The American Library Association announced the winners of the 2025 Youth Media Awards on Monday. Materials for children and teens were selected by committees of literature and media specialists under different categories for their excellence. Take a look at some of this year’s winners below, which include publishers’ summaries. Be sure to click the link for any you’re interested in reading for yourself to reserve your copy through the Monarch catalog. The full list of this year’s winners is also linked at the bottom of this post.
John Newbery Medal
The John Newbery Medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. This year’s winner is The First State of Being, written by Erin Entrada Kelly.
“It’s August 1999. For twelve-year-old Michael Rosario, life at Fox Run Apartments in Red Knot, Delaware, is as ordinary as ever—except for the looming Y2K crisis and his overwhelming crush on his sixteen-year-old babysitter, Gibby. But when a disoriented teenage boy named Ridge appears out of nowhere, Michael discovers there is more to life than stockpiling supplies and pining over Gibby.
It turns out that Ridge is carefree, confident, and bold, things Michael wishes he could be. Unlike Michael, however, Ridge isn’t where he belongs. When Ridge reveals that he’s the world’s first time traveler, Michael and Gibby are stunned but curious. As Ridge immerses himself in 1999—fascinated by microwaves, basketballs, and malls—Michael discovers that his new friend has a book that outlines the events of the next twenty years, and his curiosity morphs into something else: focused determination. Michael wants—no, needs—to get his hands on that book. How else can he prepare for the future? But how far is he willing to go to get it?”
Four Newbery Honor Books were also named this year:
- Across So Many Seas, written by Ruth Behar
- Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All, written and illustrated by Chanel Miller
- One Big open Sky, written by Lesa Cline-Ransome
- The Wrong Way Home, written by Kate O’Shaughnessy
Randolph Caldecott Medal
The Randolph Caldecott Medal is awarded annually by the ALSC to the artist of the most distinguished illustrated American children’s book. This year’s winner is Chooch Helped, illustrated by Rebecca Lee Kunz and written by Andrea L. Rogers.
“Sissy’s younger brother, Chooch, isn’t a baby anymore. They just celebrated his second birthday, after all. But no matter what Chooch does — even if he’s messing something up! Which is basically all the time! — their parents say he’s just “helping.” Sissy feels that Chooch can get away with anything!
When Elisi paints a mural, Chooch helps. When Edutsi makes grape dumplings, Chooch helps. When Oginalii gigs for crawdads, Chooch helps. When Sissy tries to make a clay pot, Chooch helps . . .
“Hesdi!” Sissy yells. Quit it! And Chooch bursts into tears. What follows is a tender family moment that will resonate with anyone who has welcomed a new little one to the fold. Chooch Helped is a universal story of an older sibling learning to make space for a new child, told with grace by Andrea L. Rogers and stunning art from Rebecca Lee Kunz showing one Cherokee family practicing their cultural traditions.”
Four Caldecott Honor Books were named this year:
- Home in a Lunchbox, illustrated and written by Cherry Mo
- My Daddy is a Cowboy, illustrated by C.G. Esperanza and written by Stephanie Seales
- Noodles on a Bicycle, illustrated by Gracey Zhang and written by Kyo Maclear
- Up, Up, Ever Up! Junko Tabei: A Life in the Mountains, illustrated by Yuko Shimizu and written by Anita Yasuda
Michael L. Printz Award
The Michael L. Printz Award is awarded to a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature by the Young Adult Library Services Association. This year’s winner is Brownstone, written by Samuel Teer and illustrated by Mar Julia.
“Almudena has always wondered about the dad she never met.
Now, with her white mother headed on a once-in-a-lifetime trip without her, she’s left alone with her Guatemalan father for an entire summer. Xavier seems happy to see her, but he expects her to live in (and help fix up) his old, broken-down brownstone. And all along, she must navigate the language barrier of his rapid-fire Spanish—which she doesn’t speak.
As Almudena tries to adjust to this new reality, she gets to know the residents of Xavier’s Latin American neighborhood. Each member of the community has their own joys and heartbreaks as well as their own strong opinions on how this young Latina should talk, dress, and behave. Some can’t understand why she doesn’t know where she comes from. Others think she’s “not brown enough” to fit in.
But time is running out for Almudena and Xavier to get to know each other, and the key to their connection may ultimately lie in bringing all these different elements together. Fixing a broken building is one thing, but turning these stubborn individuals into a found family might take more than this one summer.”
Four Printz Honor Books were also named this year:
- Bright Red Fruit, written by Safia Elhillo
- Compound Fracture, written by Andrew Joseph White
- The Deep Dark, written by Molly Knox Ostertag
- Road Home, written by Rex Ogle
Pura Belpré Awards
Pura Belpré Awards are awarded annually by the ALSC and REFORMA. They are awarded to a Latinx writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latinx cultural experience.
This year’s Pura Belpré Author Award goes to Lola, written by Karla Arenas Valenti.
“Ten-year-old Lola has always been touched by magic. In her Mexico City home, built around a towering tree, she is accustomed to enchanted blooms that change with the seasons, a sandbox that spits out mysterious treasures, and mischievous chaneques that scuttle about unseen by all but her. Magic has always been a part of her life, but now she must embrace the extraordinary as never before.
Ever since The Thing That Happened, Lola’s brother Alex has been sick. As his condition worsens, something begins eating away at the tree, causing its leaves and blossoms to crumble like ash. The two are related, Lola is sure of it, but how? Seeking a cure, she visits a grocery store oracle who bids her to follow the chaneques down one of their secret passages… into a hidden world.
Here in Floresta, a land of myths and monsters and marvels untold, lies the key to healing her brother. But the kingdom’s young queen stands in the way. Lola must use her wits and face her deepest fears if there’s any hope of saving Alex in time.”
Two Belpré Youth Author Honor Books were also named this year:
- Cruzita and the Mariacheros, written by Ashley Granillo
- Ultraviolet, written by Aida Salazar
This year’s Pura Belpré Illustrator Award goes to The Dream Catcher, illustrated and written by Marcelo Verdad.
“Some people dream of perfect waves, fancy castles, or piloting a plane. Others dream of someone to laugh and play with all day long. Some just dream of having a meal for the next day.
And little Miguel? As he and Abuelito work in the hot Oaxacan sun, selling cold coconuts and macrame dream catchers to earn a few coins, Miguel has only one simple wish—to have his parents by his side. But how can he keep the faith when the truth is that dreams don’t always come to pass?
Marcelo Verdad’s poignant tale of hope and resilience shows how living in the here and now can be a journey every bit as beautiful as a dream.”
Two Belpré Youth Illustrator Honor Books were also named this year:
- Abuelo, the Sea, and Me, illustrated by Tatiana Gardel and written by Ismée Williams
- A Maleta Full of Treasures, illustrated by Juana Medina and written by Natalia Sylvester
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal
The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal is awarded annually by the ALSC to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published in the United States in English during the preceding year. This year’s winner is Life After Whale: The Amazing Ecosystem of a Whale Fall, written by Lynn Brunelle and illustrated by Jason Chin.
“Follow a blue whale’s enormous body to the bottom of the ocean, where it sets the stage for a bustling new ecosystem to flourish.
All living things must one day die, and Earth’s largest creature, the majestic blue whale, is no exception. But in nature, death is never a true ending. When this whale closes her eyes for the last time in her 90-year life, a process known as whale fall is just beginning. Her body will float to the surface, then slowly sink through the deep; from inflated behemoth to clean-picked skeleton, it will offer food and shelter at each stage to a vast diversity of organisms, over the course of a century and beyond. .”
Four Sibert Honor Books were named this year:
- Call Me Roberto! Roberto Clemente Goes to Bat for Latinos, written by Nathalie Alonso and illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez
- The Enigma Girls: How Ten Teenagers Broke Ciphers, Kept Secrets, and Helped Win World War II, written by Candace Fleming
- The Girl Who Sang: A Holocaust Memoir of Hope and Survival, written by Estelle Nadel and Sammy Savos with Bethany Strout, and illustrated by Sammy Savos
- Wings of an Eagle: The Gold Medal Dreams of Billy Mills, written by Billy Mills and Donna Janell Bowman, and illustrated by S.D. Nelson
Coretta Scott King Awards
The Coretta Scott King Awards are awarded to African-American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values. They are administered by the ALA’s Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table.
This year’s King Illustrator Book winner is My Daddy Is a Cowboy, illustrated by C.G. Esperanza and written by Stephanie Seales.
“In the early hours before dawn, a young girl and her father greet their horses and ride together through the waking city streets. As they trot along, Daddy tells cowboy stories filled with fun and community, friendship, discovery, and pride.
Seeing her city from a new vantage point and feeling seen in a new way, the child discovers that she too is a cowboy—strong and confident in who she is.”
Three King Illustrator Honor books were named this year:
- Coretta: The Autobiography of Mrs. Coretta Scott King, illustrated by Ekua Holmes and written by Coretta Scott King with the Reverend Dr. Barbara Reynolds
- Everywhere Beauty Is Harlem: The Vision of Photographer Roy DeCarava, illustrated by E.B. Lewis and written by Gary Golio
- Go Forth and Tell: The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller, illustrated by April Harrison and written by Breanna J. McDaniel
The King Author Book winner for this year is Twenty-four Seconds from Now…, written by Jason Reynolds.
“Twenty-four months ago: Neon gets chased by a dog all around the parking lot of a church. Not his finest moment. And definitely one he would have loved to forget if it weren’t for the dog’s owner: Aria. Dressed in sweats, a t-shirt, hair in a ponytail. Aria. Way more than fine.
Twenty-four weeks ago: Neon’s dad insists on talking to him about tenderness and intimacy. Neon and Aria are definitely in love, and while they haven’t taken that next big step…yet, they’ve starting talking about…that.
Twenty-four days ago: Neon’s mom finds her—gulp—bra in his room. Hey! No judging! Those hook thingies are complicated! So he’d figured he’d better practice, what with the big day only a month away.
Twenty-four minutes ago: Neon leaves his shift at work at his dad’s bingo hall, making sure to bring some chicken tenders for Aria. They’re not candlelight and they definitely aren’t caviar, but they are her favorite.
And right this second? Neon is locked in Aria’s bathroom, completely freaking out because twenty-four seconds from now he and Aria are about to…about to… Well, they won’t do anything if he can’t get out of his own head (all the advice, insecurities, and what ifs) and out of this bathroom!”
Three King Author Honor Books were named this year:
- Black Girl You Are Atlas, written by Renée Watson and illustrated by Ekua Holmes
- Black Star, written by Kwame Alexander
- One Big Open Sky, written by Lesa Cline-Ransome
*View the full list of all the 2025 award winners and honor selections here.
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