The most prestigious awards in children’s literature, including the Newbery and Caldecott medals, were announced by the American Library Association on Monday.
“All the Blues in the Sky” by author Renée Watson took the top honor of the John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature, the ALA announced, while “Fireworks,” which was illustrated by Cátia Chien and written by Matthew Burgess, won the Randolph Caldecott Medal for most distinguished American picture book.
Meanwhile, in adult literature, the novel “A Guardian and a Thief” by Megha Majumdar and the memoir “Things in Nature Merely Grow” by Yiyun Li won the Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction, per the ALA.
What to know about the 2026 Newbery and Caldecott winners
The middle-grade novel “All the Blues in the Sky” is written in both poetry and prose, and tells the story of a 13-year-old girl dealing with the death of her best friend. The book’s author, Watson, was also the author of the young adult novel “Pieces of Me,” which was a Newbery Honor book in 2018, according to NPR.
“Watson’s tender exploration of the struggle to express grief’s many, sometimes contradictory facets stood out to the committee,” said Newbery committee chair Ramona Caponegro, per School Library Journal. “Her work is a stunning depiction of an experience that all readers have had or will have, probably multiple times in their lives, and resounds with the themes that losses cannot be weighed and compared and that grief and love are ongoing.”
“Fireworks” is a picture book that follows two siblings who are eagerly awaiting a Fourth of July fireworks display. It’s the second collaboration between illustrator Chien and author Burgess, per Publishers Weekly, following their 2020 book “The Bear and the Moon.”
“‘Fireworks’ is distinguished by the way it captures the rhythm of a summer day,” Caldecott committee chair Jewel Davis said, according to School Library Journal. “It is a rare book that trusts the quiet, lived-in moments of childhood to be just as spectacular as the main event.”
What is the significance of the Newbery and Caldecott medals?
The Newbery and Caldecott medals are widely considered to be the top prizes awarded for children’s literature.
The Newbery Medal has been awarded every year since 1922 to “the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children,” according to the ALA. “The Voyages of Doctor Doolittle” by Hugh Lofting was given the award in its second year, in 1923, and other notable winners have included Lois Lowry’s “The Giver” in 1994 and Madeleine L’Engle’s “A Wrinkle in Time” in 1963.
The Caldecott Medal was created to give credit to illustrators of children’s books, and has been awarded every year since 1937 to “the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children,” per the ALA. One of the earliest winners was “Make Way for Ducklings” by Robert McCloskey in 1942, followed by books like “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak in 1964 and “Jumanji” by Chris Van Allsburg (which later inspired the movie of the same name) in 1982.
Books that are finalists for the prizes each year are named Newbery Honor and Caldecott Honor books. Two Utah authors have been awarded Newbery Honors — Shannon Hale for “Princess Academy” in 2006 and Christian McKay Heidicker for “Scary Stories for Young Foxes” in 2020.
What other children’s books were honored by the ALA in 2026?
Newbery Honor books
- “The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli,” written and illustrated by Karina Yan Glaser
- “A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez,” by María Dolores Águila
- “The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story,” by Daniel Nayeri
- “The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest,” written by Aubrey Hartman and illustrated by Marcin Minor
Caldecott Honor books
- “Every Monday Mabel,” illustrated and written by Jashar Awan
- “Our Lake,” illustrated and written by Angie Kang
- “Stalactite & Stalagmite: A Big Tale from a Little Cave,” illustrated and written by Drew Beckmeyer
- “Sundust,” illustrated and written by Zeke Peña
What other adult books were honored by the ALA?
Carnegie Medal finalists — fiction
- “The Unworthy,” written by Agustina Bazterrica and translated by Sarah Moses
- “We Do Not Part,” written by Han Kang and translated by e. yaewon and Paige Aniyah Morris
Carnegie Medal finalists — nonfiction
- “Baldwin, Styron, and Me,” written by Mélikah Abdelmoumen and translated by Catherine Khordoc
- “There Is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America,” by Brian Goldstone

