By Erin L. Cox, Publisher | @erinlcox
This morning, The United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY) announced its 2026 Outstanding International Books list. The list will be presented live at the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Winter Conference in New York City on Sunday, January 18 at 12:15pm ET.This year’s list features 41 titles published in 2025 that USBBY highlights as “exceptional titles for children and young adults.” Originating from 24 countries, such as Argentina, Lithuania, Nigeria, South Korea, Sweden, and The Netherlands, this year’s selections reflect universal themes of identity, hope, intergenerational bonds, friendship, play, curiosity, migration, nature, and cultural heritage.
“The Outstanding International Books list is a unique resource offering exceptional books that will expose young readers to perspectives and experiences that will expand and enrich their world view,” said incoming USBBY President Susan Polos.
USBBY is a nonprofit organization and serves as the U.S. national section of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY). Since 2006, USBBY’s annual lists have brought global stories and perspectives to young readers in the United States and introduced young readers to global perspectives, outstanding international writers and illustrators, and helped to bridge cultures and foster empathy for others.
To see more about these books and past lists, visit the USBBY website here. Below is the full 2026 Outstanding International Books list (Author, U.S. title, Translator, Illustrator, U.S. Publisher, Originating Country):
Pre-K–2nd Grade:
- Andruetto, María Teresa. Clara and the Man with Books in His Window. tr. from Spanish by Elisa Amado. illus. by Martina Trach. Greystone Kids (Argentina)
- Arai, Ryōji. The Snow Theater. tr. from Japanese by David Boyd. illus. by author. Enchanted Lion. (Japan)
- Atinuke. M Is for Mango. illus. by Angela Brooksbank. Candlewick Press. (UK/Nigeria)
- Auh, Dayeon. The Three-Year Tumble. tr. from German by Tim Mohr. illus. by author. NorthSouth Books. (Switzerland/South Korea)
- Bin, Xu. Picking Tea with Baba. tr. from Chinese by Shan Chen. illus. by Yu Yin. Charlesbridge. (China)
- Brandelius, Uje. The Playdate. tr. from Swedish by Nicola Smalley. illus. by Clara Dackenberg. Lantana. (Sweden)
- Flett, Julie. My Friend May. illus. by author. Greystone Kids. (Canada)
- Guarda, J. Maria. Paloma Flies Away. tr. from Spanish by Melanie Cordova. illus. by author. Candlewick Press. (Chile)
- Hao, Liu. Wrestlers of the Grasslands. tr. from Chinese by Clavis Press. illus. by author. Clavis Press. (China)
- Kim, Hye-Eun. Pencil. illus. by author. A Toon Book. (South Korea)
- Kim, Jihyun. Blue Sky Morning. tr. from Korean by Polly Lawson. illus. by author. Floris Books. (South Korea)
- Lam, Thao. Everybelly. illus. by author. Groundwood/House of Anansi. (Canada)
- Liang, Xiong. Take a Walk with the Wind. tr. from the Chinese by Chloe Garcia Roberts. illus. by author. Elsewhere Editions. (China)
- Lopez, Azul. Croco. tr. from the Spanish by Kit Maude. illus. by author. Tapioca Stories. (Mexico)
- Ohnari, Yuko. Downpour: Splish! Splash! Ker-Splash! tr. from Japanese by Emily Balistrieri. illus. by Koshiro Hata. Red Comet Press. (Japan)
- Perella, Eugenia. My Home Is In My Backpack. tr. from Spanish by Sally Polson. illus. by Angela Salerno. Floris Books. (Chile/Venezuela)
- Saunders, Kirli. Afloat. illus. by Freya Blackwood. Levine Querido. (Australia)
- Schuff, Nicolás. How to Reach the Moon. tr. from Spanish by Lawrence Schimel. illus. by Ana Sender. Amazon Crossing, Kids. (Argentina)
- Tallec, Olivier. Is It Asleep? tr. from French by Antony Shugaar. illus. by author. Gecko Press. (France)
3rd–5th Grade:
- Dauremer, Rébecca. The Ordinary Life of Jacominus Gainsborough. tr. from French by Charis Ainslie. illus. by author.Post Wave. (France)
- Djupvik, Laura. My Brother. tr. from Norwegian by Martin Aitken. illus. by Øyvind Torseter. Elsewhere Editions. (Norway)
- Fadeeva, Olga. Sound: Discovering the Vibrations We Hear. tr. from Russian by Lena Traer. illus. by author. Eerdmans. (Russia)
- Kashiwaba, Sachiko. The Village Beyond the Mist. tr. from Japanese by Avery Fischer Udagawa. illus. by Miho Satake. Yonder/Restless Books. (Japan)
- Krishnaswami, Uma. The Sunshine Project. illus. by Julianna Swaney. Groundwood/House of Anansi. (Canada/India)
- McQuoid, Judith. Giant. Little Island. (Ireland/UK)
- Naïr, Karthika. Electric Birds of Pothakudi. illus. by Joëlle Jolivet. Abrams. (France/India)
- Toro, Juliana Muñoz. Journey of the Humpbacks. tr. from Spanish by Lawrence Schimel. illus. by Dipacho. Eerdmans. (Colombia)
6th–8th Grade:
- Åstot, Moa Backe. Butterfly Heart. tr. from Swedish by Agnes Broomé. Levine Querido. (Sweden)
- Bjerkeland, Ingvild. Beasts. tr. from Norwegian by Rosie Hedger. Levine Querido. (Norway)
- Dzotap, Alain Serge. Adi of Boutanga: A Story from Cameroon. tr. from French by author. illus. by Marc Daniau. Eerdmans. (France/Cameroon)
- Go, Jung-Soon. Okchundang Candy. tr. from Korean by Aerin Park. illus. by author. Levine Querido. (South Korea)
- Lessore, Nathanael. Dropping Beats. Little, Brown.(UK)
- Mansour, Vivian. Pilgrim Codex. tr. from Spanish by Carlos Rodríguez Cortez. illus. by Emmanuel Valtierra. Levine Querido. (Mexico)
- Marsol, Manuel. Astro. tr. from Spanish by Lizzie Davis. illus. by author. Transit Books. (Spain)
- Rundberg, Johan. Biggest Fake in the Universe. tr. from Swedish by Eva Apelqvist. Amazon Crossing Kids. (Sweden)
- Said, SF. Tyger. illus. by Dave McKean.Penguin Workshop/Penguin Random House. (UK)
9th–12th Grade:
- Bassett, Louise. The Hidden Girl. Walker Books. (Australia)
- Magicdustė, Akvilė.The Bees: The Women Who Rocked Lithuania. tr. from Lithuanian by Erika Lastovskytė. illus. by author. Fantagraphics. (Lithuania)
- O’Brien. Gráinne. Solo. Little Island. (Ireland)
- Sanna, Alessandro. Old as Stone, Hard as Rock: Of Humans and War. tr. from Italian by Ammiel Alcalay. illus. by author. Unruly/Enchanted Lion. (Italy)
- Volbeda, Ludwig. Self Portrait. tr. from Dutch by Lucy Scott. illus. by author. Levine Querido.(The Netherlands)