated by

Marcin Minor and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

Randolph Caldecott Medal

Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children.

“Fireworks,” illustrated by Cátia Chien, written by Matthew Burgess, and published by Clarion Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Caldecott Honor Books

“Every Monday Mabel,” illustrated and written by Jashar Awan and published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.

“Our Lake,” illustrated and written by Angie Kang and published by Kokila, an imprint of Penguin, Random House.

“Stalactite & Stalagmite: A Big Tale from a Little Cave”, illustrated and written

by Drew Beckmeyer and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.

“Sundust,” illustrated and written by Zeke Peña and published by Kokila, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

2023 Pura Belpré Celebración

Sunday, June 25, 2023

1:00-4:00 PM

 

Palmer House Hilton

Red Lacquer Room

 

17 East Monroe Street

Chicago, IL 60603

 

 

Pura Belpré Awards honoring Latinx writers and illustrators whose children's and young adult books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience: 

 

“Where Wonder Grows,” illustrated by Adriana M. Garcia, is the 2023 Pura Belpré Youth Illustration Award winner. The book was written by Xelena González and published by Cinco Puntos Press, an imprint of Lee & Low Books Inc.

 

Six Belpré Youth Illustration Honor Books were named: 

“The Coquíes Still Sing,” illustrated by Krystal Quiles, written by Karina Nicole González and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group.

 

“A Land of Books: Dreams of Young Mexihcah Word Painters,” illustrated and written by Duncan Tonatiuh and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS.

 

“Magic: Once Upon a Faraway Land,” illustrated and written by Mirelle Ortega and published by Cameron Kids, an imprint of Cameron + Company, a division of ABRAMS.

 

“Phenomenal AOC: The Roots and Rise of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez,” illustrated by Loris Lora, written by Anika Aldamuy Denise and published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, a division of HarperCollins Publishers.

 

“Srta. Quinces,” illustrated and written by Kat Fajardo, translated by Scholastic Inc. and published by Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.

 

“Still Dreaming / Seguimos soñando,” illustrated by Magdalena Mora, written by Claudia Guadalupe Martínez, translated by Luis Humberto Crosthwaite and published by Children’s Book Press, an imprint of Lee & Low Books Inc.

 

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“Frizzy,” written by Claribel A. Ortega, is the 2023 Pura Belpré Children’s Author Award winner. The book is illustrated by Rose Bousamra and published by First Second, a division of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group.

 

Three Belpré Children’s Author Honor Books were named:

“The Coquíes Still Sing,” written by Karina Nicole González, illustrated by Krystal Quiles and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. 

 

“The Notebook Keeper: A Story of Kindness from the Border,” written by Stephen Briseño, illustrated by Magdalena Mora and published by Random House Studio, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House.

 

“Tumble,” written by Celia C. Pérez and published by Kokila, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

 

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“Burn Down, Rise Up,” written by Vincent Tirado, is the 2023 Pura Belpré Young Adult Author Award winner. The book is published by Sourcebooks Fire, an imprint of Sourcebooks. 

 

Three Belpré Young Adult Author Honor Book were named:

“Breathe and Count Back from Ten,” written by Natalia Sylvester and published by Clarion Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

 

“High Spirits,” written by Camille Gomera-Tavarez and published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido.

 

“The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School,” written by Sonora Reyes and published by Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

 

The Pura Belpré Celebración 2021

 

The Pura Belpré Celebración took place on Sunday, June 27^th, 2020, at the virtual ALA Book Award Celebration.

 

Here is the video of la celebración. ¡Felicidades a todos!

 

 

 

The award is named after Pura Belpré, the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is 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. It is co-sponsored by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), divisions of the American Library Association (ALA), and REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking, an ALA affiliate.

2021 Children's Author Award Winner  

Efren Divided book cover imageEfrén Divided, written by Ernesto Cisneros and published by Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

Efrén Divided brings us the story of twelve-year-old Efrén, whose world flips when his mother is deported to Mexico, but whose determination to reunite his family never wavers. Ernesto Cisneros’s debut novel adeptly balances hope and heart break in this timely story of undocumented individuals working to build a better life.

2021 Children's Author Honor Books

The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez book cover imageThe Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez, written by Adrianna Cuevas and published by Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Macmillan Publishing Group.

Army kid Nestor Lopez knows the drill: new deployment, new town, don't settle in, no real friends. But his new posting has a mystery: animals are disappearing and afraid (they told him themselves), and  Abuela is acting suspicious. To rescue the town, Nestor may have to break his own rules. 

Lupe Wong Won't Dance book cover imageLupe Wong Won’t Dance, written by Donna Barba Higuera and published by Levine Querido.

Lupe Wong never imagined a goofy dance could hamstring her chance to meet her pitching idol and fellow Mexinese/Chinacan, Fu Li Hernandez. But taking up the cause against square dancing in gym class proves to be more challenging, and enlightening, than this opinionated dreamer expected

2021 Youth Illustrator Award Winner

Vamos! Let's Go Eat book cover¡Vamos! Let’s Go Eat, illustrated and written by Raúl Gonzalez, and published by Versify, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

¡Vamos! Let’s Go Eat follows Little Lobo and his pet sidekick Bernabé on a savory adventure, fetching lunch for Toro y sus amigos ahead of the Lucha Libre 5000. Each food truck stop highlights diverse and delectable cuisine, and is flavored with cultural references and a vibrant community of food vendors.

 

2021 Youth Illustrator Honor Books

Sharuko book cover imageSharuko: El Arqueólogo Peruano/Peruvian Archaeologist Julio C. Tello, illustrated by Elisa Chavarri, written by Monica Brown, and published by Children’s Book Press, an imprint of Lee & Low Books Inc.

 

This bilingual biography traces the life of Julio C. Tello, from a young curious boy nicknamed “Sharuko” in Quechua, to his career as an accomplished archaeologist who elevated Peru’s indigenous history. Elements of Peruvian culture and landscape are captured in Chavarri’s splendid watercolor and gouache illustrations.

2021 Young Adult Author Award Winner

Furia cover imageFuria, written by Yamile Saied Méndez and published by Algonquin Young Readers, an imprint of Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill.

Furia brings us a story about Camila “La Furia” Hassan, a young Argentine girl and fútbol player with monumental talent. Living in a household that considers fútbol a boys’ sport and a society fighting for gender equality, Camila goes against all odds to follow her dreams and her heart. 

 

2021 Young Adult Author Honor Books

Never Look Back cover imageNever Look Back, written by Lilliam Rivera and published by Bloomsbury YA.

 

In Never Look Back, Lilliam Rivera depicts the diverse culture of the Bronx and its people through the nascent romance of Eury and Pheus. This retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice evokes the smooth sounds of bachata, joys of Caribbean heritage, and the trauma caused by grief and loss.

We Are Not from Here cover imageWe Are Not from Here, written by Jenny Torres Sanchez and published by Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

 

We Are Not from Here is a compelling and realistic story of teenage friends, Pulga, Pequeña and Chico, forced to leave their homes in Guatemala and embark upon a dangerous and uncertain journey to the U.S. hoping for safety. An eye-opening and timely read.