2025 Magnolia Book Awards

The Magnolia Book Awards celebrate the best in children's and young adult literature, as chosen by the young readers of Mississippi. Each year, students from Pre-K through 12th grade have the opportunity to read nominated books and cast their votes for their favorites. The 2025 nominees have been announced and voting is available! 

2025 Magnolia Book Award Nominees:

Pre-K – 2nd Grade:

• The Garden We Share written by Zoe Tucker & illustrated by Julianna Swaney
• Big Ship Rescue! written & illustrated by Chris Gall
• Cooler Than Lemonade written by Harshita Jerath & illustrated by Chloe Burgett
• Dear Street written by Lindsey Zier-Vogel & illustrated by Caroline Bonne-Muller
• Lupe Lopez: Reading Rockstar! written by e.E. Charlton-Trujillo & Pat Zietlow Miller & illustrated by Joe Cepeda
• Sari-Sari Summers written & illustrated by Lynnar Bontiago
• Sora's Seashells written by Helena Ku Rhee & illustrated by Stella Lim
• Somewhere in the Bayou written by Jarrett Pumphrey & illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey
• The Van Buren Sisters vs. the Pants Police written by J.F. Fox & illustrated by Anna Kwan
• This Book is Banned written by Raj Haldar & illustrated by Julia Patton
• Wombat Said Come In written by Carmen Agra Deedy & illustrated by Brian Lies

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3rd – 5th Grade:

• Building an Orchestra of Hope: How Favlo Chavez Taught Children to Make Music From Trash written by Carmen Oliver & illustrated by Luisa Uribe
• National Monuments of the U.S.A. written by Cameron Walker & illustrated by Chris Turnham
• Puppets of Spellhorst written by Kate DiCamillo & illustrated by Julie Morstad
• Hoops written & illustrated by Matt Tavares
• 9 Kilometers written by Claudio Aguilera & illustrated by Gabriela Lyon
• It Found Us written by Lindsey Currie 
• The Sky is Not the Limit written by Lindsey Currie
• Nell and the Netherbeast written by Adi Rule & illustrated by Ash Szymanik
• Shapes, Lines and Light written & illustrated by Katie Yamasaki
• Where the Water Takes Us written by Alan Barillaro

6th – 8th Grade:

• The Town with no Mirrors written by Christina Collins
• Global written by Eion Coffer & Andrew Donkin & illustrated by Giovanni Rigano
• Packing for Mars for Kids written by Mary Roach
• Children of Stardust written by Edudzi Adodo
• Chilling With Ghosts written by Insha Fitzpatrick & illustrated by Lilla Bolecz
• Confessions of a Candy Snatcher written by Phoebe Sinclair & illustrated by Theodore Taylor III

9th – 12th Grade:

• The Davenports written by Krystal Marquis
• Divine Rivals written by Rebecca Ross
• Something Close to Magic written by Emma Mills
• Promise Boys written by Nick Brooks
• Abuela, Don't Forget Me written by Rex Ogle
• Gather written by Kenneth M. Cadow

And in case you missed the 2024 winners:

Reading these nominated books not only provides entertainment but also offers insights into diverse perspectives and experiences. By participating in the Magnolia Book Awards, young readers can engage with literature in a meaningful way and have a voice in recognizing outstanding works.

Voting takes place annually in February, with winners announced each April at the Fay B. Kaigler Children’s Book Festival at the University of Southern Mississippi. Mississippi children from Pre-K through 12th grade are eligible to participate. To cast your vote, visit your local library, where we have the voting materials available for you! 

We encourage all young readers to explore these exceptional books and make their voices heard by voting for their favorites. Your participation not only supports your favorite authors and illustrators but also fosters a lifelong love of reading.

Happy reading, and don't forget to vote at your local library!