This year’s top US kids book honors go to…

Coming-of-age tale The First State of Being wins the American Library Association's 2025 Newbery Medal, and picture book Chooch Helped is the latest Randolph Caldecott Medal recipient.
January 28, 2025

The American Library Association (ALA) has announced this year’s winners of its prestigious Youth Media Awards, as chosen by committees of children’s librarians and other kidlit experts.

Erin Entrada Kelly’s middle-grade novel The First State of Being earned the John Newbery Medal for outstanding contribution to children’s literature. Published by HarperCollins imprint Greenwillow Books, it revolves around two kids, one of whom has time-traveled back to 1999 with a book outlining everything that will happen in the next 20 years.

The Randolph Caldecott Medal for most distinguished picture book went to Chooch Helped (pictured). Penned by Andrea Rogers, illustrated by Rebecca Lee Kunz and published by Levine Querido imprint Arthur A. Levine, this title tells the story of a Cherokee girl introducing her two-year-old brother to their family’s traditions.

The Odyssey Award winner for best children’s audiobook is A Plate of Hope: The Inspiring Story of Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen. Produced by Andy Jones for Dreamscape Audio, this biography is narrated by Luis Carlos de La Lombana and based on a same-name picture book written by Erin Frankel and illustrated by Paola Escobar. 

And PBS KIDS toon Carl the Collector, produced by Fuzzytown Productions and Spiffy Pictures, scored an Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media award. This 2D-animated series is about a smart autistic raccoon navigating his anxiety with a little help from his friends.

A complete list of this year’s honorees are available on the ALA website.

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