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.

 

 

 

Tie for second place

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.

 

 

 

Tie for third place

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.

 

 

 

Honorable mentions

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

 

MCBA 2027 Nominees

The AcademyLayton, TZSourcebooks20252025304
Benny on the CaseKing, WesleyBeach Lane20254/2026288
Burning SeasonRose, Caroline StarrNancy Paulsen20253/2026256
Dubious Pranks of Shaindy GoodmanLowe, MariLevine Querido20232025172
Fresh StartGalligan, GaleGraphix20252025288
How to Say Goodbye in CubanMiyares, DanielAnne Schwartz Books20252025240
Is It Real?: The Loch Ness MonsterFleming, CandaceScholastic Focus20252025160
Isabel in BloomRespicio, MaeRandom House Children's20242025368
Jennifer Chan Is Not AloneKeller, TaeRandom House20222023304
The Guardian Test (Legends of Lotus Island)Soontornvat, ChristinaScholastic20232024160
Lost at Windy RiverRathberger, TrinaOrca2024202496
Lost LibraryMass/SteadSquare Fish20232025224
Midnight MayhemUss, ChristinaHoliday House20262026176
Ogress and the OrphansBarnhill, KellyLBYR20222023416
On Thin IceKim, JessicaKokila20251/2026240
Packing for Mars for KidsRoach, MaryNorton20222023144
RadiantNelson, Vaunda MicheauxDutton20251/2026320
Rhythm of TimeQuestloveSquare Fish20232023240
Ribbon SkirtMukwa, CameronGraphix20242024192
TumblePerez, CeliaKokila20232024384
Will's Race for HomeRhodes, Jewell ParkerLittle, Brown20255/2026208
WildoakHarrington, C.C.Scholastic20222023336
Saving SunshineFaruqi, SaadiaFirst Second20232023224
Spices & SpudsWarner, AndyLittle, Brown Ink20242024248

 

History of the Massachusetts Children's Book Award

After finding that many children lose interest in books after reaching the intermediate grades, Dr. Helen Constant founded the Massachusetts Children's Book Award Program in 1975. Designed for Massachusetts schoolchildren in grades 4-6, the program briefly included grades 7-9 from 1978 through 1983.

Today, fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-graders are given a master list of book titles. After reading five of the books, students may vote for their favorite. The list is compiled from nominations of participating teachers, librarians, and interested publishers. A selection committee works with the nominations and chooses 25 titles to appear on the master list.

School registration information will be collected at the same time votes are cast in March; there is no longer a need to register in advance.

Criteria for the master list include literary quality, genres variety, representation of diverse cultural groups, and reader appeal. Originally, only books published in the years immediately before the award were eligible. Between 1983 and 1995, however, older titles became eligible. Now, only books published within five years of the award year are eligible. Titles on the master list are all available in paperback. The author of the winning book receives a plaque to commemorate the award.

The award is sponsored by Salem State University.

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