Louisiana Readers' Choice

The Louisiana Readers' Choice Awards program was founded in 1999 with the first award given in 2000. Louisiana’s young people have read more than 1.6 million books and cast over 511,000 votes since the program's inception.

The purpose of the program is to foster a love of reading in the children of Louisiana by motivating them to participate in the recognition of outstanding books. The lists are well-balanced selections of high-quality fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.

Now entering its 28th cycle, the program continues to encourage Louisiana’s youth to read for pleasure.

You can find answers to frequently asked questions here (PDF).

2025-2026 Louisiana Readers' Choice Award Winners and Honors

K-2nd Grade Winner: One Chicken Nugget (Balzer + Bray, HarperCollins) written and illustrated by Tadgh Bentley Honor: Mr. S: A First Day of School Book (Katherine Tegan Books, HarperCollins) written and illustrated by Monica Arnaldo	3-5th Grade Winner: Heroic Heart: An Illustrated Biography of Joe Delaney (Triumph Books) written by Frank Murphy and Charnaie Gordon illustrated by Anastasia Magloire Williams Honor: Yoshi, Sea Turtle Genius: A True Story about an Amazing Swimmer (Anne Schwartz Books, Penguin Random House) written by Lynne Cox illustrated by Richard Jones
6-8th Grade Winner: Eb & Flow (Crown Books for Young Readers, Penguin Random House) written by Kelly J. Baptiste Honor: It Found Us (Sourcebooks Young Readers) written by Linday Currie	9-12th Grade Winner: The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich (Little, Brown Ink; Hachette Book Group) written and illustrated by Deya Muniz Honor: Bonesmith (Margaret K. McElderry Books, Simon & Schuster) written by Nicki Pau Preto

2026-2027 Louisiana Readers' Choice Awards

NOMINEES

You can find the 2026-2027 nominated titles here (PDF).

Any student who reads every title on their Louisiana Readers’ Choice Nominated list can receive a certificate of achievement signed by the State Librarian. You can request certificates here.

You are welcome to use these logos to promote the Louisiana Readers' Choice Awards program at your library or school.

Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Logo (Black and White, Full Color)
Louisiana Teen Readers' Choice Logo (Black and White, Full Color)

Previous Winners

View the collection of past Readers' Choice honorees here.

Thank you to our sponsors

The Louisiana Readers’ Choice Awards is a reading enrichment program of the Louisiana Center for the Book in the State Library with additional support from the following sponsors: