2026 Rainbow Book List

February 3, 2026January 30, 2026 | Tasha

ALA’s Rainbow Round Table has announced their 2026 Rainbow Book List that has over 160 titles on it. The books listed celebrate LGBTQIA+ families and children. They were published between July 1, 2024 and December 31, 2025. Below are the books that are in the two Top Ten lists:

TOP TEN TITLES FOR YOUNG READERS

The Flicker by H. E. Edgmon

The Gathering Table by Antwan Eady, illustrated by London Ladd

Glitch Girl! by Rainie Oet

Ice Apprentices by Jacob North

Menudo Sunday: A Spanglish Counting Book by María Delores Águila, illustrated by Erika Meza

My Little Golden Book about Pride by Kyle Lukoff, illustrated by Michelle Jin Chan

Ollie In Between by Jess Callans

Outside In and Inside Out: A Story about Arnold Lobel by Emmy Kastner

Tales from Beyond the Rainbow: Ten LGBTQ+ Fairy Tales Proudly Reclaimed by Pete Jordi Wood

Witchycakes 1 & 2 by Kara LaReau, illustrated by Ariane Moreira

TOP TEN TITLES FOR TEEN READERS

Come Home to My Heart by Riley Redgate

Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White

The Good Vampire’s Guide to Blood and Boyfriends by Jamie D’Amato

Hick: The Trailblazing Journalist Who Captured Eleanor Roosevelt’s Heart by Sarah Miller

I Shall Never Fall in Love by Hari Conner

The Leaving Room by Amber McBride

Thanks for Listening by Molly Horan

These Vengeful Gods by Gabe Cole Novoa

Trans History: A Graphic Novel: From Ancient Times to the Present Day by Alex L. Combs and Andrew Eakett

Under the Same Stars by Libba Bray

A Kid Like Me by Norm Feuti – Book Recommendation

February 3, 2026January 6, 2026 | Tasha

A Kid Like Me by Norm Feuti

Publisher: HarperAlley
Publication Date: February 03, 2026
Reviewed from Edelweiss e-galley
ISBN: 9780063354111

Ethan lives in a trailer park near his best friend, Ricky. As they head to middle school, the school includes kids from wealthier neighborhoods. Ricky decides that they need a new group of friends, but Ricky’s picks of new friends are more into wrestling than what Ethan likes. Ethan loves the card game Bio Battle, something that Ricky doesn’t understand. So Ethan starts to make new friends too, but soon the differences between him and his classmates continue to create issues. Ethan can’t have a new fancy phone, his shoes and backpack are falling apart, and he gets his clothes second hand. Is there any way to bridge the differences without losing himself along the way?

In this graphic novel, Feuti sensitively captures the difficulties that living in poverty create for children. Whether it is the place you live, the car you drive, your parents’ jobs, what you wear, or the items you buy, it all becomes somehow deeper and more personal than that for the child experiencing it. Gaming is such a great opportunity for kids with like interests to meet and start being friends. I love how it is depicted and then the final moment of the book where new opportunities arise. Feuti does a great job of showing the issues and also offering a way through shame to the other side.

A middle school graphic novel full of empathy, friendships and gaming.

2026 Outstanding Comics Awards

February 2, 2026January 30, 2026 | Tasha

This is the inaugural year for the Outstanding Comics for Children Awards selected by ALA’s Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table. The awards are given for different ages in the categories of fiction, nonfiction and series. Below are the list of teen and children’s winners.

CHILDREN’S FICTION – WINNER

Froggy: A Pond Full of Pals by Paige Walshe

CHILDREN’S FICTION – HONOR BOOKS

Fresh Start by Gale Galligan

The Snips: A Bad Buzz Day by Raúl the Third

CHILDREN’S NONFICTION – WINNER

How to Draw a Secret by Cindy Chang

CHILDREN’S NONFICTION – HONOR BOOKS

How to Say Goodbye in Cuban by Daniel Miyares

I’m a Dumbo Octopus by Anne Lambelet

CHILDREN’S SERIES – WINNER

Witches of Brooklyn Volumes 1-5 by Sophie Escabasse

CHILDREN’S SERIES – HONOR BOOKS

Are You Afraid of the Dark? Volumes 1 & 2

Peapod Farm Volumes 1-3 by Lucy Knisley

YOUNG ADULT FICTION – WINNER

The Boy Wonder by Juni Ba

YOUNG ADULT FICTION – HONOR BOOKS

Hunger’s Bite by Taylor Robin

Hello Sunshine by Keezy Young

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION – WINNER

Raised by Ghosts by Briana Loewinsohn

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION – HONOR BOOKS

Bloody Mary by Kristina Gehrmann

My Perfectly Imperfect Body by Debbie Tung

YOUNG ADULT SERIES – WINNER

Teen Titans by Kim Garcia

YOUNG ADULT SERIES – HONOR BOOKS

Feral Volume 1&2 by Tony Fleecs

Tsumiki Ogami’s Not-So-Ordinary Life Volumes 1&2 by Miyu Morishita

30 Fantastic February New Releases

February 2, 2026January 15, 2026 | Tasha

PICTURE BOOKS

Copland by Veronica Mang

The Great Escape by Deborah Marcero

Here Come the Aunties by Cynthia Leitich Smith, illustrated by Aphelandra

Houdini’s Library: How Books Created the World’s Greatest Magician by Barb Rosenstock, illustrated by Mar Delmar

If This Were the World by Stephen Barr, illustrated by AG Ford

Is It Spring? by Kevin Henkes

Jayden Noticed by Carolyn Crimi, illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice

Junko’s Climb by Elyssa Gavin, illustrated by Hifumiyo

Marie’s Magic Eggs: How Marie Procai Kept the Ukrainian Art of Pysanky Alive by Sandra Wallace, illustrated by Evan Turk

Mary Morland in the Time of Dinosaur Discovery by Jane Kurtz, illustrated by Giselle Potter

The Monster and Puppet Show by Kate Micucci and Mo Willems

Rare Bird by Elisha Cooper

Rumpelstiltskin by Mac Barnett

Seven Million Steps: The True Story of Dick Gregory’s Run for the Hungry by Derrick Barnes and Christian Gregory, illustrated by Frank Morrison

Sweater by Larissa Theule, illustrated by Teagan White

Twelve Daring Grays: A Whale Migration Adventure by Nora Nickum, illustrated by Elly MacKay

The Vanishing Sea: The Tale of How the Aral Sea Became the Aral Desert by Dinara Mirtalipova

Welcome Uncle Nowruz: A Persian New Year’s Story by Rashin Kheiriyeh

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Karobá: The Case of the Missing Kolo by Àlàbá Ònájìn

Kid Like Me by Norm Feuti

Lion’s Run by Sara Pennypacker, illustrated by Jon Klassen

Making Plans for Nigel Binty by Shawn K. Stout

Mighty Macy by Kwame Alexander

A Scar Like a River by Lisa Graff

TEEN BOOKS

According to Plan by Christen Randall

Call of the Dragon by Natasha Bowen

Few Blue Skies by Carolina Ixta

PostScript by Cory McCarthy

Queen of Faces by Petra Lord

Wake Now in the Fire by Jarrett Dapier, illustrated by AJ Dungo

A Ramadan Night by Nadine Presley – Book Recommendation

January 30, 2026January 29, 2026 | Tasha

A Ramadan Night by Nadine Presley, illustrated by Asma Enayeh

Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: January 27, 2026
Reviewed from copy provided by publisher
ISBN: 9781665969338

Join a boy and his father at the beginning of Ramadan as they explore the sensory parts that make up a Ramadan night. The two of them walk to the mosque together in Damascus. They see the lights of the moon and stars above them. Their steps join those of many others as they walk hand in hand. The mosque is filled with laughter and warmth as they ready themselves for prayer. They bow under the mosaic ceiling and the scent of the mosque meets Sami’s nose. The evening ends with food to fill their empty bellies. Then they return home and Sami knows he’s found what makes a Ramadan night special.

Presley uses all the senses to evoke a night in Syria. Readers will feel part of the setting as the streets are explored, the mosque visited and community built. Her writing is rich and descriptive. She lets the elements in the setting tell their story with poetic language. Eneyeh’s illustrations are simple and bold. They share the beauty of Damascus and the community built around Ramadan. Both author and illustrator have lived in Syria and based the book on their memory of Ramadan in the city.

An inviting and richly told story of Ramadan. Appropriate for ages 4-6.

2026 Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature

January 30, 2026January 29, 2026 | Tasha

The Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature promotes Asian/Pacific culture and heritage by celebrating the best in literature and art. Given in three age groups, here are the winners and honor books:

AWARD FOR PASIFIKA PICTURE BOOK

WINNER

Kaho’olawe: The True Story of an Island and Her People by Kamalani Hurley, illustrated by Harinani Orme

HONOR BOOKS

Filo’s Butterflies by Litea Fuata, illustrated by Myo Yim

White Sunday by Litea Fuata, illustrated by Myo Yim

AWARD FOR ASIAN AMERICAN PICTURE BOOK

WINNER

Many Things at Once by Veera Hiranandani, illustrated by Nadia Alam

HONOR BOOKS

Every Peach Is a Story by David Mas Masumoto and Nikiko Masumoto, illustrated by Lauren Tamaki

A Vaisakhi to Remember by Simran Jeet Singh, illustrated by Japneet Kaur

AWARD FOR CHILDREN’S LITERATURE

WINNER

Hungry Bones by Louise Hung

HONOR BOOKS

Fresh Start by Gale Galligan

The Queen Bees of Tybee County by Kyle Casey Chu

AWARD FOR YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE

WINNER

The Red Car to Hollywood by Jennie Liu

HONOR BOOK

Tall Water by SJ Sindu, illustrated by Dion MBD

2026 American Indian Youth Literature Awards

January 30, 2026January 29, 2026 | Tasha

These ALA awards celebrate the best writing and illustrations by and about American Indians and Alaska Natives. The awards are given out in even calendar years. The awards cover three age groups and have winners of honor books:

BEST PICTURE BOOK

WINNER

Chooch Helped by Andrea L. Rogers (Cherokee Nation), illustrated by Rebecca Lee Kunz (Cherokee Nation)

HONOR BOOKS

Braided Roots by Pasha Westbrook (Chickasaw Nation and Choctaw Freedman), illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight (Chickasaw Nation)

Fierce Aunties! by Laurel Goodluck (Mandan and Hidatsa and Tsimshian), illustrated by Steph Littlebird (Oregon’s Grand Ronde Confederated Tribes)

For a Girl Becoming by Joy Harjo (Mvskoke Nation), illustrated by Adriana Garcia

Raven’s Ribbons by Tasha Spillett (Cree and Trinidadian), illustrated by Daniel Ramirez (Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan)

We Weave by Daniel W. Vandever (Navajo and Irish), illustrated by Deonoveigh Mitchell (Navajo and Black American)

BEST MIDDLE GRADE

WINNER

Buffalo Dreamer by Violet Duncan (Plains Cree and Taino from Kehewin Cree Nation)

HONOR BOOKS

Jo Jo Makoons: The Super-Scary Sleepover by Dawn Quigley (Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe), illustrated by Tara Audibert (Wolastoquey/French)

Lost at Windy River: A True Story of Survival by Trina Rathgeber (Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation), illustrated by Alina Pete (Little Pine First Nation) and Jillian Dolan (Kapawe’no Cree First Nation)

Outfoxed by Elise McMullen-Ciotti (Cherokee Nation)

Red Bird Danced written by Dawn Quigley (Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe)

The Ribbon Skirt by Cameron Mukwa (Anishinaabe)

The Summer of the Bone Horses by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve (Rosebud Sioux Tribe), illustrated by Steph Littlebird (Oregon’s Grand Ronde Confederated Tribes)

BEST YOUNG ADULT BOOK

WINNER

Legendary Frybread Drive-In: Intertribal Stories edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muscogee Nation)

HONOR BOOKS

Sheine Lende: A Prequel to Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger (Lipan Apache), illustrated by Rovina Cai

Sisters in the Wind by Angeline Boulley (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians)

Super Indian, Volume Three by Arigon Starr (Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma)

The Unfinished by Cheryl Isaacs (Kanyen’keha)

Where Wolves Don’t Die by Anton Treuer (Ojibwe)

Wake Your Friday Brain Cells – January 30 Edition

January 30, 2026January 29, 2026 | Tasha

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Kwame Alexander to deliver 2027 Children’s Literature Lecture – ALA

Portland’s Renée Watson wins the Newbery Medal for her children’s book ‘All the Blues in the Sky’ – OPB

LIBRARIES

Libraries have 820 million digital borrows in 2025 – GoodEreader

YA LIT

Candace Fleming wins 2026 Children’s Literature Legacy Award – ALA

Rebecca Yarros’ bestselling fantasy book ‘Fourth Wing’ is being turned into a TV show. Here’s everything we know so far. – Business Insider via Yahoo

2026 Sydney Taylor Book Awards

January 29, 2026 | Tasha

Presented by the Association of Jewish Libraries, this award honors outstanding books for children and teens that portray the Jewish experience. Medals are given for three age categories. Here are the recipients:

GOLD MEDALIST FOR PICTURE BOOK