2026 Picture Book and Junior Book Nominees

We are very pleased to announce the nominees for the 2026 North Carolina Children's Book Awards.    In order to vote in March 2026, children should read at least 5 picture book nominees and/or 3 junior book nominees.

Annotated Picture Book list
Annotated Junior Book list

Picture Books

Junior Books

100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli David LaRochelle Illustrated by Lian Cho Buffalo Fluffalo Bess Kalb Illustrated by Erin Kraan Don't Trust Cats: Life Lessons from Chip the Dog Dev Petty Illustrated by Mike Boldt Home in a Lunchbox Cherry Mo Ice Cream Everywhere: Sweet Stories from Around the World Judy Campbell-Smith Illustrated by Lucy Semple The Man Who Didn't Like Animals Deborah Underwood Illustrated by LeUyen Pham The Three Billy Goats Gruff Mac Barnett Illustrated by Jon Klassen Two New Years Richard Ho Illustrated by Lynn Scurfield Whalesong: The True Story of the Musician Who Talked to Orcas Zachariah OHora Whirligigs: The Wondrous Windmills of Vollis Simpson's Imagination Carole Boston Weatherford Illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham The Yellow Bus Loren Long Zap! Clap! Boom!: The Story of a Thunderstorm Laura Purdie Salas Illustrated by Elly MacKay

Ferris Kate DiCamillo Haiku, Ew!: Celebrating the Disgusting Side of Nature Lynn Brunelle Illustrated by Julia Patton Hummingbird Natalie Lloyd The Last Dragon on Mars Scott Reintgen The Misfits: A Royal Conundrum Lisa Yee Narwhal: Unicorn of the Arctic Candace Fleming Illustrated by Deena So'Oteh Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy Angie Thomas No Matter the Distance Cindy Baldwin Squished Megan Wagner Lloyd Illustrated by Michelle Mee Nutter Things in the Basement Ben Hatke We Own the Sky Rodman Philbrick Wild Brunch: Poems About How Creatures Eat David L. Harrison Illustrated by Giles Laroche

2025 Picture Book and Junior Book Winners!

We have our winners for the 2025 North Carolina Children's Book Awards.  For the complete results, please visit the 2025 Results and Materials page.

Yoshi, Sea Turtle Genius, written by Lynne Cox and illustrated by Richard Jones, is the winner of the picture book category with 11,013 votes.

 Odder, written by Katherine Applegate, is the winner of the junior book category with 1,216 votes.

We would like to thank all of the children who participated by voting in schools and local public libraries or virtually on this website.  Giving kids a voice in choosing their favorites is what this award is all about so THANK YOU for voting!

The committee will be meeting mid-May to select the nominees for the 2026 Awards.  Check back in again soon!

2025 Voting is OPEN!

 It's time for kids to vote for their favorite books!  

Kids may vote online, through their school librarians, or at their public library.

The deadline for voting is April 12, 2025.

Kids read or listen to at least 5 Picture Book Nominees then VOTE HERE.
(If you still need to read the nominees, please go to the 2025 Picture Book Nominees tab.)

Kids read or listen to at least 3 Junior Book Nominees then VOTE HERE.
(If you still need to read the nominees, please go to the 2025 Junior Book Nominees tab.)

 

NEXT YEAR'S AWARDS:  Submit your favorites for 2026  

Kids should use THIS FORM.  This is not where kids should vote for this year's award.

Librarians/Teachers:  please submit the votes you collected from your students/patrons using the Librarian Vote Tally Form located on the Librarian/Teacher Resource page

2024 Winners Accept Awards

Sophie Blackall accepts the 2024 North Carolina Children's Picture Book Award for Negative Cat. 

 

   Sophie Blackall acceptance video

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christina Diaz Gonzalez, author of Invisible, accepts the 2024 North Carolina Children's Junior Book Award. 

 

Gabriela Epstein, illustrator of Invisible, accepts the 2024 North Carolina Children's Junior Book Award. 

Activities for 2025 Nominees are ready!

We are excited to present read-alouds, book trailers, book talks and activities for the 2025 North Carolina Children's Book Award Nominees. Voting begins on March 1, 2025.  

2025 Activity Booklet  (your one resource for all of the 2025 Nominees) 

2025 bookmarks/ballots  |  flyer with book covers (can be used as ballot)

Picture Book Nominees

Picture Book annotated list

Children may vote for their favorite title if they have read at least 5 of the 12 nominees. 

Acorn Was a Little Wild Read-aloud

Acorn Was a Little Wild Activities

Beneath Read-aloud

  Beneath Activities

How Dinosaurs Went Extinct Read-aloud

How Dinosaurs Went Extinct Activities

I Cannot Draw a Horse Read-aloud

I Cannot Draw a Horse Activities

I Want 100 Dogs Read-aloud

I Want 100 Dogs Activities

Jumper Read-aloud

Jumper Activities

My Hands Tell a Story Read-aloud

My Hands Tell a Story Activities

Place Hand Here author video

Place Hand Here Activities

This Story is Not About a Kitten Read-aloud

This Story is Not About a Kitten Activities

A Unicorn, a Dinosaur, and a Shark Read-aloud

A Unicorn, a Dinosaur, and a Shark Activities

 

A Very Cranky Book Read-aloud

A Very Cranky Book Activities

Yoshi, Sea Turtle Genius Read-aloud

Yoshi, Sea Turtle Genius Activities

Junior Book Nominees

Junior Book annotated list 

Children may vote for their favorite title if they have read at least 3 of the 12 nominees.

Air Book Trailer

Air Activities

Chunky Book Trailer

Chunky Activities

Finally Seen Book Talk

Finally Seen Activities

The Fire of Stars Book Trailer

The Fire of Stars Activities

Kaboom! A Volcano Erupts Book Trailer

Kaboom! A Volcano Erupts Activities

Lost Library Book Trailer

Lost Library Activities

Magical Imperfect Book Trailer

Magical Imperfect Activities

The Marvellers Book Trailer

The Marvellers Activities

Maya and the Robot Book Trailer

Maya and the Robot Activities

My Head Has a Bellyache Sneak Peak

My Head Has a Bellyache Activities

Odder Book Trailer

Odder Activities

Shine On, Luz Veliz! Book Trailer

Shine On, Luz Veliz! Activities