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
  
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100 Mighty Dragons All Named BroccoliDavid LaRochelle
 Illustrated by Lian Cho
 Buffalo FluffaloBess Kalb
 Illustrated by Erin Kraan
 
 Don't Trust Cats: Life Lessons from Chip the DogDev Petty
 Illustrated by Mike Boldt
 
 Home in a LunchboxCherry Mo
 
 Ice Cream Everywhere: Sweet Stories from Around the WorldJudy Campbell-Smith
 Illustrated by Lucy Semple
 
 The Man Who Didn't Like AnimalsDeborah Underwood
 Illustrated by LeUyen Pham
 
 The Three Billy Goats GruffMac Barnett
 Illustrated by Jon Klassen
 
 Two New YearsRichard Ho
 Illustrated by Lynn Scurfield
 
 Whalesong: The True Story of the Musician Who Talked to OrcasZachariah OHora
 
 Whirligigs: The Wondrous Windmills of Vollis Simpson's ImaginationCarole Boston Weatherford
 Illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham
 
 The Yellow BusLoren Long
 
 Zap! Clap! Boom!: The Story of a ThunderstormLaura Purdie Salas
 Illustrated by Elly MacKay
 
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FerrisKate DiCamillo
 
 Haiku, Ew!: Celebrating the Disgusting Side of NatureLynn Brunelle
 Illustrated by Julia Patton
 
 HummingbirdNatalie Lloyd
 
 The Last Dragon on MarsScott Reintgen
 
 The Misfits: A Royal ConundrumLisa Yee
 
 Narwhal: Unicorn of the ArcticCandace Fleming
 Illustrated by Deena So'Oteh
 
 Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor ProphecyAngie Thomas
 
 No Matter the DistanceCindy Baldwin
 
 SquishedMegan Wagner Lloyd
 Illustrated by Michelle Mee Nutter
 
 Things in the BasementBen Hatke
 
 We Own the SkyRodman Philbrick
 
 Wild Brunch: Poems About How Creatures EatDavid L. Harrison
 Illustrated by Giles Laroche
 
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