Winners of the 2026 Golden Kite Awards and honor books, presented to children's book authors and artists by their peers and sponsored by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, have been named. Each category winner receives $2,500, while honor recipients are awarded $500. This year's winning titles are:
Golden Kite winners
Picture book text: We Go Slow by Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie, illustrated by Aaron Becker (Atheneum)
Picture book illustration: When Alexander Graced the Table, illustrated by Frank Morrison, written by Alexander Smalls & Denene Millner (Denene Millner Books)
Nonfiction for younger readers: Some of Us: A Story of Citizenship and the United States by Rajani LaRocca, illustrated by Huy Voun Lee (Christy Ottaviano Books)
Nonfiction for older readers: White Lies: How the South Lost the Civil War, Then Rewrote the History by Ann Bausum (Roaring Brook Press)
Middle grade fiction: Once for Yes by Allie Millington (Feiwel and Friends)
Illustrated book for older readers: Song of a Blackbird by Maria van Lieshout (First Second)
YA fiction: Song of a Blackbird by Maria van Lieshout (First Second)
Sid Fleischman award for humor: Never Take Your Rhino on a Plane by K.E. Lewis, illustrated by Isabel Roxas (Clarion)
Honor books
Picture book text: Fireworks written by Matthew Burgess and illustrated by Catia Chien (Clarion Books)
Picture book illustration: Fireworks, illustrated by Catia Chien, written by Matthew Burgess (Clarion Books)
Nonfiction for younger readers: One Girl's Voice: How Lucy Stone Helped Change the Law of the Land by Vivian Kirkfield, illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon (Calkins Creek)
Nonfiction for older readers: World Without Summer: A Volcano Erupts, A Creature Awakens, and the Sun Goes Out by Nicholas Day, illustrated by Yas Imamura (Random House Studio)
Middle grade fiction: Gabby Torres Gets a Billion Followers by Angela Dominguez (Roaring Brook Press)
Illustrated book for older readers: Lu and Ren's Guide to Geozoology by Angela Hsieh (Quill Tree Books)
YA fiction: Island Creatures by Margarita Engle (Atheneum)
Sid Fleischman award for humor: Big Changes for Plum! by Matt Phelan (Greenwillow Books)