News & Features

Hypergifted by Gordon Korman leads holds this week. Also in demand are new titles by Lauren Tarshis, Katherine Quinn, Petra Lord, and Shannon J. Spann. Amazon releases its editors’ picks for February. ALA’s Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table announces its inaugural awards winners. The Hans Christian Andersen Award shortlist and the Audie Awards finalists are revealed. People recommends children’s books that celebrate Black History. Plus, bestsellers and interviews with Jeff Kinney, Jonathan Haidt and Catherine Price, and Melanie Florence and Matt James.

Across the country, school and public librarians are creating their own summer reading programs that not only combat the academic slide and keep kids reading but promote book choice and personal connection.

Our 2025 Best Books list celebrates the many pages and words that make up the superb works published for children this year. Taking another look at this year’s selections, the editors have highlighted some of the words that ring rung true and have reverberated in hearts and minds.

As we closed out 2025, many books rose to the top, including lots of manga and new offerings from middle grade favorites Gordon Korman and Sara Pennypacker.

This dedicated page features everything about the awards, including all of SLJ's reporting of the 2026 Youth Media Awards ceremony and recognized titles and creators; a complete list of winners and honor books; plus links to book reviews, author interviews, blog posts, and related coverage.

Kimmel creates a brand-new tale that feels ancient and wise; Kurpiel finds so much more in these mighty giants.

At the 2026 Youth Media Awards, author Candace Fleming became the first person to receive the Children’s Literature Legacy Award and the Margaret A. Edwards Award in the same year. In addition, her book Death in the Jungle won the Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults.