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 - Leo Timmers
TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.
Lerner Publishing, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage
Towed by Toad - Jashar Awan
TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.
Penguin Random House, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage
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
A Friend for Eddy - Ann Kim Ha
TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.
Harper Collins, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage
What We Wear When We Take Care - Sarah Finan
TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.
Candelwick, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage
What Can a Mess Make? - Bee Johnson
TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.
Henry Holt and Co., 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage
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
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
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
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
Kindergarten - Second Grade KBA Nominees
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
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
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
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
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
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
Ursula Upside Down - Corey R. Tabor
Corey R. Tabor on TeachingBooks
TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.
Greenwillow Books, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage
We Are Definitely Human - X. Fang
X. Fang on TeachingBooks
TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.
Tundra Books, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage
Millie Fleur's Poison Garden - Christy Mandin
Christy Mandin on TeachingBooks
TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.
Orchard Books, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage
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
Third Grade - Fifth Grade KBA Nominees
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
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
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
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
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
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
Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All - Chanel Miller
Chanel Miller on TeachingBooks
TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.
Philomel Books, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage
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
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
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
Sixth Grade - Eighth Grade KBA Nominees
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
Light Comes to Shadow Mountain - Toni Buzzeo
Toni Buzzeo on TeachingBooks
TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.
Holiday House, 2023 - Publisher's Book Webpage
Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir - Pedro Martín
Pedro Martín on TeachingBooks
TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.
Dial Books, 2023 - Publisher's Book Webpage
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
Impossible Creatures - Katherine Rundell
Katherine Rundell on TeachingBooks
TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.
Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage
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
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
Louder Than Hunger - John Schu
John Schu on TeachingBooks
TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.
Candlewick, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage
The Island - Natasha Preston
Natasha Preston on TeachingBooks
TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.
Delacorte Press, 2023 - Publisher's Book Webpage
The Lost Year - Katherine Marsh
Katherine Marsh on TeachingBooks
TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.
Roaring Brook Press, 2023 - Publisher's Book Webpage
Ninth Grade - Twelfth Grade KBA Nominees
The Reappearance of Rachel Price - Holly Jackson
Holly Jackson on TeachingBooks
TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.
Delacorte Press, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage
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
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
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
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
That's Not My Name - Megan Lally
Megan Lally on TeachingBooks
TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.
Sourcebooks Fire, 2023 - Publisher's Book Webpage
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
Sky's End - Marc J. Gregson
Marc J. Gregson on TeachingBooks
TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.
Peachtree Teen, 2024 - Publisher's Book Webpage
What the River Knows - Isabel Ibañez
Isabel Ibañez on TeachingBooks
TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.
Wednesday Books, 2023 - Publisher's Book Webpage
The Last Bloodcarver - Isabel Ibañez
Vanessa Le on TeachingBooks
TeachingBooks: teaching resources, guides, activities, etc.
Roaring Brook Press, 2023 - Publisher's Book Webpage