- HOME
- ABOUT US
- JOIN
- ADVOCACY
- PROGRAMS/EVENTS
- AWARDS
- UNITS
- Divisions
- Sections
- Roundtables
- Special Interest Groups
- Committees
- FOR MEMBERS
- FOUNDATION
2026 CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARDS2026 Awards Announcements
The Children’s Book Award Committee of the Wisconsin Library Association’s Youth Services Section annually selects outstanding books for youth by Wisconsin-connected authors and awards the Elizabeth Burr/Worzalla Award, Outstanding Books of the Year, and Notable Wisconsin Authors/Illustrators.
Elizabeth Burr/Sheridan Worzalla AwardAwarded to the most distinguished work in children’s and young adult literature written and/or illustrated by a Wisconsin book creator. The Elizabeth Burr/Worzalla Award is made possible by the Sheridan Worzalla Publishing Company, Stevens Point, through a contribution to the WLA Foundation In Case You Read This by Edward Underhill Pasadena, California, is the perfect city for Gabe’s reinvention. Everyone knew everything about him in small-town Shelby, Illinois. Gabe, who wants to be out and proud, can’t wait to relocate. When Arden and Gabe randomly meet in the lobby of a motel in Nebraska, it feels like fate. Both are trans, but more importantly, both are huge fans of the band Damaged Pixie Dream Boi. Clearly, the universe is trying to tell them something. Right? But after an incredible evening of hanging out, the pair part ways only knowing the other’s first name. And as both boys struggle to adjust to their new homes, their thoughts keep being drawn back to their time together. Is one perfect night enough to bring Arden and Gabe back to each other, or will the boys need some help to find each other again? About the Author:Edward Underhill is an award-winning author who was raised in the suburbs of Wisconsin. He studied music in college, spent several years in New York, and currently resides in California with his partner and cat. Edward began writing stories as a kid, and wrote his first novel in his teens. He qualifies those early writing attempts as being “very bad.” He is the author of two adult books and three young adult books, including 2025’s In Case You Read This and 2024’s This Day Changes Everything. His books have earned starred reviews, been named Indie Next and ALA Rainbow List selections and LibraryReads Top 10 picks, and have been included on numerous “best of the year” lists, including from YALSA, School Library Journal, and Booklist. Notable Wisconsin Author/IllustratorLita Judge - Author/Illustrator Lita Judge is the author and illustrator of more than 30 fiction and nonfiction books, including Mary’s Monster, Hoot and Peep, The Wisdom of Trees, and Old Blue Is My Home. While she currently resides with her husband and critters in New Hampshire, her childhood summers were spent in Wisconsin with her ornithologist grandparents, learning to care for the native animals surrounding–and often sharing!--their home. Once an aspiring geologist and paleontologist, Lita now creates critically acclaimed books for children, many of which celebrate her interest in animals, science, and nature. Awards for her work include the International Reading Association Children’s Book Award, an ALA Notable, NCTE Notable Book, a Kirkus Best Book, and the Jane Addams Honor. One of her titles, Flight School, has even been adapted into an off-Broadway musical! When she’s not creating whimsical stories and works of art, she enjoys travel, creating art in a variety of mediums, and spending time outdoors with her husband. In addition, ten noteworthy honor titles written and/or illustrated by Wisconsin book creators were selected for Outstanding Achievement Award in children’s literature:
|
