The very best in literature, digital media, video, and audiobooks for children and young adults was announced at the American Library Association’s 2025 Youth Media Awards on January 27, 2025.

These awards guide librarians, educators, parents, and others in finding the best materials for children and teens. Every award is carefully selected by committees of librarians, literature, and media experts, who work tirelessly throughout the year to read, listen, and watch everything available in their respective award categories. This is the day that book lovers all over the world live for!

I’ll add that youth literature is not just for the young—they are for everyone. As a former Children’s Librarian, one of the things I absolutely love about youth literature is that the people in them are often experiencing things for the first time. Themes of identity, discovery, friendship, and conflict (societal/cultural/familial) are often in play and make for the most riveting and vital stories. The breadth and diversity of the experiences represented in these books will challenge and inform, inspire tears and joy, and take readers on journeys real, imagined, and everything in between.

If you’re looking for your next favorite read or recommendations for someone else, look no further—we’ve got you covered. All the holdings of the Los Angeles Public Library are reflected below, so get your library card ready!

John Newbery Medal: The most outstanding contribution to children’s literature

• The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly. Twelve-year-old Michael Rosario meets Ridge, a mysterious teenage time traveler from the future. Time travel, friendship, first loves, and found family set within the looming Y2K crisis.

John Newbery Honors:

• Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar
• Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All by Chanel Miller
• One Big Open Sky by Lesa Cline-Ransome
• The Wrong Way Home by Kate O’Shaughnessy

Randolph Caldecott Medal: The most distinguished American picture book for children

• Chooch Helped, illustrated by Rebecca Lee Kunz and written by Andrea L. Rogers. An older sibling learns how to make space for her little brother as they take part in their family’s Cherokee traditions.

Randolph Caldecott Honors:

• Home in a Lunchbox by Cherry Mo
• My Daddy is a Cowboy, illustrated by C.G. Esperanza, written by Stephanie Seales
• Noodles on a Bicycle, illustrated by Gracey Zhang, written by Kyo Maclear
• Up, Up, Ever Up! Junko Tabei: A Life in the Mountains, illustrated by Yuko Shimizu, written by Anita Yasuda

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

• Twenty-Four Seconds From Now… by Jason Reynolds (Author Award). A tender, funny stream of conscious story from the perspective of Neon, a teen on the verge of experiencing a huge first with his girlfriend Aria.
• My Daddy is a Cowboy, illustrated by C.G. Esperanza, written by Stephanie Seales (Illustrator Award). A young girl and her father ride horses through the city before dawn. A celebration of black joy and love.

Coretta Scott King Honor Books:

• Black Girl You Are Atlas by Renée Watson, illustrated by Ekua Holmes
• Black Star by Kwame Alexander
• One Big Open Sky by Lesa Cline-Ransome

Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books

• Coretta: The Autobiography of Mrs. Coretta Scott King, illustrated by Ekua Holmes, written by Coretta Scott King with the Reverend Dr. Barbara Reynolds
• Everywhere Beauty is Harlem: The Vision of Photographer Roy DeCarava, illustrated by E.B. Lewis, written by Gary Golio
• Go Forth and Tell: The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller, illustrated by April Harrison, written by Breanna J. McDaniel

Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award

• Kwame Crashes the Underworld, written by Craig Kofi Farmer. Twelve-year old Kwame enters the Ghanaian underworld to help his grandmother save the world.

Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award

• Jimmy’s Rhythm & Blues: The Extraordinary Life of James Baldwin, illustrated by Jamiel Law, written by Michelle Meadows. Chronicles the life of legendary writer, orator, activist, and intellectual James Baldwin.

Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature - The Printz Award is celebrating its 25th anniversary

• Brownstone, written by Samuel Teer, illustrated by Mar Julia. A coming of age story about coming into your heritage, even when you don’t quite fit in.

Michael L. Printz Honor Books

• Bright Red Fruit, written by Safia Elhillo
• Compound Fracture, written by Andrew Joseph White
• The Deep Dark, written by Molly Knox Ostertag
• Road Home, written by Rex Ogle

Schneider Family Book Award - books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience

Schneider Younger Children’s Award

• A Little Like Magic, written and illustrated by Sarah Kurpiel. A child using a motorized wheelchair is anxious about leaving the house to go to an ice sculpture festival. A thoughtful, magical story about venturing outside one’s comfort zone.

Schneider Younger Children Honor Books

• Monster Hands, written by Karen Kane and Jonaz McMillan, illustrated by Dion MBD
• You’re So Amazing, written by James and Lucy Catchpole, illustrated by Karen George

Schneider Middle-Grade Award

• Popcorn, written and illustrated by Rob Harrell. Will Andrew be able to get through Picture Day without having a public panic attack? A heartfelt, hilarious story about letting go and accepting help.

Schneider Middle Grade Honor Books

• Louder than Hunger, written by John Schu
• Shark Teeth, written by Sherri Winston

Schneider Young Adult Award

• Chronically Dolores, written by Maya Van Wagenen. Dolores Mendoza has been diagnosed with a chronic bladder condition called interstitial cystitis. Just when she thinks her social life is over, she meets Terpsichore Berkenbosch-Jones and they make a deal that seems foolproof… or is it?

Schneider Young Adult Honor Books

• Light Enough to Float, written by Lauren Seal
• On the Bright Side, written by Anna Sortino

Alex Awards for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences

1. Beautiful People: My Thirteen Truths About Disability by Melissa Blake. Disability activist and social media influencer Melissa Blake delivers a memoir and call to action for disabled people and their allies.
2. Big Jim and the White Boy: An American Classic Reimagined by David F. Walker. A graphic novel that radically remixes the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain by putting Jim, an enslaved Black man, and his quest to search for his family front and center.
3. Daughters of Shandong by Eve J. Chung. A mother and her daughters escape China during the Communist revolution to Taiwan. A story of resilience amidst war and the love between mothers, daughters, and sisters.
4. Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark. Eveen the Eviscerator is sworn to the Matron of Assassins and has never missed her mark. Eveen’s newest mission forces her to confront her past and an unforgettable vow.
5. How to Solve Your Own Murder: A Novel by Kristen Perrin. Frances Adams spends her lifetime trying to solve her own foretold murder. Sixty years later, Annie Adams, her great-niece, is out to solve the mystery. Will she suffer the same fate as her aunt?
6. I Feel Awful, Thanks, written and illustrated by Lara Pickle. Joana is a witch who loves creating potions and has landed her dream job with a London coven. Alone and lonely, she feels mired by self-doubt and sadness. After talking to a professional, she realizes that she must accept herself in order to find her place in the world.
7. I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones. Seventeen-year-old Tolly Driver is a good kid, but his life isn't really going anywhere in his small west Texas town… until he’s cursed to become a murderer.
8. The Witch of Colchis by Rosie Hewlett. Medea is a witch and has been shunned for her abilities. When Jason, a handsome young hero sets out to obtain the legendary Golden Fleece, Medea decides to throw in her lot with his and embarks on a journey of a lifetime.
9. The Witchstone by Henry H. Neff. Laszlo is 800 years old, a Curse Keeper overseeing the Drakeford Curse, and really bad at his job. When new management rolls in, they deliver an ultimatum to maximize the curse’s potential or be returned to Primordial Ooze. Laszlo has to work with Maggie Drakeford, the family’s current Curse Bearer, to break the spell before it becomes permanent.
10. Woman, Life, Freedom by Marjane Satrapi. On September 13th, 2022, Mahsa Amini was arrested...

Mildred L. Batchelder Award - An outstanding children’s book originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States, and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States

• John the Skeleton, written by Triinu Laan and illustrated by Marja-Liisa Plats. John is a freshly retired classroom skeleton. When he is adopted by Grams and Gramps, he undertakes exciting adventures. A tender examination of life, enjoying the little things, and caring for one another.

Mildred L. Batchelder Honor Books

• Johnny, the Sea, and Me, written by Melba Escobar and illustrated by Elizabeth Builes
• Mr. Lepron’s Mystery Soup, written by Giovanna Zoboli and illustrated by Mariachiara Di Giorgio
• A Sleepless Night, written by Micaela Chirif and illustrated by Joaquín Camp

Pura Belpré Awards - Pura Belpré Awards honor 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

• The Dream Catcher, illustrated by Marcelo Verdad (Children’s Illustration Award winner). Little Miguel and Abuelito work under the hot Oaxacan sun while reflecting on their dreams for themselves and for each other. Miguel’s dream? To be reunited with his parents.

Pura Belpré Illustration for Honor Books

• Abuelo, the Sea, and Me illustrated by Tatiana Gardel, written by Ismée Williams
• A Maleta Full of Treasures, illustrated by Juana Medina, written by Natalia Sylvester

Pura Belpré Children’s Author Award

• Lola, written by Karla Arenas Valenti (Children’s Author Award winner). Lola’s brother Alex has been stricken with a mysterious ailment. Lola must journey to Foresta, a magical land that holds the key to saving her brother’s life.

Pura Belpré Children’s Author Honor Books

• Cruzita and the Mariacheros, written by Ashley Granillo
• Ultraviolet, written by Aida Salazar

Pura Belpré Young Adult Author Award

• Shut Up, This Is Serious, written by Carolina Ixta (Young Adult Author Award winner). Belén Dolores Itzel del Toro is going through tough times, to put it mildly. Her father left, she may not be able to graduate, and her best friend, Leti, is pregnant. A story exploring generational trauma, friendship, and chosen family.

Pura Belpré Young Adult Author Honor Books

• Libertad, written by Bessie Flores Zaldívar
• Wild Dreamers, written by Margarita Engle

The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award - The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most distinguished informational book for children

• Life After Whale: The Amazing Ecosystem of a Whale Fall, written by Lynn Brunelle and illustrated by Jason Chin. What happens when a blue whale, the world’s largest animal, dies? Take a journey through this circle of life, which spans over a century.

Robert F. Sibert Honor Books

• Call Me Roberto!: Roberto Clemente Goes to Bat for Latinos, written by Nathalie Alonso, illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez
• The Enigma Girls: How Ten Teenagers Broke Ciphers, Kept Secrets, and Helped Win World War II, written by Candace Fleming
• The Girl Who Sang: A Holocaust Memoir of Hope and Survival, written by Estelle Nadel and Sammy Savos with Bethany Strout, illustrated by Sammy Savos
• Wings of an Eagle: The Gold Medal Dreams of Billy Mills, written by Billy Mills and Donna Janell Bowman, illustrated by S. D. Nelson

Stonewall Book Awards - Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award given annually to English-language works of 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 (Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s Literature Award). Indu is from the moon, but he lives on Earth with his blended family and has never quite belonged. Lonely, he calls out to the moon to take him home, and the moon agrees. As the departure date nears, Indu must decide what home truly is.

Stonewall Honor Books for children’s literature

• Marley’s Pride, written by Joëlle Retener, illustrated by DeAnn Wiley
• Murray Out of Water, written by Taylor Tracy
• The Flicker, written by H.E. Edgmon
• What I Must Tell the World: How Lorraine Hansberry Found Her Voice, written by Jay Leslie, illustrated by Loveis Wise

Stonewall Young Adult Literature

• Canto Contigo, written by Jonny Garza Villa (Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Young Adult Literature Award). Rafael Alvarez is a mariachi star used to getting what he wants, until he meets Rey Chavez. A rivals-to-lovers romance that celebrates Mexican culture, family, and making your own path.

Stonewall Honor Books for Young Adult Literature

• Most Ardently: A Pride and Prejudice Remix, written by Gabe Cole Novoa
• Navigating With You, written by Jeremy Whitley, illustrated by Cassio Ribeiro
• Road Home, written by Rex Ogle
• Time and Time Again, written by Chatham Greenfield

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award - The most distinguished beginning reader book

• Vacation, written by Ame Dyckman and illustrated by Mark Teague. Bat, Cat, and Rat decide to go on a vacation, and hilarity ensues. Dynamic, funny, and sure to inspire beginning readers to keep reading.

Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Books

• Fox Versus Fox, written and illustrated by Corey R. Tabor
• Towed by Toad, written and illustrated by Jashar Awan

William C. Morris Award - a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens

• Not Like Other Girls, written by Meredith Adamo. Outcast Jo-Lynn Kirby’s former best friend, Maddie, comes to her for help and suddenly disappears. In order to find out what happened to Maddie, Jo-Lynn must contend with their pasts.

William C. Morris Award finalists

• Aisle Nine, written by Ian X. Cho
• Dead Things Are Closer Than They Appear, written by Robin Wasley
• Shut Up, This Is Serious, written by Carolina Ixta
• The Wilderness of Girls, written by Madeline Claire Franklin

YALSA 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, written by Paula Yoo. Accounts from journalists, police officers, business owners, firefighters, and activists are woven together to provide an accounting of what occurred before, during, and after the 1992 Los Angeles riots.

YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults finalists

• A Greater Goal: The Epic Battle for Equal Pay in Women’s Soccer—and Beyond, written by Elizabeth Rusch
• Homebody, written by Theo Parish
• Shackled: A Tale of Wronged Kids, Rogue Judges, and a Town that Looked Away, written by Candy J. Cooper
• The Unboxing of a Black Girl, written by Angela Shanté

Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature - The award promotes Asian/Pacific American culture and heritage and is awarded based on literary and artistic merit

Picture Book winner

• Aloha Everything, written by Kaylin Melia George, illustrated by Mae Waite (Picture Book Award winner). Rhyming poetry explores the meaning of aloha through Hawaiian history, culture, and ecology. A breathtaking, epic journey through the majestic islands of Hawai’i.

Picture Book honor

• The Rock in My Throat, written by Kao Kalia Yang, illustrated by Jiemei Lin

The Children’s Literature Award winner

• Continental Drifter, written and illustrated by Kathy MacLeod. Kathy has a Thai mother and an American father. Most of the year she lives in Bangkok, looking forward to sweet summers by the sea in Maine. Feeling that she doesn’t quite belong in one place or the other, she has to find her own way within the two worlds she inhabits.

Children’s Literature honors

• Mabuhay!, written and illustrated by Zachary Sterling

Young Adult Literature winner

• Everything We Never Had, written by Randy Ribay. Four generations of Filipino American boys spanning the 1930s to 2020s navigate identity, family, and masculinity. Unfolding in multiple perspectives, each Maghabol boy’s story flows into the next generation. How will Enzo, the last, contend with all that he has inherited?

Young Adult Literature honor titles

• Lunar New Year Love Story, written by Gene Luen Yang, illustrated by LeUyen Pham
• Dragonfruit, written by Makiia Lucier

The Sydney Taylor Book Award - presented annually to outstanding books for children and teens that authentically portray the Jewish experience. Presented by the Association of Jewish Libraries since 1968, the award encourages the publication and widespread use of quality Judaic literature

Sydney Taylor Book Award Gold Medalists

Picture Book

• An Etrog from Across the Sea, written by Deborah Bodin Cohen and Kerry Olitzky, illustrated by Stacey Dressen McQueen. Papa is on a sea voyage and has promised to bring home a perfect etrog (yellow citron) for Sukkot. Leah and Aaron wait through Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, but Papa is nowhere to be found. Will he return in time for Sukkot?

Middle Grade

• The Girl Who Sang: A Holocaust Memoir of Hope and Survival, written by Estelle Nadel and Sammy Savos with Bethany Strout, illustrated by Sammy Savos. A graphic novel memoir about Estelle Nadel, who was seven years old when the Nazis invaded Poland. Estelle lost her ability to sing when she survived the deaths of her parents, siblings, and others amid the horrors of the Holocaust. A haunting account of profound loss, trauma, and survival.

Young Adult

• Night Owls, written by A.R. Vishny. Clara and Molly are Estries–owl-shifting female vampires from Jewish folklore. They work at a historic movie theater during the day and hunt men in secret. When Molly’s girlfriend disappears, Clara must work with Boaz to find her within New York’s monstrous underbelly. Romance, monsters, and mystery abound.

Sydney Taylor Book Award Silver Medalists

Picture Book

• Amazing Abe: How Abraham Cahan's Newspaper Gave a Voice to Jewish Immigrants, written by Norman H. Finkelstein, illustrated by Vesper Stamper
• Joyful Song: A Naming Story, written by Lesléa Newman, illustrated by Susan Gal
• Rising, written by Sidura Ludwig, illustrated by Sophia Vincent Guy
• The Tree of Life: How a Holocaust Sapling Inspired the World, written by Elisa Boxer, illustrated by Alianna Rozentsveig

Middle Grade

• Across So Many Seas, written by Ruth Behar
• Finn and Ezra’s Bar Mitzvah Time Loop, written by Joshua S. Levy
• Just Shy of Ordinary, written by A.J. Sass

Young Adult

• The Forbidden Book, written by Sacha Lamb
• Trajectory, written by Cambria Gordon