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🤩 Among The Stars: January + YMAs Update

It's that time again. For the moment, anyway, our curated starred review spreadsheet is up to date, y'all.


As a reminder, Martha Hickson and I curate and collate the starred reviews from six trade journals: 



We realize, of course, that other sites/blogs award stars, too... but these are the journals we've chosen to focus on.


Just Look At The Stars

“When you feel lonely, just look at the stars. They’ll remind you that there are others who feel the same way.” — The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy


Before I turn my attention to this month's starred reviews, I want to say this: posting, writing, sharing about books written for kids right now feels, well... insensitive. Given everything that is happening in the world, and specifically in the United States, at the moment, it feels a little obtuse to be focusing on anything other than the continually breaking (and dare I say broken) news. Truthfully, I'd almost decided to skip this post, at least for now: waiting until things “calmed down” before I shared this starred review update.


But then, this morning, as I tuned into this year's Youth Media Awards announcement, chatting gleefully (via text) with my annual companion for the biggest day in kidlit, John Schu, I realized just how much I needed this shot of joy. Listening to the winners being announced, seeing the excitement unfold online, and thinking about all the creators who had books published this year, despite enormous challenges, reminded me of just how important it is to look towards the stars when everything feels especially dark.


So... with that in mind, let's get to it, y'all!


The Stars So Far!

As you might imagine, over time, I've noticed some trends when it comes to star distribution, which this month's data reinforces. In January, picture books and traditionally formatted novels earned the most stars. Nonfiction and graphic formats are most strongly represented in younger grade bands. And (although not represented in this graph) I've also noticed that many journals are recommending books with protagonists as old as 19 or 20 to readers as young as middle grade (which traditionally refers to kids in grades 4–7). I'll be honest, these recommendations confound and frustrate me. What's more, they are a reminder of why we need degreed librarians, in every school, who are trained in the art of collection development. But I digress.


Charts display star distribution, journal shares, grade level recommendations, and book formats. Text reads "January 2026."

You can take a closer look at all the spreadsheet-related data by checking out the tabs labeled “stats” at the bottom of the spreadsheet.



Youth Media Award Round Up

And now for the data y’all have been waiting for. And by “y’all” I largely mean ME! I have been waiting for this data since last year, when I first took a look at how Youth Media Award winners fared when it comes to starred reviews. Obviously, part of my obsession with this kind of data comparison is driven by the fact that I am a nerd. I love these types of intersections. But there’s also this: starred reviews and major awards are two of the most common signals teachers and librarians use when making purchasing and programming decisions. Looking at where they overlap, and where they don’t, helps us better understand just how, frankly, subjective these distinctions are. Are they meaningful? Sure! But are they the only bits of information we should be using when selecting books for kids? Of course not! Which, again, is a reminder that we need degreed librarians, in every school, who are trained in the art of collection development. *sigh*


Finally, before we dive in, two disclaimers:

  1. Again, Martha and I only curate and collate the starred reviews from the six trade journals listed above. It’s possible that these books received additional stars from other sources.

  2. Obviously, there are many, many awards given out in late January, to many deserving book creators. Sadly, I do not have the capacity to research and list them all here. With that in mind, please consider this a representative sample.


Coretta Scott King Award - Author

Boy riding a horse against a vibrant sunset. Text: Will's Race for Home by Jewell Parker Rhodes. Mood: determined and adventurous.
Winner

Honor Books

Illustrator Award

Boy reads to two dogs in front of a library cabin in a forest. He wears a red striped shirt. Text: "The Library in the Woods."
Winner

Honor Books


Book cover featuring a woman in a green shirt against a blue abstract sky. Text: "Renée Watson, All the Blues in the Sky."

John Newbery Medal

Winner

Honors

Michael L Printz Award

People gather at a drive-in with cars, featuring a vibrant illustration of women holding frybread. Text: Legendary Frybread Drive-In.

Winner


Honor Books

Character in purple cloak with dog under tree at sunset. Text: Popo the Xolo. Vibrant colors create a magical, adventurous mood.

Pura Belpré Award

Winner - Children’s Illustration Award

  • Popo the Xolo illustrated by Abraham Matias, written by Paloma Angelina Lopez - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️


Honor Books

  • A-Ztec: A Bilingual Alphabet Book illustrated and written by Emmanuel Valtierra - [ZERO STARS]

Confident woman in white blouse raises fist with a determined expression. Background shows protesters and the text "The Pecan Sheller."
Winner - Children’s Author Award

Honor Books

Woman with striking eyes and dark hair entwined with an owl, in a vibrant, starry setting. Text: On the Wings of la Noche, Vanessa L. Torres.
Winner - Young Adult Author Award

Honor Books

Randolph Caldecott Medal

Children watch colorful fireworks in the night sky. Blue and pink hues dominate. Text: "Fireworks" by Matthew Burgess, Cátia Chien.
Winner

  • Fireworks illustrated by Cátia Chien, written by Matthew Burgess - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️


Honor Books

Schneider Family Book Award

Smiling girl with closed eyes on a colorful cover, surrounded by stars. Text: Wanda Hears the Stars. Mood: Dreamy and inspiring.
Winner - Children's Award

Honor Books

  • Bat and the Business of Ferrets by Elana K. Arnold, illustrated by Charles Santoso - [ZERO STARS!]

  • I Hear the Snow, I Smell the Sea by Janice Milusich, illustrated by Chris Raschka - ⭐️ ⭐️

A boy and girl run through a windy field under a stormy sky. Text: Where Only Storms Grow. Author: Alyssa Colman. Mood: tense.
Winner - Middle Grade Award

  • Where Only Storms Grow by Alyssa Colman - [ZERO STARS!]


Honor Books

Orange book cover titled "Whale Eyes" by James Robinson. Features a white eye graphic with a face inside. Text: "A memoir about seeing and being seen."
Winner - Young Adult Award

Honor Books

Sibert Medal

Man in a yellow coat holding a potato with a playful expression. Text reads "PAKA PAKA CON LA PAPA." Floral background, cheerful mood.
Winner

Honor Books

So… what does all of this mean? Nothing!? Everything?! Who knows!


And yet, I still find it fascinating. I also think it’s a useful reminder that starred reviews, like award lists, are just one data point we can use to help inform our reading lives and collection development decisions. While I find the work of curating starred reviews meaningful, I also know it’s important to remember that many, many wonderful books never receive trade reviews at all. And even when they do, each review represents a single reader’s perspective.


Ultimately, I continue to believe that the many ways books connect us to one another, and to the essential parts of ourselves, matter far more than any star count or shiny sticker. That’s why, whenever I share the starred review spreadsheet with educators, at conferences or during district PD, I always make space for us to name and celebrate the books that may never appear on this spreadsheet, but have still found their way into our hearts.


What Did I Miss?

As I mentioned in last month's update, our form for reporting missed reviews is currently closed. I'll let you know when I open in back up. In the meantime, feel free to:

  • Notice our mistakes

  • Keep them to yourself (for now!) :)



 
 
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