Critically Acclaimed Books

Ranking the Best Children's Published in 2026 (24 Titles)

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2 Honors
Basket Ball: The Story of the All-American Game
Basket Ball: The Story of the All-American Game
by Kadir Nelson
2 Honors
Anger Is Only a Shadow
Anger Is Only a Shadow
by Elizabeth Acevedo
2 Honors
A Black Girl and Her Braids
A Black Girl and Her Braids
by Jaylene Clark Owens
1 Honor
Carlotta’s Special Dress: How a Walk to School Changed Civil Rights History
Carlotta’s Special Dress: How a Walk to School Changed Civil Rights History
by Carlotta Walls LaNier with Lisa Frazier Page
1 Honor
Main Street: A Community Story About Redlining
Main Street: A Community Story About Redlining
by Britt Hawthorne and Tiffany Jewell
1 Honor
Shook
Shook
by Julian Randall
1 Honor
Clothes to Make You Smile: Patrick Kelly Designs His Dreams
Clothes to Make You Smile: Patrick Kelly Designs His Dreams
by Eric Darnell Pritchard
1 Honor
Seven Million Steps: The True Story of Dick Gregory’s Run for the Hungry
Seven Million Steps: The True Story of Dick Gregory’s Run for the Hungry
by Derrick Barnes and Christian Gregory
1 Honor
That You Are Here Is No Small Thing
That You Are Here Is No Small Thing
by Vashti Harrison
1 Honor
Ashes at the Altar
Ashes at the Altar
by LaDarrion Williams
1 Honor
Death Card
Death Card
by Jasmine Smith
1 Honor
To Steal a Throne
To Steal a Throne
by Gabi Burton
1 Honor
Time for a Change
Time for a Change
by Questlove and S. A. Cosby
1 Honor
Melodies of the Weary Blues: Classic Poems Illustrated for Young People
Melodies of the Weary Blues: Classic Poems Illustrated for Young People
by Langston Hughes
1 Honor
Amari and the Metalwork Menace
Amari and the Metalwork Menace
by B. B. Alston
1 Honor
Will’s Race for Home (paperback)
Will’s Race for Home (paperback)
by Jewell Parker Rhodes
1 Honor
Prince: A Little Golden Book Biography
Prince: A Little Golden Book Biography
by Nikki Shannon Smith
1 Honor
The Siren (Deluxe Edition)
The Siren (Deluxe Edition)
by Tomi Adeyemi
1 Honor
Breakout
Breakout
by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon
1 Honor
The Free Verse Society
The Free Verse Society
by Delali Adjoa
1 Honor
Lovely One (Adapted for Young Adults)
Lovely One (Adapted for Young Adults)
by Ketanji Brown Jackson
1 Honor
When It’s Your Turn for Midnight
When It’s Your Turn for Midnight
by Blessing Musariri
1 Honor
The Heirs
The Heirs
by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
1 Honor
Baby Dunks-A-Lot The Day the Basketballs Stopped Bouncing
Baby Dunks-A-Lot The Day the Basketballs Stopped Bouncing
by Jayson Tatum and Sam Apple

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