The 2025 winners of the Australian Prime Minister’s Literary Awards have been announced. Two of the categories are specifically focused on the best Australian writing for youth. Here are the winners in those categories, both of which are available in the US:
CHILDREN’S LIT
Leo and Ralph by Peter Carnavas
YOUNG ADULT
The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland
Books + Publishing has the entire list of winners in all categories.
The shortlists for the 2025-2026 First Nation Communities READ have been announced. The awards are given for the best Indigenous literature from Canada and voted on by First Nation librarians from Ontario. The awards will be given during First Nation Public Library Week (October 6-10).
Here are the shortlists:
CHILDREN’S
The Animal People Choose a Leader by Richard Wagamese, illustrated by Bridget George
Bannock in a Hammock by Masiana Kelly
Boozhoo!/Hello! by Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley, translated by Mary Ann Corbiere
Dad, I Miss You by Nadia Sammurtok
Hummingbird/Aamo-binashee by Jennifer Leason, translated by Norman Chartrand
YOUNG ADULT/ADULT CATEGORY
The Baby Train by Stella Shepard
Little Moons by Jen Storm
Lost at Windy River by Trina Rathgeber
Medicine Wheel for the Planet by Dr. Jennifer Grenz
Who We Are: Four Questions for a Life and Nation by the Honourable Murray Sinclair
The longlist for the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature has been announced. Here are the ten books that made the list:
A Bird in the Air Means We Can Still Breathe by Mahogany L. Browne
The Corruption of Hollis Brown by K. Ancrum
The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze by Derrick Barnes
The Leaving Room by Amber McBride
A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez by María Dolores Águila
(S)kin by Ibi Zoboi
Song of a Blackbird by Maria van Lieshout
The Teacher or Nomad Land by Daniel Nayeri
Truth Is by Hannah V. Sawyerr
A World Worth Saving by Kyle Lukoff
The Dragon Awards were presented at Dragon Con with categories that span fantasy and science fiction from novels to graphic novels to TV and movies. One of the categories focuses on YA and middle grade. Here is the winner and finalists in that category:
WINNER
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
FINALISTS
Among Serpents by Marc J. Gregson
Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White
Friends Indeed by Jane Lindskold and David Weber
Labyrinth Arcanist by Shami Stovall
Rest in Peaches by Alex Brown
The shortlists for the Readings prizes for Children and Young Adults have been announced. The Australian awards are given for the best new contribution from an emerging author. Winners will be announced on November 14. Here are the two shortlists:
CHILDREN’S PRIZE SHORTLIST
Big Trouble with Angry Chairs by Lachlann Carter, illustrated by Douglas Holgate
Brightest Wild by Tania Crampton-Larking (available in US)
The Girl Who Cried Bird by Katherine Collette
Hi from Outer Space by Fiona Katauskas (available in US)
How to Free a Jinn by Raidah Shah Idil (available in US)
Queen of Dogs by Joe Weatherstone
YOUNG ADULT PRIZE SHORTLIST
Aisle Nine by Ian X. Cho (available in US)
Anomaly by Emma Lord
A Good Kind of Trouble by Brooke Blurton and Melanie Saward
How to Be Normal by Ange Crawford (coming to US in April 2026)
This Dream Will Devour Us by Emma Clancey (available in US)
White Noise by Raelke Grimmer
The finalists for the 2025 CCBC Book Awards have been announced. The awards recognize exceptional books for young people. Winners will be announced on October 27. Here are the shortlisted titles:
Richard Allen Chase Memorial Award
Hummingbird / Aamo-binashee by Jennifer Leason (available in US)
I Wonder about Worlds: Discovering Planets and Exoplanets by James Gladstone, illustrated by Yaara Eshet (available in US)
Mighty Scared: The Amazing Ways Animals Defend Themselves by Erin Silver, illustrated by Hayden Maynard (available in US)
A Song for the Paper Children by Christopher Tse
Two Pieces of Chocolate by Kathy Kacer, illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard (available in US)
Arlene Barlin Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy
Fledgling: The Keeper’s Records of Revolution by S. K. Ali (available in US)
The Headmasters by Mark Morton (available in US)
Lockjaw by Matteo L. Cerilli (available in US)
Waking the Dead and Other Fun Activities by Casey Lyall (available in US)
Where the Dark Stands Still by A. B. Poranek (available in US)
Jean Little First Novel Award
Alterations by Ray Xu (available in US)
Maya Plays the Part by Calyssa Erb (available in US)
Teddy vs. the Fuzzy Doom: Secrets of Ravensbarrow by Braden Hallett (available in US)
Amy Mathers Teen Book Award
Age 16 by Rosena Fung (available in US)
And Then There Was Us by Kern Carter (available in US)
A Constellation of Minor Bears by Jen Ferguson (available in US)
Fledgling: The Keeper’s Records of Revolution by S.K. Ali (available in US)
For She is Wrath by Emily Varga (available in US)
The Lightning Cycle by Vikki VanSickle, illustrated by Laura K. Watson
Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People
Age 16 by Rosena Fung (available in US)
Eyes on the Ice by Anna Rosner (available in US)
The Go-Between by Jennifer Maruno (available in US)
Song of Freedom, Song of Dreams by Shari Green (available in US)
Wings to Soar by Tina Athaide (available in US)
Sharon Fitzhenry Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction
All Consuming: Shop Smarter for the Planet by Erin Silver, illustrated by Suharu Ogawa (available in US)
The Longest Shot: How Larry Kwong Changed the Face of Hockey by Chad Soon and George Chiang, illustrated by Amy Qi (available in US)
Lost at Windy River: A True Story of Survival by Trina Rathgeber, illustrated by Alina Pete, colors by Jillian Dolan (available in US)
Meet Jim Egan by Elizabeth MacLeod and Mike Deas
You Can Be an Activist: How to Use Your Strengths & Passions to Make a Difference by Charlene Rocha and Mary Beth Leatherdale, illustrated by Drew Shannon (available in US)
Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award
A Face Is a Poem by Julie Morstad (available in US)
I’m Afraid, Said the Leaf by Danielle Daniel, illustrated by Matt James (available in US)
It Bears Repeating by Tanya Tagaq and Cee Pootoogook (available in US)
Mad at Dad by Janie Hao (available in US)
SOS Water by Yayo (available in US)
The finalists for the 2025 Kirkus Prize have been announced. Awards are given in three categories: Fiction, Nonfiction and Young Readers’ Literature. Winners receive $50,000 each. Here are the finalists in the Young Readers’ Literature category which is divided into subcategories with two finalists in each:
PICTURE BOOKS
Everybelly by Thao Lam
Island Storm by Brian Floca, illustrated by Sydney Smith
MIDDLE GRADE
The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze by Derrick Barnes
John the Skeleton by Triinu Laan, illustrated by Marja-Liisa Plats, trans. by Adam Cullen
YOUNG ADULT
Butterfly Heart by Moa Backe Åstot, trans. by Agnes Broomé
Death in the Jungle: Murder, Betrayal and the Lost Dream of Jonestown by Candace Fleming
The winners of the 2025 Book of the Year Awards have been announced by the Children’s Book Council of Australia. Here are the winners and honor books for each category:
OLDER READERS WINNER
I’m Not Really Here by Gary Lonesborough (releasing in US in March 2026)
OLDER READER HONOR BOOKS
Birdy by Sharon Kernot
Into the Mouth of the Wolf by Erin Gough
YOUNGER READERS WINNER
Laughter Is the Best Ending by Maryam Master, illustrated by Astred Hicks
YOUNGER READERS HONOR BOOKS
Aggie Flea Steals the Show by Tania Ingram, illustrated by A. Yi
Fluff: Mess Up! by Matt Stanton
EARLY CHILDHOOD WINNER
The Wobbly Bike by Darren McCallum, illustrated by Craig Smith
EARLY CHILDHOOD HONOR BOOKS
How to Move a Zoo by Kate Simpson, illustrated by Owen Swan (available in US)
One Little Dung Beetle by Rhiân Williams, illustrated by Heather Potter & Mark Jackson
PICTURE BOOK WINNER
The Truck Cat illustrated by Danny Snell, text by Deborah Frenkel (available in US)
PICTURE BOOK HONOR BOOKS
Afloat illustrated by Freya Blackwood, text by Kirli Saunders (available in US)
These Long-Loved Things illustrated by Ronojoy Ghosh, text by Josh Pyke
WINNER OF THE EVE POWNALL AWARD FOR INFORMATION BOOKS
Always Was, Always Will Be by Aunty Fay Muir & Sue Lawson
HONOR BOOKS
Making the Shrine: Stories from Victoria’s War Memorial by Laura J. Carroll
South with the Seabirds by Jess McGeachin
NEW ILLUSTRATOR AWARD WINNER
Grow Big, Little Seed illustrated by Sarah Capon, text by Bec Nanayakkara (available in US)
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has announced the Kids Reads 2025 Longlist. The 15 picture books in the longlist will be shortened to five books that will compete to win. The shortlist will be announced on September 17 and the winner announced on October 4. Here are the longlisted books:
Benny and the Bananasaurus Rex by Sarabeth Holden, illustrated by Emma Pedersen
Cone Dog by Sarah Howden, illustrated by Carmen Mok
Getting Glam at Gram’s by Sara Weed, illustrated by Erin Hawryluk
The Hockey Skates by Karl Subban, illustrated by Maggie Zeng
How to Staycation Like a Snail by Naseem Hrab, illustrated by Kelly Collier
I Am a Rock by Ashley Qilavaq-Savard, illustrated by Pelin Turgut
The Little Green Envelope by Gillian Sze, illustrated by Claudine Crangle
Mad at Dad by Janie Hao
The Mango Monster by Derek Mascarenhas, illustrated by Meneka Repka
Oh! Look, a Boat! by Andrew J. Ross
The Only Lonely Fairy by Lana Button, illustrated by Peggy Collins
Shark Girl by Kate Beaton
So Loud! by Sahar Golshan, illustrated by Shiva Delsooz
When You Can Swim by Jack Wong
When You Meet a Dragon by Tanya Lloyd Kyi, illustrated by Udayana Lugo
Waking Brain Cells 