The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) announced the winners of their 2026 Golden Kite Awards which celebrate the best children’s literature published in 2025. Here are the winners:

SID FLEISCHMAN AWARD FOR HUMOR

WINNER

Never Take Your Rhino on a Plane by KE Lewis, illustrated by Isabel Roxas

HONOREE

Big Changes for Plum! by Matt Phelan

PICTURE BOOK TEXT

WINNER

We Go Slow by Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie, illustrated by Aaron Becker

HONOREE

Fireworks by Matthew Burgess, illustrated by Calia Chen

PICTURE BOOK ILLUSTRATION

WINNER

When Alexander Graced the Table by Alexander Smalls and Denene Millner, illustrated by Frank Morrison

HONOREE

Fireworks by Matthew Burgess, illustrated by Calia Chen

NONFICTION TEXT FOR YOUNGER READERS

WINNER

Some of Us: A Story of Citizenship and the United States by Rajani LaRocca, illustrated by Huy Voun Lee

HONOREE

One Girl’s Voice: How Lucy Stone Helped Change the Law of the Land by Vivian Kirkfield, illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon

NONFICTION TEXT FOR OLDER READERS

WINNER

White Lies: How the South Lost the Civil War, Then Rewrote the History by Ann Bausum

HONOREE

A World without Summer: A Volcano Erupts, a Creature Awakens, and the Sun Goes Out by Nicholas Day, illustrated by Yas Imamura

MIDDLE GRADE FICTION

WINNER

Once for Yes by Allie Millington

HONOREE

Gabby Torres Gets a Billion Followers by Angela Dominguez

ILLUSTRATED BOOK FOR OLDER READERS

WINNER

Song of a Blackbird by Maria van Lieshout

HONOREE

Lu and Ren’s Guide to Geozoology by Angela Hsieh

YOUNG ADULT FICTION

WINNER

Song of a Blackbird by Maria van Lieshout

HONOREE

Island Creatures by Margarita Engle