Candace Fleming wins 2026 Children’s Literature Legacy Award

CHICAGO — Candace Fleming is the winner of the 2026 Children's Literature Legacy Award honoring an author or illustrator, published in the United States, whose books have made a significant and lasting contribution to literature for children. Her numerous works include “Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!” (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2002 an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division) and “The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary” (Schwartz & Wade Books an imprint of Random House Inc, 2008).

The award is administered annually by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), and was announced today during ALA’s Youth Media Awards Announcements in Chicago.

“A consummate storyteller and exceptional researcher, Fleming’s works exhibit a keen understanding of her audience, crafting captivating stories across many genres,” said Children’s Literature Legacy Award Committee Chair Eric Carpenter.

Raised in Illinois, Candace Fleming is the author of more than 50 books for children and young adults. Fleming has always had a love of language and history, telling stories since before she could write her name.

Candace Fleming’s award-winning works include “Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis mellifera” which won the Robert F. Sibert Medal in 2021, and “The Enigma Girls: How Ten Teenagers Broke Ciphers, Kept Secrets, and Helped Win World War II” recipient of the Robert F. Sibert Honor Medal in 2025. In addition, Fleming has received the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction, the Orbis Pictus Award, and Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Nonfiction.

Fleming writes with a distinct style employing literary forms and devices in an accessible and engaging manner. She writes storybooks that demand to be read aloud and riveting informational texts that challenge the reader.

Members of the 2026 Children’s Literature Legacy Award Committee are Chair Eric Carpenter, Parkside Elementary School, Atlanta; Stephanie D. Bange, Dayton, Ohio; Tanya M. DiMaggio, Covington, Louisiana; Connie Poulsen Hollin, The Harker School, San Jose, California; and Vinnie Li Feng Zhang, San Francisco Public Library.

About the American Library Association

The American Library Association is the largest non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to America’s libraries. The ALA mission is to empower and advocate for all libraries and library workers to ensure equitable access to information for all. For 150 years, ALA has provided resources for information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more information, visit www.ala.org.

About the Association for Library Service to Children

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 more information on the Children’s Literature Legacy Award and other ALA Youth Media Awards, please visit www.ala.org/yma.

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