Check Out These Awarding-Winning Books for Kids at the Wichita Public Library

This article is sponsored by the Wichita Public Library.

Every year, children’s books are nominated and selected to win a variety of different awards. These awards are based on illustrations or content of the books. We have a few different awards listed below with the most recent winning books you can borrow from your Wichita Public Library

Remember: the Library has FREE holds and transfers!

Randolph Caldecott Medal

The Caldecott Medal is named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. 

Ain’t Burned All the Bright
written by Jason Reynolds, illustrated by Jason Griffin

An interplay of poetry and art showcases a Black family during the first summer of COVID. In three breaths, the teen narrator describes how his family copes with the challenges of that time.

Berry Song
written and illustrated by Michaela Goade

Featuring informative back matter, this picture follows a Tlingit grandmother and granddaughter as they gather berries like their ancestors before them.

Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement
written by Angela Joy, illustrated by Janelle Washington

Accompanied by striking cut-paper illustrations, this moving picture book biography illuminates Mamrie Till-Mobley’s life and the ways in which the murder of her son affected her activism during the civil rights era.

Hot Dog
written and illustrated by Doug Salati

City sounds and heat, brought to life with searing oranges, give way to cool, tranquil greens and blues, as a dog and its human sojourn to the beach for fun and relaxation. 

Knight Owl
written and illustrated by Christopher Denise

A young owl achieves his dreams of becoming a knight, but his bravery and cleverness are quickly put to the test in this charming and humorous picture book.

John Newbery Medal

The Newbery Medal was named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

Freewater
by Amina Luqman-Dawson

A lyrical narrative tells the story of several children who escape slavery to discover freedom among a community of formerly enslaved Black people living in the Great Dismal Swamp.

Iveliz Explains It All
by Andrea Beatriz Arango

Iveliz’s thoughts and emotions are revealed in poignant, candid diary entries that chronicle her experiences with grief, relationships, bullying and family conflict.

The Last Mapmaker
by Christina Soontornvat

A mapmaker’s apprentice, Sai joins a group of explorers on a journey to map unexplored territories. Filled with secrets and double-crossing, this seafaring adventure follows Sai as she charts a new path to her destiny.

Maizy Chen’s Last Chance
by Lisa Yee

As Maizy gets to know her ailing grandfather and helps run the family’s Chinese restaurant during an unplanned summer in Minnesota, she also discovers her family history and fights racial prejudice.


You can browse the Library’s full collection of books, movies and more online at catalog.wichitalibrary.org. You can also download the Libby app to access eBooks and audiobooks 24/7. 

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