The 2025 Youth Media Awards were announced Jan. 27 at the American Library Association’s “LibLearnX” conference in Phoenix, Arizona.
The annual awards ceremony recognizes the top books in children’s and young adult literature from the previous year.


Grand Rapids Area Library children’s librarian Tracy Kampa is an avid enthusiast of the award ceremony, specifically the coveted Newbery Award announcement, awarded to authors for “the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature.” In a recent What We’re Reading conversation, Tracy explained how the winning books serve as a “signpost” for how well she’s been developing her library’s collection.
Several books Tracy has reviewed for What We’re Reading received honors this year including: Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All, by Chanel Miller (Newbery Honor); Louder Than Hunger, by John Schu (Schneider Middle Grade Honor); Black Girl You Are Atlas, by Renée Watson (King Author Honor); and The Wrong Way Home, by Kate O’Shaughnessy (Newbery Honor).
But this year’s Newbery Medal went to The First State of Being, by Erin Entrada Kelly. Chooch Helped, illustrated by Rebecca Lee Kunz and written by Andrea L. Rogers, won the Caldecott Medal for picture book.
Many libraries around the region already carry several of the winning titles.
Tracy said, “I was very excited when all the awards were wrapped up to realize that the Grand Rapids Area Library has already purchased and owned all four Newbury honors, plus the winner, and all four Caldecott honors, plus the winner. We have a display up. If somebody wants to come down and check them out, they are here for you.”
The full list of award categories and winners can be found on the American Library Association’s website.
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