Middle grade vs young adult is a question I hear constantly from parents picking books, teachers building classroom libraries, and writers trying to place their manuscripts. The two categories sit side by side on bookstore shelves, yet they target very different readers with distinct writing styles, content rules, and emotional stakes. In our team conversations … Read more
Picture books are a format, not an age category. That single distinction changes everything about how we think about who picture books are for. Yet somewhere along the way, a widespread assumption took hold: if a book has illustrations on every page, it must be meant for toddlers. This assumption pushes children away from picture … Read more
Own Voices (often written as #OwnVoices) is a term coined by author Corinne Duyvis in 2015 to describe children’s books written by authors who share the same marginalized identity as their main characters. When a Black author writes a Black protagonist, or an autistic writer creates an autistic main character, that book is considered Own … Read more
Every year, a small group of dedicated librarians gathers to read hundreds of books and decide which African American authors and illustrators deserve to be honored with one of children’s literature’s most prestigious awards. The Coretta Scott King Book Award has shaped what gets published, taught, and treasured in classrooms across America since 1970. Whether … Read more
The William C. Morris YA Debut Award is an annual literary honor given to a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens. First given in 2009, the award celebrates impressive new voices in young adult literature and signals that a debut novel has earned recognition from librarians and the broader YA community. … Read more
If you’ve ever wondered exactly how the American Library Association decides what counts as an informational book for the Robert F. Sibert Medal, you’re not alone. Librarians, authors, and educators ask this question constantly because the definition shapes everything from which books get nominated to how children learn nonfiction. In this guide, I’ll walk you … Read more