A lively, educational celebration of mariachi instruments and a strong addition to bilingual board book collections.
This magical boarding school drama with a Greek myth twist would be perfect for Spanish-language fantasy collections.
A must for Spanish-language collections serving tweens, especially where fantasy is popular.
A visually playful introduction to Latin American treats that works best for Spanish-speaking families. While the concept is appealing, stronger Spanish-language board books exist for teaching vocabulary.
A more fact-driven but engaging introduction to bunnies. Ideal for themed, bilingual story times or early Spanish nonfiction collections.
This poetic picture book teaches children about diversity, freedom, identity, and respecting others; it’s a great addition to any SEL collection.
A charming introduction to read at home or for a themed bilingual story time.
Behind the scenes of the StoryKind podcast with Kelly Yang and Kate DiCamillo!
Today, Elisha talks with us a bit about his latest title, as well as its debt to Where the Wild Things Are, PLUS he has a very nice rant about respecting children's art, and he also confesses which book did him in "in the best way".
Today we have the first announcement of The Stone of Shiro: The Fall of Shiro, a middle-grade fantasy graphic novel that centers a hero who is kind, courageous, and resilient, traits that seem particularly important right now.
After the big awards, I want to hear your thoughts
We've waited long enough. Bring on the Caldecott. Bring on the Newbery.
Here's a look at the graphic novels that publishers have been acquiring, and when we can expect to see them.
After reading today's book I realized that it's showing kids that just because someone's name is on a book, they're just one of a large group of people, all working in tandem to make it the best possible literary experience. Naturally, questions abound.
After reading today's book I realized that it's showing kids that just because someone's name is on a book, they're just one of a large group of people, all working in tandem to make it the best possible literary experience. Naturally, questions abound.
Breaking down the Honor data . . .
A good fit for older readers looking for a book involving Mediterranean culture along with a tale of a teen finding her voice.
An excellent addition to YA collections. Hand to any fans of fairy tales.
Highly recommended for high school libraries, especially where gritty, fast-paced thrillers are popular. Hand this to fans of Holly Jackson and Stephen King.
This heartwarming debut is recommended for all libraries.
Readers who enjoy fantasy, mystery, theatre, and a little bit of romance will love this twisty story.
Action-packed and a lot of fun for readers seeking an entertaining supernatural murder mystery.
This tight thriller is a solid addition to all teen suspense sections.
Librarians who can’t keep Jenny Han or Julie Murphy on their shelves should add this sweet romance to the collection.
A great book for middle school and early high school students.
An important and educational exploration of emotional abuse.
Perfect for romantasy enthusiasts.
A thoughtful and somber read reminiscent of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, with an environmental crisis backdrop and heavy with important issues.
This book is smart, funny, and sneakily unputdownable. Give this to fans of John Green, Jenny Han, and Holly Smale.
A solid purchase, especially where Kaufman’s other books are popular.
A beautiful portrayal of grief, love, and acceptance that delivers a heartwarming sense of peace by the conclusion.
An excellent romantasy series opener with complex worldbuilding and an absorbing narrator.
Engaging historical fiction with a contemporary spin and a dash of detective intrigue. Recommended.
A book for socially awkward bibliophiles and kids experiencing family upheaval.
A strongly written, spooky choice for any middle school library. An outstanding recommendation for readers who enjoy R.L. Stine’s “Goosebumps” series or are drawn to the horror/fantasy genre.
A jam-packed, fast-paced adventure that will satisfy series fans and entice newcomers to jump in. Recommended for juvenile fiction collections.
This must-read for families with sensitive, imaginative children is a triumph.
A high-interest superhero sequel that has plenty of action without sacrificing depth. Highly recommended for fans of the X-Men, Shazam!, and Into the Spider-Verse.
This fast-paced roller coaster of a thrill ride is perfect for Margaret Peterson Haddix fans.
Perfect for mystery lovers who enjoy Stuart Gibbs’s “Spy School” and a great addition to collections where the previous installments in Ponti’s series are popular.
A lovely book that will appeal to multiple readers; this will be hard to keep on the shelf.
Recommended for purchase for elementary collections, especially for readers who enjoyed Saadia Faruqi’s “Yasmin” series but are ready for more challenging texts.
A mildly didactic sequence of slice-of-life vignettes. Purchase where realistic fiction featuring culturally diverse characters is needed.
Fans of the “Identikill” series will want to know the ending; purchase where the first title is popular.
A secondary purchase for collections in need of accessible engaging texts and for those with fans of social themes.
A strong addition to libraries, perfect for sharing stories about growing up, familial love, and learning to take on new responsibilities.
A terrific picture book that will work in many kinds of units for many types of readers, asking hard questions while also making problems surmountable.
This engaging picture book breaks the fourth wall for young readers in an accessible way, inviting them to be part of the story as it unfolds.
Share this playful episode with children to offer a sense of the bracing joy of temporarily viewing the world through different eyes
This lovely story about gender stereotypes, with its fun scenes and solid messaging, is an excellent addition to any library’s picture book collection.
Each story stands alone, making this a flexible and valuable resource for parents, caregivers, and educators seeking to help children navigate complex emotions and ethical dilemmas. Thoughtful, entertaining, and visually appealing, it’s a strong addition to early childhood SEL collections.
Purchase where other books in the series are popular or where collections are in need of more interactive titles.
Full of corny humor, absurd situations, stilted dialogue, and (a little bit of) basketball, this faux-futuristic adventure with a sports twist may appeal to sports-loving families.
Not a mandatory purchase but a fun and important one that would do well supporting a collection in need of materials dealing with complex emotions. It is a charming choice for one-on-one sharing and a natural springboard for conversations about telling the truth.
This is a helpful, jovial addition on camping for collections with its gentle guidance on friendship and how to cultivate it.
An appealing picture-book introduction to the wide world of bread-baking, good for classroom units or story hours.
A wonderful creative adventure, though inappropriate for library circulating.
A solid book to talk about the life cycles of bears, kindness to others, using pictures to make predictions, making pancakes, and seasonal changes.
Illustrating the importance of emotionally supportive caregivers, this heartwarming story is “just right” for every library collection.
Charming illustrations and an approachable story make this a worthy selection for school and public libraries.
A first purchase for all libraries, this is a resource for celebrating spring but also for recognizing the beauty and brevity of all life.
Add this to all picture book collections, as it’s sure to be enjoyed by students and teachers alike.
An outstanding reminder that we are all emotional beings, and that for all their smaller bodies, children’s feelings are as big and intense as any adult’s.
This lovely and accurate story supports readers in developing empathy and imagination. A unique and beautiful addition to picture book collections.
"I wanted my readers to accept themselves, and speak their truths. And so I had to speak mine first." Shifa Safadi joins us today to talk about what it truly takes to write an honest book for kids and also to reveal the cover of this new middle grade work!
"They aren’t the cookie-cutter tweens and tweens, or cookie-cutter Black characters, or cookie-cutter parts of cookie-cutter families. They are complicated and outsiders and more admirable and loveable for it."
Breaking down the Caldecott data . . .
As moving as it is educational, this breathtaking story is one that will stay with readers.
Breaking down the Newbery data . . .
Today we've got a baby announcement—Baby Garfield, that is! He'll be starring in a new miniseries from BOOM! Studios launching in March.
The latest and greatest READ posters.
"How do I acknowledge the harm without letting it dominate the story or overshadow the light? How can I stay truthful about the past while keeping the focus on queer joy?" Learn the answers to these questions in this glorious cover reveal and Q&A.
Every year, Colby Sharp and I like to record an episode of The Yarn podcast looking ahead to the upcoming year in children’s books. In our 2026 preview, we talk about books we’re excited to read, books we’ve already read and loved, and make some predictions for the year. You can listen here: Subscribe below […]
My predictions for 2026 Caldecott glory
Some lived here in the States and some abroad, but we do our best to remember the creators of books that have made changes to the minds, hearts, and general beings of children worldwide.
Perfect for story hours and one-on-one reading, this will be a crowd-pleasing choice on library shelves.
A strong addition from a neurodivergent author and illustrator that will resonate with many children and families.
A strong primer for early ABC learning and a recommended purchase for most libraries.
A meaningful addition for libraries highlighting global family stories.
A joyful and informative introduction to the Chinese New Year that belongs on library shelves.
A suitable purchase if more religious board books are needed in the collection.
A fun and interactive addition to Easter collections.
A striking blend of high-contrast art and real photography that makes this a first purchase for most collections.
An additional purchase for libraries seeking books that highlight mothers.
A strong choice for toddlers developing fine motor skills.
A first purchase wherever Taylor Swift is popular, which is to say, everywhere
Although the original chapter book remains a beloved work of literature, this simplified adaptation is one that libraries can comfortably skip.
A unique and appealing addition.
Libraries seeking modestly religious creation stories may find this a quiet, sturdy edition to add to the shelves.
Pull this one out when the classroom or story hour needs a reset and some giggles.
A stunning celebration of the darkness and all the wonders it holds.
An additional purchase for collections seeking more Indigenous representation.
Fans of this prolific author’s work as well as children who love nature and seashore life will enjoy this short, beautifully illustrated story.
A vibrant picture book, this would be a good selection for libraries, with a celebration of hope that is always welcome.
This wonderful book would be a solid addition to any library as a reminder for all ages to appreciate the small things.
Sweet celebration of faraway family, the beauty of culture, and common experiences Nuha and Jadda share make this a standout. Recommended for all collections.
This title is a great addition to social-emotional learning collections, offering a dynamic and unique approach to discussing anxiety, inner strength, and resilience with young readers during a fun and compelling read-aloud.
This book is a surefire hit for story hours, providing laugh-out-loud moments contained in an adorable bundle of elephant energy.
An excellent addition to any library’s poetry collection, and good for teaching about the gifts of the natural world.
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