Youth Book Awards
Ladybug Picture Book Award
The Ladybug Picture Book Award is designed to promote early literacy and honor the best in recent children’s picture books. Librarians from around the state select 9 picture book titles (as of 2025) each spring. Then, during November, New Hampshire children from preschoolers to those in third grade choose the award winner. The winning picture book is announced at the end of the year.
Ladybug Picture Book Award 2025 Winner
The Bakery Dragon by Devin Elle Kurtz
2026 LADYBUG BOOK AWARD NOMINEES
Please click on the images below to find these great nominees in our catalog.
To learner more about the Ladybug Picture Book Award and to vote for your favorite nominated title,
Purple Finch Award
The Children’s Librarians of New Hampshire are pleased to present the first-ever nominees list for the new Purple Finch Award, featuring books for readers in 3rd and 4th grades. The Purple Finch will highlight ten titles chosen by professional youth librarians in the state, based on quality and kid appeal. This is the same committee that brings you the Great Stone Face Award, for readers in 5-6th grades.
Every spring, a new list of nominees will be announced, and readers in grades 3-4 will be invited to vote on their favorite during the following April. Votes can be submitted through either your public or school library.
2026 PURPLE FINCH BOOK AWARD NOMINEES
Click on the linked images below to see the nominees in our catalog! If the image does not link, please ask a staff member to place the title on interlibrary loan for you.
Great Stone Face Book Award
The Great Stone Face Book Award is given annually to an author whose book receives the most votes from 5th and 6th graders throughout the state. In April, New Hampshire children vote for their favorite book from a list of 15 recently-published titles that are chosen by the Great Stone Face (GSF) Committee. The purpose of the award is to promote reading enjoyment, to increase awareness of contemporary writing, and to allow children to honor their favorite authors.
The Great Stone Face Book Award 2026 Winner
Faker by Gordon Korman
2026 GREAT STONE FACE BOOK AWARD NOMINEES
Click on the linked images below to see the nominees in our catalog! If the image does not link, please ask a staff member to place the title on interlibrary loan for you.
Isinglass Award
The Isinglass Award promotes teen reading by inviting teens to help select great literature. Each year, 7th and 8th graders across New Hampshire nominate their favorite books and vote on the top ten in April.
The Isinglass Award was begun in 2001 by the Barrington Public Library and the Barrington Middle School in order to promote teen reading, the participation of teens in the creation of their own reading list, and to honor those authors whose works speak to youth. The award is now open to all New Hampshire students
Isinglass Award 2024 Winner
This Golden State by Marit Weisenberg
2025 ISINGLASS AWARD NOMINEES
Click on the linked images below to see the nominees in our catalog! If the image does not link, please ask a staff member to place the title on interlibrary loan for you.
Flume Award
The Flume Award promotes teen reading by inviting teens to help select great literature. Each year, 9th through 12th graders across New Hampshire nominate their favorite books and vote on the top ten in April.
The Flume Award was created in 2005 in response to a New Hampshire teen’s request to have a book award geared towards high school students. This award is a state-wide venture led by a collaborative effort from school and public librarians. Each year teens nominate titles, published within the last two years, they think deserve to be recognized. Librarians narrow the group of titles to a shorter list. Teens then vote for the winning title from that list.
Flume Award 2024 Winner
I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
2025 FLUME AWARD NOMINEES
Click on the linked images below to see the nominees in our catalog! If the image does not link, please ask a staff member to place the title on interlibrary loan for you.
