Dewdney Award Jury's Pick: Buffalo Fluffalo and Puffalo

An independent selection committee for the 10th annual Anna Dewdney Read-Together Award chose Buffalo Fluffalo and Puffalo by Bess Kalb, illustrated by Erin Kraan, as a 2026 winner, in an announcement from the CBC dated July 23, 2026. Penguin Random House posted its own announcement the same day. The award has two winners this year, and this book is one of them. The other is covered below.

What the jury said

The announcement prints no comments from individual jurors, so there are no juror quotes to share. What it offers is the award's yardstick and a short description of the book. According to the CBC announcement, the prize goes to a picture book that is a "superb read-aloud" and also stirs compassion, empathy and connection. The same page calls this winner "sweet and funny." It isn't clear whether those words came from jurors or from the announcement's writer, so treat them as the announcement's wording.

The page does say who sat on the committee: a Baltimore teacher, a Brooklyn librarian, a Houston bookseller and others, chaired by Berol Dewdney, a teacher and Anna Dewdney's daughter.

What the book is

Fluffalo has a quiet life on the prairie until a new sibling arrives and turns it upside down, as the announcement tells it. It comes from Random House Studio. The publisher's page lists it as a hardcover picture book, ISBN 9780593810309. The sources give no more of the plot, so I won't guess at the ending.

Who it suits

Penguin Random House recommends the book for ages 4-8, and WebWire repeated that listing a day later. That range comes from the publisher, not the committee. The story of a quiet routine disrupted by a new sibling points to families adjusting to a baby or a new brother or sister, though the sources don't say it was written for them. It also fits any family that likes a funny read-aloud, which is what the award looks for. For a younger child, the other winner is listed for ages 3-7.

What to know first

The pick rests on the committee's word and the award's read-aloud standard, so it says the book works well out loud. It doesn't say your child will like the subject. Check the age range against your child, and flip through a copy if you can.

There are free extras: Every Child a Reader hosts videos, Q&As and activity sheets from the 2026 winners, among them Erin Kraan demonstrating her art. Penguin Young Readers, the CBC and Every Child a Reader sponsor the award together. Per the CBC, Penguin Young Readers will give 125 copies of each winner to places the creators pick, and an online talk with the four winners' creators is planned for this fall.

Why the award exists

Anna Dewdney, creator of Llama Llama, championed reading aloud to children. Every Child a Reader says she believed a grown-up could share a good book with a child and both would truly live in it. That is the test the winners face.

The other winner and the honor books

The second 2026 winner is Don't Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson, illustrated by Dan Santat, a nature guide gone wrong about ocean animals. The announcement also lists five Honor Books, including Anything by Rebecca Stead and Girls on the Rise by Amanda Gorman, per the CBC. The 2025 winner was My Hands Tell a Story by Kelly Starling Lyons, illustrated by Tonya Engel, per the winners page. Every Child a Reader also shares a spreadsheet of 10 years of winners and Honor books.

Quick answers

Who picks the Anna Dewdney Read-Together Award winners?

Librarians, teachers, booksellers and parents voted in April and May to pick seven finalists. A committee chaired by Berol Dewdney then ranked its top 3, and point totals decided the two winners.

What is the second 2026 winner?

Don't Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson, illustrated by Dan Santat, a nature guide gone wrong about ocean animals. It is listed for ages 3-7.

How does the award work?

Books from the last four years are submitted, and the award recognizes a picture book that reads aloud superbly and builds compassion and connection. This year the committee chose two winners and five Honor Books from seven finalists.