2026 Nominations
These are the nominated titles for the 2026 award year. All books on this page were published between November 16, 2024 and November 15, 2025. All of these books have strong early literacy messages or modeling and could be used in storytime, one-on-one with a child, or in helping caregivers support the early literacy of their children.
Titles are organized by the early literacy practices: READ, WRITE, TALK, SING, PLAY. As the committee continues to make decisions, titles will be added here until the Shortlist is announced in December 2025.
READ
READ Criteria
Reading aloud to children is the single most important activity for building all early literacy skills and preparing children to read on their own. Reading shortlist and winning titles will be a collection of books that demonstrate great shared reading practices, show that books can affect lives profoundly, and allow children to practice age-appropriate pre-reading behaviors themselves.
We look for stories about the reading experience, the value of reading, that model great reading behaviors, celebrate books, reading, and literacy, and/or are about loving the library, and loving books.
Books nominated for READ
- Books on Bikes by F. Isabel Campoy & Theresa Howell, illustrated Brizida Magro; Sept. 2, 2025, Clarion Books; ISBN
- Cats Love Books, Too by Maria Coco; May 6, 2025, Bloomsbury Children’s Books; ISBN 9781547613687
- Dear Bookstore by Emily Arrow, illustrated by Geneviève Godbout; March 11, 2025, Candlewick; ISBN 9781536210699
- The Day the Books Disappeared by Joanna Ho and Caroline Kusin Pritchard, illustrated by Dan Santat; July 15, 2025, Disney Hyperion; ISBN 9781368110655
- Just One More Story by Perry Emerson, illustrated by Sean Julian; Jan. 7, 2025, Tiger Tales; ISBN 9781664300538
- The King of Books by Gina Perry; July 15, 2025, Feiwel & Friends; ISBN 9781250330123
- Let’s Be Bees by Shawn Harris; Feb. 11, 2025, Neal Porter Books; ISBN 9780823457090
- My Mom Loves… Books! by Nancy Kers; June 10, 2025, Clavis; ISBN 9798890631428
- Never Give a Baby a Library Card by Erin Sandberg, illustrated by Tom Booth; Oct. 21, 2025, Harry N. Abrams; ISBN 9781419774713
- Orson and the World’s Loudest Library by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Stephanie Roth Sisson; April 15, 2025, Astra Young Readers; ISBN 9781662602085
- Rain and the Reading Horse by Maria Gianferrari, illustrated by Hannah Salyer; Oct. 7, 2025, Clarion; ISBN 9780063257252
- So Many Books by Sue Fliess & Ann Marie Stephens, illustrated by Alexandra Colombo; April 10, 2025, Albert Whitman & Co; ISBN 9780807532331
WRITE
WRITE Criteria
Writing skills develop in tandem with reading skills and help children build on the key insight that print has meaning. Writing shortlist and winning titles present a variety of ways young children experiment with intentional mark-making: drawing pictures, interpreting their own marks, and using different types of print, such as lists and notes.
We look for books that show children the power of writing and drawing, or demonstrate that developmentally appropriate writing skills also include scribbling, scratching with a stick, tracing shapes with your finger, or movement activities such as lift the flaps or exploring tactile pages.
Books nominated for WRITE
- Angel Draws a Dinosaur by Pavonis Giron; June 24, 2025, Henry Holt & Co; ISBN 9781250435668
- Breathe In, Breathe Out by Dori Elys, illustrated by Laura Roode; August 12, 2025, Little Simon; ISBN 9781665974820
- Chalk the Walk by Chelsea Tornetto, illustrated by Laurel Aylesworth; April 1, 2025, Familius; ISBN 9781641709682
- Don’t Draw in This Book by Bill Cotter; Sept. 2, 2025, Sourcebooks Jabberwocky; ISBN 9781464220715
- Dragon Dave the Not So Brave by Alex Latimer, illustrated by Phillip Cullen; Sept. 23, 2025, Boxer Books; ISBN 9781454713180
- How to Hatch a Writer by Kari Ann Gonzalez, illustrated by Rachel Suzanne; Sept. 9, 2025, Gnome Road; ISBN 9781957655536
- Let’s Go Home, Baby Puppy by Carolina Buzio; Feb. 4, 2025, Nosy Crow; ISBN 9798887771175
- Marabella’s Moment by Maryann Cocca-Leffler; April 10, 2025, Albert Whitman & Company; ISBN 9780807549759
- Oh No, Ojó! by Àlàbá Ònájìn; July 15, 2025, Random House Studio; ISBN 9780593805725
- Sing Along with Me! Pat-a-Cake by Yu-hsuan Huang; Nov. 4, 2025, Candlewick; ISBN 9781536241532
- Sidewalk Chalk by Jen Fier Jasinski, Illustrated by Lea Marie Ravotti; Sept. 23, 2025, Gnome Road; ISBN 9781957655550
- Write Here, Write Now by Rebecca Gardyn Levington, illustrated by Andrea Boatta; Jan. 1, 2025, Capstone Editions; ISBN 9781684469611
- Zayde Babysits before Passover by Jane Sutton, illustrated by Kate Chappell; Jan. 7, 2025, Kar-Ben Publishing; ISBN 9798765619889
TALK
TALK Criteria
Talking is a foundational early literacy practice, providing ongoing experience with oral language, and allowing children to develop the background knowledge about the world that leads to greater comprehension of the texts they encounter. Talking shortlist and winning titles include books that encourage conversations, foster language play, and model creative adult-child dialog.
We look for books that are all about age-appropriate conversations, about the value of spoken communication, or are books that make it easy to have conversations with children while you read.
Books nominated for TALK
- I Can Say Moo! by Stephanie Cohen, illustrated by Lindsay Dale-Scott; April 1, 2025, Sourcebooks Explore; ISBN 9781728291581
- Little Bird Laila by Kelly Yang, illustrated by Xindi Yan; April 15, 2025, Dial Books; ISBN 9780593407110
- Pencil by Hye-Eun Kim; March 8, 2025, TOON Books; ISBN 9781662665530
- pêyak little duck: A counting book in Plains Cree and English by Sandra Lamouche, illustrated by Mando Littlechild; March 11, 2025, Orca Book Publishers; ISBN 9781459837171
- Rose Signs How Do You Feel? by Rose Ayling-Ellis, illustrated by Margarida Sampaio, with ASL consulting by Patrick Rosenburg; Aug. 5, 2025, DK Children; ISBN 9780593969427
- ScareCited on the First Day of School by Alliah L. Agostini, illustrated by Lala Watkins; June 3, 2025, Farrar, Straus and Giroux; ISBN 9780374390020
- Thunderland by Maggie Edkins Willis; March 11, 2025, Viking Books for Young Readers; ISBN 9780593693292
- Toddler Talk: Let’s Go! by Carolina Buzio; June 3, 2025, Nosy Crow; ISBN 9798887771649
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s First Signs: ASL That Babies & Toddlers Can Use by Eric Carle; July 15, 2025, World of Eric Carle; ISBN 9780593890202
- Warm and Fuzzy by Scott Rothman, illustrated by Brian Won; April 15, Tundra Books; ISBN 9781774884423
- The Welcome Book by Danna Smith, illustrated by Juliana Perdomo; Jan 14, 2025, Little Simon; ISBN 9781665952026
- Who Meows? A Book of Animal Sounds by Robin Page; May 27, 2025, Beach Lane; ISBN 9781665959568
- Whoa Panda! by C.S. Jennings; Aug. 12, 2025, Nancy Paulsen Books; ISBN 9780593324783
- Whose Nose? by Kristina Jones; March 4, 2025, Amicus Ink; ISBN 9798889880011
- You Can Say Hi With Only A Smile by Merriam Sarcia Saunders, illustrated by Tracy Nishimura Bishop; Sept. 9, 2025, Magination Press; ISBN 9781433845574
SING
SING Criteria
Singing supports children’s oral language development of language structures, vocabulary, and phonological awareness. Singing shortlist and winning titles show families and characters who incorporate singing and music into their daily routines, or foster the exploration of rhyme, alliteration, and syllable concepts.
We look for books about singing or chanting, that have songs in them, or make it easy to sing or chant or enjoy rhythms and rhymes together while you read.
Books nominated for SING
- Abuelita’s Song by Gloria Amescua, illustrated by Mariyah Rahman; May 20, 2025, Beach Lane Books; ISBN 9781665957519
- Birds Sing Their Words by Mélina Mangal, illustrated Stella Lim; April 22, 2025, Free Spirit Publishing; ISBN 9798885544542
- Downpour: Splish! Splash! Ker-Splash! by Yuko Ohnari, illustrated by Koshiro Hata, translated by Emily Balistrieri; March 4, 2025, Red Comet Press; ISBN 9781636551142
- Five Little Friends: A Collection of Finger Rhymes by Sean Taylor, illustrated by Fiona Woodcock; Aug. 19, 2025, Candlewick; ISBN 9781536242911
- I See You Sing by Deborah Farmer Kris, illustrated by Jane Massey; Nov. 4, 2025, Free Spirit Publishing; ISBN 9798885540834
- If It’s Pride And You Know It by Andy Passchier; May 6, 2025, Nosy Crow; ISBN 9798887771601
- Little Love Songs by Sandra Boynton; Dec. 3, 2024, Boynton Bookworks; ISBN 9781665952620
- Love is Here with You: a Lullaby of Blessings by Jyoti Rajan Gopal, illustrated by Nabi H. Ali; Dec. 3, 2024, Candlewick; ISBN 9781536228274
- Mary Had a Little Jam by Tammi Sauer, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton; March 4, 2025, Union Square Kids; ISBN 9781454933045
- Moon Song by Michaela Goade; Oct. 7, 2025, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; ISBN 9780316461634
- Nightsong by Sally Soweol Han; March 27, 2025, Bloomsbury Children’s Books; ISBN 9781547615063
- Oh, Dear Look What I Got! by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury; Sept. 2, 2025, Candlewick; ISBN 9781536235685
- Old MacDonald Had a Farm E-I-UFO by Zach von Zonk, illustrated by Benjamin Chaud; March 4, 2025, Chronicle; ISBN 9781797223896
- On Our Way! What a Day! by JaNay Brown-Wood, illustrated by Tamisha AnthonyJan. 7, 2025, Nancy Paulsen; ISBN 9780593110751
- Over in the Garden by Janna Matthies, illustrated by Tisha; Lee March 18, 2025, Doubleday Books for Young Readers; ISBN 9780593809365
- Penny Penguin by Raffi; Sept. 30, 2025, Knopf Books for Young Readers; ISBN 9798217116324
- Pop Goes the Nursery Rhyme by Betsy Bird, illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi; March 18, 2025, Union Square Kids; ISBN 9781454960461
- Raven’s Ribbons by Tasha Spillett, illustrated by Daniel Ramirez; Jan. 14, 2025, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; ISBN 9780316422161
- Salamander Song by Ginny Neil, illustrated by Charli Vince; March 18, 2025, Tilbury House Publishers; ISBN 9781668945094
- Itsy-Bitsy Spider: Touch and Trace Nursery Rhymes by Emily Bannister; July 15, 2025, Silver Dolphin Books; ISBN 9781667209371
- When Pigs Fly! a song for dreamers by Sandra Boynton; Aug. 26, 2025, Boynton Bookworks; ISBN 9781665977449
PLAY
PLAY Criteria
Playing encourages children to use their growing vocabularies to think about their world, to experiment with how stories work, and to understand relationships. Playing shortlist and winning titles demonstrate and reflect play in a variety of ways: games between parents and children, interactions with a book itself, or by modeling open-ended exploration of toys or found materials.
We look for stories about developmentally appropriate play, or books that celebrate playfulness, imagination, or creative use of materials, that illustrate what great play looks like or that make it easy for adults to play with their children while they read.
Books nominated for PLAY
- A Cup of Quiet by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Cathy Ann Johnson; April 15, 2025, Bloomsbury Children’s Books; ISBN 9781547610730
- Catch! by Trish Cooke, illustrated by Ken Wilson-Max; May 6, 2025, Charlesbridge; ISBN 9781623546229
- Downpour: Splish! Splash! Ker-Splash! by Yuko Ohnari & Koshiro Hata, illustrated by Emily Balistrieri; March 4, 2025, Red Comet; ISBN 9781636551142
- Fairy Walk by Gaia Cornwall; April 1, 2025, Candlewick; ISBN 9781536230710
- Giant Parsnip Soup by Daniela Sosa; May 13, 2025, Beach Lane Books; ISBN 9781665961967
- In the Neighborhood: A Brown Baby Parade Book by Nikki Shannon Smith, illustrated by Tamisha Anthony; May 20, 2025, Crown Books for Young Readers; ISBN 9780593566053
- Let’s Be Bees by Shawn Harris; Feb. 11, 2025, Neal Porter Books; ISBN 9780823457090
- Mama Hug by Emma Straub, illustrated by Stevie Lewis; Jan. 7, 2025, Rocky Pond Books; ISBN 9780593618592
- Peekaboo Dog by Camilla Reid, illustrated by Ingela P Arrhenius; Feb. 19, 2025, Candlewick; ISBN 9781536241341
- Shivi’s Big Leap by Kritika H. Rao, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat; March 11, 2025, Feiwel & Friends; ISBN 9781250325334
- This is Our City by Lauren Paige Conrad; April 29, 2025, Minerva; ISBN 9781662651809
