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Today we look at two highly creative collections of poetry and consider their Newbery Medal chances.
Author and TikTok star Taylor Cassidy joins us to talk about her new book, Black History Is Your History.
In this exclusive interview, J. Elle talks with SLJ about fantasy inspiring young adults' imaginations, how both she and her main character have grown over the course of three books, and what she hopes readers will take away from her trilogy.
In need of a picker upper? How about a book for kids that documents how Field Museum scientists do fieldwork to save the Amazon rainforest? A talk and a trailer premiere.
Today we have an exclusive announcement and preview of a new graphic novel featuring two sisters, a treasure hunt, and plenty of pancakes.
We put such firm boundaries around what is spiritual vs what is religious vs what is make-believe. Are these distinctions needed?
A program that brings school librarians together over Zoom to share ideas and support one another has helped collection development.
South Carolina Association of School Librarians past president Jamie Gregory says the lawsuit is not political, it's fighting for the constitutional rights of students and librarians.
Baker & Taylor (B&T), the largest library wholesaler in the country, is shuttering. At a town hall on October 6, CEO Amandeep Kochar told staff that B&T would cease operations.
There’s not a dull moment in these transitional books for the main characters and their siblings!
Do you want the original Dog Man, chock full of authentic Aztec myths and a healthy dose of humor? Then are you in luck today!
Today we do a compare and contrast exercise where we put two 2026 Mock Newbery Titles against each other and see which stands out.
Check out what reviewers had to say about The Story of My Anger, You've Found Oliver, Good Old-Fashioned Korean Spirit and Fireblooms as part of our Penguin TBR: Penguin To Be Reviewed Galley Program
Check out this week's list of new comics, manga, and graphic novels for readers 12 and under, featuring Ten-Ton Titan Terrier from Papercutz and Asgardians Volume 3 Loki from First Second Books.
What would you do if you found a magical device that could turn back time—but only by five minutes?
Attempts to wrench veggies off vines is the focus of today's autumnal entry. We discuss pumpkin sex, vampire fashion wear, and why one might want to garden in their socks.
Nine-year-old "nature nerd" Brooke fills her journal with drawings of the animals she sees, but she's yet to encounter a moose in the wild—although her new sister lucks into seeing one almost immediately.
An appealing title that touches gently on the Japanese immigrant experience in the United States.
PREMIUM
More Than a Million
This book is a suitable gift for Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day but is long-winded and lightweight for library collections.
Appealing only to children who want to understand the process of preparing a guide dog, this book creates considerable confusion around an important issue.
PREMIUM
Xolo
Place this on the shelf next to Jon Klassen’s The Skull and recommend it to readers who love mythology, dogs, and books that break the mold.
PREMIUM
The Dangerous Alphabet Book
Find room on the shelf for another abecedarium! Most collections will want to add this silly and fresh spin on a classic genre.
PREMIUM
I Am a Highly Dangerous Warrior!
Full of speech bubbles and humorous scenes, this very silly story has a great underlying thread for both kids and adults about listening and trusting each other’s abilities and knowledge. Sure to be a favorite.
PREMIUM
Hut! Hut! Hike!: A Branches Book
This first installment in a series of sports novels for emerging readers is a well-intended, well-designed start.
Be sure to check your local library or indie bookstores for all the other awesome new books out this month!
If we want kids to grow up reading for fun, then we need to give them books that captivate.
Today’s guest blogger is Quade Kelley, introducing THE FREEDOM SEEKER by Ruchira Gupta
Dr. Whitney Casares discusses her book, One-of-a-Kind Body and body image with pre-teens and teens.
Mood swings, miscommunication, and music characterize this story of tween friendships.
Mood swings, miscommunication, and music characterize this story of tween friendships.
What started out as a simple way to provide a voice to my younger self by giving my main character autism became a rallying cry.
"I was gobsmacked by the new research of awe—how it can change the way you think and feel, lessening our anxieties and making us more generous and kind. And I knew I had to write a book for kids..."
"I was gobsmacked by the new research of awe—how it can change the way you think and feel, lessening our anxieties and making us more generous and kind. And I knew I had to write a book for kids..."
From an insightful memoir about reading struggles to a harrowing account of a mass suicide, several authors have used highly creative approaches to present information for kids. Today we look at several examples that might be considered for the 2026 Newbery Medal.
Idris Goodwin joins us to talk about his new book, KING OF THE NEURO VERSE.
These adult titles with teen appeal feature a range of genres and topics, from magical adventures and mysteries to nonfiction explorations of everything Taylor Swift and John Green’s adult nonfiction debut.
Texas school librarian Minda Anderson created a lesson for AP English students to analyze rhetoric and learn about banned books and censorship.
A district court judge said removing the picture book about two male penguins raising a penguin chick did not violate the authors’ or students’ First Amendment rights; the South Carolina Association of School Librarians filed suit against the state superintendent; and more in censorship news this Banned Books Week.
Today we consider a slew of Spring 2026 titles. Anti-fascism, myths, philosophical considerations of silence, seasons, and more! Some real beauties are in here!
In this graphic adaptation of his best-selling middle-grade novel, Alan Gratz weaves together three stories of refugees in different times and places and brings them to a stunning conclusion.
To me, that’s the beauty of a great fictional monster. They hold up a mirror to our lives, and what we see might scare us, but it also provides the much needed sense that we’re not alone.
Yet another preview of books from small publishers! Today we examine sign language board books, Harriet Tubman's life told in poems, and so much more including (naturally) the robot revolution.
The five titles honored by the National Book Foundation include three novels in verse.
Yet another preview of books from small publishers! Today we examine sign language board books, Harriet Tubman's life told in poems, and so much more including (naturally) the robot revolution.
Check out this week's list of new comics, manga, and graphic novels for readers 12 and under, featuring Bounce Back Volume 3: So Totally Nala from Feiewl and Friends and The Vanishing of Lake Peigneur: A Graphic Novel Based on a True Story from Candlewick Press.
Check out this week's list of new comics, manga, and graphic novels for readers 12 and under, featuring Bounce Back Volume 3: So Totally Nala from Feiewl and Friends and The Vanishing of Lake Peigneur: A Graphic Novel Based on a True Story from Candlewick Press.
Our October Mock Newbery nomination list included 38 different titles. Two books lead the pack with 15 nominations: THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES by Kate Messner and THE UNDEAD FOX OF DEADWOOD FOREST by Aubrey Hartman. Check out the full list here.
It’s hard for a child to think about the future, which always feels so far away when you’re a kid. That’s why we have to think about the future for them.
Today we are discussing our fourth abecedarian picture book on the podcast and our second Gorey. This is a "cult classic" picture book, best beloved by older children who read it and felt like they were getting away with something.
Celebrate Diwali, Mid-Autumn Festival, and a wedding with these fun fall titles!
Iris Mogul talks with Banned Books Week Honorary Chair George Takei, as well as other youth advocates as part of Banned Books Week 2025 events.
Today we are discussing our fourth abecedarian picture book on the podcast and our second Gorey. This is a "cult classic" picture book, best beloved by older children who read it and felt like they were getting away with something.
Let’s fight book bans on a personal level, one book at a time. Because bans aren't only about books; they’re working to erase people and their stories.
When the amount of property damage the Hulk causes while saving the day gets Dr. Banner in legal trouble, he's forced to do community service...as a middle school teacher.
When the amount of property damage the Hulk causes while saving the day gets Dr. Banner in legal trouble, he's forced to do community service...as a middle school teacher.
PREMIUM
Hurricane Heist
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.
PREMIUM
The Academy
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.
PREMIUM
The Tear Collector
A novel that handles heavy topics with a light touch; recommended for upper middle grade.
PREMIUM
Wolf Club
An eye-opening window or mirror story for collections that need more stories involving Ojibwe beliefs, relationships, and a touch of the supernatural.
PREMIUM
The One About the Blackbird
Perhaps this is best for the shelves intended to help grandparents seeking to connect with the young generation.
PREMIUM
Sticky Hermana
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.
PREMIUM
Waiting for Max: A NICU Story
A warmly illustrated, heartfelt resource that combines comfort with information, this is an essential purchase for libraries serving young families.
PREMIUM
Mazel Toes!
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.
PREMIUM
House of Hearts
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.
PREMIUM
Butterfly 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.
PREMIUM
The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire
Recommended for collections where fairy romantasy is popular.
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