The Los Angeles Unified School District is letting everyone know that our students can help determine the winner of a prestigious California book prize: the California Young Reader Medal. Students read book nominations, determine their favorite, and then vote in an online process. The books with the most votes in California are the winners!
Categories include picture books, picture books for older readers, intermediate, middle school, and young adult. There are five nominated books in the picture book category and three nominations in each of the other categories. The 2025-26 nominees are listed on the California Young Reader’s Medal website. This California program that encourages love of reading has been around for over five decades!
Ask your school library staff how to vote. All votes must be in by April 1, 2026.
Recommendations for next year currently accepted. Do you have a favorite book you want to recommend for next year? Recommended books must have been published within the past four years (2023-2026) by a living author. Books must be works of fiction except for the Picture Books for Older Readers category. Graphic novel recommendations are accepted. Picture books without words are not eligible. Recommend a Title — California Young Reader Medal
Read the books in the LAUSD Learning Library on Sora or check one out from your library today!