A sophisticated blend of science and realism for readers who enjoyed the time-travel mystery of Rebecca Stead’s When You Reach Me or the intergenerational depth of Kelly Barnhill’s The Girl Who Drank the Moon. A strong addition to those seeking diverse speculative fiction with emotional resonance.
The original Refugee remains an important and timely book; this graphic novel adaptation brings the moving stories of Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud to life for a new generation of readers. A good choice for where the original is popular.
A sweet story that uses fantasy elements to explore neurodivergence and learning differences.
A solid purchase, this story will resonate with middle schoolers who have endured similar shifting family structures.
Filled with familial love and high adventure that will leave readers with the warm fuzzies, this is a wonderful addition to middle grade graphic novel collections.
A comforting, fun, low-stakes middle grade mystery that gains depth in the thoughtful portrayal of Amy’s anxiety.
Readers will eagerly join Edwin in this twisty, action-packed story that throws in a dollop of financial literacy and art history for good measure.
A plucky, engaging series debut that will resonate with theater-loving tweens. Perfect for middle school collections where Wicked is the musical du jour.
A perfect book for tweens seeking realistic fiction that beautifully captures the emotions and challenges of middle school. Highly recommended for all library shelves as many resonant topics are expertly woven into one satisfying story.
A graceful homage to theater as both a space and an art form, lovingly broken down to its individual parts to give each its moment in the spotlight.
Readers don’t need to be animal lovers to pick up this story about love after loss.
This visually appealing anthology provides interesting new seasonal read-alouds perfect for December story times or family reading traditions. Librarians will appreciate the variety of selections that can be incorporated into holiday programming.
Joyful illustrations and vibrant backgrounds make this a delightful addition to holiday collections.
This is a comprehensive, attractive, and accessible volume, similar in format and scope to Marilyn Singer’s Awe-some Days, Leslie Kimmelman’s Dance, Sing, Remember, and Alfred Kolatch’s Let’s Celebrate Our Jewish Holidays.
A lovely holiday story that speaks to the power of bringing community together during the holidays.
A short, sweet holiday board book for babies and toddlers, who may find the book’s odd shape appealing.
This picture book is a good fit for religious collections, especially in schools or libraries seeking Nativity stories with a contemporary flair and a strong, relatable heroine.
Though a touch saccharine in its conclusion, a charming and vibrant addition to most holiday collections.
A fine addition for libraries looking to add some lighthearted Christmas cheer to joke book collections.
Pokémon enthusiasts can deck the halls with their favorite characters in this interactive work, great to share with a buddy or enjoy independently.
A colorful book that celebrates potentially infinite diversity, this will be a story time hit for preschool and kindergarten audiences.
Recommended for general purchase for early reader collections.–Kristen Todd-Wurm
An ideal addition to collections where STEM titles fly off the shelves.
A tender, accessible introduction to an underrepresented part of American immigration history. Recommended for collections where immigrant narratives are lacking.
A generous view of the phases of the moon, written with great care, pacing, and illumination.
A lovely homage to Matisse’s life and work, this is a positive addition to nonfiction biography collections for young readers, and it is especially well-suited to reading aloud.
A vibrantly illustrated tale of finding friendship through creativity, this book is a strong addition to picture book collections and story hour shelves.
This charming board book features a helpful group of familiar animals with an engaging story that will make for an enjoyable read for an audience just learning to help others.
Touching upon the importance of a lighthouse keeper, this picture book is a good choice for children’s collections and for those in search of this compelling, but little-mentioned, occupation.
The crayons and their art are delightful, rustic, and interesting enough to keep children not only entertained but constantly looking for playfulness on every page. An aquatic amusement that lands across a range of grades.
A powerful tale that demonstrates the connective power of music and memory, as well as an appreciation for the strength of tradition passed through generations.
A first choice for every library
Recommended for lower elementary grades where fearless books on difficult topics, here masterfully captured in wordless form, are collected and lauded as required viewing.
An appealing way to teach an important life lesson in communication, and great fun for the SEL shelves.
An exciting and humorous opportunity to open discussions about the concept of seeds turning into plants, the food chain, and forest life, or just to read for fun.
A reflective social-emotional story that celebrates solitude and affirms that being alone does not mean being lonely. A thoughtful addition to collections exploring emotional intelligence and mindfulness.
A sweet and silly twist on a classic tale, with preschool-friendly pacing and a heartwarming bond at its center. A whimsically absurd love letter to childhood imagination and animal companionship.
This love letter to the great outdoors is one that every library should have in their collection.
An immensely engrossing historical story, perfect for introducing elementary readers to past visionaries and locations.
A sweet and engaging exploration of love, friendship, and emotional growth that will resonate with young readers.
An enjoyable opportunity for interactive reading with a group or as a lapsit.
Add this to the construction shelves, Christmas or not.
A highly recommended Christmas story that captures the magic of friendship, this title has something for the young at heart of all ages and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
For patrons looking for a heartwarming, comforting Christmas tale, this is perfection.
A must for holiday collections. This book will charm young children.
A fun and festive choice for holiday collections.
A gently playful addition for collections needing fresh holiday cheer for babies.
A fun and festive dive into Christmas celebrations with diverse families. Recommended for all libraries, especially where the authors’ other book is popular.
Recommended for story hours revolving around Christmas.
Though the rhyming is sometimes clunky, this book is recommended for all collections, and encourages families to teach small children about Kwanzaa.
A recommended purchase for holiday picture book collections.
Recommended as a general purchase for a holiday collection for the youngest readers. The unique layout of pages will certainly be appealing to toddlers and beyond.
An engaging book depicting a family’s fun and unique spin on their Hanukkah celebrations.
A modern city twist on a Christmas classic.
A heartfelt ode to the celebration of chosen family to welcome into every holiday library collection.
This rhyming Christmas story will appeal to young children who love dinosaurs.
A great addition to any picture book collection.
An adorable, romantic, sapphic rom-com perfect for fans of the original, but still accessible for new readers who just want a quick, fun romp.
An appealing and authentic introduction to Dongzhì for readers of any background.
A joyful title that emphasizes the importance of connection and togetherness, whether with family or found family.
A cozy, inclusive celebration of the season.
Look no further for fresh festive fun where search-and-find books are popular.
Freshen up holiday board book collections with this joyful read-aloud that encourages families to read, sing, talk, write, and play together
An excellent secular selection for any library serving young children.
Only fans of the show will enjoy this simple, short story that celebrates how life is sweeter with friends by your side.
Fans of the Christmas holiday and Adam Wallace’s “How to Catch” series will appreciate the story’s formula.
Children will love the beautiful artwork and hidden images in this heartfelt holiday book.
Full of humor and holiday spirit, this is sure to please Fenske’s existing fans and is a perfect suggestion for fans of Jan Thomas and Bob Shea.
An adorable mash-up of peas and the joy of Christmas activities with family and friends.
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