2025 ALA Award Winners & Contenders

2025 ALA Award Winners & Contenders

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It is one of the biggest and most anticipated book award events in education. The American Library Association (ALA) Youth Media Awards (YMA) are annual awards for outstanding books for children and young adults. Recognized worldwide, these awards celebrate works that embody excellence in writing, illustration, and storytelling. The awards aim to honor many perspectives and bring quality, inclusive content to the forefront, encouraging educators and librarians to engage young readers with award-winning quality books.

Our expert certified librarians at Follett Content compile a list of contenders for the winners of the ALA Awards before the January announcement to help educators get the inside scoop and purchase the top picks beforehand on Titlewave®.

Check out these 2025 ALA Contenders book lists organized by each award, plus a new tool feature to share with others! You can now export them into one of our multiple free PDF download options to Pass the Note to get others excited about the upcoming awards by holding student mock election awards.

All Award Seals and images are owned and trademarked by the American Library Association (ALA). © 1996–2024 American Library Association 

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2025 ALA YMA Winners

The American Library Association Youth Media Awards (ALA YMA) are a collection of the most prestigious literary awards recognizing books created for children...

2025 Coretta Scott King Award Contenders

The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are a set of annual awards to honor African American authors and illustrators of outstanding...

2025 Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Contenders

The YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults is an annual award presented by the Young Adult Library Services...

2025 John Newbery Medal Contenders

The John Newbery Medal is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. Established in...

2025 Michael L. Printz Award Contenders

The Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature is an annual award to recognize the best book written...

2025 Pura Belpré Award Contenders

The Pura Belpré Award recognizes outstanding Latinx authors and illustrators whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latinx cultural experience...

2025 Randolph Caldecott Medal Contenders

The Randolph Caldecott Medal is given to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children published in the...

2025 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal Contenders

Established in 2001, the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal is given to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished...

2025 Schneider Family Book Award Contenders

The Schneider Family Book Award is given to honor books that best portray the experience of children and adolescents with disabilities....

This list has not been tailored based on budget, curriculum, or other specifications. We encourage you to review this list closely to ensure that it meets the needs of your school community before placing your order.