The Children’s Book Council and Every Child a Reader announced the winners of the eighth annual Children’s Choice Book Awards in New York City on May 4. The awards were hosted by author Jon Scieszka and New York Public librarian Betsy Bird at a gala attended by children’s publishers, editors, agents, authors, and illustrators at Tribeca Three Sixty in Manhattan. The awards kick off Children’s Book Week (May 4–-10), and are the only national book awards where the winning titles are selected by children and teens. Young readers across the country voted in record numbers, casting more than 1,300,000 votes through their schools, libraries, and the Internet.

This year’s winners:

Kindergarten to 2nd Grade Book of the Year:
 Eva and Sadie and the Worst Haircut EVER! by Jeff Cohen, illustrated by Elanna Allen (HarperCollins)

3rd to 4th Grade Book of the Year: Kali’s Story: An Orphaned Polar Bear Rescue by Jennifer Keats Curtis, illustrated by John Gomes (Arbordale)

5th to 6th Grade Book of the Year: The Dumbest Idea Ever! by Jimmy Gownley (Scholastic/Graphix)

Teen Book of the Year:
 The One by Kiera Cass (HarperTeen)

Children's Choice Debut Author:
 J.A. White for The Thickety: A Path Begins (HarperCollins/Tegen)

Teen Choice Debut Author:
 Jennifer Mathieu for The Truth About Alice (Roaring Brook)

Children’s Choice Illustrator:
 Chris Appelhans forSparky!, written by Jenny Offill (Random/Schwartz & Wade)