Sara Andrea Fajardo, Juana Martinez-Neal win 2026 Sibert Medal

CHICAGO — Sara Andrea Fajardo and Juana Martinez-Neal, author and illustrator of “Alberto Salas Plays Paka Paka con la Papa,” were named the winners of the 2026 Robert F. Sibert Medal for the most distinguished informational book for children published in 2025. The award was announced today by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), during the ALA’s Youth Media Awards Announcements in Chicago.

“Alberto Salas Plays Paka Paka con la Papa,” published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing, is a picture book biography of agriculture scientist Alberto Salas, who is racing to save potato varieties in the Andes Mountains before they disappear due to climate change.

“This playful picture book follows Alberto Salas, a plant scientist who finds joy in the serious work of seeking out, and saving, the potatoes of the Americas in a changing world,” said Sibert Medal Committee Chair Sam Bloom.

Five Sibert Honor Books were named:

“At Last She Stood: How Joey Guerrero Spied, Survived, and Fought for Freedom,” written by Erin Entrada Kelly and published by Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

“Go Tell It: How James Baldwin Became a Writer,” written by Quartez Harris, illustrated by Gordon C. James and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

“The History of We,” written and illustrated by Nikkolas Smith and published by Kokila, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

“Silenced Voices: Reclaiming Memories from the Guatemalan Genocide,” written and illustrated by Pablo Leon and published by HarperAlley, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

“A World Without Summer: A Volcano Erupts, A Creature Awakens, and the Sun Goes Out,” written by Nicholas Day, illustrated by Yas Imamura and published by Random House Studio, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House.

The award was established by ALSC and named to commemorate Robert F. Sibert, founder of Bound to Stay Bound Books Inc., of Jacksonville, Illinois. Sibert was known for his early work in establishing standards of bookbinding.

Members of the 2026 Sibert Medal Committee are Chair Sam Bloom, The Lane Libraries, Hamilton, Ohio; Pia Alliende, Redmond School District, Oregon; Rebecca Ivey, Denton Public Library, Texas; Taylor M. Keahey, Evanston Public Library, Illinois; Sara Kocahasan, Brooklyn Public Library, New York; Joi Mahand, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa; Miriam Gerald Martinez, professor emerita, University of Texas at San Antonio; Lisa Morris-Wilkey, Casa Grande Elementary School District, Arizona; Cate Soza, Scarsdale Schools, New York; and Award Administrative Assistant Sarah Simpson, The Ohio State University, Columbus.

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 information on the Robert F. Sibert Medal and other ALA Youth Media Awards, please visit www.ala.org/yma.

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