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Recommended for newly independent readers who will get caught up in this latest page-turning adventure of future Dark Lord Ember’s quest to rule the world.
Baby Yoda fans unite! Beginning readers who love Star Wars will want to check out this book to feel confident about their reading.
PREMIUM
Pete the Cat Saves Up
Recommended where stories of Pete the Cat are popular and where beginning readers are in demand.
A sweet offering for children just learning to read on their own.
PREMIUM
Otis & Peanut
For kids who enjoy sweet, sensitive, and heartfelt stories about friendship and trust.
Kids who are beginning to read will feel the excitement of a new school adventure with this delightful easy reader.
Barrager’s sweet and supportive tale will charm and delight readers and is recommended for purchase.
PREMIUM
Our Classroom Rules!
Preschoolers and kindergartners are the audience for this book, which will give them an idea of what school is all about, both with activities and what’s expected of them.
PREMIUM
When Impossible Happens
A welcome perspective on life, loss, and current events that will engage readers in the beginning but might lose their interest by the end.
Delacre’s declaration of the essential role of trees is admirable and should be heeded by all; in text and pictures she makes clear their beauty and uniqueness.
PREMIUM
The Umbrella Maker’s Son
Readers looking for an introspective, weather-driven fantasy focused on friendship, family, and community will enjoy this thoughtful story of young people fighting greed.
PREMIUM
Maurice
So much of this charms, with the early clarity about simple pleasures. It loses its way, but remains nice to look at.
PREMIUM
Mary Can!
While this colorful book by the award-winning singer and actress doesn’t tread on new territory, it is a solid choice for most collections.
While the mythology and fantasy in this story might be appealing, portions of the plot are incomplete and characters are inconsistent in their development and voice.
PREMIUM
Bravo, Avocado!
An enjoyable story about friendship and positive self-image, this is one to consider for picture book collections.
PREMIUM
Iceberg
Fans of historical fiction and Nielsen’s other novels will be riveted by Hazel and her friends’ plight across the Atlantic aboard the Titanic.
An inspiring and heartening title that will find a home in any collection.
PREMIUM
Real to Me
To adult readers, this sweet story gently conveys the inevitable pains of changing relationships, but this theme may be lost on young children; share with older elementary children instead.
PREMIUM
The Braid Girls
This enjoyable slice-of-life novel centers three Black girls navigating family, friendship, and belonging.
PREMIUM
Mildred the Gallery Cat
Children will love knowing that there was once a real Mildred at the museum, and getting a glimpse at the Matisse and Calderlike shapes Ganz strews across the graphic pages.
An epic adventure with an enduring message about love and family, this is a first purchase for upper elementary and middle school libraries.
The underlying message, that it is okay to stray from what is expected, will delight young and old readers alike.
This very funny and endearing read-aloud should be invited into every children’s room with open arms.
PREMIUM
The Monster Mac and Cheese Party
Though the author’s positive message feels tacked on, this is a sufficiently entertaining story for fans of Parr, monsters, and mac and cheese.
PREMIUM
Cape
Purchase for help with social-emotional learning and to give greater guidance to the trauma of loss for young children; this need not be used solely in cases of extreme grief, but to encourage empathy, understanding, and articulation of loss.
PREMIUM
The Scroll of Chaos
Recommended for fans of jam-packed crossover fantasy with elements of adventure and surrealism.
PREMIUM
All’s Right with the World
A reassuring lark, meant to soothe, and all’s right with this book. A first purchase for libraries.
PREMIUM
La Guitarrista
A recommended purchase that will be fun to share as a read-aloud and inspire readers to follow the song in their hearts.
PREMIUM
Under the Blanket Sky
With an owl creature that is unique and oversized pulling onlookers into the tale, this is a strong purchase for collections where animal stories circulate.
PREMIUM
The Way We Say Hello
This book will come in handy in children’s libraries everywhere, with back matter that adds further information about the most basic of greetings: Hello.
A gentle reminder for all ages that life’s ups and downs can be shared, this book is a welcome addition to any elementary library.
A welcome addition to libraries that serve children and tweens. This fresh take on Little Red Riding Hood is a necessary purchase for libraries and fantasy shelves.
A reverie of a book, offering criticism delivered with honey about our current state of affairs. It’s not at all as far-fetched as it sounds.
PREMIUM
The Brilliant Ms. Bangle
A story that celebrates librarians, reading, and how the right teacher can ease the fear of change.
PREMIUM
Malaika, Carnival Queen
Purchase where other books in the series circulate or for units on Carnival or migrant workers.
PREMIUM
Daddy and Me
A sweet and worthy addition to family-themed collections, particularly those needing more titles with father-child relationships.
PREMIUM
I’ll Be a Chicken Too
Story hour attendees will quickly learn to chant along, and naming the animals will be a happy side lesson. A title with sweet promise.
This plot feels like something recycled from the 1970s Berenstain Bears, but even they were more up to date than this.
PREMIUM
The Jump
An entertaining read for high school students, particularly for those who love adventure.
PREMIUM
No Boy Summer
A great summer read, this will be a solid choice for teens who are trying to find themselves. The spunky main character and her friends will appeal to readers looking for a character-driven story.
PREMIUM
Spell Bound
A simple but sweet story that would be a great introduction to fantasy books. Very worthwhile to have in any tween or YA collection.
PREMIUM
Silver in the Bone
Bracken is a familiar name on bestseller lists; this title likely already has fans waiting. An inventive, and slightly gruesome, fantasy recommended for general purchase.
PREMIUM
When We Had Summer
This novel, which perfectly captures the joy of summer, the heartbreak of sudden loss, and the resilience of friendship, is recommended for general purchase, and is ideal for fans of Morgan Matson or Ashley Woodfolk.
A captivating and emotional coming-of-age tale that harmonizes magnificently in verse.
This work elevates and reenergizes the canon; it’s an absolute must-read regardless of readers’ knowledge or opinion of Shakespeare.
PREMIUM
The Cherished
An enjoyable read that will appeal to those looking for an engaging blend of fantasy and mystery.
A realistic, sometimes horrifying depiction of religious trauma. Recommended for readers who enjoy the works of Courtney Summers and Tiffany D. Jackson.
PREMIUM
Three Drops of Blood
This novel will appeal to high school readers seeking a teenage take on Rear Window.
PREMIUM
The Coldest Winter I Ever Spent
Numerous triggering topics can make this a book to hand-sell
PREMIUM
Lucha of the Night Forest
In this dystopian fantasy, a teen with unsuspected power is drawn into an ancient struggle between dark and light. Recommended for high school collections.
PREMIUM
There Goes the Neighborhood
A well-written debut that tackles issues of friendship, first love, gentrification, racism, and eviction through a compelling, fast-paced narrative full of suspense, tension, and questions of fairness. Recommended for teens alongside discussions of contemporary issues.
PREMIUM
Aniana del Mar Jumps In
Mendez reads rather than performs her girl-power story, but she ensures her characters are affectingly heard.
Providing ready access in all formats to overlooked female heroes should be requisite for all libraries.
PREMIUM
Eb & Flow
A dynamic duo aurally transforms Baptist’s dueling enemies into free-versing, could-be-might-be friends.
PREMIUM
Ode to a Nobody
DuBois’s sophomore verse novel offers another heartwarming lesson of “be who you are meant to be.”
PREMIUM
We Are All So Good at Smiling
McBride’s self-described “book about depression & pain & hope” is a healing balm for suffering souls.
PREMIUM
Rain Rising
Libraries can support mental health awareness by making titles like this readily available.
PREMIUM
Garvey in the Dark
A pandemic novel might seem premature, but Garvey’s authenticity should resonate broadly with youthful audiences.
PREMIUM
Iveliz Explains It All
Share with anxious tweens and teens facing loss to show they’re not alone.
With essential lessons in environmental responsibility and human intervention—plus irresistible characters
PREMIUM
Good Different
This neurodivergent trio of author, narrator, and protagonist should resonate with their shared experience and those not on the spectrum.
PREMIUM
Salat in Secret
For anyone who has ever felt a little worried about sharing a beloved family or cultural ritual, this title will be welcome and even cherished; it will also inform some readers about Islam and explain a bit more about the practice of prayer.
In these works, the characters are cute, the chapters short, and suspense is kept to a minimum. While the genre exists for all ages, many titles are ideal for younger readers.
Whether the Easter Bunny is a little clumsy with deliveries or battling with a Leprechaun, young readers will delight in these books featuring the holiday's leading animal.
PREMIUM
Wild Blue: Taming a Big-Kid Bike
A fun picture book for readers making their own big leap and a good choice for early elementary collections.
PREMIUM
Close to You from Far Away
Along with the author’s instructions for filling out a postcard, this book is chock-full of compassionate answers for any child missing someone far away; a great addition to the shelves.
PREMIUM
Tell Me Your Dreams
Sweet and inspirational, this book will find its target audience, though it’s an optional purchase for most collections.
PREMIUM
Pop’s Perfect Present
Children will be drawn to the rhyming text, and the illustrations create an environment that most students will be able to connect with; however, the book’s theme lacks uniqueness or significance. A “like to have” title rather than a “must-have” one.
Appropriate for elementary school libraries, and would also be an asset in a classroom library or as part of an elementary school lesson for kindergarten to fifth grade students.
A first purchase for every library, this book invites readers to consider the world around them in a new way.
PREMIUM
Jayylen’s Juneteenth Surprise
For parents who want to introduce the meaning behind their Juneteenth celebrations; libraries with collections of Little Golden Books should include this one to broaden their selection.
A moving tale that touches on topics of patience, love, and loss. A worthy purchase for all libraries.
A celebration of dance, dreams, and hard work, from the inside out, and a book that delivers on its promise.
PREMIUM
Don’t Call Me a Hurricane
A more seasoned narrator might have helped to clarify this well-intentioned muddle.
PREMIUM
In the Beautiful Country
Siu’s soft, consistent delivery is a soothing balm even in the most uncomfortable moments; new immigrants seeking their stories in books will discover empathic resonance here.
PREMIUM
The Truth about Max
A book for any collection where the Provensens are popular, or where “taken-from-real-life” snapshots do well.
The unique lens through which to examine the 1849 Gold Rush will enhance historical fiction collections, though readers may long for deeper character connection.
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