Celebrating the 2026 Blue Hen Book Award Winners
Every year, young readers across Delaware help choose some of the most exciting books being written today through the Blue Hen Book Awards, a statewide reading program organized by the Youth Services Division of the Delaware Library Association.
What makes the Blue Hen Award special is simple: kids and teens themselves vote for the winners. After reading from the nominated lists throughout the year, students across the state cast ballots for the books they loved most.
We’re excited to celebrate the 2026 Blue Hen Book Award winners:
Young Readers
The Yellow Bus by Loren Long
Middle Readers
Wat Takes His Shot: The Life & Legacy of Basketball Hero Wataru Misaka by Cheryl Kim, illustrated by Nat Iwata
Middle Readers Graphic Novel
Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas
Teen Readers
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
Teen Graphic Novel (Tie)
Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham
Plain Jane and the Mermaid by Vera Brosgol
These outstanding books represent the power of storytelling to inspire imagination, curiosity, and empathy in young readers.
Programs like the Blue Hen Book Award are a wonderful reminder of the important role libraries play in helping children discover books they love. Delaware’s libraries work year-round with schools and families to promote reading, support literacy, and connect young people with stories that spark lifelong learning.
If one of these titles caught your eye, visit your local Delaware library to check it out. Libraries across the state participate in the Delaware Library Consortium, meaning you can access books and digital titles from collections shared statewide.
Congratulations to this year’s authors and illustrators and to the young Delaware readers who made their voices heard.