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TGS Selects

Our national book award elevates great children’s books about helping others – based purely on kid book reviews.

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Books are empathy builders.

The Giving Square Selects is a national children’s book award that honors compelling stories showing kids caring for others, building empathy, civic responsibility, and a spirit of giving.

What sets it apart is who decides: thousands of children across the country serve as the reviewers, so the winning books are chosen by the very readers they’re meant to inspire.

Snapshot of TGS Selects

Initial book selection

Summer book reviews by kids

Semi-finalists reviewed in September

Awardees Announced on November 1st

This Years Awardees

i'm going to make a friend darren chetty tgs selects
I’m Going to Make a Friend

Written by Darren Chetty, Ilustrated by Sandhya Prabhat, published by Tiger Tales
otters new neighbour tgs selects
Otter’s New Neighbor
Written and illustrated by Li Xingming, Translated by Shan Chen, published by Charlesbridge
shibus tail book cover tgs selects
Shibu’s Tail

Written by Tess Thomas, Illustrated by Kamwei Fong, published by Levine Querido
the littlest drop tgs selects
The Littlest Drop

Written by Sascha Alper, Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney & Brian Pinkney, published by Anne Schwartz Books
warm all over tgs selects
Warm All Over
Written and illustrated by Ghazaleh Bigdelou, published by Clavis Publishing

Previous Awardees

Otter Carries On
Otter Carries On
2025 Winner Written and illustrated by Maya Tatsukawa Published by Henry Holt and Company
At the Window
At the Window
2025 Winner Written by Hope Lim Illustrated by Qin Leng Published by Candlewick Press
I Am Stuck
I Am Stuck
2025 Winner Written and illustrated by Julia Mills Published by Clarion Books
Love
Love
2025 Winner Written by Matt de la Peña Illustrated by Loren Long Published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons
What's the Rush?
What’s the Rush?
2025 Winner Written and illustrated by Yiting Lee Published by Princeton Architectural Press
Dessert Island
Dessert Island
2024 Winner Written and illustrated by Ben Zhu Published by Roaring Brook Press
Lubna and Pebble
Lubna and Pebble
2023 & 2024 Winner Written by Wendy Meddour Illustrated by Daniel Egnéus Published by Dial Books for Young Readers
Strictly No Elephants
Strictly No Elephants
2023 & 2024 Winner Written by Lisa Mantchev Illustrated by Taeeun Yoo Published by Simon & Schuster
Thank You, Omu!
Thank You, Omu!
2024 Winner Written and illustrated by Oge Mora Published by Little, Brown and Company
Walter Finds His Voice
Walter Finds His Voice
2024 Winner Written and illustrated by Ann Kim Ha Published by Red Comet Press
The Proudest Blue
The Proudest Blue
2023 Winner Written by Ibtihaj Muhammad with S.K. Ali Illustrated by Hatem Aly Published by Little, Brown and Company
Benji, the Bad Day, and Me
Benji, the Bad Day, and Me
2023 Winner Written by Sally J. Pla Illustrated by Ken Min Published by Lee & Low Books Inc.
The One Day House
The One Day House
2023 Winner Written by Julia Durango Illustrated by Bianca Diaz Published by Charlesbridge
The Wave
The Wave
2023 Winner Written and illustrated by Tyler Charlton Published by Roaring Brook Press

How to get involved

Request display materials for your school library or bookstore, nominate a title through The Giving Square Network, or bring the review process to your classroom.

Get involved

“The Giving Square Selects allows children to weigh in on books without adult interference which is really crucial. Kids see things differently than adults do. Their authentic reactions to books are powerful.” 

Donna Wells,
Politics and Prose