Golden Poppy Award Nominees: The California Independent Booksellers Alliance announced their nominees for best books by Californians for 2025. Their goal is to “elevate California voices and recognize the unique and diverse talents within our state.” ACL member Jenny Andrus is nominated in the Picture Book category for Elsa’s Chessboard. See the full list of nominees here: 2025 Golden Poppy Awards Finalists – California Independent Booksellers Alliance. Below are the nominees for books in the youth services categories:
Picture Books:
Don’t Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson, illustrated by Dan Santat, Dial.
Elsa’s Chessboard by Jenny Andrus, illustrated by Julie Downing, Neal Porter.
Let’s Be Bees by Shawn Harris, Neal Porter.
Popo the Xolo by Paloma Angelina Lopez, illustrated by Abraham Matias, Charlesbridge.
Wheetle: A Little Wagon with a Big Heart by Cindy Derby, Roaring Brook.
Middle Grade:
Finding Lost by Holly Goldberg Sloan, Rocky Pond.
A Little Too Haunted by Justine Pucella Winans, Bloomsbury.
The Peach Thief by Linda Joan Smith, Candlewick.
The Queen Bees of Tybee County by Kyle Casey Chu, Quill Tree.
Spark by Chris Baron, Feiwel.
Young Adult:
All the Tomorrows After by Joanne Yi, Atheneum.
A Cruel Thirst by Angela Montoya, Joy Revolution.
The Education of Kia Greer by Alanna Bennett, Knopf.
Grave Flowers by Autumn Krause, Peachtree.
Run Away with Me by Brian Selznick, Scholastic.
Children’s Nonfiction:
Forests by Nell Cross Beckerman, illustrated by Kalen Chock, Orchard.
JIM! Six True Stories about One Great Artist: James Marshall by Jerrold Connors, Dial.
Love Is Hard Work: The Art and Heart of Corita Kent by Dan Paley, illustrated by Victoria Tentler-Krylov, Candlewick.
Trans History: A Graphic Novel: From Ancient Times to the Present Day by Alex L. Combs and Andrew Eakett, Candlewick.
Vanished: Seven Women Magicians Who Simply Disappeared by Anna Hays, illustrated by Mary Kate McDevitt, Bright Matter.
Mirrors & Windows: Excellence in Children’s Literature:
Almost Sunset by Wahab Algarmi, Harper Alley.
The History of We by Nikkolas Smith, Kokila.
Popo the Xolo by Paloma Angelina Lopez, illustrated by Abraham Matias, Charlesbridge.
The Queen Bees of Tybee County by Kyle Casey Chu, Quill Tree.
The Very Asian Guide to Taiwanese Food by Nancy Jeng, illustrated by Felicia Liang, Gloo.
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