2026 Picture Book and Junior Book Winners!

We have our winners for the 2026 North Carolina Children's Book Awards.  For the complete results, please visit the 2026 Results and Materials page.

100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli, written by David LaRochelle and illustrated by Lian Cho, is the winner of the picture book category with 11,825 votes.

 Squished, written by Megan Wagner Lloyd and illustrated by Michelle Mee Nutter, is the winner of the junior book category with 571 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 2027 Awards.  Check back in again soon!

2026 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 15, 2026.

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 2026 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 2026 Junior Book Nominees tab.)

 

NEXT YEAR'S AWARDS:  Submit your favorites for 2027  

Kids should use THIS FORM to nominate titles for next year (2027).  

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.