FOURTEEN LITTLE, BROWN BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS CREATORS RECOGNIZED WITH 2026 AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION AWARDS AND HONORS
AUBREY HARTMAN RECEIVES NEWBERY HONOR FOR THE UNDEAD FOX OF DEADWOOD FOREST
JEWELL PARKER RHODES WINS CORETTA SCOTT KING BOOK AWARD FOR WILL’S RACE FOR HOME
KADIR NELSON RECIEVES CORETTA SCOTT KING — VIRGINIA HAMILTON AWARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
KWAME ALEXANDER NAMED CHILDREN’S LITERATURE LECTURE AWARD WINNER
AUTHOR TASHA SPILLETT AND ILLUSTRATOR DANIEL RAMIREZ RECEIVE AMERICAN INDIAN YOUTH LITERATURE AWARD HONOR FOR RAVEN’S RIBBONS
MARIE ARNOLD RECEIVES CORETTA SCOTT KING BOOK AWARD AUTHOR HONOR FOR SPLIT THE SKY
KEEZY YOUNG (HELLO SUNSHINE) AND RAÚL THE THIRD (THE SNIPS: A BAD BUZZ DAY) RECEIVE GRAPHIC NOVELS AND COMICS ROUND TABLE OUTSTANDING COMICS AWARD HONORS
JOHN PICACIO RECEIVES PURA BELPRÉ ILLUSTRATION AWARD HONOR FOR THE INVISIBLE PARADE
AUTHOR QUARTEZ HARRIS and ILLUSTRATOR GORDON C. JAMES RECEIVE ROBERT F. SIBERT INFORMATIONAL BOOK AWARD HONOR FOR GO TELL IT
STEPH CHERRYWELL (THE INK WITCH) AND COREY LIU (HE’S SO POSSESSED WITH ME) NAMED STONEWALL BOOK AWARD HONOREES
NEW YORK, NY (January 26, 2026)—Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (LBYR), celebrating its hundredth anniversary in 2026, is pleased to share the following accolades announced during this morning’s American Library Association (ALA) Youth Media Awards, held in Chicago, IL.
Aubrey Hartman has received a 2026 Newbery Honor for The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest. The Newbery Medal is awarded annually to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.
Jewell Parker Rhodes has been awarded the Coretta Scott King Book Award for Will’s Race for Home. Marie Arnold has also been recognized by the CSK committee, receiving a Coretta Scott King Author Honor for Split the Sky. In recognition of his body of work, Kadir Nelson was honored with the 2026 Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. Nelson’s celebrated works include Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom (LBYR, written by Carole Boston Weatherford), We Are the Ship: The Story of NegroLeague Baseball (LBYR), The Undefeated (HarperCollins, written by Kwame Alexander), and Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans (HarperCollins).
Kwame Alexander has been named winner of the Children’s Literature Lecture Award, presented by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), in recognition of his body of work written for young people, including LBYR titles The Undefeated (illustrated by Kadir Nelson), The Door of No Return, Black Star, An American Story (illustrated by Dare Coulter), and How Sweet the Sound (illustrated by Charly Palmer), among many others.
Author Tasha Spillet and illustrator Daniel Ramirez received an American Indian Youth Literature Award Honor for Raven’s Ribbons. Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table Outstanding Comics Award Honors were given to Keezy Young for Hello Sunshine (Young Adult, Fiction) and Raúl the Third for The Snips: A Bad Buzz Day (Children, Fiction). The award also acknowledged these contributors to The Snips: Elaine Bay (colors), Eleonora Bruni (coloring), Rob Leigh (lettering). John Picacio received a Pura Belpré Illustration Award Honor for The Invisible Parade, a book he created with author Leigh Bardugo. Author Quartez Harris and illustrator Gordon C. James have been awarded a Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award Honor for Go Tell It: How James Baldwin Became a Writer. Stonewall Book Award – Mike Morgan and Larry Romans Children’s and Young Adult Literature Award Honors were awarded to Steph Cherrywell for The Ink Witch and Corey Liu for He’s So Possessed with Me.
“It’s a thrill to see so many of our talented creators recognized today and across such a diverse range of categories,” said Megan Tingley, President and Publisher of Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. “We are extremely proud that rising new talent Aubrey Hartman’s exquisite novel received a Newbery Honor and deeply gratified to see our longtime house author Jewell Parker Rhodes awarded the Coretta Scott King. We join their other publishers in congratulating literary and artistic giants Kwame Alexander and Kadir Nelson on their distinguished honors.”
The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest, written by Aubrey Hartman and edited by Ruqayyah Daud, has received incredible critical acclaim, having been named to multiple Best of 2025 lists (Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, New York Public Library, and others) and earning four starred reviews. Said Booklist in their starred review, “This tale of self-love and acceptance makes the most of its unique setting and the memorable characters found there.” In the novel, Clare (an undead fox) and Gingersnipes (an entirely dead badger) begrudgingly team up to change their destinies. A companion to The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest, The Unsung Hero of Deadwood Forest, is scheduled for publication in 2027.
Aubrey Hartman is also the author of The Lion of Lark-Hayes Manor (2023), “an enchanting adventure that encourages readers to find their voice and delight in stories” (Booklist). Her novels have received critical acclaim from Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, Publishers Weekly, Book Riot, The Bulletin, and various other outlets, and have been featured on numerous Best Books of the Year lists.
Will’s Race for Home, written by Jewell Parker Rhodes and edited by Alvina Ling, follows twelve-year-old Will Samuels as he and his sharecropper father strike out to claim land from Texas during the 1889 Oklahoma Land Rush. An instant New York Times bestseller and recipient of four starred reviews, Will’s Race for Home confronts the racism and prejudice that Black Americans faced post-slavery and includes an extensive afterword that pays tribute to the stories of African Americans on the western front. In their starred review, Publishers Weekly describes the book as, “Ripe with historical facts and moments of high tension, this adventurous story reflects on the aftereffects of violence on soldiers and what life looked like for Black citizens following the conclusion of the Civil War. It’s an empowering read that never loses sight of Will’s profound exploration of adolescence.”
Jewell Parker Rhodes is the New York Times bestselling author of several books for youth, including Ghost Boys; Black Brother, Black Brother; Paradise on Fire; and Towers Falling. She is the recipient of many distinguished awards and honors, including the Coretta Scott King Author Honor, the Green Earth Book Award, an NAACP ImageAward nomination, the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award, and the Octavia E. Butler Award. Dr. Rhodes is the Founding Artistic Director of the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing and Virginia G. Piper Endowed Chair at Arizona State University.
Split the Sky, written by Marie Arnold and edited by Margaret Raymo, is a young adult novel that uniquely incorporates speculative elements in a story examining racial violence and bigotry. Fifteen-year-old Lala Russell has inherited her grandmother’s gift of foresight. When a vision shows her the racially motivated killing of a Black teenager, she must contend with family expectations and deep moral questions to decide what’s right. “Steeped in Black history, tough moral dilemmas, and poignant depictions of contemporary social conflict, this is a thought-provoking journey with plenty of heart and surprises” (Publishers Weekly, starred review).
Marie Arnold was born in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, and came to America at the age of seven. She attended Columbia College in Chicago, where her main focus was creative writing. As Lola StVil, she is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling indie author. Over two million readers have downloaded her young adult fantasy series Guardians.
Kadir Nelson is the illustrator of many books for young readers, including the Caldecott Medal winner The Undefeated, written by Kwame Alexander; the New York Times bestseller We Are the Ship, winner of the Coretta Scott King Author Award and Illustrator Honor as well as the Sibert Medal; and Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom, written by Carole Boston Weatherford, which was an NAACP Image Award winner, Caldecott Honor Book, and Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award winner. His latest release, Basket Ball: The Story of the All-American Game, published on January 13, 2026, has received four starred reviews and was an instant New York Times and USA Today bestseller. His work has appeared in many publications, including The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, and Sports Illustrated. Kadir’s original paintings are in the permanent collections of the US House of Representatives and the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery and National Museum of African American History and Culture, and he has been inducted into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame.
Kwame Alexander is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of over forty books, including the Newbery Medal–winning novel The Crossover; the Caldecott Medal- and Newbery Honor–winning picture book The Undefeated; The Door of No Return; Black Star; American Story, How Sweet the Sound; and J vs. K, which he co-wrote with Jerry Craft. His next book, publishing on February 3, 2026, is The Mighty Macy, a charming chapter book featuring illustrations by Kitt Thomas. An Emmy Award–winning producer, NAACP Image Award recipient and Sine Fellow at American University, Kwame is also the founder of the literacy nonprofit One Word at a Time.
Raven’s Ribbons, written by Tasha Spillett, illustrated by Daniel Ramirez, and edited by Susan Rich, is a joyful story of young Raven, who loves dancing with his grandmother at round dances, admiring the ribbon skirts in motion. He longs for a ribbon skirt of his own, and so she makes him a skirt to wear at the next round dance. A celebration of individuality and self-expression, “Spillet captures the joy of the round dance, and a feeling of belonging and connection offered in intergenerational Indigenous community” (Publisher Weekly, starred review).
Tasha Spillett is a Cree and Trinidadian award-winning poet, scholar, and writer. She is the author of several books for young readers, including the New York Times bestselling picture book I Sang You Down from the Stars with art by Michaela Goade.
Daniel Ramirez is a descendant of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan and a much-celebrated two-spirit fine artist. His award-winning art has appeared in exhibitions and museums across the world, including at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC.
Hello Sunshine, written and illustrated by Keezy Young and edited by Andrea Colvin, is a lush and romantic queer horror graphic novel set in a small town where a troubled teen has gone missing, sending his loved ones on a paranormal journey to bring him home. Kirkus Reviews calls the book “beautiful, spooky, and emotional.”
Keezy Young is an award-winning and Eisner- and Ignatz-nominated cartoonist and illustrator who writes and draws comics and graphic novels. They enjoy writing mystery, horror, love stories, and ghosts, and their vibrant retro color palettes and strong sense of linework help to bring their stories to life. Their work is character-focused, and they often explore LGBTQIA characters and themes. Mental illness is also an important focus in many of their stories.
The Snips: A Bad Buzz Day, written and illustrated by Raúl the Third and edited by Margaret Raymo, is the first book in award-winning creator Raúl the Third’s fun and zany early graphic novel series starring a crew of scissor- wielding hairdresser superheroes. Says Booklist, “Raúl’s signature bright, bold art style is blended with comic-book formatting that jumps off the page . . . . A wildly enjoyable reminder that the greatest success comes not from winning, but from bringing support and joy to the community.” Also contributing to the creation of the book are Elaine Bay (colors), Eleonora Bruni (coloring), and Rob Leigh (lettering).
Raúl The Third is a four-time Pura Belpré Award-winning illustrator, author, and artist. He is the illustrator of the critically acclaimed Low Riders in Space series and the World of ¡Vamos! books. His work centers around the contemporary Mexican American experience and his memories of growing up in El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico.
The Invisible Parade, by Leigh Bardugo and John Picacio, with illustrations by Picacio, and edited by Alvina Ling, is a stunning picture book collaboration set against the backdrop of Día de Muertos. The concept originated with Picacio, who pitched Bardugo in 2016 with a single line: “It’s The Wizard of Oz set in a graveyard.” In a statement, Picacio shared, “We made The Invisible Parade for people of all ages who have felt loss, or have lost someone they love.” Kirkus Reviews calls the book “simply wondrous,” and Booklist, “an understated masterclass in processing grief through culture.”
John Picacio is a World Fantasy Award– and Hugo Award–winning artist who has created book illustrations for major works by George R. R. Martin, Rebecca Roanhorse, and many more. He’s the founder of the Mexicanx Initiative, spearheading the journeys of more than forty Mexican and Mexican American creators into the wider awareness of fantasy and science fiction audiences.
Go Tell It: How James Baldwin Became a Writer, written by Quartez Harris, illustrated by Gordon C. James, and edited by Lisa Yoskowitz, is a stunning, USA Today bestselling picture book biography of James Baldwin. Pairing Harris’s exquisite prose and James’s breathtaking illustrations, Go Tell It is both a beautiful introduction to the legendary writer’s life and career and a celebration of the written word. In their starred review (one of five earned by Go Tell It), BookPage calls the book, “Exceptional, a master class of a picture book biography overflowing with energy-infused words and pictures” and “an inspiring look at one of America’s most important writers.”
Quartez Harris is a poet, teacher, and bestselling author. He was a Baldwin House fellow and named Ohio Poet of the Year for his book We Made It to School Alive, and his poetry has garnered numerous accolades. He spent many years as a second-grade teacher in the Cleveland public school system and currently spends his time writing and teaching poetry workshops.
Gordon C. James is an award-winning fine artist specializing in figurative drawing and a bestselling, award-winning illustrator. He illustrated Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut, which received Caldecott, Newbery, and Coretta Scott King Illustrator honors, and I Am Every Good Thing, which won the Kirkus Prize, among others. He has worked for Hallmark as an illustrator and artist and taught at the University of North Carolina.
The Ink Witch, written by Steph Cherrywell and edited by Erika Turner and Milena Blue Spruce, is a hilarious and affirming cozy middle-grade fantasy about the adventures of a girl named Becca who discovers she is the descendant of a powerful witch coven. Kirkus Reviews writes, “Humor and heart entwine in this hilarious and wildly creative adventure” (starred review).
Steph Cherrywell is a nonbinary librarian, author, illustrator, and game creator. They are also the author of Unboxing Libby. They have previously written and illustrated the YA-and-older graphic novels Widgey Q. Butterfluff and Pepper Penwell and the Land Creature of Monster Lake, and written and programmed the award-winning text adventures Brain Guzzlers from Beyond! and Zozzled.
He’s So Possessed with Me, written by Corey Liu and edited by Crystal Castro, is a terrifying, tender, and bitingly hilarious supernatural young adult horror novel about a boy who must save his best friend from a demon that wants to steal his heart—literally. Liu’s debut novel follows high school senior Colin and his best friend, Ren, who, after leaving a gay club, first encounter homophobic bullies and then a demonic force that takes hold of Ren. What follows is “[a] deliciously creepy queer story that puts friendship first” (Kirkus Reviews).
Corey Liu received an MA in Children’s Literature from UBC and has written for television shows like Family Law, Pinecone & Pony, and Davey and Jonesie’s Locker. Most recently, he was a co-executive producer of the Kpop series Gangnam Project.
About Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers is a division of Hachette Book Group, a leading U.S. general-interest book publisher made up of dozens of esteemed imprints within the publishing groups Basic Books Group, Grand Central Publishing, Hachette Audio, Hachette Nashville, Little, Brown and Company, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, Orbit, Running Press Group, and Workman Publishing. For more information, visit hachettebookgroup.com.
About Hachette Book Group:
Hachette Book Group (HBG) is a leading U.S. general-interest book publisher made up of dozens of esteemed imprints within the publishing groups Basic Books Group, Grand Central Publishing Group, Hachette Audio, Little, Brown and Company, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, Orbit, Workman Publishing, and Running Press Group. We also provide custom distribution, fulfillment, and sales services to several publishing companies.
Our books and authors have received the Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award, Caldecott Medal, Newbery Medal, Booker Prize, Nobel Prize, James Beard Award, and other major honors.
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