Best Of

Derrick Barnes has a picture book and a middle grade in this roundup. Plus, nonfiction picks range from Gail Jarrow’s latest to a primer on deadly snakes.

This month’s starred selections include titles about donuts, the women of Norse mythology, the Russo-Ukrainian War, and more.

This month's notable titles include works from our fiction edition of the Series Made Simple supplement, featuring the latest entries from Kate DiCamillo and Axie Oh.

This month's picks include a YA novel and an audiobook from Tiffany D. Jackson, a biography about Sally Ride, and more.

This month brings starred titles in gaming books, professional reading, and more.

The author/illustrator's work shines a light on Latinx icons who haven't always appeared in our history books. Here we celebrate Menéndez's illustrations in the Spanish and English editions of the excellent poetry collection Hopeful Heroes by Margarita Engle.

This month, a poetry collection by Margarita Engle, a new middle grade novel from Dan Gemeinhart, and a nonfiction title about the Erie Canal stand out, along with other great books.

This year, we awarded dozens of books a prestigious star—and among this distinguished group, several clear commonalities shine bright. From fresh approaches on topics like grief to specific recurrences, such as characters taking on another person’s identity, here are the key trends among 2025's starred books.

The July issue—“the stars so far”—is our halfway point on the path to Best Books in December. SLJ reviews editors stand back to take a look at a beautiful, blossoming list of notable books.