The members of the 2026 John Newbery Award Selection Committee would like to know which books are rising to the top of your list for children’s books published in 2025 that meet our award criteria!
The Newbery Award celebrates outstanding writing for children, and as the committee terms state, “is given annually to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children published by an American publisher in the United States in English.” The author must be a US citizen or resident.
In assessing the quality of the writing in a book, the committee considers the following criteria:
- Interpretation of the theme or concept
- Presentation of information including accuracy, clarity, and organization
- Development of a plot
- Delineation of characters
- Delineation of a setting
- Appropriateness of style
- Excellence of presentation for a child audience.
If you’d like to suggest a book that meets these criteria to the committee for consideration, please use this link to access the ALSC Member Award Suggestion Form. The last day to submit a suggestion is October 15, 2025.
We look forward to seeing which titles you bring to our attention and to celebrating with you after the award announcements at the ALA Youth Media Awards in January!
Ramona Caponegro is the chair of the 2026 Newbery Award Committee and a professor of youth services in the School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Alabama.
Lilli
have you decided the list of books for the 2026 newberry medal?