2026 Monarch Book Award Nominees

1.
Mr. S: A First Day of School Book
Mr. S: A First Day of School Book 4.22 avg rating — 1,020 ratings
2.
Negative Cat
Negative Cat 4.12 avg rating — 1,545 ratings
3.
Yoshi, Sea Turtle Genius: A True Story about an Amazing Swimmer
Yoshi, Sea Turtle Genius: A True Story about an Amazing Swimmer
by: Lynne Cox
4.34 avg rating — 270 ratings
4.
Sydney and Taylor Explore the Whole Wide World
Sydney and Taylor Explore the Whole Wide World 4.16 avg rating — 607 ratings
5.
Knight Owl (The Knight Owl, #1)
Knight Owl (The Knight Owl, #1) 4.45 avg rating — 7,449 ratings
6.
Beneath
Beneath 4.42 avg rating — 1,220 ratings
7.
Friends Do Not Eat Friends: Ready-to-Read Graphics Level 1
Friends Do Not Eat Friends: Ready-to-Read Graphics Level 1 4.03 avg rating — 197 ratings
8.
We Are Definitely Human
We Are Definitely Human
by: X. Fang
4.39 avg rating — 1,204 ratings
9.
The Red Jacket
The Red Jacket
by: Bob Holt
4.15 avg rating — 399 ratings
10.
Hamsters Make Terrible Roommates
Hamsters Make Terrible Roommates 4.13 avg rating — 714 ratings
11.
The Flower Garden: A Graphic Novel
The Flower Garden: A Graphic Novel 3.89 avg rating — 564 ratings
12.
Butt or Face?
Butt or Face? 4.45 avg rating — 815 ratings
13.
Time to Make Art
Time to Make Art
by: Jeff Mack
4.29 avg rating — 403 ratings
14.
Bathe the Cat
Bathe the Cat 4.37 avg rating — 1,878 ratings
15.
Just SNOW Already!
Just SNOW Already! 4.28 avg rating — 243 ratings
16.
Home Is Calling: The Journey of the Monarch Butterfly
Home Is Calling: The Journey of the Monarch Butterfly 4.49 avg rating — 124 ratings
17.
The World's Best Class Plant
The World's Best Class Plant 4.30 avg rating — 397 ratings
18.
Claude: The True Story of a White Alligator
Claude: The True Story of a White Alligator 4.28 avg rating — 316 ratings
19.
Homegrown
Homegrown 4.22 avg rating — 222 ratings
20.
Who's Afraid of the Light?
Who's Afraid of the Light? 4.40 avg rating — 130 ratings