Erin Entrada Kelly, author of The First State of Being, and Rebecca Lee Kunz, illustrator of Chooch Helped, are the 2025 recipients of the John Newbery and Randolph Caldecott Medals, the most prestigious awards in children’s literature.
Kelly and Kunz were among the award winners announced today by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), during the ALA’s LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience held January 24 – 27 in Phoenix. The Newbery and Caldecott Medals honor outstanding writing and illustration of works published in the United States during the previous year.
The Newbery for the most distinguished contribution to children’s literature went to Kelly for The First State of Being, published by Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
In this masterful blend of science and historical fiction, Kelly captures the essence of 1999 from the music and malls to the collective uncertainty of Y2K. Twelve-year-old Michael and his babysitter Gibby meet Ridge, who is from the future. Ridge teaches them that with every breath they take they’re contributing to history.
“We were wowed by Kelly’s ability to blend genres in a complex, compelling story that leaves readers knowing that each of us matters,” said Newbery Medal Committee Chair Maeve Visser Knoth.
Kelly has won numerous awards, including the 2018 Newbery Medal for Hello, Universe, a 2021 Newbery Honor for We Dream of Space. She currently lives in Delaware, teaches at Hamline University, and enjoys visiting readers at schools around the world.
The 2025 Caldecott for the most distinguished picture book is awarded to Kunz for Chooch Helped, written by Andrea L. Rogers and published by Arthur A. Levine Querido.
Sissy’s brother, Chooch, loves to “help.” However, his contributions often cause frustrations. Chooch Helped is a touching depiction of sibling relationships, family and the importance of making mistakes. Collaged textiles, watercolor and Indigenous motifs celebrate Cherokee culture and language in a universal story all families can see themselves in.
“Through deftly layered lines, textures and Cherokee iconography, Kunz masterfully renders a new yet classic story of sibling rivalry — every element is truly a revelation,” said Caldecott Medal Committee Chair Hanna Lee.
Kunz is a multimedia artist in Santa Fe, New Mexico. A citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, her work draws upon traditional iconography and is greatly inspired by mythic and archetypical symbolism. Chooch Helped is her debut picture book.
Four Newbery Honor Books were named:
“Across So Many Seas” by Ruth Behar and published by Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House;
“Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All,” written and illustrated by Chanel Miller and published by Philomel, an imprint of Penguin Random House;
“One Big Open Sky” by Lesa Cline-Ransome and published by Holiday House;
“The Wrong Way Home” by Kate O’Shaughnessy, A Borzoi Book, published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House.
Four Caldecott Honor Books were named:
“Home in a Lunchbox,” illustrated and written by Cherry Mo and published by Penguin Workshop, an imprint of Penguin Random House;
“My Daddy Is a Cowboy,” illustrated by C.G. Esperanza, written by Stephanie Seales and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS;
“Noodles on a Bicycle,” illustrated by Gracey Zhang, written by Kyo Maclear, and published by Random House Studio, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House;
“Up, Up, Ever Up! Junko Tabei: A Life in the Mountains,” illustrated by Yuko Shimizu, written by Anita Yasuda and published by Clarion Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers;
The American Library Association (ALA) is the only non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated entirely to America's libraries and library professionals. For almost 150 years, ALA has provided resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. The ALA serves academic, public, school, government, and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library's role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit www.ala.org
ALSC, a division of the American Library Association, is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children. With a network of more than 3,300 children’s and youth librarians, literature experts, publishers and educational faculty, ALSC is committed to creating a better future for all children through libraries. Visit www.ala.org/alsc. For information on the John Newbery and Randolph Caldecott Medals and other ALA Youth Media Awards, please visit www.ala.org/yma.
