Children’s Book Award Nominees

Posted: July 12, 2021 | Updated: November 21, 2022

2023 Children’s Book Award Nominees

This Washington State award is given yearly to a transitional chapter book for all students in grades K-5.

Starla Jean (Starla Jean, book #1) by Elana K. Arnold, illustrated by A.N. Kang
Monster and Boy (Monster and Boy, book #1) by Hannah Barnaby, illustrated by Anoosha Syed
Max Meow Book #1: Cat Crusader by John Gallagher
Missed Meal Mayhem (The Hunger Heroes, book #1) by Jarrett Lerner
The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian #1: The Fuzzy Apocalypse by Jonathan Messinger, illustrated by Aleksei Bitskoff
Trouble at Table 5 #1: The Candy Caper by Tom Watson, illustrated by Marta Kissi

This Washington State kids’ choice award is given yearly to a 4th-6th grade chapter book.

This Washington State award is given yearly to an informational text for grades 2-6.

Battle of the Butts: The Science Behind Animal Behinds by Jocelyn Rish
The Little Spacecraft that Could by Joyce Lapin
Brains! Not Just a Zombie Snack by Stacy McAnulty
The Magic of Sleep: A Fascinating Guide to the World of Slumber by Vicki Woodgate
Fourteen Monkeys: A Rain Forest Rhyme by Melissa Stewart
Scurry! The Truth About Spiders by Annette Whipple
The Fearless Flights of Hazel Ying Lee by Julie Leung
The Water Lady: How Darlene Arviso Helps a Thirsty Navajo Nation by Alice B. McGinty
I am Smoke by Henry Herz
Zion Unmatched by Zion Clark and James S. Hirsch

This Washington State award is given yearly to a picture book for all students in grades K-3.

AAAlligator by Judith Henderson
Amara and the Bats by Emma Reynolds
Butterflies are Pretty Gross by Rosemary Mosco
Claude: The True Story of a White Alligator by Emma Bland Smith
Don’t Hug Doug: (He Doesn’t Like It) by Carrie Finison
First Blade of Sweetgrass: A Native American Story by Suzanne Greenlaw
The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their Own Soccer Field by Scott Riley
Fluffy McWhiskers: Cuteness Explosion by Stephen W. Martin
Help Wanted, Must Love Books by Janet Sumner Johnson
The Little Wooden Robot and the Log Princess by Tom Gould
My Very Favorite Book in the Whole Wide World by Malcolm Mitchell
The Mysterious Sea Bunny by Peter Raymundo
Norman Didn’t Do It!: (Yes, He Did) by Ryan T. Higgins
The Old Man and the Penguin: A True Story of True Friendship by Julie Abery
Room for Everyone by Naaz Khan
Seven Golden Rings: A Tale of Music and Math by Rajani LaRocca
Sloth & Squirrel in a Pickle by Cathy Ballou Mealey
Someone Builds the Dream by Lisa Wheeler
Ten Beautiful Things by Molly Beth Griffin
XO, Exoplanet by Deborah Underwood

This Pacific Northwest Library Association award is given yearly to a Junior Division chapter book for all students in grades 4-6.