On November 2, 2019, the Land of Enchantment Book Award committee which is made up of librarians and teachers from schools and libraries around the state met to create the list of books that K-12 students will vote on in the spring of 2021. There are 4 categories, based on grade level: Roadrunner (K-3), Coyote (3-5), Lizard (6-8) and Black Bear (9-12). The nominations are:
Roadrunner:
- Ada Twist: Scientist by Andrea Beaty
- Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora
- Islandborn by Junot Díaz
- The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfield
- We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorrell
- Super Manny Stands Up by Kelly DiPucchio
- Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré by Anika Aldamuy Denise
- Write to Me: Letters from Japanese American Children to the Librarian They Left Behind by Cynthia Grady
- Ocean Meets Sky by Terry and Eric Fan
- Seashells: More Than a Home by Melissa Stewart
Coyote:
- Miguel’s Brave Knight: Young Cervantes and His Dream of Don Quixote by Margarita Engle
- Front Desk by Kelly Yang
- Inkling by Kenneth Oppel
- Dazzle Ships: World War I and the Art of Confusion by Chris Barton
- The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
- The Collectors by Jacqueline West
- The Crossroads by Alexandra Diaz
- Solving for M by Jennifer Swender
- The Nameless City by Faith Erin Hicks
- Fish Girl by Donna Jo Napoli & David Wiesner
Lizard:
- I Love You, Michael Collins by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
- Storm Runner by J.C. Cervantes
- Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed
- Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart
- Small Spaces by Katherine Arden
- First Rule of Punk by Celia Pérez
- Pashmina by Nidhi Chanani
- The Seasons of Styx Malone by Kekla Magoon
Black Bear:
- Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
- I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez
- Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
- Rayne & Delilah’s Midnite Matinee by Jeff Zentner
- Lovely War by Julie Berry
- One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus
- The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
- Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi