2026 Sydney Taylor Book Award winners announced

CHICAGO — The 2026 winners of the Sydney Taylor Book Award, administered by the Association of Jewish Libraries, an affiliate of the American Library Association (ALA), were announced today during the ALA’s Youth Media Awards Announcements in Chicago.

The Sydney Taylor Book Award is named in memory of the classic All-of-a-Kind Family series author Sydney Taylor. The award recognizes titles for children and teens that exemplify high literary standards while authentically portraying the Jewish experience.

“This year’s winners and honorees exemplify excellence in Jewish children’s literature through vibrant storytelling and rich perspectives that foster empathy, understanding and a deep appreciation for culture and community,” said Melanie Koss, chair of the Sydney Taylor Book Award committee.

The 2026 Sydney Taylor selections include:

GOLD MEDALISTS

“Shabbat Shalom: Let’s Rest and Reset” written and illustrated by Suzy Ultman and published by Rise x Penguin Workshop, an imprint of Penguin Random House, is the winner in the Picture Book category.

A gentle reflection on the meaning of the Jewish Sabbath (Shabbat) as a weekly day of rest, paired with whimsical, imaginative illustrations. This sophisticated board book combines succinct text with playful art to create a post-denominational depiction of Jewish ritual that will engage the youngest readers, captivate Pre-K audiences and delight older children.

“Neshama” by Marcella Pixley and published by Candlewick Press, is the winner in the Middle Grade category.

In this haunting novel in verse, sixth grader Anna Fleischman encounters the ibur of her Aunt Ruthie, a righteous soul seeking to finish her earthly work. With Anna’s consent, Ruthie shares her body, guiding her through family secrets, bullying and intergenerational trauma. Jewish spirituality, Shabbat with Bubbe and poetic exchanges infuse this powerful story of identity, justice and healing.

“D.J. Rosenblum Becomes the G.O.A.T.” written by Abby White and published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido, is the winner in the Young Adult category.

D.J. Rosenblum idolized her cousin Rachel (the G.O.A.T. - Greatest Cousin of All Time). After Rachel’s sudden passing, D.J. moves to her cousin’s town, determined to uncover the truth while navigating grief and family fractures. Preparing for her postponed bat mitzvah, she wrestles with her Torah portion and faith, finding strength to face loss and begin moving forward.

SILVER MEDALISTS

Five Sydney Taylor Honor Books also were recognized.

In the Picture Book category, the Honor Books are:

“The Book of Candles: Eight Poems for Hanukkah” by Laurel Snyder, illustrated by Leanne Hatch and published by Clarion Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

“The Keeper of Stories” written by Caroline Kusin Pritchard, illustrated by Selina Alko and published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.

“My Body Can” by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Alexandra Colombo and published by Apples & Honey Press, an imprint of Behrman House Publishers.

In the Middle Grade category, the Honor Book is:

“Beinoni” by Mari Lowe and published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido.

In the Young Adult category, the Honor Book is:

“The Rebel Girls of Rome” by Jordyn Taylor and published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, a division of HarperCollins Publishers.

In addition to the medal winners, the award committee designated nine Notable Books of Jewish Content for 2026. More information about the Sydney Taylor Book Award and a complete listing of the award winners and notables can be found at www.sydneytaylorbookawards.org.

The winner of the Sydney Taylor Body-of-Work Award, which recognizes an author or entity who has made a substantial contribution over time to the genre of Jewish children’s literature, is Uri Shulevitz, z”l (of blessed memory).  Recognized as a foundational voice in Jewish children’s literature, Shulevitz created picture books that illuminate Jewish culture and reflect universal experience. His masterful storytelling and evocative illustrations have inspired generations and continue to influence the way young readers encounter Jewish stories.

Winning authors and illustrators will receive their awards at the Annual Conference of the Association of Jewish Libraries, to be held in Evanston, Illinois, June 22-24. Gold and Silver medalists will also participate in a blog tour February 9-13. For more information about the blog tour, please visit www.jewishlibraries.org/blog.

A full list of all the winners is available on the Sydney Taylor Book Award website at https://jewishlibraries.org/sydney_taylor_book_award.

Members of the 2026 Sydney Taylor Book Award committee are: Chair Melanie Koss, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinios; Nat Bension, Anna Schwalb Memorial Library, Hebrew Day School of Ann Arbor, Michigan; Ariel Birdoff, Mosaic Preparatory Academy, New York; Rebecca Greer Meier, Manatee School for the Arts Palmetto, Florida; Rachel Simon, Newton Free Library, Massachusetts; Cheryl Strausberg, Carroll Community College, Maryland; Aliza Werner, Bookelicious, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin; and Aviva Rosenberg, Ridgefield Free Public Library, New Jersey.

About the American Library Association

The American Library Association is the largest non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to America’s libraries. The ALA mission is to empower and advocate for all libraries and library workers to ensure equitable access to information for all. For 150 years, ALA has provided resources for information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more information, visit www.ala.org.

About the Association of Jewish Libraries

The Association of Jewish Libraries, the leading authority on Judaic librarianship, is an international, professional organization that fosters access to information and research in all forms of media relating to all things Jewish. The Association promotes Jewish literacy and scholarship and provides a community for peer support and professional development. For more information, visit www.jewishlibraries.org.