The 2026 CLCSC List
The 2026 CLCSC List, selected by the CLCSC Awards Committee, includes some of the best books created by Southern California authors and illustrators published in 2025. The Committee considers all books written and/or illustrated by Southern California authors and illustrators, published in the year preceding the award year.
Listed alphabetically by title, bold formatting indicates which creator(s) resided in Southern California at the time of publication. Southern California is defined as San Luis Obispo, Kern, and San Bernardino counties and points south, including Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties. Some creators may have relocated out of Southern California since their book was published.
Winners will be indicated with an asterisk (*) after the creator or creators’ name(s) when the winners are announced.
Book Covers of CLCSC 2026 Long List - Picture Books
Picture Books
Awesome Earth by Joan Bransfield Graham*, Illustrated by Tania Garcia
The Crane and the Keeper: How an Endangered Crane Chose a Human as Her Mate by Meeg Pincus, Illustrated by Gillian Eilidh O'Mara
A Cup of Quiet by Nikki Grimes, Illustrated by Cathy Ann Decatur Johnson
Don’t Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson, Illustrated by Dan Santat
Girls on the Rise by Amanda Gorman*, Illustrated by Loveis Wise*
I am, Yo Soy by Gabriela Orozco Belt, Illustrated by Mirelle Ortega
In-Between Places by Alex Killian, Illustrated by Grady McFerrin
The Little Acorn’s Big Adventure by Sylvia Rouss, Illustrated by Rick Penn-Kraus
Messi’s Magic by Caroline L. Perry, Illustrated by Luciano Lozano
Our Lake by Angie Kang
Scratching the Surface by Kate Allen Fox, Illustrated by Erin Brown
Sky Luck by Erica Lee Schlaikjer, Illustrated by Dagmar Smith
This Is How You Know by Kirsten W. Larson, Illustrated by Cornelia Li
To Walk the Sky: How Iroquois Steelworkers Helped Build Towering Cities by Patricia Morris Buckley, illustrated by E.B. Lewis
Why Wolves Matter by Karen B. Winnick
Your Places by Jon Klassen
Book Covers of CLCSC 2026 Long List - Middle Grade
Middle Grade
Danilo Was Here by Tamika Burgess
Dinosaurs: Exploring Prehistoric Life and Geological Time by Rachel Ignotofsky
El Niño by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Let’s Get Together by Brandy Colbert
On Thin Ice by Jessica Kim
Pocket Bear by Katherine Applegate
A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez by Maria Dolores Aguila*
Spark by Chris Baron
Spelling It Out by Margaret Finnegan
Taco Tuesday by Monica Mancillas
Yoli’s Favorite Things by Patricia Santana
Book Covers of CLCSC 2026 Long List - Young Adult
Young Adult
All for the Game by Heather Buchta
All the Tomorrows After by Joanne Yi
Dan in Green Gables by Rey Terciero, Illustrated by Claudia Aguirre
Exquisite Things by Abdi Nazemian
Glory, Too: Poems by Nikki Grimes
I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This Written and Illustrated by Eugene Yelchin*
If We Survive This by Racquel Marie
Split the Sky by Marie Arnold
Very Dangerous Things by Lauren Muñoz
When We Ride by Rex Ogle
The CLCSC Awards Committee convenes in January each year. Submissions of books published in the prior year may be sent directly to the Awards Chair for awards consideration. Please include an official submission form with each entry.