2025-26 Nebraska Golden Sower Award: Chapter Book Nominees

Dogtown

Applegate, Katherine,


"Feiwel and Friends." School Library Journal starred, August 2023. Publishers Weekly, July 2023. Booklist, September 2023. Horn Book, November 2023. Bulletin (Center for Children's Books), November 2023. Kirkus Review, August 2023. In Dogtown, a shelter for unwanted canine and robot dogs, an extraordinary bond develops between Chance, a longing three-legged dog, Metal Head, an empathetic robot, and Mouse, their friendly ally, as they strive to find forever homes.
Date Published:2024

"Feiwel and Friends." School Library Journal starred, August 2023. Publishers Weekly, July 2023. Booklist, September 2023. Horn Book, November 2023. Bulletin (Center for Children's Books), November 2023. Kirkus Review, August 2023. In Dogtown, a shelter for unwanted canine and robot dogs, an extraordinary bond develops between Chance, a longing three-legged dog, Metal Head, an empathetic robot, and Mouse, their friendly ally, as they strive to find forever homes.

Date Published:2024

Ferris

DiCamillo, Kate,


School Library Journal, February 2024. Booklist starred, February 2024. Kirkus Starred, January 2024. New York Times, February 2024. Horn Book, January 2024. Bulletin (Center for Children's Books), February 2024. During the summer before fifth grade, Ferris Wilkey has her hands full with her little sister terrorizing the town, her Uncle Ted moving into their basement and her grandmother seeing a ghost--one who has wild, impractical and illuminating plans.
Date Published:2025

School Library Journal, February 2024. Booklist starred, February 2024. Kirkus Starred, January 2024. New York Times, February 2024. Horn Book, January 2024. Bulletin (Center for Children's Books), February 2024. During the summer before fifth grade, Ferris Wilkey has her hands full with her little sister terrorizing the town, her Uncle Ted moving into their basement and her grandmother seeing a ghost--one who has wild, impractical and illuminating plans.

Date Published:2025

The firefly summer

Matson, Morgan,


"Ages 8-12"--Back cover. Booklist starred, May 2023. Pub Weekly, March 2023. Kirkus Starred, March 2023. When her estranged grandparents invite her to stay with them in the Poconos for the summer, Ryanna meets many relatives on her late mom's side of the family and discovers a whole new side of herself--and a place where she really belongs.
Date Published:2023

Home away from home

Lord, Cynthia,


Publishers Weekly, February 2023. Booklist, March 2023. Kirkus Review, February 2023. Mia is spending her summer with her grandmother in a small Maine town, expecting it to be an oasis of stability in her changing life, but there is a new know-it-all boy next door, and soon she finds herself competing with Cayman in identifying an injured bird of prey--and pretty much everything else.
Date Published:2024

The lost library

Stead, Rebecca,


"Feiwel and Friends." Publishers Weekly, June 2023. Booklist, June 2023. New York Times, September 2023. Horn Book, September 2023. Kirkus Review, July 2023. When a mysterious Little Free Library guarded by a large orange cat appears overnight, eleven-year-old Evan plucks two weathered books from its shelves, never suspecting that his life is about to change.
Date Published:2025

The mystery of the Radcliffe riddle

Souders, Taryn, 1977-,


"Ages 8 and up"--Jacket flap. Publishers Weekly, May 2023. Booklist, May 2023. Kirkus Review, May 2023. "Grady and his father inherit the town oddball's old tapestry and discover it is a highly coveted treasure map"--OCLC.
Date Published:2023

Nothing else but miracles

Albus, Kate,


School Library Journal starred, October 2023. Publishers Weekly, July 2023. Booklist, September 2023. Bulletin (Center for Children's Books), November 2023. Kirkus Review, August 2023. "Living on their own on Manhattan's Lower East Side while their Pop is off fighting in World War II, twelve-year-old Dory Byrne and her brothers discover an abandoned hotel that proves a perfect hideout just when they need it most"--Provided by publisher.
Date Published:2025

School Library Journal starred, October 2023. Publishers Weekly, July 2023. Booklist, September 2023. Bulletin (Center for Children's Books), November 2023. Kirkus Review, August 2023. "Living on their own on Manhattan's Lower East Side while their Pop is off fighting in World War II, twelve-year-old Dory Byrne and her brothers discover an abandoned hotel that proves a perfect hideout just when they need it most"--Provided by publisher.

Date Published:2025