It’s time to vote for the 2026 Minnesota Youth Reading Awards (MYRA) — Minnesota’s kids’ choice book awards!

About the Award

Each year, MYRA releases a list of nominated titles in two categories:

• Star of the North Award for picture books.
• Maud Hart Lovelace Award for juvenile novels, divided into Division I (grades 3–5) and Division II (grades 6–8).

The MYRA nominee books aim to give Minnesota youth books that help them see themselves and others in stories. It celebrates quality literature and encourages recreational reading among school-aged children. The award also empowers kids by giving them a voice in choosing the winners. This process helps foster a love of reading and critical thinking skills.

Read the Books

Check out the books from our library by searching the Washington County Library Catalog.

You can read many of the nominated titles online through eBooks Minnesota.

Vote for a Book

Students in grades 3–5 and 6–8 can vote for their favorite titles from the nominee lists at their school or at participating public libraries.

Voting begins March 1 through March 23. Use the online form to submit your vote today!

To learn more about the program, visit the Minnesota Youth Reading Awards.

2026 Star of the North Nominees

• The Book that Almost Rhymed by Omar Abed
• Ursula Upside Down by Corey Tabor
• Touch the Sky by Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic
• Looking for Happy by Ty Chapman
• The Rock in My Throat by Kao Kalia Yang
• Rock Your Mocs by Laurel Goodluck
• The Last Stand by Antwan Eady
• Millie Fleur's Poison Garden by Christy Mandin
• Miguel Must Fight! by Jamie Ofelia
• Star Party by Polly Carlson-Voiles

2026 Maud Hart Lovelace (Division 1) Nominees

• Anybody Here Seen Frenchie? Leslie Connor
• Honestly Elliott Gillian McDunn
• Just Keep Walking Erin Soderberg Downing
• Just Right Jillian Nicole D. Collier
• Legends of Lotus Island: The Guardian Test Christina Soontervat, ill. Kevin Hong
• The Lost Library Rebecca Stead & Wendy Mass
• The Unforgettable Logan Foster Shawn Peters
• Wayward Creatures Dayna Lorentz
• Hoops Matt Tavares
• A Royal Conundrum: The Misfits Lisa Yee, ill. Dan Santat

2026 Maud Hart Lovelace (Division 2) Nominees

• Hoops by Matt Tavares
• A Royal Conundrum: The Misfits Lisa Yee, ill. Dan Santat
• The Fort Gordon Korman
• And Then, BOOM! Lisa Fipps
• Mexikid Pedro Martin
• What Happened to Rachel Riley? Claire Swinarski
• Not Nothing Gayle Forman
• Louder Than Hunger John Schu
• Meet Me Halfway Anika Fajardo
• The Labors of Hercules Beal Gary D. Schmidt