THE GIVING SQUARE SELECTS
The Giving Square works to foster the natural philanthropic instincts and expertise of kids. Our mission is to build a model for what the civic role of kids can be, and how it is achieved. Stories help make this possible! TGS Selects was launched in 2023 to identify and promote beautifully told and illustrated children’s stories which bring readers deeper into the human experience.
The annual Giving Square Selects process includes the following steps:
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Members of The Giving Square Network nominate high-quality books that build empathy, connect readers to social issues, and unlock ideas for how to give back.
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The 30+ nominated titles are then vetted by kids at various community pop-ups over the summer with partners such as Turning the Page.
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The top 10 titles are then reviewed in September by kids across our school partner sites. In 2025 we gathered over 1,000 book reviews from kids across 12+ sites.
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From there, the TGS Selects Committee reviews the kid reviews for popularity and depth of takeaways.
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When the winners are announced, we then distribute display materials to school libraries and book stores. Reach out to request the materials for your store or library!​
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The 2025 winners are:
Otter Carries On
Written and illustrated by Maya Tatsukawa
Published by Henry Holt and Company
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At The Window
Written by Hope Lim
Illustrated by Qin Leng
Published by Candlewick Press
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I Am Stuck
Written and illustrated by Julia Mills
Published by Clarion Books
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LOVE
Written by Matt de la Peña
Illustrated by Loren Long
Published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons
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What's The Rush?
Written and illustrated by Yiting Lee
Published by Princeton Architectural Press​
We would like to extend our thanks to those that helped identify our 2025 award-winners, including over 1,000 kids who gave us their honest feedback on several books. We also thank the many advisors and experts who participated in the selection process including Politics and Prose, Melanie Goldstein, Donna Wells, Maria Salvadore, Heidi Yoon, Nehal Gandhi, Karen Leggett, Rebecca Silverman, and Jean Dugan.
2024 Winners​
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Dessert Island
Written and Illustrated by Ben Zhu
Published by Roaring Brook Press
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Lubna and Pebble
Written by Wendy Meddour
Illustrated by Daniel Egnéus
Published by Dial Books for Young Readers
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Strictly No Elephants
Written by Lisa Mantchev
Illustrated by Taeeun Yoo
Published by Simon & Schuster
Thank You Omu
Author and Illustrator Oge Mora
Published by Little Brown and Company
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Walter Finds His Voice
Author and Illustrator Ann Kim Ha
Published by Red Comet Press​​​
2023 Winners​
The Proudest Blue
Written by Ibtihaj Muhammad with S.K. Ali
Illustrated by Hatem Aly
Published by Little, Brown and Company
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Lubna and Pebble
Written by Wendy Meddour
Illustrated by Daniel Egnéus
Published by Dial Books for Young Readers
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Benji, the Bad Day, and Me
Written by Sally J. Pla
Illustrated by Ken Min
Published by Lee & Low Books Inc.
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The One Day House
Written by Julia Durango
Illustrated by Bianca Diaz
Published by Charlesbridge
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The Wave
Written and illustrated by Tyler Charlton
Published by Roaring Brook Press
Strictly No Elephants
Written by Lisa Mantchev
Illustrated by Taeeun Yoo
Published by Simon & Schuster