Barnes & Noble Booksellers Nominate 24 Books to Compete for the Barnes & Noble Children’s & Young Adult Book Awards

Annual Celebration of Exceptional Talent in Children’s Publishing

New York, NY – March 27, 2024 – Barnes & Noble announces the nominees for the 2024 Barnes & Noble Children’s & Young Adult Book Awards. The Awards single out the most exceptional new talents in children’s publishing, with Barnes & Noble booksellers across the country voting for titles to include in a shortlist in three categories — Picture Books, Young Reader and Young Adult. The winners of each category, as well as an Overall Winner, will be announced during a live event hosted by Barnes & Noble in May.

In addition to programs like B&N Discover Prize and Book of the Year, the Children’s & YA Book Awards celebrates extraordinary talent and elevates new and emerging voices in publishing. B&N booksellers who specialize in Children’s bookselling seek out the stories that are most impactful and resonate powerfully with young readers nationwide.

“Getting kids and young adults to love reading is our priority, and the passion for stories our dedicated children’s booksellers bring to these shortlists is so exciting.” said Shannon DeVito, Senior Director of Books, Barnes & Noble. “Booksellers are able to highlight authors and books that inspire younger generations of readers that might otherwise be overlooked. Each book on these lists is a thrilling discovery, reaching across audiences to give young readers new authors to fall in love with.”

With such an overwhelming amount of talent in children’s publishing, the B&N Awards serve to give a national platform for books that have gone on to become classroom classics and bestsellers. Last year’s Overall Winner, The Swifts, a debut by Beth Lincoln (illustrated by Claire Powell), invites readers into the delightfully quirky world of Shenanigan Swift who is determined to solve a murder mystery at her family reunion. Previous Overall Winners include Christopher Denise’s adorable picture book, Knight Owl, in 2022 and B. B. Alston’s magical debut, Amari and the Night Brothers, in 2021.

The Barnes & Noble Children’s & YA Book Awards also kicks off the bookseller’s perennial Summer Reading Program, where children in 1st through 6th grade who read any eight books can receive one free book at the end of the summer.

Customers can find all the shortlist titles at their local Barnes & Noble and on bn.com. Each of the category winners alongside the Overall Winner of the Barnes & Noble Children’s and YA Book Awards will be announced on May 13^th. Readers are encouraged to join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Threads using hashtag #BNBookAwards.

Picture Books

“Few things can capture a reader as quickly as a picture book, and that goes for readers of any age,” said Scott Berkowitz, Manager of Children’s Books, Barnes & Noble. “On this list we have a phenomenal collection of words and art working together to tell beautiful stories that we’ll be talking about for years to come. These books highlight daily challenges, self-love, inventive storytelling, exploration and new points of view. Each one is a new classic that belongs on every bookshelf and in every mind.”

The Picture Books shortlist titles are:

• Big by Vashti Harrison
• The Book That Can Read Your Mind by Marianna Coppo
• Buffalo Fluffalo by Bess Kalb, Erin Kraan (Illustrator)
• Down the Hole by Scott Slater, Adam Ming (Illustrator)
• I Lived Inside a Whale by Xin Li
• Tokyo Night Parade by J.P. Takahashi, Minako Tomigahara (Illustrator)
• While You're Asleep by Emmy Kastner, Emmy Kastner (Illustrator)

Young Readers

“The Young Reader category has never been more important, especially with the growing focus on the relationship between early literary love and social emotional learning. These books remind readers of how many wonderful stories are still there to inspire young minds,” said Stephanie Pinheiro, Manager of Young Reader & YA Books, Barnes & Noble. “From magical creatures to the supernatural, personal journeys to the immigrant experience, every story provides something new — a new perspective, a new world, a new favorite character, and so much more.”

The Young Reader shortlist titles are:

• Ellie Engle Saves Herself by Leah Johnson
• The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers, Shawn Harris (Illustrator)
• Ghost Book by Remy Lai
• Greenwild: The World Behind the Door by Pari Thomson
• Mexikid by Pedro Martín, Pedro Martín (Illustrator)
• The Misfits #1: A Royal Conundrum by Lisa Yee, Dan Santat (Illustrator)
• Once There Was by Kiyash Monsef
• Parachute Kids: A Graphic Novel by Betty C. Tang, Betty C. Tang (Illustrator)
• The Sky Over Rebecca by Matthew Fox

Young Adult

“Young Adult continues to be an unstoppable force in publishing, and this shortlist highlights that,” said Stephanie Pinheiro. “Historical adventures, fantastical romantic escapades, deadly thrillers and heart-stopping stories from the real world deliver a dynamic collection of storytelling in a packed category. Each of these stories is as captivating as the rest, and they are all worthy of their place on this list.”

The Young Adult shortlist titles are:

• Curious Tides by Pascale Lacelle
• Gwen & Art Are Not in Love: A Novel by Lex Croucher
• The Last Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le
• Powerless by Lauren Roberts
• Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington
• Thieves' Gambit by Kayvion Lewis
• To Kill a Shadow by Katherine Quinn
• What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez