Georgia Children's Book Awards
The Georgia Children’s Book Award was established in 1968 by Sheldon Root, a professor in the Department of Language Education in the College of Education at the University of Georgia. The purpose of the award is to foster a love of reading in the children of Georgia and to introduce them to books of literary excellence. The annual award is given in two categories: picture books and middle-grade books. The selection process involves teachers, school library media specialists, public librarians, and tens of thousands of youth from across the state.
The book awards are also closely connected to the annual Georgia Conference on Children’s Literature . Have a question? Email us !
Upcoming Dates
Nominate Books for the 2027 Georgia Children's Book Award!
Download the 2026 Book Finalists
Congratulations to our 2025 winners!
Written and illustrated by Monica Arnaldo
(Picturebook, Grades K-4 Winner)
Written by Torrey Maldonado
(Book, Grades 4-8 Winner)
Educator Resources
Past Award Winners
GCBA Winners 1968-Present (PDF)
- Book Award:
The List of Unspeakable Fears
written by J. Kasper Kramer - Picture book Award:
There’s a Ghost in This House
written and illustrated by
- Book Award:
Millionaires for the Month
written by Stacy McAnulty - Picture book Award:
Chez Bob
written and illustrated by Bob Shea
- Book Award:
When Stars are Scattered
written by Omar Mohamed and illustrated by Victoria Jamieson - Picture book Award:
I am a Tiger
written by Karl Newson and illustrated by Ross Collins
- Book Award:
They Called Us Enemy
by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott,
and Harmony Becker - Picturebook Award:
Hair Love
by Matthew A. Cherry
and Vashti Harrison
- Book Award:
Resistance
by Jennifer A. Nielsen - Picturebook Award:
We Don’t Eat Our Classmates
by Ryan T. Higgins
- Book Award:
A Dog Like Daisy
by Kristin O’Donnell Tubb - Picturebook Award:
Not Quite Narwhal
by Jessie Sima
Archives and Other Resources
About the Awards
Established in 1968 by Sheldon Root, professor in the Department of Language Education in the College of Education at the University of Georgia, the purpose of the Georgia Children’s Book Awards is to foster a love of reading in the children of Georgia, and to introduce them to books of literary excellence.
The award is given in two categories – picture books and middle-grade novels. Books are nominated for awards by teachers, media specialists, and other children’s literature enthusiasts from the state of Georgia. The final list of 20 nominees is selected by a committee of teachers, school media specialists, and public librarians (chaired by a member of the faculty from the Department of Language and Literacy Education).
Throughout the year, teachers and media specialists are encouraged to present the nominees in appealing and meaningful ways, read the books aloud, and develop activities that connect the literature to the curriculum. Students across the state will vote on which books they think should win for the individual categories.
The books receiving the most votes from children in grades K-4 (picturebook category) and 4-8 (novel category) are the winners. The authors and illustrators of the winning books are often featured speakers at the annual Conference on Children’s Literature held at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education in Athens, Georgia, which is held in March.
Learn About Our Committees
Nomination and Voting
We welcome public nominations and votes from schools and public libraries. Here, we offer nomination guidelines and voting resources to make the process simple and fun!
Print your own certificates for students who participate.
Print stickers for students who vote for their favorite books and GCBA seals.
Find inspiration from others’ polling places, or share images of your own!