Books & Media

All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson wins the Newbery; Fireworks, illustrated by Cátia Chien, earns the Caldecott; and Legendary Frybread Drive-In: Intertribal Stories, an anthology edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith, was named the Printz Award winner at the 2026 Youth Media Awards.

As she dealt with grief herself, Watson wrote All the Blues in the Sky to give readers permission to feel all of the emotions related with loss and help them cope with it.

The anthology, edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith, includes established and new Indigenous authors in a title Smith says would not have been possible less than 10 years ago.

Halfway through the process, the heart of Matthew Burgess's book revealed itself to Cátia Chien, who then created a visual tribute to the freedom of childhood.

Here are the winners of the 2026 ALA Youth Media Awards, announced Monday, January 26 in Chicago.

These illustrated works, including a board book, early reader, and two picture books, are heartwarming picks that are sure to be hits beyond Valentine’s Day.

Lunar New Year is February 17. Here are some titles to share with young readers, including a new chapter book from Grace Lin.