Arkansas Diamond Primary Award

Nominations List 2026-2027

Voting for this list will take place in May 2027.

For more information contact Cassandra Barnett at cassandra.barnett@ade.arkansas.gov.

• The Book That Almost Rhymed

  by Omar Abed

  illustrated by Hatem Aly

  published March 26, 2024, by Dial Books



• Cesaria Feels the Beat

  by Denise Rosaria Adusei

  illustrated by Priscila Soares

  Published June 4, 2024, by Roaring Book Press



• One Day This Tree Will Fall

  by Leslie Barnard Booth

  illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman

  published March 26, 2024, by Margaret K. McElderry Books



• No Cats in the Library

  by Lauren Emmons

  published March 5, 2024, by A Paula Wiseman Book/Beach Lane Books



• We Are Definitely Human

  by X. Fang

  illustrated by K-Fai Steele

  Published August 6, 2024, by Tundra



• Carla’s Glasses

  by Debbie Herman

  illustrated by Sheila Bailey

  published September 3, 2024, by Flashlight Press



• Jump For Joy

  by Karen Gray Ruelle

  illustrated by Hadley Hooper

  published January 23, 2024, By Astra Young Readers



• Duck Duck Taco Truck

  by Laura Lavoie and Teresa Martinez

  published June 11, 2024, By Doubleday Books for Young Readers



• Ode to a Grapefruit: How James Earl Jones Found His Voice

  by Kari Lavelle

  illustrated by Bryan Collier

  published July 30, 2024, by Knopf Books for Young Readers



• A Terrible Place for a Nest

  by Sarah Levine

  illustrated by Erika Meza

  published July 30,2024, By Roaring Brook Press



• The Yellow Bus

  by Loren Long

  Published June 25, 2024, By Roaring Brook Press



• Home in a Lunch Box

  by Cherry Mo

  published June 11, 2024, by Penguin Workshop



• Exactly As Planned

  by Tao Nyeu

  published March 12, 2024, By Rocky Pond Books



• Leo’s First Vote

  by Christina Soontornvat

  published September 3, 2024, By Knopf Books for Young Readers



• Up Periscope!

  by Jennifer Swanson

  illustrated by Veronica Miller Jamison

  published November 19, 2024, By Little, Brown Books for Young Readers



• The Man Who Didn’t Like Animals

  by Deborah Underwood

  illustrated by LeUyen Pham

  published September 10, 2024, By Clarion Books