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Massachusetts Children's Book Award

2026 MCBA Winner

Congratulations to Katherine Applegate on her book Willodeen winning the Massachusetts Children's Book Award for 2026.

 

Cover of book Willodeen shows a small beigh bear with dragonfly wings perched between the eyes of a close up of a blue boar's head. The boar shows only eyes, nose, and curled tusks. The word WILLODEEN is in green font and centered on the cover. At the bottom of the image, just above the boar's nose, it says, "From Newbury Award winner Katherine Applegate.

 

 

 

Duel

Written by Jessixa Bagley

Illustrated by Aaron Bagley

Cover of book Duel shows two girls with light brown skin and curly har facing away from each other while their shadows are cast on the wall behind them crossing swords to begin fencing. The title of the book, Duel, is in large white letters centered at the top. Between the girls feet it says, "I love this book... En garde!" Victoria Jamison New York Times bestselling author of Roller Girl. Written by Jessixa Bagley. Illustrated by Aaron Bagley.

 

 

Four Eyes: A Graphic Novel

Written by Rex Ogle

Illustrated by Dave Valeza

The cover of this book shows a close up of a red pair of glasses with four written on the first lens and eyes written on the second lens. Below the glasses is a white boy wearing classes and a red tee-shirt with his hands clasped. Behind him are four other children looking concerned or snide. The top center of the cover says A graphic novel by Rex Ogle and Dave Valeza.

 

 

 

Attack of the Black Rectangles

Written by: Amy Sarig King

The cover of this book shows a white boy wearing a red shirt from the shoulders up with his hands clasping a black rectangle. The top of the image shows the words Attack of the Black Rectangles with black bars blocking out any other text.

 

The Myth of Monsters: Medusa

Written by Katherine Marsh

The cover of this book looks like you are looking up from under water where a few tentacles are visible at three children looking down. The top of the cover says: Award-Winning Author of Nowhere Boy Katherine Marsh. Centered on the cover in gold font is the title: The Myth of Monsters Medusa.

 

 

 

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

Nicholas Day

 

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

Beth Lincoln

 

Just Roll with it: A graphic novel

Lee Durfey-Lavoie and Veronica Agarwal

 

Hidden Truths

Elly Swartz

 

The Eyes and the Impossible

Dave Eggers

 

Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II

Adam Gidwitz

 

The Secret Language of Birds

Lynn Kelly

 

We Are Big Time: A Graphic Novel

Hena Khan

 

Title

MCBA 2027 Nominees

Title

History of the Massachusetts Children's Book Award

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