Garden State Book Awards
2025 Winners
4 columns. Each with an image of the cover and the category.
Teen Book Awards
The Garden State Teen Book Award (GSTBA) is a project of the Young Adult Section of NJLA, recognizing teen fiction and nonfiction based on appeal, writing quality, and diversity representation.
Ballots include up to 20 nominations across three categories: Fiction (grades 6–8), Fiction (grades 9–12), and Nonfiction (grades 6–12).
Eligibility: Titles come from two years prior to the award year.
Process: YA Section members volunteer as readers and are assigned titles by the Executive Board. The group meets three times — once per category — to discuss and select nominees. The final ballot of up to 20 titles per category is distributed to New Jersey school and public librarians, with voting open through the end of December.
Past Winners: Link to Google Drive
Teen Book Award Committee Members
- Person 1
- Person 2
Children's Book Awards
The Garden State Children's Book Awards (GSCBA) have honored books for young readers since 1977, founded by the Children's Services Section (CSS) of NJLA on the belief that early and middle grade readers deserve recognition and encouragement.
Awards are given in four categories: Early Reader, Fiction, Graphic Novel, and Nonfiction. Nominees are selected by a CSS volunteer committee based on literary merit; winners are determined by children's votes. Because of this, the committee works with titles published three years prior to the award year.
Eligibility: American hardcover titles aimed at grades 2–5. Reprints, re-issues, and newly illustrated editions are not considered.
Process: The committee meets three times a year to build a ballot of up to 20 titles per category, which is distributed to New Jersey school and public libraries for a statewide children's vote. Winners are announced at the annual NJLA conference.
Past Winners: Link to Google Drive
Children's Award Committee Members
- Person 1
- Person 2
