Fireworks: A Joyful Summer Picture Book for Children (Ages 4-8), Winner of the 2026 Caldecott Medal

WINNER OF THE 2026 CALDECOTT MEDAL!

Fireworks is a sparkling picture book from the award-winning team of Matthew Burgess and Cátia Chien, highlighting the simple delights of a steamy July day in the city as two siblings eagerly anticipate a spectacular fireworks display.

Two siblings spend a sizzling Fourth of July roaming the city—there’s breakfast in Chinatown, a burst hydrant on a steamy block, and a jazz musician in the park whose brassy blasts make everyone dance. All the while, anticipation builds for the night's grand display: FIREWORKS!

Fireworks is a joyful, sensory-rich picture book that captures the ordinary magic of a long summer day, the kind where screens are forgotten and every moment feels alive.

With neon-bright illustrations and poetry that pops off the page, Matthew Burgess and Cátia Chien—the award-winning team behind The Bear and the Moon—deliver a sparkling double gatefold finale as spectacular as the real thing.

Matthew Burgess is an Associate Professor at Brooklyn College. He is the author of six children's books: Enormous Smallness: A Story of E. E. Cummings (Enchanted Lion Books), The Unbudgeable Curmudgeon (Knopf), Drawing on Walls: A Story of Keith Haring (ELB), The Bear and The Moon (Chronicle), Bird Boy (Knopf), and Make Meatballs Sing: The Life & Art of Corita Kent (ELB). Matthew also has edited an anthology of visual art and writing titled Dream Closet: Meditations on Childhood Space (Secretary Press), as well as a collection of essays titled Spellbound: The Art of Teaching Poetry (TWC). More books are forthcoming, including The Red Tin Box (Chronicle, 2023), Sylvester’s Letter (ELB, 2023), Words With Wings and Magic Things (Tundra, 2024), and Fireworks (Harper Collins, 2024). A poet-in-residence in New York City public schools since 2001, Matthew also serves as a contributing editor of Teachers & Writers Magazine.

★ “In this joyous seasonal idyll, the creators capture with onomatopoeic eloquence the day’s sensations, with plenty of time to savor sounds, sights, and 'summer on our skin.'” - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

★ "This is an immersive tribute to the unique pleasures of an urban Fourth of July and a radiant celebration of all things summer." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

★ “It’s a joyful celebration of simply being alive and experiencing the world in the guileless way children do. Electric, affectionate, and enchanting.” - Booklist (starred review)

★ "Brimming with rich sensory details, Burgess’ poetic verses combine with Chien’s marvelous mixed-media artwork to celebrate the exuberant, magical moments of summertime.” - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)

★ “An immersive celebration of summer and siblinghood.” - Horn Book (starred review)

★ “Imaginative and radiant. This joyful title will capture young readers and win the hearts of all ages.” - School Library Journal (starred review)

"This is without a doubt my favorite firework-related summertime picture book ever. Beautiful, weirdly touching, and utterly original." - Betsy Bird, A Fuse #8 Production (SLJ blog)

"A wonderful book to read aloud." - BookPage