Authors & Illustrators

StoryKind aims to connect with readers, spark an interest in reading and writing, and help wean kids off a steady diet of short-form video.

Sweet Valley Twins: Three’s a Crowd by Francine Pascal, illustrated by Claudia Aguirre and adapted by Nicole Andelfinger, leads holds this week. “Teen Librarian Toolbox” features their most anticipated YA books of 2026, two of which come out this week: Beth Is Dead, a thrilling reimagining of Little Women, and 16 Forever, about a teen who repeats his 16th year while the rest of the world moves on. Kate DiCamillo and Kelly Yang announce their new podcast, StoryKind.

The former librarian shares how her first job at her former high school changed the trajectory of her writing career.

In this Q&A series, SLJ poses five questions and a request for a book recommendation to a debut YA author. Jessica Walker discusses The Secret Astronomers in this latest installment.

Daniel Nayeri's novel set in World War II Iran was selected from a list of finalists that included Kyle Lukoff’s A World Worth Saving, Amber McBride’s The Leaving Room, Hannah V. Sawyerr’s Truth Is, and Ibi Zoboi’s (S)Kin.

SLJ chats with the Pura Belpre–winning artist about the creative process for this year’s December Best Books cover.

The author of the YA novel Not Today, Satan shares how a library story time with a favorite childhood author led to a book about the devil's daughter.

The Newbery-winning author discussed the ways poetry can engage readers in a closing keynote conversation at the 2025 SLJ Summit; 2025 School Librarian of the Year Tim Jones opened the weekend conference with a reminder to celebrate every win.

E. Lockhart talks with SLJ about her favorite character in the We Were Liars universe, the gift of writing for young adults, and coming up with shocking plot twists.