Save the date for our 2025 Mock Newbery webcast Friday Jan 24th at 1 pm EST.
From board books that invite the littlest readers to hippity-hop to anthologies that encourage older readers to explore deep themes in narratives, these 11 titles celebrate the Festival of Lights in a variety of ways.
From historical works to books influenced by personal history to those with characters who must examine the past to move forward, these five titles are strong Printz contenders.
Today on this list you're going to see titles about Eid, Mexican Independence Day, Día de Muertos, Passover, and more.
These three teens know each other so well! In Constellation they are each facing situations and decisions that are difficult for them individually and impossible collectively.
Here's a look at the graphic novels that publishers have been acquiring, and when we can expect to see them.
This Thanksgiving season, I’ve been thinking about all the ways libraries have influenced my life.
It can be difficult to understand how truly praiseworthy simple picture books and their basic texts are, and how much good they do for the youngest of readers. Today, we celebrate those rarities.
It was a huge week in the movie world this Thanksgiving, as Wicked and Gladiator II continued their streaks and Moana 2 premiered to huge numbers. So I thought, while listening once again to the Wicked soundtrack, why not recommend books that I think fit some of the characters from these huge films? After all, […]
Check out this week's list of new comics, manga, and graphic novels for readers 12 and under, featuring Powerpuff Girls Winter Snowdown Showdown from Dynamite Entertainment and Flavor Girls #1 Return to the Mothership from Boom! Studios Archaia imprint.
The December Nomination period is now open. It's the last chance for Heavy Medal readers to identify two more titles that could be contenders for the 2025 Newbery Medal. Nominate your two books by December 7th.
Both November episodes featured Mac Barnett.
With these titles, young readers can see some of the many different ways people celebrate Christmas around the world.
Today, we celebrate the books that can enrapture in mere moments thanks to the power of words and images (and your own vocal chords) alone.
Board books for the youngest of young. We've the greatest 2024 titles for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers on display. Be the star of the next baby shower you attend and give some of THESE!
M’DEAR is Midwinter Drop Everything and Read. I hope you'll join us!
Mac and Sydney take us behind the scenes of SANTA'S FIRST CHRISTMAS.
Each year I dedicate the 31 days of December to a different list of children’s books released in America in the current publishing year. Find new favorites!
With only one nomination period left, now is the time to convince readers to give specific titles a second (or first) look.
Book mail continues to trickle in as we get ready to wrap up 2024!
Why on earth would the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art do an exhibit on a musical revue? I talk with its guest curator and discover the kidlit connection.
What I enjoy about Miss Edmonia's Class of Wildfires is how it encourages children to see the museum experience as something they can ACTIVELY be a part of.
Of the many Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles crossovers, this is the most unexpected one yet, as they meet Naruto and Team 7 from Masashi Kishimoto's manga series.
Is Go Tell It our first picture book bio of James Baldwin? Not at this point (though it was when it was written). But trust me when I say that this is one of those books you'll be thinking about long after you put it down.
Check out this week's list of new comics, manga, and graphic novels for readers 12 and under, featuring Flash Gordon Adventures Volume 1 Flash of Greatness from Papercutz and Sesame Street #4 from Oni Press.
I am very grateful for the books here that managed to hold my wandering attention and pull me into their fictional worlds.
COLBY: ‘The First Cat in Space’ series by Mac and Shawn is easily one of the most read graphic novels series in my classroom. Chatting with Mac and Shawn about the book was SO MUCH fun. I hope you enjoy the interview! Subscribe below to catch every episode of The Yarn: iTunes Spotify Stitcher
Jackson and his thylacine friend Irwin are back for more whirlwind trips around the world to learn about the habits and peculiarities of animals.
I am essentially making comfy nests where other tired hearts can rest, books with arguably naive but stubborn resilience against tough odds, and books with kind power in them.
Our list of nominations for the Heavy Medal Mock Newbery includes 19 books (out of 45) that have received just one vote so far. Which ones (if any) have a real chance to earn Newbery recognition?
From moving tales in verse to romantic romps to stories of monsters both real and fantastical, these 25 YA novels represent the best of teens living, loving, surviving, and thriving in worlds and times that do not always accept them.
All of SLJ's 193 Best Books of 2024 have been revealed, and we are blessed with a gorgeous cover for the December Best Books issue by Ekua Holmes, the illustrator of Black Girl You Are Atlas. See the stellar cover here.
Whether portraying a humble farming community, a home in the south of Korea, a synagogue filled with love and hope, or a neighborhood where more than small things are mended, the best picture books of 2024 celebrate how those working together are the models for humanity we want our children to witness.
We're talking haunted synthesizers and Tiffany/Robin Sparkles in today cover reveal and interview!
What’s captured reader attention the last seven days? Top picks in middle grade and graphic format books, along with the political climate and the potential impact on schools and libraries.
The shining light of the drive-in evokes the warmth, healing, and joy found in the collected writings. Details in the artwork will feel familiar to Native readers and offer a rare invitation to non-Natives.
Left-handed writer and artist Kevin McCloskey reviews Lefty and offers some commentary of his own on the prejudice against left-handed people and the hazards of living in a world geared for righties.
If I pick TEN books surely I must get one or two right when the awards are announced, right?
Can you guess the children’s book by its scathing one-star review on Goodreads?
Herewith, authors who have not won a Newbery Medal, including those who have won at least one Honor and some of the many excellent writers who haven’t yet been awarded any Newbery recognition. Emily and Steven kick off the conversation on "Heavy Medal."
The blossoming ranks of stellar biographies for young readers continue to crowd the shelves. Japanese athletes hit their summits in two vastly different ways, an author attempts to right the record on Rosalind Franklin, and a forgotten sports hero at last gets his due. And that's just the start of the Best Books in the category of nonfiction for the elementary grades. Come have a look.
SLJ's 2024 best middle and high school nonfiction selections run the gamut from insightful memoir; thoughtful explorations of cultural, biological, and environmental phenomena; to unrelenting exposures of dark times in our world's sociopolitical history—and the crucial lessons we must learn from the past.
Recommended for sparking deep conversations with older teens.
An interesting take on the planets and exoplanets with great illustrations but an uneven text structure.
Friendship and misunderstanding go hand in hand in this layered character study of a teen who longs to be accepted.
A unique mix of haunting and humor that captures the volatility of youth and the belief that one’s future is worth the fight, even against the supernatural.
Well-crafted and inspiring, this is an excellent choice for readers interested in sports and issues of gender and social justice.
A serviceable addition to St. Patrick’s Day books that will please readers familiar with Chloe Zoe and her friends.
A new sibling book of a different stripe, to cherish and reread; despite the sacred, tender ceremony at its center, the story welcomes all to participate in a small moment writ large.
A wonderful coming-of-age story that successfully explores the roles that secrets and family history play in shaping family relationships.
Children will delight in looking for small details, particularly in the wordless spreads, of this lively story with special appeal to cat lovers.
This book may strike an interest in collections where books such as I Am Enough by Grace Byers or Black Is a Rainbow Color by Ekua Holmes have done well; it lacks their finesse but has a tremendous underlying message.
This book will entertain fans of “The Princess in Black,” “Mercy Watson,” and “Puggleton Park.”
A fun addition to nonfiction areas about celebrations in parts all over the world.
The gift of safety is celebrated in this historical picture book that brims with messages for contemporary children: those whose families have fled to safety and those who have welcome to offer. Highly recommended for all collections, but especially useful for older elementary classes where historical conflicts and contemporary issues are discussed.
This book would be popular in places with an Italian-centered population or in libraries looking for books about Christmas celebrations from various cultures.
Somewhat preachy, this title is a serviceable tool for parents and teachers on a very important topic; it may function best when combined with a storybook on a similar theme to enhance lessons on diversity.
A valuable addition to any collection, this early chapter book is perfect for sensitive readers seeking lighthearted fiction. It works well as a standalone, but fans will want to explore the entire series.
Readers hoping for the context or religiosity of Easter won’t find it here; those hoping for a cozy lapsit story featuring images of family love and springtime joy, will.
Ellor has truly found their stride in this sparkling tribute to a well-loved ballet that belongs first in line for purchase where teens crave classic, atmospheric fantasy or retellings.
Keep “Wimpy Kid” on the must-buy list.
As the first in a projected series, there is little here to invite reader investment in future installments. For large collections that circulate Hale’s other works.
After a busy bookish September and October, we’re combining the posts for November and December! Here’s 10 fabulous titles that release before the end of 2024. The Davenports: More Than This by Krystal Marquis Sequel to: The Davenports by Krystal Marquis The Davenports Pitch: The Davenports live in 1910s Chicago, one of the few Black […]
Phoebe Zito has just started at a new school in a new state...after just starting her new life as a girl. She has to learn to balance fitting in and being herself in this fun but complex YA graphic novel by Magdalene Vissaggio and Paulina Ganucheau.
Shifa Saltagi Safadi's novel in verse about an immigrant family, the 2016 Muslim ban, and a boy trying to balance school and family earned the prestigious prize.
The best poems educate with their facts and inspire with their beautiful flow of words. These 11 titles contain poems that do both exceptionally for young readers of all ages.
Cozy fantasies, immigration stories, and reimagined classics—2024’s Best Graphic Novels list isn’t just a collection of 25 unforgettable reads, it’s a showcase of comics that push storytelling to new heights.
The latest title in the Aven Green universe (The "Greeniverse"?) tackles Tourette's Syndrome and so much more. We reveal the cover and discuss the book with the author.
A young swordsmith engages sorcerers and the Yakuza in this tale of revenge.
This week's "Wednesday Roundup" looks at the many excellent titles from this year that fall into the broad and often-recognized category of middle grade fiction.
The trick is to not give up while the slow burn runs its course.
Mythology and animal stories compose a large part of this early reader and chapter book list, alongside contemporary tales of young protagonists staying true to themselves and the things they love while figuring out how to act among peers. These titles will help children learn how to read as well as model ideas for how they can be authentically themselves.
Gripping fantastical journeys, family secrets, unbridled joy, and inconceivable loss: in these pages, tweens are facing it all. These 26 middle grade titles are exemplars across genre of the power of truth telling and embracing one's authentic self, even when it seems impossible.
I know it isn't even Thanksgiving yet, but we are friggin' talking about Santa today. Sleigh.
I hope after reading our novel, hearts can empathize better with refugees in the community and be spurned to action. Perhaps students will take greater interest in the new classmate that just arrived in the states.
As the medium continues its meteoric rise, 2024 marked the debut of SLJ's first-ever Best Books committee dedicated exclusively to manga. From shock-charged action and celestial fantasy to eco-horror and edutainment, these 22 standout titles offer something for readers of all ages and interests, redefining what belongs on K–12 shelves—and why.
Among this year’s outstanding listens—with publication dates from November 2023 to October 2024—are two picture books, two volumes of a graphic trilogy (they count as one entry), a head-smack must-read history, and several laugh-out-loud novels.
The curation of this list is evidence of the gigantic community working together, no questions asked, to campaign for literacy and an educated republic, by inviting young readers into the pages of a book. We’d love to know what you think of our 193 selections.
If you want to have a good time, invite a parasitologist onto your site. Chelsea Wood astounds and entrances, not simply in her new book, but in this interview as well (come for the tapeworms, stay for the lice video).
Check out this week's list of new comics, manga, and graphic novels for readers 12 and under, featuring Cat's Cradle Vol. 3: Suri's Dragon from First Second Books and Sonic the Hedgehog Knuckles 30th Anniversary Special from IDW Publishing.
With so many excellent books on our Mock Newbery list, we need to really look at what books stand out. Today we do an exercise called "Battle of the Books" where we pin two books against each other.
As it turns out, becoming a writer for teens—and teen Jan—is about the most thrilling and rewarding answer to the question: who am I?
This season's series cover favorite nonfiction topics from a variety of vantage points.
Refresh your shelves with books about beloved animals and lesser-known species.
New titles in the arts and activities category promote creativity and fun.
Unsung heroes from the past and today's most popular personalities populate this diverse collection of biographies.
For striving and thriving emerging readers, these titles offer a while range of skill levels and topics.
From the reaches of outer space to the tiny world of nanobots, these science series will spark student interest.
These collections will allow readers to travel the world without leaving the library.
These timely collections will help readers make sense of the ins and outs of the U.S. Government and the election process.
Responding to stress, illness, and difficult situations is a focus of this season's health series.
The titles in these series offer a range of topics and genres to support emerging readers.
A good story can make history come alive, and these true stories from the past will draw readers in.
The practical and realistic information in these titles will help readers clear a path to their futures.
Mythical heroes and spine-chilling creatures await readers in these fascinating series.
The science behind the marvels of the natural world are explored in these series.
Exploring topics like climate change, immigration, and disability rights, these series offer information about issues young readers hear about and experience every day.
These books provide diverse perspectives, inviting curious minds to discover new ideas and broaden their understanding of the world.
This season's Spanish series include an exciting range of selections, with high-quality translations and striking artwork.
These colorful sports series are as packed with action as they are with information.
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