INDIANA – Indiana State Library and the Indiana Center for the Book are celebrating the 12th year of the Indiana Early Literacy Firefly Award in 2026. The Firefly Award, an initiative of the Indiana Center for the Book, is administered by the Indiana Early Literacy Firefly Committee.
The purpose of the award is to encourage parents, caregivers, and very young children to interact together with exceptional picture books, as picture books serve an important role in the first years of the life of a child.
The 2026 Nominees are “Bear’s Lost Glasses” by Leo Timmers, “Duck Goes Meow” by Juliette Maclver, “Every Monday Mabel” by Jashar Awan, “Let’s Be Bees” by Shawn Harris, and “Little Freddie Two Pants” by Drew Daywalt.
This year, every public library system in Indiana will receive 10 print copies of the ballot and six sheets of Firefly stickers for marking nominees and winning titles. The packet of printed materials should arrive by late February or early March.
All locations that wish to collect votes are welcome to print out as many ballots as they wish from the Firefly website. Voting is limited to children who live in Indiana and who are under the age of 6 as of Friday, July 31, 2026. It is expected that most Indiana children will require help from a parent, caregiver, or librarian. Children should circle their favorite Firefly nominee on their ballot and turn it in to their local voting location. Voting locations should tally the votes and send them in an email to the Indiana Center for the Book. Votes are also accepted online on the Firefly website.
Tallies will be accepted through Friday, July 31. Late tallies cannot be accepted. The winner of the award will be announced on Tuesday, Aug. 4.
In order to support libraries in their Firefly endeavors, the Indiana Center for the Book will be releasing a program guide. Please watch the Firefly website for the release announcement. Libraries are encouraged to provide access to the books, have special Firefly storytimes, have voting programs, and promote the awards as they see fit. Libraries are free to share their celebrations with the Indiana Center for the Book.
For more information – and for future updates on the program guide and social media materials – please visit the Firefly website.
