Winner

The Library in the Woods
by Calvin Alexander Ramsey; illus. by R. Gregory Christie
Primary, Intermediate    Carolrhoda    32 pp.
8/25    9781541599123    $19.99

In 1959, a Black boy moves from the countryside to segregated Roxboro, North Carolina. There, he discovers a library for Black people that becomes a lifeline for him and his illiterate father. Painterly acrylic illustrations and tender storytelling bring warmth to this moving story of resilience, literacy, and family. The author’s note reveals the story is inspired by real memories of Roxboro’s Black library and honors the author’s brother, whose love of books left a lasting impact. SUMMER EDWARD

From the Guide/Reviews Database.

Honors

City Summer, Country Summer
by Kiese Laymon; illus. by Alexis Franklin
Primary    Kokila/Penguin    32 pp.
4/25    9780593405567    $18.99

REVIEW TO COME

Andre: Andre Leon Talley—A Fabulously Fashionable Fairy Tale
by Carole Boston Weatherford and Rob Sanders; illus. by Lamont O'Neal
Primary, Intermediate    Holt    56 pp.
11/25    9781250887283    $19.99

REVIEW TO COME

Read reviews of the 2026 CSK Author Awards here. For more, click on the tag ALA 2026.