And the 2026 Undies Case Cover Awards Go To . . .

A bit of a change this year.

In the past, we’ve always put the Undies Case Cover Award nominees up for a vote. For a variety of reasons, this year we’ve decided to fast forward to the winners announcement. Next time, we’re hoping things will be back to normal.

Thank you to everyone who submitted and shared the 2026 Undies Case Cover Awards. Thank you Mel Schuit and Carter Higgins for all your work in making these awards happen.

And now, the winners of the 2026 Undies Case Cover Awards.

Category: The “Follow the Leader” Award

Winner: THE NEW CAT by Stephanie V. W. Lucianovic, illustrated by Chris Park

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Category: Best Bonus

Winner: HERE A CREAK, THERE A SHRIEK! by Kelly Conroy, illustrated by Nikolas Ilic

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Category: Best Color

Winner: AN INVISIBLE RIVER TO CROSS by Taraneh Matloob, illustrated by Kristen Balouch

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Category: The Inside Out Award

Winner: I FLY by Kelly Rice Schmitt, illustrated by Jam Dong

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Category: Best Impression of Something Other Than a Book

Winner: A SUITCASE FULL by Maryam Kia, illustrated by Jaclyn Sinquett

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Category: Most Ethereal 

Winner: A HOME ON THE PAGE by Kao Kalia Yang, illustrated by Seo Kim

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Category: The Humor Award

Winner: PENGUINS DON’T WEAR PANTS by Abi Cushman

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Category: Best Surprise

Winner: THE POLAR BEAR DAY by Jihee Park

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Category: The Hide and Seek Award

Winner: I REALLY WANT TO SEE AN ELEPHANT by Brianne Farley

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Category: The Same, But Different Award

Winner: LOVE & MERCY by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Chris Van Dusen

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Category: The Day and Night Award

Winner: WIDE OPEN SPACES by Robyn McGrath, illustrated by Polina Gortman

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Category: The ‘Let Me Introduce You to the Characters’ Award

Winner: THE PUMPKIN SEED by Poppy O’Neill, illustrated by Brizida Magro

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Category: The Portrait Award

Winner: POSTCARDS FROM MALCOLM X by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Keith Henry Brown

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Category: The Pals Award

Winner: SAY HELLO LIKE AN ARMADILLO by Zewlan Moor, illustrated by Karen Obuhanych

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Category: The ‘Zoom In’ Award

Winner: RUN. SING. DREAM. by Linda Sue Park, illustrated by Nik Henderson

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Category: The Eyes Have It Award

Winner: SHRINKING VIOLET by Laurel Snyder, illustrated by LeUyen Pham

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Category: Most Sporty

Winner: THE PERFECT MATCH by Chris Becker, illustrated by Dan Taylor 

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Category: Best Chapter Book/Middle Grade/YA

Winner: BEYOND SEVEN FORESTS by Amanda McCrina

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Category: Best Stamp

Winner: A BOY CALLED HERO by Marie Miranda Cruz

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Category: Best Silhouette

Winner: FRANKENKITTY by Maudie Powell-Tuck, illustrated by Mini Grey

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Category: Best Moon

Winner: FOLLOW ME, MOON by Colleen Larmour

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Category: Best Stars

Winner: LUNA AND THE NIGHT by Maylis Daufresne, illustrated by Ian de Haes

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Category: Most Delicious

Winner: BILLY AND THE HOLE by Jessica Goecke

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Category: Best Simplicity

Winner: CHOIR GRRRL by Ashley Granillo

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Category: Best Spoiler/Sneak Peek

Winner: BUNNS RABBIT II by Alan Barillaro

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Category: Best Cliff’s Notes Version

Winner: MY AMERICA BLOOMS by Nazanin Agange Ford, illustrated by Fateme Mokhles

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Category: Best Sneak Peek at the Setting

Winner: THANK YOU, SNOW by Dan McCauley, illustrated by Jo Loring-Fisher

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Category: Best View

Winner: JAYDEN NOTICED by Carolyn Crimi, illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice

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Category: The Transportation Award

Winner: RIPPLES by Katie Yamasaki

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Category: The Great Outdoors Award

Winner: THE WAND IN THE WOODS by Tom Booth

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Category: Craftiest

PATCHWORK MEMORIES by Monica Rojas, illustrated by Luisa Uribe

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Category: Best Transformation

Winner: IF MY SISTER WERE A WORM by Julie Hauswirth, illustrated by Jessica Goecke

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Category: The “Before and After” Award

Winner: ONCE I WAS A TREE by Eoin McLaughlin, illustrated by Guilherme Karsten

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Category: Fanciest

Winner: THE VELVETEEN RABBIT by Margery Williams, illustrated by Sarah Massini

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Category: Best Energy

Winner: CELEBRATE WE GULLAH GEECHEE by Yvette R Murray, illustrated by Tonya Engel

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Category: The “Put a Bird on It” Award

Winner: THE WHITE RAVEN by Kathryn Otoshi

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Category: Best Water

Winner: TWELVE DARING GRAYS by Nora Nickum, illustrated by Elly MacKay

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Category: Best Historical

Winner: UNBREAKABLE by Minoru Tonai and Jolene Gutiérrez, illustrated by Chris Sasaki

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Category: The “Variations on a Theme” Award

Winner: BARBED WIRE BETWEEN US by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Violeta Encarnación

Coming soon . . . the winners of the Endies Endpaper Awards

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