Blue and beige background that reads "Teachers & librarians! Enter to win a live Zoom chat with 2026 Bluestem Author Kari Lavelle" Two yellow bubbles read "Monday, October 10th at 1pm CT" and "Enter your class(es) via the link in our bio!" In the center of the post, there's a picture of Kari Lavelle (a white woman with brown shoulder length hair wearing a navy dress) and the cover of Butt or Face? (green cover with a zebra butt that has 2 googly eyes on either side of the tail, resembling a face).

Join us to learn: is it a butt or is it a face with Kari Lavelle, author of Butt or Face? If you'd like the opportunity for your class to participate, enter for a chance by 12pm CT on 11/3! buff.ly/fNcdl3i #BluestemAward #BlueReads

Blue and beige background that reads "Teachers & librarians! Enter to win a live Zoom chat with 2026 Bluestem author Lisa Yee!" Two yellow bubbles read "Wednesday, November 5th at 11am CT" and "Enter your class(es) via the link in our bio!" In the center of the post, there's a picture of Lisa Yee (a Chinese woman with short brown hair wearing a purple shirt and beaded necklace) and the cover of The Misfits (blue cover with 5 kids standing in a lineup).

We'll be kicking off November with Lisa Yee, author of The Misfits! If you'd like a chance for your class to participate, enter by 12pm CT on 10/29. buff.ly/QXxW3Jj #BluestemAward #BlueReads

Blue and beige background that reads "Teachers & librarians! Enter to win a live Zoom chat with 2026 Bluestem Illustrator Wallace West!" Two yellow bubbles read "Thursday, October 23 at 10am CT" and "Enter your class(es) via the link in our bio!" In the center of the post, there's a picture of Wallace West (a white man wearing a white shirt, blue scarf, baseball hat, and dark-framed glasses) and the cover of Dogtown (blue cover with a brown dog and a robot dog snuggling).

Our October is simply full of author visits! For our final chat of the month, we'll be chatting with Dogtown illustrator Wallace West! If you'd like a chance for your class to participate, enter by 12p CT on 10/16. buff.ly/vURrKha #BluestemAward #BlueReads

Blue and beige background that reads "Teachers & librarians! Enter to win a live Zoom chat with 2026 Bluestem Author Julie Buxbaum!" Two yellow bubbles read "Thursday, October 16 at 12pm CT" and "Enter your class(es) via the link in our bio!" In the center of the post, there's a picture of Julie Buxbaum (white woman with shoulder length brown hair wearing a blue shirt) and the cover of The Area 51 Files (blue cover with a red vehicle being operated by two tweens who are surrounded by extraterrestrial characters).

Next we have an out-of-this-world author visit with Julie Buxbaum, author of The Area 51 Files! If you're interested enter your class by 12p CT on 10/9 for the chance to participate! buff.ly/AmwNygk #BluestemAward #BlueReads

Blue and beige background that reads "Teachers & librarians! Enter to win a live Zoom chat with 2026 Bluestem Authors Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko!" Two yellow bubbles read "Thursday, October 9 at 10am CT" and "Enter your class(es) via the link in our bio!" In the center of the post, there's a picture of Katherine Applegate (white woman with light light hair wearing a white shirt and a denim jacket), Gennifer Choldenko (white woman with dark hair wearing a white shirt), and the cover of Dogtown (blue cover with a brown dog and a robot dog snuggling).

Next up is an author duo: Katherine Applegate @kaaauthor.bsky.social + Gennifer Choldenko @choldenko.bsky.social chatting about their book, Dogtown! Enter by 12p CT on 10/2 for a chance to join us on this doubly exciting live chat! buff.ly/59VNIC6 #BluestemAward #BlueReads

Blue and beige background that reads "Teachers & librarians! Enter to win a live Zoom chat with 2026 Bluestem Author Emma Steinkellner!" Two yellow bubbles read "Wednesday, October 8 at 11am CT" and "Enter your class(es) via the link in our bio!" In the center of the post, there's a picture of Emma Steinkellner (white adult woman with short dark brown hair wearing a striped shirt) and the cover of Nell of Gumbling (mustard cover with 3 characters; a fairy in a purple sweater and pink skirt, a human presenting character with a striped shirt and brown pants, and a horse human hybrid wearing a red tanktop).

Our live chats just keep coming! Next up is Emma Steinkellner and her graphic novel, Nell of Gumbling! If you're interested, enter by 12p CT on 10/1 for the opportunity to participate. buff.ly/bvlHPxG #BluestemAward #BlueReads

Blue and beige background that reads "Teachers & librarians! Enter to win a live Zoom chat with 2026 Bluestem Author Meggie Ramm!" Two yellow bubbles read "Friday, October 3 at 10am CT" and "Enter your class(es) via the link in our bio!" In the center of the post, there's a picture of Meggie Ramm (white adult wearing a pink sweater, black scarf, and a tortoiseshell cat across shoulders with short blond hair and purple glasses) and the cover of Batcat (teal cover with a pink bat cat hybrid on the cover).

Our first live chat of the year is quickly approaching! Enter your class for the opportunity to chat with cartoonist Meggie Ramm @meggietheramm.bsky.social about their graphic novel Batcat! Enter by 12p CT on 9/26 for the opportunity to be selected! buff.ly/TXjfc0I #BluestemAward #BlueReads

Shows a schedule of author/illustrator visits as follows: -Meggie Ramm on 10/3 at 10am -Emma Steinkellner on 10/8 at 11am -Katherine Applegate & Gennifer Choldenko on 10/9 at 10am -Julie Buxbaum on 10/26 at 12pm -Wallace West on 10/23 at 10am -Lisa Yee on 11/5 at 11am -Kari Lavelle on 11/10 at 1pm -Megan Wagner Lloyd & Michelle Mee Nutter on 12/2 at 11am -Erin Frankel on 12/4 at 12pm -Maryann Cocca-Leffler on 12/9 at 10am -Meg Eden Kuyatt on 1/7 at 9am Please note that all visits are held in Central Time on Zoom.

Illinois teachers and librarians, it's time! Entry forms for live chats with our 2026 authors + illustrators are live! You can find all entry forms via the AISLE calendar or this link buff.ly/pB2I7Pc! #BluestemAward #BlueReads

Blue background with stars that reads Bluestem 2026 Nominees. Pictured on the background is a book cover depicting a little library. There's a fluffy orange cat and 2 mice on top of the library. The bottom library shelf shows a young boy in an orange shirt and green shorts holding a book. He stands in front of a ghost house. The book is The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass.

As you might have guessed, we're pretty big library fans here at Bluestem. But that's only part of why we picked our next book, The Lost Library by @rebstead.bsky.social and @wenmass.bsky.social . It also features a delightful cat named Mortimer, ghosts, and a mystery! #BluestemAward #BlueReads

Blue background with stars that reads Bluestem 2026 Nominees. Pictured on the background is a book cover depicting an outdoor scene. Two students in red uniforms are running towards the reader, while other students fight in the background. Two birds swoop above and a large black cat-like creature roars. The title of this book is Legends of Lotus Island: The Guardian Test by Christina Soontornvat, illustrated by Kevin Hong.

With it's short chapters and engaging world-building, our next nominee is a must read for young readers looking to get into fantasy! The Guardian Test by @soontornvat.bsky.social , ill. by Kevin Hong is the first book in the Legends of Lotus Island series. ✨ #BluestemAward #BlueReads

Blue background with stars that reads Bluestem 2026 Nominees. Pictured on the background is a purple book cover depicting a tween girl with auburn hair. She's wearing grey jeans and a pink and white striped shirt while holding a red book to her chest. Behind her are wings made up of words and doodles. The title of the book is Good Different by Meg Eden Kuyatt. The cover pictures also features the Schneider Family Book Award Honor seal.

In honor of Autism Acceptance Month and National Poetry Month, we'd love to recommend the next book on our 2026 list! Good Different by @medenkuyatt.bsky.social is a moving novel in verse that follows Selah, a neurodivergent tween struggling to understand why she feels so different. #BluestemAward

Blue background with stars that reads Bluestem 2026 Nominees. Pictured on the background is a book cover depicting a woman in a wheelchair in the center. She wears a blue and white dress with a brown cardigan and has short brown hair. Surrounding her are other disabled and able-bodied people, some of whom are holding protest signs. Two people hold a large sign with the title of the book: Fighting for Yes! The Story of Disability Activist Judith Heumann. This book was written by Maryann Cocca-Leffler and illustrated by Vivien Mildenberger. It features a note from Judith Heumann.

Next up on our list is an incredible picture book biography! Fighting for Yes! by Maryann Cocca-Leffler and illustrated by Vivien Mildenberger tells readers about the life and work of Judith Heumann, focusing on her work on the 504 Sit-In of 1977. #BluestemAward

Blue background with stars that reads Bluestem 2026 Nominees. Pictured on the background is a blue book cover depicting a man parachuting with a briefcase and US dollars flying from him. There is a red banner across the top third of the cover reading Unsolved Case Files: Escape at 10,000 Feet. This title is by Tom Sullivan.

Young fans of true crime don't need to look any further, this next book is just for them! The first entry in the Unsolved Case Files series, Escape at 10,000 Feet by Tom Sullivan tells readers the unbelievable true story of D.B. Cooper's infamous 1971 plane hijacking. 🛬 #BluestemAward

Blue background with stars that reads Bluestem 2026 Nominees. Pictured on the background is a book cover with a street running diagonally across the middle. On each side of the street is a reflected image of a dark haired boy wearing jeans, a white shirt, a red flannel, and a blue backpack. On the upper image his jeans are ripped, but not in the reflection. Other differences include his facial expressions, body positioning, and the lighting on each street. The title of this book is The Double Life of Danny Day by Mike Thayer.

Seeing double? Nope! You're just seeing the next book on our 2026 list, The Double Life of Danny Day by Mike Thayer. This Groundhog Day-esque story is perfect for fans of time travel elements, video games, and friendship stories. #BluestemAward

Blue background with stars that reads Bluestem 2026 Nominees. Pictured on the background is a book cover with a blue and white room depicted on it. In the room are a brown dog, a robot dog plugged into the wall, and a grey mouse. The title of this book is Dogtown by Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko, illustrated by Wallace West.

Have an animal loving reader in your life? Our next book, Dogtown by @kaaauthor.bsky.social and @choldenko.bsky.social , is perfect for them! Readers will enjoy the quick pace and Wallace West's delightful illustrations! 🐕 #BluestemAward

Blue background with stars that reads Bluestem 2026 Nominees. Pictured on the background is a green and blue book cover depicting the deep ocean. There are a variety of deep sea creatures on the cover, one of which is saying "You have to SEA it to believe it!" The title of this book is The Deep! Wild Life at the Ocean's Darkest Depths by Lindsey Leigh.

Next up? It's The Deep! Wild Life at the Ocean's Darkest Depths by @linseedling.bsky.social ! This nonfiction graphic novel helps readers dive into the learning about the different ocean zones as well as the curious creatures that inhabit them! 🤿 #BluestemAward

Blue background with stars that says Bluestem 2026 nominees. Has a light blue book cover with a small black and white goat holding a composition book in it's mouth. The book's title is Better with Butter by Victoria Piontek.

It might be 4/1, but we're not fooling! The next book on our list is Better with Butter by Victoria Piontek! Marvel, a 12-year-old girl with anxiety, rescues Butter, a fainting goat, from bullies. They're able to help each other, but will all be lost when Butter's owner appears? 🐐 #BluestemAward

Blue background with stars that says Bluestem 2026 nominees. Has a blue book cover with two dark haired humans, a dog, and a hedgehog driving a red golf cart. They are surrounded by various alien looking creatures and two road signs, one with a hand indicating stop and the other depicting an alien abduction. The book's title is The Area 51 Files by Julie Buxbaum, illustrated by Lavanya Naidu.

Now that the 2025 winner is announced, let's start introducing our 2026 list! Our first book is The Area 51 Files by Julie Buxbaum, illustrated by Lavanya Naidu. In this illustrated science fiction series, Sky is sent to live with her uncle in Area 51 and alien hijinks ensue. 🛸 👽 #BluestemAward

Friendly reminder that the LBSS Readers' Choice Grant Application is NOW OPEN! Schools have until Wednesday 4/30 to submit their application to win 1 set of 2026 Award books for Monarch, Bluestem, Caudill, or Lincoln. For more information, see the link in our bio and good luck! #BluestemAward

Big thanks to the dedicated committees and the passionate readers for nominating outstanding books. Excited to announce our 2026 Illinois Bluestem Award List! bit.ly/2026Bluestem... @aisled-org.bsky.social
#BluestemAward #BlueReads

Woo hoo and Oof! Honored that The Misfits - A Royal Conundrum is an Illinois #BluestemAward nominee!

#BlueReads @randomhousekids.bsky.social @safety.bsky.app @dansantat.bsky.social #KidLit #Reading #Misfits