This picture book describes a child's experience after a police shooting. The book reveals the grief and the healing that must take place as fear grows to anger, then pride, and finally peace.
Awards won: Caldecott Honor Book
Purpose of Award: Recognizes the most distinguished American picture book for children
Author: Zetta Elliott
Illustrator: Noa Denmon
Date of publication: 2020
Genre: Fiction

Celebrates the bond between mother and daughter.
Awards Won: Coretta Scott King Honor Book
Purpose of Award: Outstanding African American authors
Author/Illustrator: Cozbi A. Cabrera
Date of publication: 2020
Genre: Fiction

Sprinkled with Mexican folklore, the science fiction tale tells the story of Petra Pena's journey through space and time is a stunning reminder of the power of stories and how those stories shape both our past and future.
Awards won: Newbury Award
Purpose of Award: To encourage original creative work in the field of books for children
Author/Illustrator: Donna Barba Higuera
Date of publication: 2021
Genre: Science Fiction

Describes the physical and emotional experiences of Peter and the season's first snowfall
Awards won: Caldecott Medal
Purpose of Award: Most distinguished American Picture Book for Children
Author/Illustrator: Ezra Jack Keats
Date of publication: 1962
Genre: Fiction

A story about two friends, Bug and Moria, during their summer before middle school. Moria decides that they should use the summer to prepare. None of this is very appealing to Bug, who doesn't want to spend more time trying to understand how to be a girl. Also, there's a ghost haunting Bug's house and maybe just Bug.

The tale focuses on a young girl and how she eager to learn how to respect the Earth from her grandmother.
Awards won: Caldecott Medal
Purpose of Award: Most distinguished American Picture Book for Children
Author/Illustrator: Michaela Goade
Date of publication: 2022
Genre: Fiction

This non-fiction book, written primarily in free verse, follows a family as they ride a transcontinental steam engine train in summer of 1869.
Awards won: Caldecott Medal
Purpose of Award: Most distinguished American Picture Book for Children
Author: Brian Floca
Date of publication: 2013
Genre: Non-fiction

The almost wordless book describes the journey of when a wolf cub and a little girl are lost in a snowstorm they must find their way home.
Awards won: Caldecott Medal
Purpose of Award: Most distinguished American Picture Book for Children
Author/Illustrator: Matthew Cordell
Date of publication: 2017
Genre: Children's Literature

This book is a love letter to Black life in the United Staes. It highlights the unspeakable trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world's greatest heroes.
Awards won: Caldecott Medal
Purpose of Award: Most distinguished American Picture Book for Children
Author: Kwame Alexander
Illustrator: Kadir Nelson
Date of publication:
Genre: Non-fiction history book

While driving through Ohio in an old Pontiac, a young girl's parents stop when they see a watercress growing wild in a ditch by the side of the road. The family then collects as much of the watercress that they can, making the young girl embarrassed at first. Once her mother shares a story about her family's time in China, she then begins to appreciate the fresh food they just gathered and with that they create a new memory of watercress.

Before going to a show with wrestling star El Toro in his border town, tey get lunch orders from the luchador and his friends to help prepare for the event. This story takes readers on a tour of food trucks that sell Little Lobo's favorite foods, like quesadillas with red peppers and Mexican-Korean tacos.
Awards won: Pura Belpré Award

Esperanza thought she was going to living a privileged life on her family's farm but when tragedy strikes, her and Mama are forced to flee to California and settle in a Mexican farm labor camp. When they arrive, Esperanza isn't ready for the hard work and financial struggles that were brought on by the Great Depression. Esperanza must find a way to overcome her challenges and help her and her Mama through this hard time.

When a black snake threatens to destroy the Earth and poison the people's water, one young water protector takes a stand to defend Earth's most sacred resource since it affects and connects us all.
Awards won: Caldecott
Purpose of Award: Most distinguished American Picture Book for Children
Author: Carole Lindstrom
Illustrator: Michaela Goade
Date of publication: 2020
Genre: Picture book

After Amina's Voice, Amina once again uses her voice to bridge the places, people, and communities she loves, this time across continents.
Awards won: Asian/Pacific American Award
Purpose of Award: To honor and recognize individual work about Asian/Pacific Americans and their heritage based on literacy and artistic merit.
Author: Hena Khan
Date of publication: 2021
Genre: Fiction

Published in 2021, this book follows the story about a boy's life on the U.S.-Mexico border, visiting his favorite places on The Other Side with his father, spending time with family and friends, and sharing in the responsibility of community care
Awards won: Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award
Purpose of Award: Honors authors and illustrators who create literature that depicts the Mexican American experience

This book follows the story a new hero in town named BROWN. After BROWN, BLACK follows and you must read to find out who's next!
Awards won: Mildred Batchelder Book Award
Purpose of Award: Presented annually to outstanding children's books originally published in a country other than the United States and in a language other than English
Author: Håkon Øvreås
Illustrator: Øyvind Torseter
Translated from Norwegian by Kari Dickson

Published in 2020, this book discusses self-worth and how everyone matters.
Awards won: Golden Kite Book Award
Purpose of Award: Recognizes excellence in children's literature in seven categories: Young Reader and Middle Grade Fiction, Young Adult Fiction, Nonfiction Text for Young Readers, Nonfiction Text for Older Readers, Picture Book Text, Picture Book Illustration, and Illustration for Older Readers.

Published in 2021, this book follows the journey of a young girl as she is asked by her grandmother to help retrieve a flock of sheep.
Awards won: American Indian Youth Literature Award Book
Purpose of Award: Identifies and honors the very best writing and illustrations by Native Americans and Indigenous peoples of North America
Author: Daniel W. Vandever
Illustrator: Corey Begay
Date of publication: 2021
Genre: Picture Book

Published in 2020, this book describes the life cycle of the hard-working honeybee
Awards won: Robert. F Sibert
Purpose of Award: Awarded annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published in the United States in English during the preceding year
Author: Candace Fleming
Illustrator: Eric Rohmann
Date of publication: 2020
Genre: Picture Book

Published in 2019, this book tells the story of Aiden who was born, and everyone thought he was a girl. Once Aidan realized he was a trans boy, Aiden and his parents changed the parts of his life that didn‘t fit anymore and settled happily into his new life. Then, his parents announce they‘re going to have another baby and Aidan wants to do everything they can to help. This story celebrates the many transitions a family can experience.

This book describes the story of how seven years before Brown v. Board of Education, the Mendez family fought to end segregation in California schools.
Awards won: Carter G. Woodson Book Award
Purpose of Award: Encourage the writing, publishing, and dissemination of outstanding social science books for young readers that treat topics related to ethnic minorities and relations sensitively and accurately
Author: Duncan Tonatiuh

This book tells the story of a girl, Caroline Murphy, who was born during a hurricane and believes herself to be cursed. She then goes to school and discovers her love for another girl she meets.
Awards won: Whippoorwill Book Award
Purpose of Award: Given to the most distinguished rural young adult books published in English during the preceding year
Author: Kheryn Callender
Date of publication: 2018
Genre: Fiction

This book is about a young boy in middle school who is constantly trying to avoid class time and interrupt his teacher. One day he questions his teacher about a word and its meaning, he does not get the answer he wants. So, he then decides to make up his own word for a pen a frindle, he made it up to use in school with his friends. He was told he could not use the word but did anyways.

This introspective narrative poem follows the story of a young man at home during quarantine. This book uses a mix of smash-up art and text for teens that viscerally captures what it is like to be Black through a journal-like story.
Awards won: Boston Globe Horn Award
Purpose of Award: Celebrates excellence in children‘s and young adult literature
Author: Jason Reynolds
Illustrator: Jason Griffin
Date of publication: 2022
Genre: Poetry

This story takes place in 1968 and follows three sisters who travel to Oakland, California to meet their mother who abandoned them.
Awards won: Scott O‘Dell Award, Coretta Scott King Award
Purpose of Award: Goes to an author for meritorious book published in the previous year for children or young adults.
Author: Rita Williams-Garcia
Date of publication: 2011
Genre: Historical fiction

This book follows the lives of two twins, Noah and Jude, as they fall in love and go through the ups and downs of life and grow apart. An interesting thing about this story is that it‘s told from alternative point of views, at different stages of their lives.
Awards won: Michael Printz Award
Purpose of Award: Exemplifies literacy excellence in young adult literature
Author: Jandy Nelson
Date of publication: 2014
Genre: Young adult fiction

Published in 2018, follows the story of Yuyi Moral on his journey from Mexico to the United States with her young son.
Awards won: Pura Belpre Author Award
Purpose of Award: Presented to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.
Author/Illustrator: Yuyi Morales
Date of publication: 2018
Gene: Biography

CJ and his grandma ride the bus home every Sunday after church, but this time CJ is wondering why he doesn‘t have certain things that other people do. On their ride, his grandma answers his questions which helps him see and appreciate what he has.
Awards won: Newbury Award
Purpose of Award: To encourage original creative work in the field of books for children
Author: Matt De la Peña
Illustrator: Christian Robinson
Date of publication: 2015

Published in 2020, this story is about a 12-year-old black boy who enrolls at a private school and experiences culture shock when arriving at his new school.
Awards won: Newbury Award
Purpose of Award: To encourage original creative work in the field of books for children
Author/Illustrator: Jerry Craft
Date of publication: 2020
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Summary: The book tells the story of Duncan whose crayons write him letters on why they are quitting.
Awards won: E.B. White Read Aloud Award
Purpose of Award: Books are nominated for their universal appeal as “terrific“ books to read aloud
Author: Drew Daywalt
Illustrator: Oliver Jeffers
Date of publication: 2013
Genre: Picture book, fiction

Summary: The joy of closeness among families is important and the problems of separation.
Awards won: Caldecott Honors Award
Purpose of Award: Most distinguished American Picture Book for Children
Author: Cynthia Rylant
Illustrator: Stephen Gammel
Date of publication: 1985
Genre: Fiction

Summary: Barnyard animals unite to improve their conditions. Farmer brown is dumbfounded when his cows find a typewriter and begin airing their grievances and making demands.
Awards won: Randolph Caldecott Medal
Purpose of Award: Most distinguished American picture book for children
Author: Doreen Cronin
Illustrator: Betsy Lewin
Date of publication: 2000
Genre: Picture Book

Summary: A woman named Omu makes a delicious stew that attracts members of her community to her door, and she feeds them all.
Awards won: Coretta Scott King
Purpose of Award: Demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values.
Author: Oge Mora
Illustrator: Oge Mora
Date of publication: 2018
Genre: Fiction

An African American preteen finds his world upended when his father, a retired professional football player, displays symptoms of traumatic brain injury. Twelve-year-old Zachariah “ZJ” Johnson Jr. loves his dad but wonders who he would be if his dad wasn't a famous athlete.
Awards won: Coretta Scott King Author Award
Purpose of Award: Outstanding African American authors
Author: Jacqueline Woodson
Date of publication: 2020
Genre: Fiction

Summary: Two siblings who live in the city and are stuck inside and they use their imagination to cure their boredom. Their grandmother talks about the importance of freedom to them.
Awards won: Schneider Family Book Award
Purpose of Award: Book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences
Author: Jacqueline Woodson
Illustrator: Rafael López
Date of publication: 2022
Genre: Picture Book

This story describes a family's journey north during the Great Migration starts with a little girl in South Carolina who finds a rope under a tree one summer and has no idea the rope will become apart of her family's history.
Awards won: Charlotte Zolotow Award
Purpose of Award: Given to the author of the best picture book text published in the U.S.
Author: Jacqueline Woodson
Illustrator: James Ransome
Date of publication: 2013
Genre: Fiction

Summary: This story is about two girls who fight against segregation by becoming friends because they don't believe in the ideas adults have about things so they do what they can to change the world.
Awards won: Booklist Editor's Choice
Purpose of Award: The year's best personal reading for teenagers among adult books published
Author: Jacqueline Woodson
Illustrator: E.B. Lewis
Date of publication: 2001
Genre: Fiction

Summary: There's a lot of ways to feel different and how it's hard to step into a place where nobody knows but we find the courage to do it.
Awards won: Jane Addams Children's Book Award
Purpose of Award: Aesthetic excellence that effectively engage children in thinking about peace, social justice, global community, and equity for all people.
Author: Jacqueline Woodson
Illustrator: Rafael López
Date of publication: 2018
Genre: Fiction

Published in 1962, this story is about a sister and brother who watch the sun rise for the first time. They notice the their shadows and how they changed based on the time of day. At the end of the day they learn about the earth's rotation.
Awards won: Caldecott Medal
Purpose of Award: Most distinguished American Picture Book for Children
Author: Alice E. Goudey
Illustrator: Adrienne Adams
Date of publication: 1962
Genre: Science