2021 Winners

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.

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2021 Kids’ Book Choice Awards 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: 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: Best Picture Book Duo
Sarah Janco and Blayne Fox, creators of The Merry Christmas Mittens (Brown Books Kids) Age 3-8: Best Picture Book Duo
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)

Age 3-8: Best Picture Book Page
How to Spot an Artist, by Danielle Krysa; illus. Danielle Krysa (Prestel Junior) Age 3-8: Best Picture Book Page
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) Best Book of the Year: 5th – 6th Grade 
Age 8-12: Favorite Author
Dav Pilkey, author of Cat Kid Comic Club (Scholastic) 

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 Book of Facts
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 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 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))
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Age 12-18: Favorite Book Cover
Legendborn, by Tracy Deonn (Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers) — cover illustration by Hillary Wilson
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Age 12-18: Favorite True Story
This Is Your Time, by Ruby Bridges (Random House Children’s Books)
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Click on each image to view more info about each title.

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Download the 2021 Winners list.

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Have you seen the 2021 #KidsBookChoiceAwards winners yet? You voiced your choice and now can share your favorites and find new ones at EveryChildaReader.net/vote. #noadultsallowed

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More Resources and FAQs

• Find Children’s Book Week Highlights and Resources from previous years here.
• Find Frequently Asked Questions here.