2026 Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature

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

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

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