KBA 2025-26 Nominee Resources K-12

About our KBA Nominee Lists

Each year, a KBA committee for each grade band chooses ten books that will be featured on each Nominee List (Preschool, K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12) through a year-long process that requires many volunteer hours. These committees include school librarians, public librarians, academic librarians, and classroom teachers from across the state and represent both public and private schools. Nominee List committees are chaired by KASL members who report to the KBA Coordinator and the KASL Board. Here is some more information on our KBA Committees.

Many schools suggest that students should read at least two books from a Nominee List to be eligible to vote in the annual KBA awards. The specific voting process is determined at the individual school/library level. Schools, libraries, parents, and community organizations participating in and promoting the KBA program should select books from these lists for inclusion in collections and programming that they feel are appropriate for the needs and interests of their patrons or students. The Kentucky Bluegrass Award is designed to encourage students to read widely from well-reviewed literature that reflects a variety of experiences and points of view.

Winners will be announced in April of 2026.

2026 KBA Nominee List

Preschool KBA Nominees

Bear's Lost Glasses Book Cover

Bear's Lost Glasses - Leo Timmers

Leo Timmers on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Lerner Publishing, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
Towed by Toad Book Cover

Towed by Toad - Jashar Awan

Jashar Awan on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc. 

Penguin Random House, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
Roll Roll Little Pea Book Cover

Roll, Roll, Little Pea - Cécile Bergame and Magali Attiogbé

Cécile Bergame and Magali Attiogbé on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Red Comet House, 2023 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
A Friend for Eddy Book Cover

A Friend for Eddy - Ann Kim Ha

Ann Kim Ha on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Harper Collins, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
What we wear when we take care Book Cover

What We Wear When We Take Care - Sarah Finan

Sarah Finan on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Candelwick, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
What Can a Mess Make? Book Cover

What Can a Mess Make? - Bee Johnson

Bee Johnson on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Henry Holt and Co., 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
Lola meets the bees Book Cover

Lola Meets the Bees - Anna McQuinn and Rosalind Beardshaw 

Anna McQuinn and Rosalind Beardshaw on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Charlesbridge, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
Look by Gabi Snyder Book Cover

Look - Gabi Snyder and Samantha Cotterill

Gabi Snyder and Samantha Cotterill on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
The Bakery Dragon Book Cover

The Bakery Dragon - Devin Elle Kurtz

Devin Elle Kurtz on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
The Man who didn't like animals Book Cover

The Man Who Didn't Like Animals - Deborah Underwood and LeUyen Pham

Deborah Underwood and LeUyen Pham on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Clarion Books, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee

Kindergarten - Second Grade KBA Nominees

The soil in jackie's garden Book Cover

The Soil in Jackie's Garden - Peggy Thomas and Neely Daggett

Peggy Thomas and Neely Daggett on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Feeding Minds Press, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
The Quacken Book Cover

The Quacken - Justin Colón and Pablo Pino

Justin Colón and Pablo Pino on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers , 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
The Book That Almost Rhymed Book Cover

The Book That Almost Rhymed - Omar Abed and Hatem Aly

Omar Abed and Hatem Aly on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
Katie Big and strong Book Cover

Katie, Big and Strong - Jennifer Cooper and Jen White

Jennifer Cooper and Jen White on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Sourcebooks Explore, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
Fast Cheetah Slow Tortoise Book Cover

Fast Cheetah, Slow Tortoise - Bette Westera and Mies Van Hout

Bette Westera and Mies Van Hout on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
When Beavers Flew Book Cover

When Beavers Flew: An Incredible True Story of Rescue and Relocation - Kristen Tracy and Luisa Uribe

Kristen Tracy and Luisa Uribe on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Random House Studio, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
Ursula Upside Down Book Cover

Ursula Upside Down - Corey R. Tabor

Corey R. Tabor on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Greenwillow Books, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
We are definitely Human Book Cover

We Are Definitely Human - X. Fang

X. Fang on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Tundra Books, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
Millie Fleur's Poison Garden Book Cover

Millie Fleur's Poison Garden - Christy Mandin

Christy Mandin on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Orchard Books, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
Itty bitty Betty Blob Book Cover Book Cover

Itty Bitty Betty Blob - Constance Lombardo and Micah Player

Constance Lombardo and Micah Player on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Hippo Park, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee

Third Grade - Fifth Grade KBA Nominees

Haiku ew! Book Cover

Haiku, Ew!: Celebrating the Disgusting Side of Nature - Lynn Brunelle and Julia Patton

Lynn Brunelle and Julia Patton on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Millbrook Press ™, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
Dancing in the storm Book Cover

Dancing in the Storm - Amie Darnell Specht and Shannon Hitchcock

Amie Darnell Specht and Shannon Hitchcock on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Rocky Pond Books, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
Almost underwear Book Cover

Almost Underwear: How a Piece of Cloth Traveled from Kitty Hawk to the Moon and Mars - Jonathan Roth

Jonathan Roth on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Christy Ottaviano Books, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
The Mystery of Locked Rooms Book Cover

The Mystery of Locked Rooms - Lindsay Currie

Lindsay Currie on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Sourcebooks Young Readers, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
Stone Age Beasts Book Cover

Stone Age Beasts - Ben Lerwill and Grahame Baker-Smith

Ben Lerwill and Grahame Baker-Smith on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Candlewick, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
Trouble at the Tangerine Book Cover

Trouble at the Tangerine - Gillian McDunn

Gillian McDunn on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
Magnolia Wu Unfolds it All Book Cover

Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All - Chanel Miller

Chanel Miller on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Philomel Books, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
The adventures of invisible boy Book Cover

The Adventures of Invisible Boy - Doogie Horner

Doogie Horner on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
Wagnificent the adverntures of thunder and sage Book Cover

The Adventures of Thunder and Sage - Bethanie Murguia

Bethanie Murguia on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Roaring Brook Press, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
Ratty Book Cover

Ratty - Suzanne Selfors and Lavanya Naidu

Suzanne Selfors and Lavanya Naidu on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Viking Books for Young Readers, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee

Sixth Grade - Eighth Grade KBA Nominees

What happened to rachel riley? Book Cover

What Happened to Rachel Riley? - Claire Swinarski

Claire Swinarski on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Quill Tree Books, 2023 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
Light Comes to Shadow Mountain Book Cover

Light Comes to Shadow Mountain - Toni Buzzeo

Toni Buzzeo on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Holiday House, 2023 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
Mexikid Book Cover

Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir - Pedro Martín 

Pedro Martín on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Dial Books, 2023 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
Boy 2.0 Book Cover

Boy 2.0 - Tracey Baptiste 

Tracey Baptiste on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Little, Brown Books for Young Readerss, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
Impossible Creatures Book Cover

Impossible Creatures - Katherine Rundell

Katherine Rundell on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
The Fire, the water, and Maudie McGinn Book Cover

The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn - Sally J. Pla

Sally J. Pla on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Quill Tree Books, 2023 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
The Bletchley Riddle Book Cover

The Bletchley Riddle - Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Viking Books for Young Readers, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
Louder Than Hunger Book Cover

Louder Than Hunger - John Schu

John Schu on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Candlewick, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
The Island Book Cover

The Island - Natasha Preston

Natasha Preston on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Delacorte Press, 2023 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
The Lost Year

The Lost Year - Katherine Marsh

Katherine Marsh on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Roaring Brook Press, 2023 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee

Ninth Grade - Twelfth Grade KBA Nominees

The REappearance of Rachel Price Book Cover

The Reappearance of Rachel Price - Holly Jackson

Holly Jackson on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Delacorte Press, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
Brownstone Book Cover

Brownstone - Samuel Teer and Mar Julia

Samuel Teer and Mar Julia on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Versify, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
Lunar New Year Love Story Book Cover

Lunar New Year Love Story - Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham

Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

First Second, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
The Glass Girl Book Cover

The Glass Girl - Kathleen Glasgow

Kathleen Glasgow and LeUyen Pham on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Delacorte Press, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
All the fighting parts Book Cover

All the Fighting Parts - Hannah V. Sawyerr

Hannah V. Sawyerr on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Harry N. Abrams, 2023 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
That's not my name Book Cover

That's Not My Name - Megan Lally

Megan Lally on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Sourcebooks Fire, 2023 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
Black Girl You Are Atlas Book Cover

Black Girl You Are Atlas - Renée Watson and Ekua Holmes

Renée Watson and Ekua Holmes on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Kokila, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
Sky's end Book Cover

Sky's End - Marc J. Gregson

Marc J. Gregson on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Peachtree Teen, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
What the River Knows Book Cover

What the River Knows - Isabel Ibañez 

Isabel Ibañez  on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Wednesday Books, 2023 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee
The Last Bloodcarver Book Cover

The Last Bloodcarver - Isabel Ibañez 

Vanessa Le on TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.

Roaring Brook Press, 2023 - Publisher's Book Webpage

KBA Bluegrass Award Logo 2026 Nominee