For the first time, Barnes & Noble has split its Children’s Book of the Year honor between two titles, recognizing standout reads for different age groups.
The retailer has named I Am Rebel by Ross Montgomery and Growing Home by Beth Ferry, illustrated by The Fan Brothers, as its 2025 Children’s Books of the Year — and both books come with the kind of heartfelt, emotional endorsements you’d expect from booksellers who spend their days putting stories into kids’ hands.
“With so much incredible publishing this year, it is thrilling to choose a Children’s Book of the Year for both younger and older readers,” said Stephanie Pinheiro, Campaign Manager for Children’s Books at Barnes & Noble. “I Am Rebel has all the makings of a modern classic — an endearing canine hero, a thrilling adventure, and a testament to the truly unbreakable bond between dogs and their people. Rebel’s story pulled me in from the very first page and wouldn’t let go.
She added, “And Growing Home is an impossibly charming tale brimming with whimsy. It’s no wonder our booksellers have found so much joy in sharing this timeless illustrated tale with our younger readers. It is a pitch-perfect read for fans of beloved children’s authors like Kate DiCamillo and Katherine Applegate.”
For older readers, I Am Rebel delivers exactly the kind of emotional punch you’d expect from a dog-centered story. Rebel’s journey combines high-stakes adventure with an exploration of the bond between dogs and their humans.
“I was lucky that I wasn’t drinking a cup of tea when I found out that I Am Rebel was going to be Barnes & Noble Children’s Book of the Year, because if I had been, I’d have spluttered it across the room,” said Montgomery upon hearing the news. “I’m absolutely bowled over by the love and support that the book has had from passionate, devoted booksellers across America: it still feels unbelievable to me that it’s being pressed into the hands of young readers thousands of miles away from where I live, and what’s more, that they like it! If Rebel was here, he would lick your face until you asked him politely to stop.”
The combination of humor, heart and high emotion makes I Am Rebel a natural staff-recommend shelf pick — and now, an official Book of the Year selection.
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For younger readers, Growing Home offers a more whimsical but equally emotional experience.
“When I learned that Growing Home had been chosen as the Barnes & Noble Children’s Book of the Year, it felt like a homecoming,” said Ferry. “On the day that my first book was published, just over ten years ago, the first thing I did was drive to my local Barnes & Noble to see it on the shelf. Then and only then did it feel real to me because that is the power of bookstores. Barnes & Noble is a place that champions readers and writers. It’s a place where readers go to discover great books and where authors go to see their dreams become reality. Thank you, Barnes & Noble, from the bottom of my heart. I am thrilled and honored, humbled and overjoyed, and most importantly, grateful.”
These Children’s Book of the Year picks were announced alongside Barnes & Noble’s 2025 Book of the Year, Mona’s Eyes by Thomas Schlesser, and Gift Book of the Year, Good Things by Samin Nosrat. All three selections fit neatly into what the retailer describes as “the pinnacle” of its ongoing efforts to champion the best of the best.
The Book of the Year sits on top of a broader ecosystem of B&N programming that Parade has been following closely this year, including:
- The Discover Prize, most recently awarded to Katie Yee for Maggie; Or, A Man and a Woman Walk Into a Bar.
- The monthly Barnes & Noble Book Club pick, which named Lily King’sHeart the Lover as its October pick.
- The Book of the Month program, where Meagan Church’sThe Mad Wife: A Novel took the October slot.
All of these initiatives share the same goal: to surface the titles Barnes & Noble booksellers are most excited to recommend, whether that’s a moving adult novel, a family-friendly board game or a children’s book destined for story time.
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