2026 Medalists

Board Book/Cloth Book

• GOLD (tie): Hi, How Are You? by Holly Rosensweig, Illustrated by Marina Borkun (Self-Published)

• GOLD (tie): Mary’s Colorful Garden by Raquel Rose (The Little Rose Shop)

• SILVER: When You Arrived: A Book About Birth by Aubrey Gann, Illustrated by Zoe Barnish (Self-Published)

• BRONZE: Nikki Kurt Lives in a Yurt by Nikki Kurt & Terry Tomei, Illustrated by Nikki Kurt (Drawing Positive Space)

Learning Order (Alphabet/Counting/Colors)

• GOLD: ABCs for the Soul by Natalie Cooper, Illustrated by Adrian Cooper (Olive Tree Tales)

• SILVER: We Went to the Grocery Store: An ABC Adventure by Suzanne Troup (Self-Published)

• BRONZE: The Moon and Me by Nielle P Marques (Greeny Books)

Activity Book 1 – Games, Arts & Crafts, etc.

• GOLD: Watercolor with Me: Flower Fairies by Sarah Simon (Paige Tate & Co)

• SILVER (tie): Color Your Own Dinosaur Postcard Book by Lucas Petrin (Farcountry Press)

• SILVER (tie): How to Draw Kawaii for Kids by Carissa Harris (Cider Mill Press)

• BRONZE: The Superhero Doodle Comic Book by D.E. Daley (Pencil & Paper Press Works, Co.)

Activity Book 2 – Educational, Science, History

• GOLD: Quiz Champs: Interactions in Nature by Manisha Nayak (WS Education)

• SILVER (tie): I Spy to Learn Japanese: Search, Find, Color, and Learn Japanese Words by Arisa Shibagaki Peters, Ph.D. (Self-Published)

• SILVER (tie): Rye’s Field Guide to Chicago by Emily Moser (The Curiosity Route)

• BRONZE (tie): Brain Hacks: Strategies to Rally Motivation and Get Things Done (Even When You Don’t Want To) by Michelle Garcia Winner and Jenny Sojat (Social Thinking)

• BRONZE (tie): Neurons, Activate! An Activity Book for Kids Designed to Engage and Grow Specific Neural Systems in Developing Brains of All Types by Dr. Tim Brown (Three-Pound Publishing)

Best Illustrator

• GOLD (tie): The White Raven by Kathryn Otoshi (Red Comet Press)

• GOLD (tie): Flora and the Jazzers by Astrid Sheckels (Waxwing Books)

• SILVER (tie): Tia Blu’s First Day of School by D.S. Kaye, Illustrations by Mariana Aldesou (Self-Published)

• SILVER (tie): Adventure on the Serengeti by Dorothy Potash (Dorothy Potash Books)

• BRONZE: Neville’s Oasis by Joann Howeth, Illustrated by Ann Patterson Bishop (Blue Balloon Books)

Picture Book – Preschool

• GOLD (tie): Are You Pooping? By Marquis Bartlett, Illustrated by Francesca Cosanti & Marquis Bartlett (Lily Coal Press)

• GOLD (tie): I’ve Loved You from the Start Written & Illustrated by Tabitha Paige (Paige Tate & Co)

• SILVER: The World May Say This, But I Believe That! by Kelly Tay, Illustrated by Chloe Chang (Juicy Parenting Pte. Ltd.)

• BRONZE: Baby Rabbit Builds a Habit by Benjamin Granlund, Illustrated by Lynn Granlund (Behavior Shift)

Picture Book – 4-8 Year Old

• GOLD (tie): A Wrong Turn in Space by Catherine Corcoran, Illustrated by Natalie Lundeen (Land Ahoy Press)

• GOLD (tie): I Wish That I Could Be A Whale by Kate Goldbas, Illustrated by Olivia Chindamo (Goldbas Music)

• SILVER: Bagel Finds His Center by Allyson Fisher, Illustrated by Jan Schmidt (Bryant House Books)

• BRONZE: Hanging Out With Gram by Nancy Viau, Illustrated by Amanda Lenz (Schiffer Kids)

Picture Book – All Ages

• GOLD: Today is a New Day by Justine Ramdas, Illustrated by Stella Maris Mongoldi (Inner Spark Media Inc.)

• SILVER: Purple Hands, Loving Hands by Mary Ann Ordinario, Illustrated by Beth Parrocha (ABC Educational Development Center Children’s Books, Inc)

• BRONZE: Gato Feo by Jime Wimmer (Wimmer Studios)

Juvenile Fiction – Early Reader/1st Chapter Books

• GOLD: Tiger Trials, Book One: Monkey Madness by J.P. Arkontaky, Illustrated by Andi Andriansyah (1784 Publishing)

• SILVER: Trial And Error by Robin Newman, Illustrated by Deborah Zemke (Creston Books)

• BRONZE: Dragons 101: Back to Dragonia by Chandrika Sanwal, Illustrated by Alina Slyshik (Wonder Pages Publication)

Pre-Teen Fiction – General

• GOLD (tie): How to Sell the World by Matt van Rensburg, Illustrated by Paul Thompson (Chugwater Studios)

• GOLD (tie): Christine and the Magic Charts by Alex Kolokolov and Natalia Kiseleva, Illustrated by Anastasiya Lykova (Data2Speak Inc)

• SILVER: King Coyote by Rachael MeyersJones (Jolly Fish Press)

• BRONZE: Forgotten Secrets of the Tuscarora Eye by D.L. Bush (Self-Published)

Pre-Teen Fiction – Fantasy/Sci-Fi

• GOLD (tie): Caput Mundi: The Head of the World (Book 1: Enarii) by B.R. Kang (AP Creative LLC)

• GOLD (tie): The Mage Pocket: Apprentice Alliance by Millie Florence (Sprouting Pen Press)

• SILVER (tie): The Agency of Magic and Mythical Creatures by Paul Regnier (Self-Published)

• SILVER (tie): Hobgoblin and the Stanky Eight by Kyle Sullivan (Hazy Dell Press)

• BRONZE: Anthem Lightner and the Realm of the Fount by Janet L. Bond (MindStir Media, LLC)

Pre-Teen Fiction – Mystery

• GOLD: Amelia Moon and the Sundance Shadow by RJ Roark (Inner Citadel)

• SILVER: The Secret of Moonrise Manor by Stephanie Bearce (Shadow Mountain Publishing)

• BRONZE: The Central Park Irregulars by Paul Cicchini (One Knight Publishing LLC)

Pre-Teen Fiction – Historical

• GOLD: Red and Me by Terry Lee Caruthers (Star Bright Books)

• SILVER: Against the Gale: The Impossible Rescue of the Princess Sophia by David Dubczak (Conjunction Media)

• BRONZE: The Jingu Magical Garden by Gretchen Rose (Self-Published)

Pre-Teen Fiction – Mature Issues

• GOLD: The Cassette Tape Secret by Danielle Herzog (Jolly Fish Press)

• SILVER: Decoding the Moon by Suzanne Jacobs Lipshaw (Warren Publishing, Inc)

• BRONZE: Orphanland by Lauren Fischer (Mission Point Press)

Young Adult Fiction – General

• GOLD:The Complex Art of Being Maisie Clark by Sabrina Kleckner (Flux)

• SILVER:Declan Someone (The Journey of Declan Noone) by Kate McElderry (Foreshore Books)

• BRONZE: Sanctified by V. Romas Burton (Quill & Flame Publishing House)

Young Adult Fiction – Fantasy/Sci-Fi

• GOLD: Deficient by Michael Solis (Mintaka Press)

• SILVER: Channeling Marilyn by Mima Tipper (She Writes Press)

• BRONZE: Tidestep – The Water Anchor by F.A. Calder (Self-Published)

Young Adult Fiction – Horror/Mystery

• GOLD: Tell Me My Future by Eileen M. Ruvane (Harry N. Abrams)

• SILVER: What We Did to Each Other by Josuee Hernández (Flux)

• BRONZE: Keep Close by Kristen Wade (Winifred and Gwendolyn, LLC)

Young Adult Fiction – Historical

• GOLD: Call of the Owl Woman by K. M. Huber (SparkPress)

• SILVER: The Thief’s Keeper (An Enemy’s Keeper Prequel) by Kyrie Wang (Silver Dreams Publishing)

• BRONZE: M: The Mystical Odyssey Of Harriet E. Wilson by Alison Clarke (Oprelle Publications)

Young Adult Fiction – Mature Issues

• GOLD: Surfing on Dry Land by Sheryl Recinos (Self-Published)

• SILVER: The Lies We Tell Ourselves by Maura Pierlot (Big Ideas Press)

• BRONZE: Mari’s Light Burning Bright by Kaitlyn Marquart (Self-Published)

Fiction – Religion/Spirituality

• GOLD: Wondering Why by Melissa Monroe, Illustrated by Daria Rosso (Margin Studio)

• SILVER: Mary’s Colorful Garden by Raquel Rose (The Little Rose Shop)

• BRONZE (tie): How to Make a Friend (Some Assembly Required) by Francy Judge (Self-Published)

• BRONZE (tie): Earth Protector by Dana Green and Terri Nicholsen (Instilling Goodness Books)

Children’s Poetry

• GOLD: Call of the Child by Craig Ahlstrom, Illustrated by Dave Huddleston (Self-Published)

• SILVER: Leon the Chameleon by Sofia Elena Politano (Enchanted Bullfrog, LLC)

• BRONZE: Into the Kryvolis Forest by L. Kharkiv (Self-Published)

Non-Fiction – Picture Book

• GOLD: The ABCs of Local Government by Bill McHugh, Illustrated by Wina Witaria (Bill McHugh Publishing)

• SILVER: Badger Clark: Poetry Wrangler by Nancy Bo Flood, Illustrated by Jeanne Bowman (South Dakota Historical Society Press)

• BRONZE: Winning and Grinning: Walt Clyde Frazier Knicks Legend and New York City Icon by Bridget & Ryan Sirgiovanni, Illustrated and Designed by Elliot Gerard (BrightTime Books)

Non-Fiction – Chapter Book

• GOLD: Valiant Vel: Vel Phillips and the Fight for Fairness and Equality by Jerrianne Hayslett (Wisconsin Historical Society Press)

• SILVER: Saving Our Sturgeon: Protecting Wisconsin’s Ancient Fish by Rebecca Hogue Wojahn (Wisconsin Historical Society Press)

• BRONZE: Global Game Changers: 50 Stories of Impact and Innovation by Yana Bijoor (Self-Published)

Animals/Pets – Fiction

• GOLD: The Happy Ghost by Kelsey Marshalsey (Brown Paper Fox Inc.)

• SILVER: Nutshell & Friends – New Heights for Northern Lights by Madelyn Spindler & Rebecca Williams Spindler (Skippy Creek)

• BRONZE (tie): Charlie Says Goodbye To Toby by Dawn Espaillat, Illustrated by Vanessa Balleza (Sudaquia Publishing Group LLC)

• BRONZE (tie): Pablo by Mar Andersons, Illustrated by Irvin Walkes (kidstori Entertainment Corporation)

Animals/Pets – Non-Fiction

• GOLD: Halhata na Thathanka / Magpie and Buffalo by Alfreda Beartrack Algeo (South Dakota Historical Society Press)

• SILVER: Big Bears at Brooks Falls by Jessica Lee Anderson and Mark Kostich (AO Press)

• BRONZE: RATS With Backpacks: Dr. Donna Kean and Her Work at APOPO by J. N. Courtney (J.N. Courtney Publications)

Social Activism

• GOLD: The Resurrectors: Henry Highland Garnet and the Spirit of the Wind by Cheryl Janifer LaRoche, Illustrated by Chuck Collins (Half Wild Press)

• SILVER: The Sacred Stone Camp by Rae Rose (Dial Books for Young Readers)

• BRONZE: We Are One: A User’s Guide for Young Earthlings by Dorna Schroeter (Inspired by Nature Books)

Comic/Graphic Novel

• GOLD: Dream Warriors: A New World by Jesse Byrd, Art by Berto Santiago (Paw Prints Publishing)

• SILVER: Astronautical! by Brooklin Stormie (Annick Press)

• BRONZE: Wired Different: A Neurodivergent Tale by D.C. London (Shoreditch Press)

Religion/Spirituality – Chapter Books

• GOLD: The Oneness Guide for Today: A Book of Insight for Young Women by Faith Spencer (DeVorss Publications)

• SILVER: The Blind Boy Who Saw The Invisible King by Austin M. Kairnes III (Veritas & Vine)

• BRONZE: Mercy’s Happenings by Terrie Fahning (WestBow Press)

Holiday

• GOLD: Stay Spooky Trick Ghastly by Trick Ghastly (Trick Ghastly, Co.)

• SILVER: Santa Canuck by Katharine Joy Sowden, Illustrated by Kelsey Marshalsey (Brown Paper Fox Inc.)

• BRONZE: The Legend of Santa School: Where Believing Begins by Alan A. Potvin and Kylie A. Fitzpatrick (Main Authors Publishing)

Book with Merchandise (plush toy, etc.)

• GOLD: Proudly Poppy by Tricia Stone-Shumaker (Poppy’s Adventures)

• SILVER: A Dragon in My Campground by Silpa Kona (Pink Reed Books)

• BRONZE: Cat & Duck Electric Safety by Patrick Wood (Self-Published)

Spanish Language Book

• GOLD: Las Canciones de Natacha by Juana de Ibarbourou y Alicia Baladan (Editorial Morisqueta)

• SILVER: Únicos. El Regalo De Ser Diferentes by Soledad Carmona (Literatura con Alma)

• BRONZE: El Viaje de Sirio by Luis Ortega (Luigio) (Self-Published)

Environmental Issues

• GOLD: Remy and the Great Alpine Adventure written by Emmy Chan, illustrated by Gabriel San Martin

• SILVER: Climate Action for Kids by Ian Hunt (Adventure Publications)

• BRONZE: Sophie the Eco-Artist: The Plastic Pollution Puzzle by Jamie Jones (Mascot Kids)

Health 

• GOLD: Tamaya and the Brave Little Knights Written by Sally Zain, Illustrated by Amanda Letcher (Skylit Moonstone)

• SILVER (tie): The Smart Parts Adventures of Mason and Morgan McPeterson: A Body of Work by Andrew Rowe (Amplify Publishing Group)

• SILVER (tie): Samantha’s Secret Superpower by Kaitlin Stockton, M.D. (MD Mama Books)

• BRONZE: Captain Cardio and the Heart Ranch by Ally Eruemulor (Self-Published)

Mind-Body-Spirit/Self-Esteem

• GOLD: Kind Karl by Sharon Salzberg and Jason Gruhl, Illustrated by Sébastien Mourrain

• SILVER (tie): Bravery Grows by Dr. Melissa Giglio and Daisy Geddes (Jessica Kingsley Publishers)

• SILVER (tie): Drew’s Secret Talent by D.D. Sheppard (Breakwater Books)

• BRONZE: Fledgling’s Runway to Calm: A Student’s Flight Guide by Kellye Slaggert, M.A./LCMHC (Propeller Parenting)

Best First Book – Picture Book

• GOLD: How Perry Sees It by Darian R. Arndt (Wise Ink)

• SILVER: The Bird in the Egg by D.G. Alonso (Self-Published)

• BRONZE (tie): Dream Deeply by Ashley Blacow-Draeger (FriesenPress)

• BRONZE (tie): The Horse Who Wanted to Fly by Pamela Kleibrink Thompson (Firefly Books)

Best First Book – Chapter Book

• GOLD: The Fire We Inherit by Laric Tolleson (AfterFire Books)

• SILVER: From the Life and Bookcase of Winnie Lowe by Jill Fales (Beanstalk Press)

• BRONZE: Nathaniel and the Worst Project in the History of the 4th Grade by Ann Val (Twenty Hills)

Best Book by Youth Author (under 18)

• GOLD (tie): Cells Tell Stories: Operation “Fix It” by Z.X. Wang (Self-Published)

• GOLD (tie): Perri’s Pencil Problem by Marleigh Brown (Say Something Sweet, Inc.)

• SILVER: A Dream to Ride by Panphon Panchakunathorn (Self-Published)

• BRONZE: Robot Carter And The Little Girl by Felicia Lee (OONO)

Best Book Series – Picture Book

• GOLD: Via Karis Series by Laura Bratton, Sam Rogers, and Amy Stertz (Karis Parenting)

• SILVER: The Naturally Curious Book Series by Sherry McMillan (FriesenPress)

• BRONZE (tie): Bella and Bird: The Emotion Explores Series by Deana Plaskon (Bella and Bird the Emotion Explorers)

• BRONZE (tie): The BIG Adventures of the Glenn Acres Gang by Christine Glenn (Glen Acres Gang, LLC)

Best Book Series – Chapter Book

• GOLD: The Ellie Ment Series by Bertie Stephens (The Clean Planet Foundation)

• SILVER: The Hazyscapes Series by Kyle Sullivan (Hazy Dell Press)

• BRONZE: The Ninth Street Mysteries by Frank Saraco (Barnsley Ink)

Best Book Series – Non-Fiction

• GOLD: Our Stories Carried Us Here, Volumes 3, 4 & 5 by Green Card Voices (Green Card Voices)

• SILVER: The Chronicles Of Rodney’s Mission To Spread Kindness Series by Rodney Smith Jr. (Self-Published)

• BRONZE: Junior Animal Explorers by Jessica Lee Anderson; photos by David Kenny (AO Press)

Best Writer/Illustrator

• GOLD: Mr. Oddball’s Home for Strange but Adoptable Dogs by Sierra Chivington (Self-Published)

• SILVER: How to Be Best in Class by Lorena M. Proia (Self-Published)

• BRONZE: Ink Black a Halloween Cat by Mindy Gist (Mellingfield)

Cultural Experience

• GOLD (tie): Time to Shine- A Filipino American Family Story by Stephanie Vivit Lehmann (Pamilya Press)

• GOLD (tie): Maya Loves the Sun by Disha Mathur (Buddoo Books)

• SILVER: The Porters by Marie A. Young (Self-Published)

• BRONZE: When We’re Under the Same Roof by Ngân Huỳnh (Wise Ink)

Bilingual Picture Books

• GOLD: I’m Not Useless by Kuo Mei-Fen & Wang Chih-Chung (Linking Publishing)

• SILVER: The Great Tamale Treasure Hunt/La Gran Busqueda de los Tamales by Naibe Reynoso (Con Todo Press)
• BRONZE: My Father, The Honest Mayor by Mary Ann Ordinario (ABC Educational Development Center)

Nature (NEW CATEGORY)

• GOLD: Anjali and Isa Go Somewhere by Leah Danis (Self-Published)

• SILVER: Down By the River by Tricia Gardella (Write ‘Em Cowgirl Publishing)

• BRONZE: Timber Mountain by Lanny Headrick (Self-Published)

Family (NEW CATEGORY)

• GOLD: Ahoy, Mate, Ahoy! Miss Molly Molloy by Lisa Carmody Doiron, Illustrated by Patrick Guindon (Pownal Street Press)

• SILVER: Everyday Magic by Shakira Maharaj, Illustrated by Karen Vermeulen (Catalyst Press)

• BRONZE: Love Looks Like Lola by Cody Daigle-Orians, Illustrated by Siân Coules-Milne (Jessica Kingsley Publishers – Hachette)