RILINK Schools: Edward S. Rhodes Library: RICBA 2026 Nominees

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Past RICBA Winners

2025 Winner: The Boy Who Tried to Shrink his Name

2024 Winner: Killer Underwear Invasion!

2023 Winner: Allergic

2022: The Oldest Student

2021: Titan and the Wild Boars

2020: Inky's Amazing Escape

2019: Sergeant Reckless

Fiction Nominees

A Bite above the Rest by Christine Virnig
When Caleb's mom decides they are moving to her childhood home in Wisconsin, Caleb is not thrilled. Moving schools, states, and time zones would be bad enough, but Mom's hometown is Samhain, a small and ridiculously kitschy place where every day is Halloween. Caleb is not a fan of Halloween when it only happens once a year... How is he supposed to cope with kids wearing costumes to school every single day? And how about the fact that the mayor is so committed to the bit that City Hall is only open from sundown to sunup to accommodate his so-called vampirism? Caleb becomes an outcast at school for refusing to play along. Luckily, he finds fellow misfit Tai just in time, because things are getting weirder in Samhain. Is the mayor an actual vampire? Their teacher a werewolf? Caleb discovers Samhain is so much stranger than he ever could have imagined. Can Caleb save a town that doesn't want saving?
Bodega Cats: Picture Purrfect by Hilda Eunice Burgos; Siara Faison (Illustrator)
Miguel Rosado wants nothing more than to see and draw the world... or, at least anywhere beyond the four walls of his family's bodega in Washington Heights. Too bad his mami and papi have him working long hours after school. For street-savvy and newly-adopted cat Lolo, that sounds just perfect if it means he's far, far away from the hungry, lonely nights he once spent in the freezing cold outdoors. Miguel ditches his responsibilities and lies to his parents about joining art club, then his dream of juggling it all comes crashing down. Lolo will have to decide if he's willing to be there for his new friend Miguel through anything. Can they trust each other enough to take on this adventure together?
Invisible Isabel by Sally J. Pla; Tania de Regil (Illustrator)
Isabel Beane is a shy girl who lives in a home full of havoc and hubbub and hullabaloo. With five siblings, there is always too much too much-ness. At school, there's a new girl who is immediately popular, but she's also not very nice to one person--Isabel. Isabel has never felt more invisible. She begins to get bombarded by fears, like being abandoned by her classmates and taking the upcoming Extremely Important standardized test. How can Invisible Isabel make people listen?
The Kids in Mrs. Z's Class: Emma Mckenna, Full Out by Kate Messner; Kat Fajardo (Illustrator)
Emma McKenna can't wait for third grade at the brand-new Curiosity Academy. She'll have a cool teacher who wears high-tops and science earrings. She'll meet interesting classmates. Best of all, she'll get a fresh start after last year's talent-show disaster left her with that awful nickname. It's going to be the best year ever! Then Lucy walks into Mrs. Z's room. Lucy, Emma's best-friend-turned-enemy. Lucy, who gave Emma that nickname and spread it all over school! Emma's fresh start is doomed . . . unless she can make friends before Lucy ruins everything.
Wrath of the Rain God by Karla Arenas Valenti; Vanessa Morales (Illustrator)
Nine-year-old twins, Emma and Martín, couldn't be more different in their personalities, interests, and even their looks. But one thing they absolutely agree on is that moving from Cuernavaca, Mexico, to Illinois is a terrible idea. Unfortunately, they're not given a choice when their dad lands his dream job as a middle school principal in Chicago. To help the twins stay connected to their Mexican heritage, their abuela gifts them a book of Mexican legends. The book turns out to be more than a going away present...it's a magical item that transports them directly into the legends!
Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All by Chanel Miller
Magnolia Wu is a ten-year-old sock detective bent on returning all the lonely only socks left behind in her parents' NYC laundromat. Down at the bottom of the tall buildings in New York City, Magnolia Wu sits inside her parents' laundromat. She has pinned every lost sock from the laundromat onto a bulletin board in hopes that customers will return to retrieve them. But no one seems to have noticed. In fact, barely anyone has noticed Magnolia at all. When Iris, a new friend from California, arrives, they set off across the city to solve the mystery of each missing sock, asking questions in subways and delis and plant stores and pizzerias, meeting people and uncovering the unimaginable. With each new encounter, Magnolia learns that when you're bold enough to head into the unknown, things start falling into place.
Off the Map by Meika Hashimoto
Amos and Marlo have always been best friends until this past school year, when it all fell apart. Marlo distracts herself by looking forward to an end-of-year canoe trip with her mom -- a special wilderness adventure, just the two of them (and their dog). But when they arrive at the trail-head in the Alaska wilderness... there's Amos! Things couldn't be any worse. During the trip, Marlo and Amos do their best to avoid each other ... until their parents pair them in a canoe together and they start arguing. Amos and Marlo don't notice that the grownups' canoe has disappeared. They've taken a wrong turn -- and they're heading straight for a waterfall. Lost in the wilderness, can these two ex-best friends stop fighting long enough to find their way back to safety?
They Call Me No Sam! by Drew Daywalt; Mike Lowery (Illustrator)
Meet Sam: an insolent pug--and incidental hero--who will stop at nothing to protect his family! When scientists Elaine and Gary Peterson adopt Sam to keep their son, Justin, company in the midst of a top-secret research project, they never imagine the precocious pup will cause more harm than good. But from chewing up Elaine's hair dryer (the "brain-melting heat cannon") to his inability to be house-trained (who could resist the "pooping rug"), the Petersons aren't sure how much more they can take. But when a pair of crooks encroaches on the Peterson household in an attempt to steal their confidential findings, Sam's actions just may save the day.

Graphic Nominees

The Happy Shop by Brittany Long Olsen
Welcome to the Happy Shop! Eleven-year-old Darcy just moved to a new country. She's feeling lost and misses her friends back home. That's when she stumbles upon a shop full of mysterious glowing jars labeled with things like "Picking up the last sweater on the rack and it's on sale" and "Having the perfect weather on your wedding day." This store sells happy feelings! After Darcy accidentally breaks one of the irreplaceable jars, she must make it up to the shopkeepers, Frida and Flora, by doing chores around the store, and is soon tasked with collecting happy feelings. She learns that the magical business is anything but magical. With fewer customers than ever, they might have to close. Can Darcy think of an idea to save the Happy Shop? What if they sold more than just happy feelings?
Jupiter Nettle and the Seven Schools of Magic: a Graphic Novel by Sangu Mandanna; Pablo Ballesteros (Illustrator)
For all of her twelve years, Jupiter Nettle has wanted to attend one of the Seven Schools of Magic. When she finally gets the call to take the entrance exam, she shocks everyone with her magic skills . . . but not in the way she'd hoped. Learning magic isn't what she expected it to be . . . the School of Earth Magic is looked down upon by others, it doesn't involve cool spells. Jupiter works hard, but the doubts in her mind shake her confidence until she's ready to give up. When an age-old enemy returns to exact revenge on the Seven Schools, Jupiter must find the courage and magic that's been within her all along.
Mixed-Up by Kami Garcia; Brittney Williams (Illustrator)
Stella knows fifth grade will be the best year ever. Her closest friends, Emiko and Latasha, are in her class and they all got the teacher they wanted. Then their favorite television show, Witchlins, announces a new guidebook and an online game! But when the classwork starts piling up, Stella struggles to stay on top. Why does it take her so long to read?
The Racc Pack by Stephanie Cooke; Whitney Gardner (Illustrator)
Meet the Bins family, a trio of raccoons in the risky business of dumpster diving for all their needs. With Dusty's brains, ReRe's muscle, and Scraps's gadgets (please don't tell him he's almost definitely an opossum), the Binses are determined to leave no garbage bin unturned in their pursuit of the tastiest, most delicious trash they can find. When the family discovers a new upscale grocery store that's throwing away their perfectly good food at the end of each day, the Binses hatch a heist so daring it'll have them rolling in garbage all winter long. But a critter-despising CEO, Jeff Beans, and the high-tech defense system he's installed means liberating that trash is going to take all the skills the Racc Pack have...and maybe some help from a cat burglar with a mysterious past.
Wagnificent by Bethanie Murguia (Illustrator)
Thunder the dog likes to take naps by the sunny window, sniff around for hidden treats, play fetch, and get cuddles from her favorite human, Sage. Though Thunder wants to be good for Sage, she's having a ruff time stopping herself from doing things she knows are wrong - like barking, digging, and chasing suspicious furballs around the yard. She's shocked when her inner Wolf appears one day and reveals the truth behind these irresistible impulses. It's all because dogs are really wolves! (That is, they're descended from them.) The big question is: Will Thunder choose to be a loyal pet to Sage, or embrace the wild animal within?

Nonfiction Nominees

Call Me Roberto! by Nathalie Alonso; Rudy Gutierrez (Illustrator)
Roberto Clemente always loved baseball. Growing up in Carolina, Puerto Rico, he swung tree branches and hit tin cans. He was always batting, pitching, running, sliding. His dedication paid off when, at the age of 19, he was tapped for a major league team. First stop- chilly Montreal . . . where he warmed the bench and himself, longing to play baseball. Months later, he finally got his chance with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Clemente became an instant star on the field-hitting the ball and making it to first base and finally home. Many Pittsburgh fans loved his bold style on the field, but not everyone was quick to embrace a Black man from Puerto Rico who spoke espanol.
Haiku, Ew! by Lynn Brunelle; Julia Patton (Illustrator)
Stop right there! If you think poems about nature are all pretty flowers and rainbow sunsets, this book is not for you. If you can't handle giant whale farts, turn back right now. If you don't want to know how lobsters pee, do not read one word further. Seriously, if you open this book, you're going to find out the disgusting truth about where honey comes from! All right, you're in charge. Don't say we didn't warn you . . .
The Life-Changing Magic of Chess by Maurice Ashley; Denis Angelov (Illustrator)
After making history as the chess world's first Black Grandmaster, Maurice Ashley went on to become a three-time national championship coach and commentator. Now he's sharing his passion for chess with YOU! Discover more about Maurice's story as he recounts his journey from Jamaica to New York to the world stage where he has ranked among the best in the game. Then find your own chess magic as he shows you basic skills like how each piece moves and how to make a start. When you're ready, follow along with Maurice's step-by-step instructions for Capturing Checkmates Castling Sacrificing ...and more!
My Lost Freedom by George Takei; Michelle Lee (Illustrator)
George Takei is four years old when his world changes forever. Two months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declares anyone of Japanese descent an enemy of the United States. George and his family were American in every way. They had done nothing wrong. But because of their Japanese ancestry, they were removed from their home in California and forced into camps with thousands of other families who looked like theirs. Over the next three years, George had three different "homes"- the Santa Anita racetrack, swampy Camp Rohwer, and infamous Tule Lake. But even though they were now living behind barbed wire fences and surrounded by armed soldiers, his mother and father did everything they could to keep the family safe. In My Lost Freedom, George Takei looks back at his own memories to help children today understand what it feels like to be treated as an enemy by your own country.
Search for a Giant Squid by Amy Seto Forrester; Andy Chou Musser (Illustrator)
This series starter takes emerging readers on an expedition to the ocean's twilight zone in search of a giant squid. But giant squids are hard to find. Readers will need to join the expedition and help make choices along the way. First they'll pick their submersible. And then their pilot and dive site. They'll need to be careful--not every path leads where it seems, but whatever path they pick, they'll see and learn amazing things!
Stranded! by Ævar Þór Benediktsson; Anne Wilson (Illustrator)
When two scientists find themselves stranded on Iceland's newest volcanic island, Surtsey, they have to navigate fiery lava, fogged-up glasses, and dwindling supplies to survive until rescue arrives. This action-packed book keeps readers guessing about the one surprising twist in the tale that's not entirely true.
Wings of an Eagle by Billy Mills; Donna Janell Bowman; S. D. Nelson (Illustrator)
Despite poverty, racism, and severe health challenges, Billy Mills raced toward his goal of becoming an Olympic athlete, inspired by his indigenous ancestors who stood strong when the odds were against them. Though at times he felt like his wings were clipped--a lone bird falling from the sky--he adapted and overcame, finally earning his place at the 1964 Olympics.

Edward S. Rhodes Library: RICBA 2026 Nominees

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Log Your Reading

Past RICBA Winners

Fiction Nominees

Graphic Nominees

Nonfiction Nominees

Standards and Acknowledgments