Bulletin Blue Ribbon Awards 2025

Young readers are facing a world of uncertainty right now, and so it is apt that this year’s Blue Ribbon titles are united by the key theme of persistence, a refusal to accept dead ends, failures, or calls for the status quo. The characters in these books are instead harnessing unpredictability to shape their realities, at either a personal or societal level (and sometimes both). In fiction, many of our protagonists are pushing back against ideas of familial responsibility, determinedly choosing to step outside of traditional roles and define their individual selves regardless of whether they’ll be accepted. Our picture book selection is a galvanizing roster of plucky heroes, from a little hummingbird that tirelessly works to tame an encroaching wildfire to a courageous young girl navigating the rocky seas of her own big feelings. Elsewhere in nonfiction, readers will meet writers and artists who used their resolute creativity to move past trauma, a sort of tenacious healing echoed in several of this year’s poetry selections. Of course, perseverance need not be always serious, as evident in our graphic novel choices featuring, for example, a young bear doggedly tracking cheese-thieving dragons. Whatever challenges may come in 2026, we hope that you’ll join us in our persistent pursuit of literary joy.

—Kate Quealy-Gainer, Editor

FICTION

Browne, Mahogany L. A Bird in the Air Means We Can Still Breathe. Crown. Gr. 9‑12
In this intriguing and heartbreaking collection of stories and poems, Browne gives voice to New York teens whose lives were permanently changed by COVID-19, offering readers catharsis and a chance to tend to the personal and social scars the pandemic left behind. (February)

Chu, Kyle Casey. The Queen Bees of Tybee County. Quill Tree/HarperCollins. Gr. 5‑8
Chu, a founding queen of the group Drag Story Hour, offers a tender coming-of-age novel about Chinese American middle school basketball player Derrick, whose summer with his pageant-loving grandmother helps him begin to understand himself as queer, recognize his first crush, and pursue drag despite the judgement of his friends and father. (April)

Crossley-Holland, Kevin. King Alfred and the Ice Coffin; illus. by Chris Riddell. Candlewick Studio. Gr. 6‑12
Moving from warm, sepia-toned pages of Alfred the Great’s court to the blue, boat-strewn ports and chilly treetops of Scandinavia, a short, illustrated biography of the ninth-century king pivots to a traveler’s tale of a Viking chieftain’s funeral celebrations; both tales counter sticky false narratives of medieval peoples’ simplicity to show a gender-expansive and interconnected medieval world. (December 2024)

DiCamillo, Kate. Lost Evangeline. Candlewick. Gr. 3‑5
Building on the magical, fairy-tale world of her recent The Puppets of Spelhorst (BCCB 10/23) and The Hotel Balzaar (BCCB 10/24), DiCamillo offers another quirky, poignant story, this time about a tiny girl, her father, and the song that bonds them even when they are tragically kept apart. (June)

Emezi, Akwaeke. Somadina. Knopf. Gr. 9‑12
In a world of deities, magic, and war drawn from Emezi’s own Igbo culture, protagonist Somadina must confront tragic family secrets as she hones her newly manifested destructive powers and searches for her kidnapped twin brother in a complex tale of love, sacrifice, and forgiveness. (April)

Harper, Charise Mericle. The Shindig Is Coming!; written and illus. by Charise Mericle Harper. Union Square. Gr. K‑3
A group of animals prepares for a rumored shindig (despite having no idea what a shindig is) in this charming early reader, which blends clever text and brightly hued illustrations to give burgeoning readers a buoyant, cheerful opportunity to sharpen their literacy skills. (June)

Hartman, Aubrey. The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest. Little. Gr. 3‑6
The endearing grumpy/sunshine dynamic between Clare, the titular fox guiding creatures to the afterlife, and Gingersnipes, a ghostly badger who won’t move on, makes Hartman’s raucous tale of adventure, self-discovery, and love a warm, accessible classic that readers will not soon forget. (February)

Kaur, Xan. When Devils Sing. Holt. Gr. 9‑12
A clash between the haves and have-nots, a deal with the devil, and four intriguing protagonists elevate this novel beyond familiar horror tropes as a group of teens are brought together when a mutual acquaintance goes missing and an urban legend begins to feel all too real. (May)

Kölsch, Freddie. Empty Heaven. Union Square. Gr. 9‑12
In this compelling exploration of villainy and morality, seventeen-year-old Darian’s stay in a bucolic Massachusetts town turns deadly when the idyll is revealed to be the doing of a malevolent yet strangely sympathetic force. (July/August)

Lin, Grace. The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon. Little. Gr. 4‑6
Lin delicately weaves elements of Chinese folklore into this tender story of Jin, the cub of the two stone Lion guardians, and Lulu, a sad, adrift human girl, who must help Jin retrieve a sacred object and reopen the portals between the spiritual and mortal realms before both worlds are destroyed by an evil force. (April)

Phan, Aimee. The Lost Queen. Putnam. Gr. 8‑12
In this impeccably paced and emotionally resonant story that draws on Vietnamese myth, modern-day high schooler Jolie must sort through layers of memory, love, and hate when she begins to have increasingly unsettling visions and realizes her connection to two ancient warrior sisters. (May)

Yun, Jihyun. And the River Drags Her Down. Knopf. Gr. 9‑12
After resurrecting her beloved older sister, Mirae, Soojin is delighted to have her protector and best friend back, but Mirae’s more focused on calculated revenge than cozy reunion in this nuanced, painful meditation on sisterhood and the desperate things people do to keep grief at bay. (September)

PICTURE BOOKS

Alper, Sascha. The Littlest Drop; illus. by Jerry Pinkey and Brian Pinkney. Schwartz. 4‑7 yrs
Inspired by a South American fable, this tale follows a tiny, courageous hummingbird as she tries to save her African savannah home from an encroaching wildfire; fine, detailed sketch work and opaque watercolor showcase how one simple act, no matter how little it seems, can have a powerful and meaningful impact. (April)

Awan, Jashar. Every Monday Mabel; written and illus. by Jashar Awan. Simon. 4‑7 yrs
Young Mabel looks forward to every Monday morning to hear the “HONK HONK” of a garbage truck’s arrival in this arm-pumping, visually explosive celebration of loving what you love with abandon and zeal. (January)

Burgess, Matthew. Fireworks; illus. by Cátia Chien. Clarion. 4‑7 yrs
Two siblings walk down the New York City streets on the Fourth of July to take in the sights and sounds before a spectacular evening of fireworks; rich sensory details and scratchboard floral illuminations ignite blissful summertime memories that will linger well after the final page. (May)

Hudson, Cheryl Willis. When I Hear Spirituals; illus. by London Ladd. Holiday House. 5‑9 yrs
In this beautifully crafted celebration of African American spirituals, a young narrator alludes to the significance of twelve spirituals within the larger historical, cultural, and religious context of her community; the girl’s welcoming, wondrous tone makes this both an informative and evocative read. (December 2024)

Kung, Isabella. Nunu and the Sea; written and illus. by Isabella Kung. Knopf. 4‑8 yrs
Whimsical vignettes, step-by-step panels, and yellow dotted lines in vibrant watercolor and colored pencil portray a young girl and her origami friends navigating the girl’s intense feelings in an endless sea. (September)

Maydani, Shahrzad. Leila and the Voice; written and illus. by Shahrzad Maydani. Kokila/Penguin. 3‑7 yrs
“It was morning when the mad cloud came,” and young Leila tries to outrun the cloud and its creatures before deciding to face her fears; exquisite, poignant language and mixed media illustrations parse out the complexity of a child’s overwhelming feelings. (June)

Peña, Zeke. Sundust; written and illus. by Zeke Peña. Kokila/Penguin. Gr. 4‑7
Two curious siblings pursue a dazzling, pink sundust trail across their desert home, marveling at the fantastical things it leaves behind; pencil-like strokes detail stunning landscapes, with textured shading and vivid hues breathing life into the siblings and setting. (July/August)

Sardà, Júlia. The Witch in the Tower; written and illus. by Júlia Sardà. Candlewick Studio. Gr. 2‑5
In this follow-up to The Queen in the Cave, Sardà offers a heartfelt acknowledgment of unconventional, lonely kids of all ages with the story of middle sister Carmela and her witchy wild rumpus; ebullient digital art and folk-art-esque motifs expand the matter-of-fact narration of fantastical events. (September)

Sharpson, Neil. Don’t Trust Fish; illus. by Dan Santat. Dial. 4‑7 yrs
Fish are the agents of chaos, rule-defiers, and rebels without any causes in this gleefully absurd picture book; Santat employs his characteristic off-kilter figures and composition to echo the narrative tone, with small panels and half-page spreads proving the narrator’s staunch argument that fish cannot be trusted. (April)

Thomas, Tess. Shibu’s Tail; illus. by Kamwei Fong. Levine Querido. 3‑6 yrs
A cat with an expressive, long, bushy tail is caught in a tangled yarn ball of emotions in this picture book; thousands of black ink, crosshatch strokes build the volume of Shibu’s fur, and he’s an excellent guide to help readers understand that their feelings are worth sharing with others. (July/August)

NONFICTION

Connors, Jerrold. Jim! Six True Stories About One Great Artist: James Marshall; written and illus. by Jerrold Connors. Dial. 6‑8 yrs
In this extraordinarily compassionate and clever tribute to artist James Marshall, Connors uses the picture book format, a world where Marshall excelled, to detail the warmth, humor, and generosity of an author/illustrator who always knew that picture books were so much more than cute things for children. (May)

Day, Nicholas. A World Without Summer: A Volcano Erupts, A Creature Awakens, and the Sun Goes Out; illus. by Yas Imamura. Random House Studio. Gr. 6‑9
With clarity and poignance, Day brilliantly brings together three disparate elements—the massive nineteenth-century eruption of a volcano, Mary Shelley’s writing of Frankenstein, and the current climate crisis—for a thoughtful reflection on scientific progress and moral responsibility. (September)

Fleming, Candace. Death in the Jungle: Murder, Betrayal, and the Lost Dream of Jonestown. Schwartz. Gr. 9‑12
Fleming uses quotes, interviews, and photos to offer a deep sense of humanity to the Peoples Temple believers in this immersive account of the rise of cult leader Jim Jones; it’s an engrossing exploration of just how easily good intentions can drag people down the wrong path if led by a charismatic speaker with a talent for manipulation. (March)

Harris, Quartez. Go Tell It: How James Baldwin Became a Writer; illus. by Gordon C. James. Little. Gr. 3‑5
Radiant oil paints and cinematic prose showcase the beauty of James Baldwin’s passion for writing in this surprisingly complex and emotive telling of his life, which emphasizes how Baldwin used his art to confront, heal, and move past certain traumas. (December 2024)

McAlister, Caroline. A Line Can Go Anywhere: The Brilliant, Resilient Life of Artist Ruth Asawa; illus. by Jamie Green. Roaring Brook. Gr. 2‑4
The places and experiences that can permanently shape an artist’s work are explored in this impactful picture book biography about Japanese American sculptor Ruth Aiko Asawa, whose time in an internment camp as a teen in the 1940s left an indelible mark on her creative spirit. (January)

Robinson, James. Whale Eyes: A Memoir About Seeing and Being Seen; illus. by Brian Rea. Penguin Workshop. Gr. 6‑12
Vulnerable, insightful, and funny, Robinson’s memoir includes highly designed reading experiences that play with text placement and spacing to give readers perspective on his unique way of seeing the world as someone with the eye condition strabismus. (April)

Smith, Charles R. Black Diamond Kings: Heroes of Negro League Baseball; illus. by Adrian Brandon. Candlewick. 5‑10 yrs
Author Smith and illustrator Brandon prove their mettle as all-star artists, introducing readers to a dozen players from the Negro leagues of baseball in a series of illustrated biographical poems that are as sure-footed, smooth, and powerful as the athletes themselves. (May)

Smith, Clint. How the Word Is Passed (Adapted for Young Readers): Remembering Slavery and How it Shaped America; ad. by Sonja Cherry-Paul. Little. Gr. 8‑12
To confront the ingrained sins of an American society built upon slave labor, readers are taken to seven sites, including Jefferson’s Monticello Plantation and Senegal’s Gorée Island; writer, former teacher, and poet Smith makes a knowledgeable, reflective, and eminently humane guide. (July/August)

Smith, Nikkolas. The History of We; written and illus. by Nikkolas Smith. Kokila/Penguin. 4‑8 yrs
Smith’s text and art are an elegant, impactful match in this celebration of early human ingenuity that takes readers far back in time, “so far back that all of our roots begin to tell the same story” and reminds its audience of the connections running through all of us. (May)

Tak, Bibi Dumon. My Presentation Today is About the Anaconda; tr. from Dutch by Nancy Forest-Flier; illus. by Annemarie van Haeringen. Levine Querido. Gr. 3‑7
Twenty creatures in this ingenious anthology present information on twenty other animals to give readers an insider’s perspective on the world of the wild; between the eye-catching art and the chatty, accessible format, this makes a breezy invite for just recently solo readers to engage with a scientific text. (March)

GRAPHIC NOVELS

Bagley, Jessixa. Jazzy and the Witch in Broom Doom; written and illus. by Jessixa Bagley. Simon. Gr. 3‑7
With a bold color palette and exuberant style, this bouncy graphic novel follows the titular Jazzy, a young witch who isn’t especially good at witchy things, as she pursues her life’s non-magical passion while trying to still meet the expectations of her magical family and friends. (July/August)

Guojing. Oasis; written and illus. by Guojing. Godwin/Holt. Gr. 6‑8
A discarded service robot subs in as a mom for two children in a grim, dystopic world; occasional pops of color stunningly contrast the gray palette, visually mirroring the central idea that nurturing beauty is an act of resistance when despair and isolation are the norms. (January)

Higuera, Donna Barba. Xolo; illus. by Mariana Ruiz Johnson. Levine Querido. Gr. 3‑5
Canine lovers will be little surprised to learn that it was one very good dog who saved the whole of civilization in this clever, culturally rich graphic novel that draws on Aztec mythology and is enhanced by exceptional, vibrant art inspired by sixteenth-century Aztec art. (November)

Kopsombut, Guy. Badge Quest: A Cheesy Brie-ginning!; written and illus. by Guy Kopsombut. McMeel. Gr. 2‑4
A young bear embarks on a quest to earn a new hero badge, and while nothing goes quite as planned, all turns out for the best in this winsome graphic novel; sequential panels, a trim word count, and a generous dose of punny humor all work together to make this a winning choice for early readers. (April)

Robin, Taylor. Hunger’s Bite. Union Square. Gr. 8‑10
Nothing good can come of a creepy, voraciously greedy villain taking over an early twentieth-century steamship—except, perhaps, this sharp, darkly humorous graphic novel that brilliantly uses saturated hues and dynamic paneling to maximize tension and horror as Neeta contends with the evil Mr. Honeycutt aboard the SS Lark. (July/August)

Song, Mika. Night Chef: An Epic Tale of Friendship with a Side of Deliciousness!; written and illus. by Mika Song. Random House Graphic. Gr. 2‑4
Night Chef, a raccoon, likes her warm cozy kitchen, but she discovers wonder and love when she leaves her comfort zone to help a baby crow find its family; perspective is used effectively here, with warm watercolors situating a tiny Night Chef and her even more vulnerable (and adorable) charge against a giant world. (September)

Suwannakit, Tull. Higher Ground: A Graphic Novel; written and illus. by Tull Suwannakit. Crocodile. Gr. 4‑6
A rich tapestry of watercolor, gouache, and acrylic paints, along with mixed-media collages, creates an immersive, breathtaking graphic novel; in a post-apocalyptic world, two children, with the help of their beloved grandmother, learn to survive the rising waters that seem to have drowned everything in sight. (September)

Telgemeier, Raina. The Cartoonists Club; written and illus. by Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud. Graphix/Scholastic. Gr. 3‑6
This zippy, information-packed introduction to how comics are created follows four members of a newly formed middle-school Cartoonists Club; saturated colors, clear paneling, and an easy-to-read lettering style all model how to create an accessible read while expansive end matter connects those elements to the graphic novel design process. (March)

van Lieshout, Maria. Song of a Blackbird; written and illus. by Maria van Lieshout. First Second. Gr. 6‑8
In this powerful graphic novel, a blackbird, present in both 1943 and 2011, narrates the stories of a young girl in danger during World War II, and, decades later, her granddaughter; photographs of Amsterdam during the war and end matter that describes the real events upon which this fictionalized account is built add appeal for nonfiction readers. (March)

Yelchin, Eugene. I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This: A Graphic Memoir; written and illus. by Eugene Yelchin. Candlewick. Gr. 9‑12
In Yelchin’s second memoir, he is fearless and vulnerable in describing his experiences as a young man in the former Soviet Union—falling in love, being imprisoned in a psychiatric facility in Siberia, trying to stay out from the watchful eye of the KGB, and, always, centering his art as a connection, and perhaps even a gateway, to freedom. (June)

POETRY

Bramer, Shannon. Nightmare Jones; illus. by Cindy Derby. Groundwood. Gr. 6‑8
In a true embrace of the spooky corners that exist both out in the world and in our own worst thoughts, Bramer offers twenty-eight poems that explore dark magic, monsters, and fear, trusting the reader to make meaning of both the monstrous and divine. (September)

Chewins, Hayley. I Am the Swarm. Viking. Gr. 8‑10
Nell’s hereditary magic arrives in the form of insects that manifest her emotions—and lay bare what is simmering below the surface, whether she wants to show it or not. This novel in verse is fearless, biting, and raw, yet infused with quiet hopefulness. (March)

Foutz, Ella Grace. Lullabies for the Insomniacs: A Memoir in Verse. Zest. Gr. 9‑12
Insomnia evokes a particular kind of desperation, and it’s one of many obstacles to peace in this verse memoir of Foutz’s struggles with bipolar disorder; alternately analytical and primal, varied in length and tone, the verse structures carry as much emotional weight as the words as they work powerfully in tandem. (November)

Keith Jr., Tony. Knucklehead: Poems. Quill Tree/HarperCollins. Gr. 7‑11
Part memoir, part collection of advice, part manifesto, this verse novel is ultimately a love letter—to Black people, to Black boys in particular, and to gay Black boys who find themselves submerged in the uncertainty and vulnerability the author is pointedly familiar with. (March)

Watson, Renée. All the Blues in the Sky. Bloomsbury. Gr. 5‑9
In this earnest, cutting, accessible free verse novel, thirteen-year-old Sage narrates loss and sadness and anger in the wake of her best friend’s death; her grief is complicated in ways the artfully concise poetry feels uniquely equipped to grapple with even if no words make it easier. (January)