The Kids’ Book Choice Awards (previously the Children’s & Teen Choice Book Awards) are the only national book awards voted on solely by kids and teens. Launched in 2008 by the Children’s Book Council and Every Child a Reader, the awards provide young readers with an opportunity to voice their opinions about the books being written for them. The 2021 program relaunch included a new name, logo, and categories with finalists selected through nationwide long-list voting.

The Kids’ Book Choice Awards tagline, No Adults Allowed!, lets young readers know that these awards are 100% for them to voice their choice. Below are the 2021 winners.

2021 WINNERS

Best Book of the Year: K – 2nd Grade

We Are Water Protectors, by Carole Lindstrom; illus. Michaela Goade (Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group)

Age 3-8: Best Picture Book Duo

Sarah Janco and Blayne Fox, creators of The Merry Christmas Mittens (Brown Books Kids)

Age 3-8: Best Picture Book Page

How to Spot an Artist, by Danielle Krysa; illus. Danielle Krysa (Prestel Junior)

Age 3-8: Favorite Early Reader Series

Billie B. Brown Series by Sally Rippin; illus. Aki Fukuoka — The Bully Buster (Kane Miller, A Division of EDC Publishing)

Age 3-8: Favorite Illustrated Character

The Princess in Black from The Princess in Black and the Giant Problem, by Shannon Hale, Dean Hale; illus. LeUyen Pham (Candlewick Press)

Best Book of the Year: 3rd – 4th Grade

Ways to Make Sunshine, by Renée Watson; illus. Nina Mata (Bloomsbury Children’s Books)

Best Book of the Year: 5th – 6th Grade

Efrén Divided, by Ernesto Cisneros (HarperCollins Children’s Books)

Age 8-12: Best Book of Facts

Hop To It: Poems to Get You Moving, by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong; illus. Franzi Paetzold (Pomelo Books)

Age 8-12: Best Graphic Novel

When Stars Are Scattered, by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed; illus. Victoria Jamieson and Iman Geddy (Penguin Young Readers)

Age 8-12: Favorite Author

Dav Pilkey, author of Cat Kid Comic Club (Scholastic)

Best Book of the Year: Teen

Stamped: Racism, Anti-Racism, and You: A Remix of the National Book Award-Winning ‘Stamped from the Beginning’, by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)

Age 12-18: Best Book Creator Digital Presence

Nic Stone, creator of Dear Justyce(Random House Children’s Books) — Twitter @getnicced | Instagram @nicstone

Age 12-18: Best Fantasy World Builder

Helena Dahlgren, author of Soul Riders: Jorvik Calling (Andrews McMeel Universal)

Age 12-18: Favorite Book Cover

Legendborn, by Tracy Deonn (Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers) — cover illustration by Hillary Wilson

Age 12-18: Favorite True Story

This Is Your Time, by Ruby Bridges (Random House Children’s Books)

Now go discover, read, re-read, and share these great creators and titles!