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A lively, educational celebration of mariachi instruments and a strong addition to bilingual board book collections.
PREMIUM
La profecía equivocada
This magical boarding school drama with a Greek myth twist would be perfect for Spanish-language fantasy collections.
A must for Spanish-language collections serving tweens, especially where fantasy is popular.
PREMIUM
Eres libre
This poetic picture book teaches children about diversity, freedom, identity, and respecting others; it’s a great addition to any SEL collection.
A more fact-driven but engaging introduction to bunnies. Ideal for themed, bilingual story times or early Spanish nonfiction collections.
A charming introduction to read at home or for a themed bilingual story time.
PREMIUM
El porqué de las estaciones
A great purchase for early elementary school collections and curriculum and for communities serving Spanish speakers.
A visually playful introduction to Latin American treats that works best for Spanish-speaking families. While the concept is appealing, stronger Spanish-language board books exist for teaching vocabulary.
Purchase for early elementary school collections and communities serving Spanish speakers and learners.
The SLJ reviews editors rounded up our reviews of the books lauded at the 2026 Youth Media Awards. Here, the reviews of the Geisel, Odyssey, Alex, and Batchelder Awards.
A love triangle, a foster kid, a GATSBY reimagining, book banning, a hurricane, and more.
A ghost story, a teen investigative podcaster, a Great Gatsby reimagining, a Sundown Town thriller, and a reimagining of The Winter's Tale.
We've waited long enough. Bring on the Caldecott. Bring on the Newbery.
I wrote this relationship because I believe that love is limitless and that traditional expectations can be severely limiting. This theme can be applied to so much more than someone’s sexuality. What better takeaway can a teen have than the notion that their future is full of infinite possibilities?
Books about Crohn's disease, jinns, a Nigerian village, puberty, and more!
PREMIUM
Love in Ruins
A good fit for older readers looking for a book involving Mediterranean culture along with a tale of a teen finding her voice.
An excellent addition to YA collections. Hand to any fans of fairy tales.
PREMIUM
Every Last Liar
Highly recommended for high school libraries, especially where gritty, fast-paced thrillers are popular. Hand this to fans of Holly Jackson and Stephen King.
Readers who enjoy fantasy, mystery, theatre, and a little bit of romance will love this twisty story.
PREMIUM
Ungodly Chaos
Action-packed and a lot of fun for readers seeking an entertaining supernatural murder mystery.
PREMIUM
Love on Ice
Librarians who can’t keep Jenny Han or Julie Murphy on their shelves should add this sweet romance to the collection.
PREMIUM
The Danger of Small Things
A thoughtful and somber read reminiscent of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, with an environmental crisis backdrop and heavy with important issues.
PREMIUM
Ambrosia Lee Drops the Mic
This book is smart, funny, and sneakily unputdownable. Give this to fans of John Green, Jenny Han, and Holly Smale.
PREMIUM
Goodbye and Everything After
A beautiful portrayal of grief, love, and acceptance that delivers a heartwarming sense of peace by the conclusion.
PREMIUM
Dragon Cursed
An excellent romantasy series opener with complex worldbuilding and an absorbing narrator.
PREMIUM
Tommy the Coward
An excellent choice for any elementary bookshelf in need of a spooky adventure story that shows that being scared doesn’t always mean you’re a coward.
PREMIUM
Each and Every Spark
Engaging historical fiction with a contemporary spin and a dash of detective intrigue. Recommended.
PREMIUM
Chris Makes a Friend
A book for socially awkward bibliophiles and kids experiencing family upheaval.
A strongly written, spooky choice for any middle school library. An outstanding recommendation for readers who enjoy R.L. Stine’s “Goosebumps” series or are drawn to the horror/fantasy genre.
PREMIUM
A Sea Monster Conundrum
A jam-packed, fast-paced adventure that will satisfy series fans and entice newcomers to jump in. Recommended for juvenile fiction collections.
An intense, educational, and visually striking addition to any school library. This is a must-have for fans of Tarshis’s “I Survived” books and anyone who enjoys high-stakes, gritty graphic novels.
PREMIUM
Kid X
A high-interest superhero sequel that has plenty of action without sacrificing depth. Highly recommended for fans of the X-Men, Shazam!, and Into the Spider-Verse.
A steampunk alternate-universe WWII adventure that’s perfect for readers who enjoy strange, swift, and engaging stories.
PREMIUM
Outside
This fast-paced roller coaster of a thrill ride is perfect for Margaret Peterson Haddix fans.
PREMIUM
Europa
Perfect for mystery lovers who enjoy Stuart Gibbs’s “Spy School” and a great addition to collections where the previous installments in Ponti’s series are popular.
A lovely book that will appeal to multiple readers; this will be hard to keep on the shelf.
PREMIUM
Nadia Islam, On the Record
Recommended for purchase for elementary collections, especially for readers who enjoyed Saadia Faruqi’s “Yasmin” series but are ready for more challenging texts.
PREMIUM
A Blood Moon
A strong start to what could be a long-running, middle grade series, perfect for fans of the “Warriors” books.
PREMIUM
Hilo Presents: The Mighty
Winick’s fun-loving, heartfelt storytelling presents a new hero whom Hilo fans will be glad to welcome with open arms.
PREMIUM
Goodbye, French Fry
A mildly didactic sequence of slice-of-life vignettes. Purchase where realistic fiction featuring culturally diverse characters is needed.
A sweet fantasy adventure that touches on themes of grief, with a good amount of humor and artistry throughout.
PREMIUM
Bad Sister
Fans of the “Identikill” series will want to know the ending; purchase where the first title is popular.
PREMIUM
Checked Out
A secondary purchase for collections in need of accessible engaging texts and for those with fans of social themes.
An excellent picture book biography that amplifies one of the unsung heroes of science.
Misfits #3, a whodunnit, a magical beasts meets body-swap story, new Chanel Miller, and a story set during the 1885 expulsion of Chinese Americans from California.
A creepy YA focusing on Edgar Allan Poe's descendant, a nonfiction title honoring Black basketball players, and board book and audiobook offerings appear on the first starred list of 2026.
The spirit of a teen girl is always formidable. There’s so much to explore. It’s a gift to spend time inside the mind of one who has a lot to say, who wants many things, who gets plenty wrong—and who does not have to shrink to be loved.
New Dan Santat, a girl gang, a friendship break-up, a story inspired by Armenian and Persian mythology, and a memoir.
Blessings are all around in these gentle picture books that exalt sharing and gratitude in a manner accessible to children.
Every year, Colby Sharp and I like to record an episode of The Yarn podcast looking ahead to the upcoming year in children’s books. In our 2026 preview, we talk about books we’re excited to read, books we’ve already read and loved, and make some predictions for the year. You can listen here: Subscribe below […]
I’ll always be a Jo, but I’m trying to be a little more like Beth March.
PREMIUM
Hoot Hoot
Perfect for story hours and one-on-one reading, this will be a crowd-pleasing choice on library shelves.
A strong addition from a neurodivergent author and illustrator that will resonate with many children and families.
PREMIUM
The Smushkins: ABC Zoinks
A strong primer for early ABC learning and a recommended purchase for most libraries.
PREMIUM
The Tiniest Giant
A lovely choice for potential nature lovers everywhere, and their caretakers.
A joyful and informative introduction to the Chinese New Year that belongs on library shelves.
PREMIUM
One Night In Bethlehem
A suitable purchase if more religious board books are needed in the collection.
A striking blend of high-contrast art and real photography that makes this a first purchase for most collections.
PREMIUM
My Mom Loves . . . Music!
An additional purchase for libraries seeking books that highlight mothers.
A first purchase wherever Taylor Swift is popular, which is to say, everywhere
PREMIUM
Make Tracks: Great Outdoors
A lovely choice for outdoorsy families and curious young explorers.
PREMIUM
Dirt’s Journey
A strong nonfiction choice for children who love learning every detail about the world around them, and helpful for parents getting lots of questions.
A unique and valuable addition that belongs on shelves everywhere; Jewish or not, children need to know about its meaning.
PREMIUM
Charlotte’s Web: Board Book
Although the original chapter book remains a beloved work of literature, this simplified adaptation is one that libraries can comfortably skip.
PREMIUM
Babies at the Zoo
A supplemental purchase for collections in need of additional animal titles.
PREMIUM
Who Will Rule the Trees?
Libraries seeking modestly religious creation stories may find this a quiet, sturdy edition to add to the shelves.
PREMIUM
Go Bananas!
Pull this one out when the classroom or story hour needs a reset and some giggles.
PREMIUM
Spirit Shadow
An additional purchase for collections seeking more Indigenous representation.
PREMIUM
Turtle Slept In
Fans of this prolific author’s work as well as children who love nature and seashore life will enjoy this short, beautifully illustrated story.
PREMIUM
Planting Hope
A vibrant picture book, this would be a good selection for libraries, with a celebration of hope that is always welcome.
This wonderful book would be a solid addition to any library as a reminder for all ages to appreciate the small things.
PREMIUM
Home Away from Home
Sweet celebration of faraway family, the beauty of culture, and common experiences Nuha and Jadda share make this a standout. Recommended for all collections.
PREMIUM
Shrinking Violet
This title is a great addition to social-emotional learning collections, offering a dynamic and unique approach to discussing anxiety, inner strength, and resilience with young readers during a fun and compelling read-aloud.
PREMIUM
Sockflea: A Stuffie in the Wind
This book is a surefire hit for story hours, providing laugh-out-loud moments contained in an adorable bundle of elephant energy.
An excellent addition to any library’s poetry collection, and good for teaching about the gifts of the natural world.
PREMIUM
The Shy Book
A kind and gentle introduction to the challenges of being shy, this book will help those who are feeling those pangs and those who want to help them.
PREMIUM
Luna and the Night
Crafted with care, from texts to illustrations, this book will help young readers understand their fears.
PREMIUM
Miriam and Her Dancing Shoes
A nice addition to libraries where religious stories are of high interest.
This joyful collaboration will be equally enjoyed by children who already know about Hajj and by those who are learning of it for the first time.
PREMIUM
The Wildest Thing
An excellent read-aloud for young children at home with a parent or older sibling, this book inspires a love of nature and a healthy disregard for all that is prim and proper.
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