Author Nova Ren Suma joins us to talk about her new book WAKE THE WILD CREATURES.
From Markus Zusak to Louis Sachar. From Bruno Munari to Janice N. Harrington. The overlap between adult books and children's books becomes evident as I celebrate new titles for adults by writers for kids.
Author Erin Entrada Kelly joins us to talk about her new book At Last She Stood: How Joey Guerrero Spied, Survived, and Fought for Freedom
A parent complaint about a nonbinary snail led a Virginia elementary school principal to cancel a visit by author Erica S. Perl. A former trial attorney, Perl offers a lesson in smart booking contracts and standing up to book and author challenges.
Grab your towel, sunscreen, and snacks, and head out in the sunshine to enjoy some summertime stories. These 16 YA romances celebrate love and everything summer, from camp and vacation drama to days spent at jobs and on creative pursuits.
"Here are paintbrushes and wastebaskets and thought." Elisha Cooper talks structure, color, rhythm, and love, as how they pertain to his latest book.
Our third round of Mock Newbery suggestions is now open. Share up to five titles that you feel might belong in a discussion of the best books of 2025.
Karen Jensen reviews the audiobook LOOKING FOR SMOKE by K. A. Cobell
I’ve created a Literary Gomoku for the AAPI Book Challenge by adapting a traditional game board. Your goal is to read five books in a row – horizontally, vertically, or diagonally or you could choose to complete the five corners.
Check out this week's list of new comics, manga, and graphic novels for readers 12 and under, featuring Creaky Acres from Kokila and Pencil and Eraser Lost and Frown from G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers.
I always imagined GAMERS as a celebration of video games and how they can connect people, and I hope this book appeals to those who grew up playing them as much as those who are still growing up.
In a big victory in the fight for intellectual freedom and access to books in school libraries, the majority of candidates backed by pro-censorship organizations like Moms for Liberty lost their school board races in Texas on Saturday.
A celebration of birding, making new friends, and the power of self-love make these picture books excellent choices for summer reading and all year round.
Celebrate mothers not just for one day but all year long with these selections.
Virginia librarian IdaMae Craddock is using her professional research skills to keep facts at the forefront for her students and fellow educators.
Jamie Smart is the British author and illustrator of the bestselling children’s comic series “Bunny vs Monkey.” Max and Chaffy: Welcome to Animal Island is the first title in his new graphic novel series for kids ages 5–8. Smart talks about the creation of this delightful new series.
Creaky Acres is a story about a girl, a horse, and a whole new way of life. Brigid Alverson spoke to the creators about their graphic novel featuring Nora, a competitive rider, who finds her way on a delightfully weird farm, inhabited by an equally quirky crew of young equestrians.
This book? It’s a wonder. A joy. A small pinpoint of light in the darkness that is 2025. If you are in need of something that takes your faith in humanity and gives it a jolt to the gills, that would be this title.
Author Mk Smith Despres takes us behind the scenes of their poetic picture book THERE'S THAT SUN AGAIN.
Moving on can be hard, whether it's changing schools or embracing the afterlife. In Eric Colossal's new graphic novel, a group of pre-teens must save their haunted small town from its plague of ghosts.
Author Riley Redgate joins us to talk about her new book COME HOME TO MY HEART.
Award-winning author illustrators Julie Flett and Sophie Blackall sat down for a chat on the occasion of Children’s Book Week 2025. Flett created this year’s poster on the theme: “An Ocean of Stories,” and Blackall did the honors in 2024, illustrating “No Rules. Just Read.”
The Illinois elementary school's advisory board planned and led the events of author Dusti Bowling's school visit and continues to focus on building community with their future projects.
These nonfiction titles feature Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander politicians, restaurateurs, Nobel Peace Prize recipients, and more.
The Republican governor of North Dakota said no to legislation he called redundant and misguided; Texas legislators want to dictate where books are in bookstores; students and librarians continue to fight book bans across the country.
A federal judge ruled that the government may not take further action toward dismantling the IMLS, including the mass layoff of employees, while the case is heard.
It's giveaway time! A free book of one of the best series I know.
A relevant and redemptive tale of hope in the darkest of times, with gregarious graphics to satisfy kids and a message to break even the most callous adult’s bitter shell.
A stunningly written and illustrated work of children’s literature, and an essential purchase for school and public library collections.
Rich with information and heart, this standout blends STEM learning with community building in a memorable package.
An excellent picture book about sloths that will entertain and inform young readers. A strong choice for any library.
A family who lives in their van has everything they need in an important and seldom discussed topic done extremely well. A must-have for most libraries.
A unique addition to any collection.
A story of ancestors, love, loss, and self-acceptance wrapped in the meaning of long hair for men in Native American tradition, this rare topic in picture books makes it a good pick for most libraries.
An entertaining, slightly spooky tale with a friendly group of race cars makes for a charming story with plenty of appeal for young readers.
An additional purchase for larger collections.
A wacky tale that encourages readers to reflect on self-awareness and tolerance of others. Highly recommended for a fun discussion starter on living and learning in a community.
Informative and evocative illustrations capture a pioneering woman of science and her meticulous, revelatory work. Recommended for most collections.–John Scott–John Scott
Readers will not come away with any understanding of “the many ways milk is made,” and there is little of substance here.
A well-intentioned sibling story that misses the mark.
An excellent purchase for elementary library collections where poetry and interactive look-and-find texts are popular.
A series opener that will delight tween mystery sleuths while leaving them anxiously awaiting the next installment.
A great message but not a first choice book without a more appealing main character.
A perennial ghost-next-door story that readers will enjoy any time they long for a bit of mystery.
Add to library collections as a solid read for youngsters who are transitioning from picture books to early chapter books. A recommended purchase.
Big payoff for a “little kid” starting school with a very big buddy makes this a winner for first day read alouds. Highly recommended.
A strong addition to school and public library collections, this book fosters historical empathy, supports classroom discussion, and serves as a meaningful introduction to Holocaust education.
While the book has cute illustrations and strong writing, it still feels a little like MIT propaganda.
Bland and boring but likely to fly off the shelves anyway.
An additional purchase for libraries looking for more picture book biographies about groundbreaking Asian American artists. Julie Leung’s Mr. Pei’s Perfect Shapes might be a more successful option.
A whimsical and relatable tale that is fun and engaging for children and adults alike.
This book may leave readers with more questions than answers; better options for young readers include Mari C. Schuh’s My Life with Epilepsy and Dr. Roopa Farooki’s The Brilliant Brain.
I had been a school librarian and middle-grade reading teacher for 25 years when I read Disrupting Thinking: Why How We Read Matters, a professional title by Kylene Beers and Robert Probst, and it completely changed the way I framed the task of reading for my students. What’s brilliant about the book is that so […]
Full of righteous rage and a strong drive for justice and inclusivity, Maeve's story is an inspiring look at activism.
This biography is a good addition to a secondary school’s biography collection. Readers who enjoy stories of bravery, espionage, and strong female figures will find Hall’s story both thrilling and inspiring.
A must-read for anyone looking to understand the future of advocacy in a rapidly changing world.
An engaging and well-crafted tribute to a talented athlete, offering an inspiring read for sports enthusiasts, Clark fans, and aspiring athletes alike.
Graphic memoirs are a fantastic way to capture the sense of an era and experience, and Huang does so masterfully, bringing 1990s China to life.
This book puts a relatable face on climate resistance in Appalachia for YAs.
A general purchase for an art curriculum tie-in.
A solid, heartwarming addition to early chapter book collections.
A well-crafted graphic novel about facing one’s fears, recommended for early reader or graphic novel sections.
This new standout early reader series is highly recommended for general purchase.
This rhyming tale of an unusual character in a wacky situation will appeal to fans of Dr. Seuss.
This wonderful early reader about a variety of sports is a great addition to any preschool or elementary library collection.
The perfect chapter book for young lovers of science or fantasy, especially bug enthusiasts who enjoy a hint of suspense in their stories as well. Strong female characters will also inspire readers of all ages.
A recommended purchase for libraries where Pete the Cat is popular and early readers circulate widely.
Sure to be a hit with vehicle lovers, this engaging title for early chapter book readers cleverly uses a bulldozer child protagonist to address social fears about new situations and friendships. Highly recommended.
An accessible introduction to preschool, helping young children as they prepare to transition to a new environment.
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