Editors' Picks

The Department of Education lost nearly 2,000 workers in the latest—and largest—move toward the administration's goal of eliminating the federal agency that collects data on student performance, ensures funding for low-income schools, and protects students' civil rights.

Starred reviews have a big problem. And it begins and ends with the 10 points in this list.

The platform no longer serves our mission or reflects our values. 

Many of the more than 80 executive orders issued by President Trump since Inauguration Day affect K-12 education, schools, and students as the Department of Education faces cuts from Elon Musk's DOGE group and a declaration for the department's "final mission" from new secretary of education Linda McMahon.

Libraries use data about summer programs to make them better every year, and their methods have been improving.

SLJ asked librarians, authors, and illustrators to reflect on their pandemic experience: the impact on them, their students, and readers; the innovations that stuck; the memories that linger; and the lessons we learned.

Progress toward a more racially diverse publishing workforce has been slow. Publishing leaders face political and economic changes that may make further progress harder.

From moving tales in verse to romantic romps to stories of monsters both real and fantastical, these 25 YA novels represent the best of teens living, loving, surviving, and thriving in worlds and times that do not always accept them. 

This roundup of 2024 books centering Native American stories offers something for every reader to enjoy this November and all year long.

Following a devastating year of violence against children, our deepest hope is that these 40 outstanding international titles, and the words within them, can inspire bridges of understanding and peace. Download the full list here.

SLJ remains committed to the work. There is much to be done.

Utah has added Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott to its list of books banned at all public schools; the Texas state board of education wants legislation giving it  control of school library collections; and Crank by Ellen Hopkins remains on South Carolina high school shelves, but students will need parental permission.

Explaining why they write about children who are grieving, authors describe experiences from the loss of a family member to concerns about gun violence.