This is a must-read for fans of folklore, horror, monsters, and LGBTQIA+ fiction.
Recommended for collections where fairy romantasy is popular.
This book is inviting, making it appropriate for young adult mystery collections.
Strongly recommended for fans of Greek and Roman mythology, particularly feminist retellings such as Jennifer Saint’s Ariadne or Madeline Miller’s Circe.
A charming, tender story about making friends, sisterhood, and the importance of family and community.
National Geographic books are a trusted favorite for a reason: kids love them, parents and educators rely on them, and the learning happens almost effortlessly. This one is a must for home, classroom, or library shelves.
A thoughtfully designed book for adults to share with children or for young readers to explore on their own, with plentiful, stunning images of many African animals, sparse text, and helpful scaffolds for engaging with nonfiction works.
A general realistic fiction purchase that may require hand-selling.
A winning mix of history, humor, and high-stakes sleuthing for returning fans of the series or new readers.
A stellar companion novel about one tween’s struggles and ambitions that can stand alone but will have newer readers sprinting to the rest of the books in this excellent series.
A historical fiction adventure that is highly recommended.
A solid purchase for soccer players and fans who are looking for middle grade books about their favorite game.
A tearjerking realistic fiction read about love and loss that should be added to all middle grade collections.
Time-traveling fans will devour this humorous tale that shows how humans are all connected.
A novel that handles heavy topics with a light touch; recommended for upper middle grade.
An eye-opening window or mirror story for collections that need more stories involving Ojibwe beliefs, relationships, and a touch of the supernatural.
Perhaps this is best for the shelves intended to help grandparents seeking to connect with the young generation.
This title is one any pair of sisters can relate to and encourages being honest with familial frustrations. A recommended general purchase for picture book collections.
A warmly illustrated, heartfelt resource that combines comfort with information, this is an essential purchase for libraries serving young families.
Though not for every collection, this bright and inclusive board book celebrating the value of family and community is an ideal selection for Jewish families welcoming a newborn.
Lilting prose and textured collage visually and lyrically represent big feelings in this powerful title. Highly recommended.
A lush, spooky page-turner perfect for readers of Arndt’s other novel, Together We Rot, or Stephanie Garber’s Once Upon a Broken Heart.
A powerful novel about family, friendship, love, and the indigenous culture of the Sámi people. Young adults living between multiple cultures will appreciate the rawness of self-discovery throughout.
Whether it's the latest book in a favorite series or the next great read, librarians will find plenty of options to keep their most voracious patrons satisfied.
Bright illustrations, silly situations, and a sense of continuity and rigor in skill-building are the hallmarks of this season's decodable series.
These picture book series offer a sweet escape into education or entertainment.
The gentle stories in this collection of early readers feature warm, inviting illustrations and focus on navigating family and friendships.
These cheerful chapter books span a wide range of reading interests and genres and are a bastion of diverse stories and characters.
A chill is in the air, and there is no better time to be immersed in a juicy middle grade series.
These hi-lo titles have all the adventure, intrigue, romance, and drama that will engage striving readers.
Adam Fisher, Lane Libraries, Butler County, OH, Emilia Packard, Bloomington, IL, and Alexandra Quay, Chandler School, Pasadena, CA,
Oct 02, 2025
Wild adventures, goofy characters, and candy-colored illustrations dominate this collection of graphic novels.
The books in these YA series serve up a generous dose of big feelings.
Hidden identities, action and survival, and, of course, true love can be found in these new and ongoing manga series.
A nearly perfect board book in tone and content. Bring it on, story hour.
Not essential, but a toddler-pleaser, and minor introduction to classical music.
A lovely version of such childhood classics Runaway Bunny and an improvement over I’ll Love Your Forever, this certainly belongs on early childhood shelves.
The pictures pull in viewers, while the text offers a direction for discussions; this could be useful for group sharing or one on one.
Classroom hot pot, anyone? A book that will leave readers and listeners hungry, but the whole family will want to institute hot pot nights.
A sweet look at Dora’s home, as upbeat as she is, with illustrations that closely resemble the show.
As a gentle bedtime or bonding read, this fits the bill, but it lacks any deep emotional layers to keep children coming back after one read.
A board book for the early animal shelves, but also a text full of writing prompts at the early elementary level.
A fun read for vehicle-obsessed toddlers and anyone who appreciates the magic of childhood imagination.
This is a fun and funny book, and there may be motor skills children pick up along the way.
Poring over the details and finding themselves in the pages makes this a mirror-and-window board book with reach beyond the usual preschool demographic.
The pigeon will count to 10 in story hours and classroom counting units; children can take it from there. Bold and funny.
This is a useful tool for introducing concepts of empathy, belonging, and peaceful problem-solving to young children, addressing important SEL concepts without being preachy.
A pleasant, bite-sized reverie on the meaning of love, this can be added judiciously to the holiday shelves.
Board books don’t always come with an “essential” stamp, but this one is.
This may acclimatize children to the names of great books, if it holds their attention.
A simple, charming stroll will inspire lapsitters and emerging readers alike to get out into the wind and look around.
Baby’s first football game is not a necessary purchase, but it works as an introduction to the sport.
Good intentions can’t turn this into an essential purchase, plus there is a fill-in page that caps the usefulness of this book in libraries.
Hand this to romance and fairy-tale lovers.
Recommended as an additional purchase where contemporary romantic fiction is popular.
A must-buy for the young adult crowd; readers will be excitedly waiting for the next book in the series.
Recommended for high school libraries, especially for readers who liked McBride’s previous books.
A heartwarming tale about connection, grief, and challenging assumptions, this will be well-received by fans of graphic novels like Samuel Teer’s Brownstone or other epistolary YA novels like Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary Of A Part-Time Indian.
For fans of Jennifer Mathieu’s Moxie, an overall relatable and universal coming-of-age story.
Highly recommended for readers who enjoyed books like John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars or Dustin Thao’s You’ve Reached Sam.
A great sapphic romance for readers who enjoy a good will-they-won’t-they with depth and festive charm.
Deeply unsettling and absolutely perfect for those who understand the vulnerability at the root of every vicious monster.
A compelling and important addition for mature young adult collections, this novel powerfully portrays the fight for freedom and self-determination against overwhelming odds.
Meyer fans and new readers alike will find much to love in this spooky, atmospheric read. A welcome addition to any library collection.
A laugh-out-loud funny whodunit that is a first purchase for mystery fans.
This inventive and explosive beginning to a cyberpunk trilogy is a first purchase.
Readers of books in verse, romance, and music history will all be drawn to this engaging book.
Sure to be popular with students seeking an exciting and emotionally rich read, this deliciously romantic and intricate adventure is a highly engaging addition for young adult collections.
Recommended where horror is popular.
For fans of Kiera Cass’s The Selection, a fast-paced, The Bachelor inspired romance, going deeper with purpose for its characters.
This amazingly cool and super scary book is recommended for teen readers.
Recommended for fans of gothic fiction, horror books, and anyone who enjoyed C.J. Drews’s Don’t Let the Forest In or Lauren Kate’s Fallen.
Highly recommended for libraries serving older teens
Important lessons on bodily autonomy, consent, diversity, and self-love wrapped up in an age-appropriate hug of a book.
This touching story of a mother and son planting vegetables for the season would be a great addition to any library’s nature or gardening collection.
A lovely look at the seasons, an excellent choice for story time, that shows the sensory experience of a child who is never depicted as anything but whole.
The predictable, lesson-y nature of the story will likely keep young listeners from returning for additional readings.
This an excellent book to include in units on teaching poetry.
Snow’s cinematic vision is mesmerizing; this is recommended for school libraries and older picture book readers.
Children will enjoy this sensitive and nuanced story focused on social and emotional themes.
This is a perfect fit for SEL lessons about owning up to one’s mistakes and asking for forgiveness. A must-buy and ideal read-aloud for all libraries.
Fans of more challenging search-and-find books will enjoy the intricate artwork and the visual challenge this title delivers; upper elementary students may enjoy the hunt as well.
A solid addition to picture book collections, best for libraries looking for quirky stories to add to their rotation.
A charming tale that will certainly be enjoyed by aunts and their loved ones.
A lovely, if difficult, title that belongs in many collections.
Fine if you need a book on the subject, but unnecessary for a robust collection.
A must-read during Women’s History Month, this is a solid purchase for every library.
This is a delightful and highly recommended picture book that celebrates imagination, communication, and the power of forming new friendships. It supports social-emotional learning (SEL) by encouraging openness, curiosity, and embracing unexpected connections, making it ideal for school libraries.
Attractive but not an essential purchase.
A secondary purchase for libraries serving young children.
Regardless of flaws, this book is a welcome addition. It’s a a beautifully illustrated and gentle retelling that will remind young people of the duty to care for the planet.
A meaningful addition to school and public libraries, as well as a lovely choice for readers to take home, where they can consider their own neighborhood’s history.
A compassionate and workmanlike story, lacking important nuance.
This book offers a unique and engaging blend of fictional storytelling and scientific education, making it an excellent addition to school library collections. It celebrates themes of self-identity, bravery, and understanding scientific concepts in a fun, accessible way, making it valuable for young readers and for social-emotional learning.
A satisfying story that also could be useful for discussions about our need for natural spaces or about what community means.
A joyful celebration of both individuality and community and a great purchase for public libraries, pre-schools, and lower elementary schools.
This may be the story that sends readers off to research other ancient stories from China. And Treelings certainly feel like a merch moment waiting to happen.
Heartfelt and moving, this is an exceptional and a must-have for the shelves helping children deal with divorce and other challenges.
A great choice for an Earth Day story time, this book is applicable all year round. Readers will enjoy the colorful illustrations and strong message Morales delivers.
A meaningful choice for enthusiastic five-years-olds, this will also work for students in the lower elementary grades.
Readers will enjoy this easygoing but slight story about perseverance and friendship.
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