Slow, solemn, and philosophically rich
Easy-flowing rhymes plus construction equipment, vibrant illustrations, and strong female representation in nontraditional roles culminate in a standout title.
A brilliant blend of dystopian and contemporary fantasy that will leave readers in complete awe by the end.
This satisfying and accessible graphic novel could readily serve as a mentor text and is an excellent book club choice for middle school students.
An engaging period piece with an easy-to-follow mystery and highly compelling characters, this is especially relevant for its realistic depictions of race and class in American society.
A rewarding, engaging read for middle grade and young adult audiences interested in evolutionary biology.
A lively, heartfelt fantasy anchored by humor and queer community; a strong addition to YA and upper middle grade collections. Fans of Lukens or authors like Mackenzi Lee and Aiden Thomas will not be disappointed.
A fantastic purchase for libraries with native Spanish speakers or Spanish-language learners, add this to picture book shelves.
An engaging, wonderful addition to transitional chapter book collections. Children will relate to Destiny and have a great time laughing and reading along.
A gentle, engaging story about friendship and resilience that highlights the connection between one kind of dinosaur and birds is an excellent choice for developing fluency and confidence.
A solid addition to any beginning reader collection. Also useful in SEL lessons.
A beautiful look at not only how bridges work but also how they connect people and change lives. Suitable for varying levels of interest, this is a solid purchase for most libraries.
A necessary guide for fans of Japanese folklore and the supernatural.
A recommended novel that will resonate particularly with eldest daughters of immigrant families.
A solid purchase for middle school and YA collections where adventurous, historical novels in verse with real-life male protagonists would be welcome.
Whether listeners at a read-aloud, or independent readers, children will adore Princess Minna, and enjoy comparing her story to the traditional tale.
Ideally suited as an introduction to women’s suffrage and the people who made it possible, this volume invites young readers to learn about history at their own pace.
A solid addition to YA thriller collections.
Best suited as an additional purchase, particularly for collections building interest ahead of an upcoming World Cup.
A fun purchase for middle school collections where graphic novels and stories about sibling dynamics are well received; the alien invasion and humor make this a great readalike for other popular graphic novel series.
For romance fans, a middling novel that hits all the right notes, even if it takes a few detours on the way. A wholesome romance for middle or high school libraries.
From “ride or die” friendships to art heists to secret societies to adventure, DasGupta’s latest is sure to entertain middle graders with a variety of interests and literary tastes.
An adventurous beginning to a series that both feeds the current axolotl craze and touches on important topics, such as friendship, family, allegiances, and betrayals.
Best for older elementary school-age readers, this work provides insight into the history behind popular American emblems and is a foundation for understanding some of the more well-known objects and people from history.
Recommended for readers who enjoy historical fiction that explores themes of authoritarianism and social upheaval with an ensemble cast of characters.
This title will be useful in environmental units and will be especially helpful for classes prior to visiting parks or nature preserves
This lovely audiobook will delight readers of adventure and fairy tales. Fans of DiCamillo’s other Norendy audiobooks, including The Hotel Balzaar and The Puppets of Spelhorst, will be enchanted.
A relatable, reassuring pick for families navigating screen-time struggles, with humor, honesty, and an inviting reminder of the pleasures beyond the glowing rectangle.
A celebration of summer warmth, tradition, and togetherness. Recommended, especially as a companion to Winter Solstice Wish.
This artistic rendition of an intriguing story will be good for fans of Kim Tomsic’s The Elephants Come Home.
This hilarious adventure to London will be adored by younger fans of graphic novels while they learn about new places abroad. A perfect book for readers transitioning to longer books.
A bold, creative story, strongly recommended for upper elementary and middle school collections where graphic novels are in demand.
With an emphasis on play and the joys of the game, this book is another sweet addition to the series.
This is a fun and nostalgic introduction to important American culture icons that young children and their caregivers can enjoy together.
Intense, timely, and punctuated with grisly moments of horror, this is a recommended purchase for mature teen readers.
A thrilling and romantic YA fantasy that successfully tackles themes of abuse, classism, and conservation; this is a strong addition to any collection serving fans of dragon-centric fantasy or high-stakes character-driven narratives along with their romance.
In this giggle-inducing story for readers across a solid grade range, Monster’s unique conundrum offers an amusing, unexpected adventure down a familiar path.
A must for all collections, this hilarious story full of puns shows readers how creativity can be more important than size in getting a job done correctly.
Packed with punk rock and monster fights, this graphic novel’s fun vibes will be rocking right off middle grade shelves.
A solid introduction for students interested in learning more about the basic categories of disabilities, important facts about disabilities, and about disability activists.
This patriotic board book is recommended for all collections.
A concise, expert, and practical reference. Every school librarian, especially those seeking dependable, quick answers, should add this to their professional shelf. Highly recommended.
A perfect addition to beginning chapter book collections where the “Unicornia” series is popular, this is also amazing for kids who love unicorns and mermaids.
A recommended purchase for juvenile fiction collections.
A tender portrayal of a sibling relationship in the face of a difficult life change.
The premise is engaging, the themes are clear, and the blend of social commentary, competition, and romance makes this enjoyable, especially for those drawn to stories about defiance, disguise, and hope found in unexpected places.
This lighthearted novel is suggested as a first purchase for expanding LGBTQIA+ young adult collections.
To be perfectly frank, this flock of odd ducks welcomes everyone. A quirky title recommended for fiction collections.
Biography sections with well-circulated titles on celebrities, singers, and athletes would benefit from adding this for the singer’s fans and for readers looking for books about mysterious music icons like Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse.
A truly stellar example of the best that horror can be, perfect for high schoolers who are not quite ready to engage with the works of Andrew Joseph White.
This would be a good resource for families who homeschool or as a supplement to classroom units on the subject.
A good addition to picture book collections, and a solid choice for discussing emotions with young readers.
A page-turning high school drama that is smart and entertaining. Highly recommended for high school libraries.
A Gothic ghost story haunted by colonial treatment of indigenous Hawaiians, this will stay with readers long after they have finished.
A sweet and sour look at friendship and fantasy fun, suitable for middle grade collections.
A powerful, unflinching exploration of Islamophobia, identity, and grief. An essential purchase for all collections.
This great middle grade nonfiction teaches kids about the ecosystem of an fallen oak tree, and how creatures depend on dead trees and aid in decomposition. A must have for libraries.
A rollicking adventure that can serve for some readers as a bridge from comic books to novels.
With its warm message, appealing visuals, and relatable themes, the book is a strong choice for early chapter book readers who enjoy adventure with heart.–Jessica Calaway
This amusing introduction and reminder of basic manners, similar to Sesyle Joslin’s What Do You Say, Dear? is a great first buy.
Recommended for all librarians seeking a path to integrate AI into lessons and library management.
Cozy, delicate, and thoroughly appealing, this is a solid purchase.
The relative simplicity of the story (once the key elements have been established) and characters is more likely to appeal to younger teens than Taylor’s “Daughter of Smoke and Bone” series, but it will be savored by listeners longing to be transported to the faerie realm.
A captivating look at all the pets and people who inspired Beatrix Potter’s creative world, this is a great companion to Saving the Countryside by Linda Marshall and a good first buy.
A captivating audiobook with excellent narration, an uplifting message about friendship and community, and a perfectly winsome shrew.
An important release that will resonate with readers, this nonfiction graphic novel is sure to inform, entertain, and above all, create awareness of the LGBTQIA+ community’s fight towards fairness.
Best enjoyed in a close setting so readers can explore and discuss the whimsical illustrations, this book is particularly well-suited to children who appreciate tales of love and family.
This work shares the importance of love throughout a lifetime. It is a great addition to every library’s Spanish language collection and a good choice for SEL collections.
Meaningful and celebratory, this is an empowering story to share with elementary-aged readers to remind them of the strength and importance of raising their voices in support of equity and justice.
A strong choice for any library’s picture book collection.
An excellent choice for children with big questions about earth’s water, this is well-suited for read-aloud sharing as well as perusing.
This book elegantly captures the meaning behind “America the Beautiful” and makes the song accessible to a new generation.
Purchase for libraries with expanding DEI collections and where student poetry is popular or included in the curriculum.
For libraries in need of building their holiday collections, pick this one up. It will reach those who are looking for something fun and a little bit different, any time of year.
A must-purchase for collections where true crime and nearly unbelievable historical tales are popular.
The book’s subtitle tells the whole story: this is a “taste” of the story of chocolate, which may not be enough to satisfy.
This modern twist on a classic paints beauty, fame, and ambition in haunting new shades.
An adorable introduction on how to tell fact from fiction that deserves a place on bookshelves. A recommended first purchase.
Highly recommended for librarians and teachers seeking to expand student opportunities, streamline library tasks, and foster leadership skills in elementary and older learners.
A bright, funny picture book that reassures young children that all feelings, even the grumpy ones, are more than okay
Children and families will enjoy seeing themselves depicted in this book. A worthy addition to most board book collections.
A strong choice for school and public libraries, this is a positive, engaging story for upper middle graders and a welcome addition to baseball fiction collections.
A successful cultural introduction and celebration of Ganesha Chaturthi that encourages readers to think about kindness, patience, and self-reflection, this is well-suited to family and classroom settings.
Young readers hoping to join the romantasy trend without high levels of spice will find much to savor.
With laugh-out-loud humor, this zesty lesson in getting along with a sibling is an excellent read-aloud and should appeal to a wide audience of readers young and old.
Readers will love learning with this trio. A recommended first purchase.
No matter how Rebecca ended her days, the photographs of her at the White House bring history to young readers, making this a solid purchase for most libraries.
A cute but slight picture book that differentiates the seasons and amplifies the beauty of the larger natural world around us.
This audiobook offers a character-driven story elevated by a strong narrative performance, making it a solid purchase where speculative sci-fi thrillers are popular.
A charmingly labyrinthine fantasy with broad appeal for those who enjoy clever narration and lightly chaotic quests; a strong addition to collections.
A required purchase for all middle school collections and a perfect pairing with Barbara Dee’s Maybe He Just Likes You.
A wonderful book to introduce multigenerational family units, cultural norms, and caregiving.
This book will draw fans of capybaras and will serve as a great introduction to the graphic novel format.
Recommended purchase for librarians who would like a concise review of modern children’s book selections.
This Spanish-language picture book is a first purchase with a giggle-inducing twist on the “going to grandma’s house” story.
A moving exploration of a young woman finding out what she wants for her life and her body.
A tale of growth and friendship as old as rock and roll, styled smartly for a new generation of readers.
The many questions and themes of generational struggle, finding home, telling one’s story, and claiming identity will engage upper middle grade readers. A strong addition for where graphic memoirs circulate.
From the creator of Gender Queer comes a tween friendly gateway to the topics of gender identity and expression.
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