Southern California Literature Highlight - ALA Youth Media Awards 2026
On January 26. 2026, the American Library Association announced the Youth Media Awards, which acknowledged several great authors, illustrators, and books from Southern California.
For a full list of Youth Media Award recognitions, visit the American Library Association website.
Below are the Southern California creators honored at this year’s ceremony, listed alphabetically by the author/illustrator’s last name:
Author: María Dolores Águila
Book: A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez
Recognition: Newbery Honor
Recognition: Pura Belpré Children’s Author Honor
Author: Elana K. Arnold
Book: Bat and the Business of Ferrets
Recognition: Schneider Younger Children Honor
Author: Marie Arnold
Book: Split the Sky
Recognition: Coretta Scott King Author Honor
Author: Drew Beckmeyer
Book: Stalactite & Stalagmite: A Big Tale from a Little Cave
Recognition: Caldecott Honor
Author: Aubrey Hartman
Book: The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest
Recognition: Newbery Honor
Author: Angie Kang
Book: Our Lake
Recognition: Caldecott Honor
Author: Pablo Leon
Book: Silenced Voices: Reclaiming Memories from the Guatemalan Genocide
Recognition: Pura Belpré Young Adult Author Honor
Recognition: Sibert Honor
Illustrator: Abraham Matias
Book: Popo the Xolo
Recognition: Pura Belpré Children’s Illustration Award
Author Kadir Nelson at L.A. Comic Con 2025
