Goodreads Choice Awards

November 18, 2025 | Tasha

The opening round of nominees have been announced for the Goodreads Choice Awards. Here are the titles nominated in the two YA categories:

YOUNG ADULT FANTASY & SCI-FI

Breath of the Dragon by Shannon Lee & Fonda Lee

Fearless by Lauren Roberts

The Floating World by Axie Oh

A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim

Hazelthorn by C.G. Drews

Heavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay Zhao

Hekate – the Witch by Nikita Gill

The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer

Immortal Consequences by I.V. Marie

A Language of Dragons by S. F. Williamson

Never Ever After by Sue Lynn Tan

Oathbound by Tracy Deonn

The Otherwhere Post by Emily J. Taylor

Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven

Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli

The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

Watch Me by Tahereh Mafi

Wings of Starlight by Allison Saft

YOUNG ADULT FICTION

And They Were Roommates by Page Powars

Audre & Bash Are Just Friends by Tia Williams

Dating and Dragons by Kristy Boyce

Fake Skating by Lynn Painter

Falling Like Leaves by Misty Wilson

A First Time for Everything by K.L. Walther

Glorious Rivals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

I Am Not Jessica Chen by Ann Liang

Needy Little Things by Channelle Desamours

Nobody in Particular by Sophie Gonzales

Say a Little Prayer by Jenna Voris

The Scammer by Tiffany D. Jackson

Sisters in the Wind by Angeline Boulley

The Survivor Wants to Die at the End by Adam Silvera

The Thrashers by Julie Soto

Under the Same Stars by Libba Bray

We Fell Apart by E. Lockhart

When Devils Sing by Xan Kaur

Wish You Were Her by Elle McNicoll

You’ve Found Oliver by Dustin Thao

Publishers Weekly Best Young Adult Books of 2025

November 14, 2025November 12, 2025 | Tasha

Publishers Weekly has announced their list of best books for 2025. Here are the selected books in YA:

And the River Drags Her Down by Jihyun Yun

Angelica and the Bear Prince by Trung Le Nguyen

A Bird in the Air Means We Can Still Breathe by Mahogany L. Browne

The Corruption of Hollis Brown by K. Ancrum

Death in the Jungle: Murder, Betrayal, and the Lost Dream of Jonestown by Candace Fleming

The Leaving Room by Amber McBride

One of the Boys by Victoria Zeller

Reasons to Hate Me by Susan Metallo

Reasons We Break by Jesmeen Kaur Deo

Run Away with Me by Brian Selznick

Skipshock by Caroline O’Donoghue

Song of a Blackbird by Maria van Lieshout

This Place Kills Me by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Nicole Goux

The Tournament by Rebecca Barrow

Truth Is by Hannah V. Sawyerr

Publishers Weekly Best Middle Grade Books of 2025

November 13, 2025November 12, 2025 | Tasha

Publishers Weekly has announced their best books lists for 2025. Here are their picks for best Middle Grade books:

Candle Island by Lauren Wolk

Graciela in the Abyss by Meg Medina, illus. by Anna and Elena Balbusso

How to Say Goodbye in Cuban by Daniel Miyares

The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze by Derrick Barnes

Malcolm Lives! by Ibram X. Kendi

My Presentation Today Is About the Anaconda by Bibi Dumon Tak, trans. from the Dutch by Nancy Forest-Flier, illus. by Annemarie van Haeringen

Night Chef by Mika Song

The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli by Karina Yan Glaser

Oasis by Guojing

Pocket Bear by Katherine Applegate, illus. by Charles Santoso

A Sea of Lemon Trees by María Dolores Águila

The Summer of the Bone Horses by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve, illus. by Steph Littlebird

The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner

The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman

A World Worth Saving by Kyle Lukoff

Publishers Weekly Best Picture Books of 2025

November 12, 2025 | Tasha

Publishers Weekly has announced their picks for the best books of 2025. The juvenile picks are broken into three categories. Here are the picture book selections:

PICTURE BOOKS

Alberto Salas Plays Paka Paka con la Papa: Join the Quest with Peru’s Famed Scientist and Potato Expert by Sara Andrea Fajardo, illus. by Juana Martinez-Neal

Cranky, Crabby Crow by Corey R. Tabor

Don’t Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson, illus. by Dan Santat

Downpour: Splish! Splash! Ker-Splash! by Yuko Ohnari and Koshiro Hata, trans. from the Japanese by Emily Balistrieri

Every Monday Mabel by Jashar Awan

Fireworks by Matthew Burgess, illus. by Cátia Chien

For a Girl Becoming by Joy Harjo, illus. by Adriana M. Garcia

Island Storm by Brian Floca, illus. by Sydney Smith

The Keeper of Stories by Caroline Kusin Pritchard, illus. by Selina Alko

Lena the Chicken (but Really a Dinosaur) by Linda Bailey, illus. by K-Fai Steele

Let’s Be Bees by Shawn Harris

On Our Way with Mr. Jay by Chelsea Lin Wallace, illus. by Thyra Heder

Our Lake by Angie Kang

Papilio by Ben Clanton, Corey R. Tabor, and Andy Chou Musser

A Place for Us by James E. Ransome

Popo the Xolo by Paloma Angelina Lopez, illus. by Abraham Matias

So Many Years bookcover

So Many Years: A Juneteenth Story by Anne Wynter, illus. by Jerome Pumphrey

Stalactite & Stalagmite: A Big Tale from a Little Cave by Drew Beckmeyer

The World Entire: A True Story of an Extraordinary World War II Rescue by Elizabeth Brown, illus. by Melissa Castrillón

Your Forest by Jon Klassen

2025 New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Books

November 10, 2025November 10, 2025 | Tasha

The 10 winners of the 2025 New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Books have been announced. Nearly 800 books were judged purely on the basis of artistic merit. Here are the 10 winners:

Broken by X. Fang

Dragon Flower by Chen Jiang Hong; translated by Alyson Waters

Fireworks by Matthew Burgess and illustrated by Cátia Chien

The Lighthouse Keeper by Eugenio Fernández Vázquez, illustrated by Mariana Villanueva Segovia; translated by Kit Maude

Little Rebels by Yuyi Morales

Making Art by Diana Ejaita

Pencil by Hye-Eun Kim

Sunday by Marcelo Tolentino; translated by Rahul Bery

The Three-Year Tumble by Dayeon Auh; translated by Tim Mohr

Wind Watchers by Micha Archer

2025 An Post Irish Book Awards Shortlist

November 6, 2025 | Tasha

The shortlist for the 2025 An Post Irish Book Awards has been announced. The awards celebrate the best of Irish writing across a variety of genres and categories. Below are the shortlisted titles for the juvenile categories:

CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE YEAR – JUNIOR

An Fia sa Choill by Sadhbh Devlin, Anastasia Melynkova (not available in US)

Badger Books by Paddy Donnelly

Don’t Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson, illustrated by Dan Santat

Ellora McGee Trainee Banshee by Sinéad O’Hart

Letters to a Monster by Patricia Forde, illustrated by Sarah Warburton

Once I Was a Tree by Eoin McLaughlin, illustrated by Guilherme Karsten (coming to US in March 2026)

Penguin TV by Niamh Sharkey, illustrated by Owen Churcher

Run Home, Little Fox by Tom McCaughren & Erika McGann, Illustrated by Shannon Bergin (not available in US)

CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE YEAR – SENIOR

Animalopedia by John and Kathi Burke

Conn of the Dead by Dave Rudden and Ali Al Amine (not available in US)

The Doomsday Club by Kevin Moran

Granny National by Rachael Blackmore with Rachel Pierce

Milly McCarthy and the Haunted House HullaBOOloo by Leona Forde, illustrated by Karen Harte

Nina Peanut: Epic World Tour Era by Sarah Bowie

TEEN/YOUNG ADULT BOOK OF THE YEAR

Any Way You Slice It by Méabh McDonnell

Matched Up by Jenny Ireland

My Name Is Jodie Jones by Emma Shevah

The Rebel and the Rose by Catherine Doyle (releasing in US on December 2)

Solo by Gráinne O’Brien

Shipshock by Caroline O’Donoghue

2025 CCBC Awards

October 29, 2025 | Tasha

The Canadian Children’s Book Centre has announced their 2025 winners in a variety of categories. Here are the English-language winners:

Richard Allen Chase Memorial Award

Hummingbird / Aamo-binashee by Jennifer Leason

Arlene Barlin Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy

The Headmasters by Mark Morton

Jean Little First-Novel Award

Alterations by Ray Xu

Amy Mathers Teen Book Award

Age 16 by Rosena Fung

Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People

Song of Freedom, Song of Dreams by Shari Green

Sharon Fitzhenry Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction

Meet Jim Egan by Elizabeth MacLeod, illustrated by Mike Deas

Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award

SOS Water by Yayo

Good Housekeeping Kids Books Awards 2025

October 28, 2025 | Tasha

Good Housekeeping has selected their best books of 2025 for kids of all ages. This is their fourth year offering this award. As a librarian, I appreciate seeing lists of books from non-library sources and making sure I have these in my collection too.

BOARD BOOKS

Gracie’s Corner: What Sound Does That Letter Make? by the Gracie’s Corner Team

I Love You, Little Moose! by Sandra Magsmen

Little Head, Little Nose by Yuli Yav, illustrated by Antonia Woodward

Look, Baby, Look! At Home by Louise Lockhart

My Calm Down Book by Rose Rossner, illustrated by Amanda Morrow

Off They Run! by Katie Cotton, illustrated by Rob Hodgson

The Pigeon Won’t Count to 10! by Mo Willems

Runaway Blanket by Nancy Deas, illustrated by Mike Deas

Say Cheese! by Sophie Aggett, illustrated by Pauline Gregory

Slide and Peek Santa by Hector Dexet

What’s That Noise? Meow! by Pui Lee

Your Forest by Jon Klassen

PICTURE BOOKS

The ABC of You by Julia Gray, illustrated by Sarah Ugolotti (Wonderbly personalized book)

Anything by Rebecca Stead, illustrated by Gracey Zhang

Evelyn Witch Gets a Pet by Beth Ferry, illustrated by Charles Santoso

Every Monday Mabel by Jashar Awan

The Gift of the Great Buffalo by Carole Londstrom, illustrated by Aly McKnight

Hope in a Jar by Deborah Marcero

Little Blue Truck and Racer Red by Alice Schertle, illustrated by John Joseph

The Littlest Drop by Sascha Alper, illustrated by Jerry and Brian Pinkney

Millie Fleur Saves the Night by Christy Mandin

Piece Out by Alex Willan

Pocket Potters: Harry Potter by JK Rowling, illustrated by Natalie Smillie

Snuggle Season by Jaimie MacGibbon

GRAPHIC NOVELS

The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby: Color Edition by Dav Pilkey

The Cartoonists Club by Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud

Creaky Acres by Calista Brill, illustrated by Nilah Magruder

Dream On by Shannon Hale, illustrated by Marcela Cespedes

Ducky the Spy by Sean E Avery

Mallory and the Trouble with Twins by Ann M. Martin, illustrated by Arley Nopra

One Crazy Summer by Rita Garcia-Williams, illustrated by Sharee Miller

Supa Nova by Chanté Timothy

NONFICTION

Discover Dinosaurs by John A. Long

Don’t Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson, illustrated by Dan Santat

The Fossil Keeper’s Treasure by Amy Atwater, illustrated by Natalia Cardozo

The Stuff That Stuff Is Made Of: The Things We Make with Plants by Jonathan Drori, illustrated by Jiatong Liu

EARLY READERS/CHAPTER BOOKS

Amina Banana and the Formula for Friendship by Shifa Saltagi Safadi, illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel

Brin Got a Cast by Lovevery

Cat & Cat Adventures series by Susie Yi

Kat & Mouse: I Like Cheese by Salina Yoon

Little Mouse Saves the Day! by Jeff Smith

Pencil & Eraser: Lost and Frown! by Jenny Alvarado

Waiter, Waiter by Lovevery

Wally Mammoth: The Sled Race by Corey R. Tabor, illustrated by Dalton Webb

ACTIVITY BOOKS

A Is for Apple: My First Wipe-Clean Book by Tiger Tales, illustrated by Georgie Birkett and Summer Macon

Fold-Out + Play: House by Ingela P. Arrhenius

Ivy and Bearlock Holmes: The Case of the Missing Flower by Kristyna Litten

Let’s Find Yaya & Boo On the Go! by Andrew Knapp

The Wizard’s Guide to Magical Experiments by A.J. Wood, illustrated by Jo Rioux

MIDDLE GRADE BOOKS

Dragonborn by Struan Murray

Isle of Ever by Jen Calonita

The Poisoned King by Katherine Rundell

Vanya and the Wild Hunt by Sangu Mandanna

AUDIOBOOKS

Graciela in the Abyss by Meg Medina, narrated by Elena Ray

Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren, narrated by Sutton Foster

The Weirdies by Michael Buckley, narrated by Helena Bonham Carter

2025 Governor General’s Literary Awards

October 21, 2025 | Tasha

The Canada Council for the Arts has announced the finalists for the 2025 Governor General’s Literary Awards which celebrate the books by Canadian creators. The winners will be announced on November 6th. Here are the finalists in the youth categories:

Young People’s Literature – Text