Bill Martin, Jr. Picture Book Award 2023 Nominees

2023 Nominees

2023 Winner

Beach Toys vs. School Supplies

Author: Mike Ciccotello

Illustrator: Mike Ciccotello

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

ISBN: 978-0-37431-4040

A fun-filled tale of summertime, teamwork, and the balance between having fun and buckling down.

The Perfect Plan

Author: Leah Gilbert

Illustrator: Leah Gilbert

Publisher: Bloomsbury Children’s Books

ISBN: 978-1-54760-5262

Maya dreams of building a fort—a special, comfy, cozy place to hide out and read, to dream and play. So, she goes to work drafting plans and gathering all her supplies. But when she gets to the forest, she realizes she needs help.

The Dirt Book: Poems about Animals that Live Beneath Our Feet

Author: David L. Harrison

Illustrator: Kate Cosgrove

Publisher: Holiday House

ISBN: 978-0-82343-8617

15 fun and fact-filled poems about soil—what makes it and who lives in it. This book unearths some of the glorious mysteries that lie beneath our feet.

Eyes That Kiss in the Corners

Author: Joanna Ho

Illustrator: Dung Ho

Publisher: HarperCollins

ISBN: 978-0-06291-5627

A young Asian girl notices that her eyes look different from her peers'. They have big, round eyes and long lashes. She realizes that her eyes are like her mother’s, her grandmother's, and her little sister's.

How to Make a Friend

Author: Stephen W. Martin

Illustrator: Olivia Aserr

Publisher: Clarion Books

ISBN: 978-1-32863-1848

Ever wish friendship came with an instruction manual? A resourceful youngster follows step-by-step directions for constructing a robot to be her friend.

You Are a Reader! You Are A Writer!

Author: April Jones Prince

Illustrator: Christine Davenier

Publisher: Margaret Ferguson Books

ISBN: 978-0-82344-6254

Throughout the book are suggestions for where to find inspiration for reading and writing and different ways to move on if you are discouraged.

What I Am

Author: Divya Srinivasan

Illustrator: Divya Srinivasan

Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers

ISBN: 978-0-59320-4016

A young narrator describes herself: a girl, a granddaughter, Indian, and American. Soon, we see the young girl as a plethora of things: selfish and generous, mean and kind, brave and mischievous.

Except Antarctica!

Author: Todd Sturgell

Illustrator: Todd Sturgell

Publisher: Sourcebooks Explore

ISBN: 978-1-72823-3260

This nature-documentary-gone-wrong is a gleefully funny lesson in determination, and includes educational backmatter and lots of animal fun facts!

Bear Is a Bear

Author: Jonathan Stutzman

Illustrator: Dan Santat

Publisher: Balzar + Bray

ISBN: 978-0-06288-0512

Through all the many ups and downs of a little girl’s childhood, Bear is there to provide love and support. Until it is time to say goodbye . . . and hello again.

Someone Builds the Dream

Authors: Lisa Wheeler

Illustrator: Loren Long

Publisher: Dial

ISBN: 978-1-98481-4333

An eye-opening exploration of the many types of work that go into building our world—from the making of a bridge to a wind farm, an amusement park, and even the very picture book that you are reading.