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In these books that take place in part during the first semester of college, characters learn more about themselves during this time of transition—and maybe fall in love along the way.
A beautifully crafted book about the joys of sharing a special moment, this will inspire in children an appreciation of nature.
PREMIUM
One Can Be
This simple picture book about the joy of being alone and the benefits of working together is a solid purchase for most collections.
A solid choice for libraries, especially those seeking more slice-of-life Latinx representation.
PREMIUM
Goodnight, Pickleball
If it’s okay to center the father and leave the child on the sidelines, share this with young readers. This is a recommended and playful introduction to the sport.
PREMIUM
As the World Goes By
A gentle, thoughtful story that encourages children to slow down and appreciate the small moments of beauty in everyday life.
PREMIUM
Axolotl and Axolittle
Cute-as-can-be axolotls engaging in sibling squabbles don’t save the text that forces rhymed endings.
A story of niche interest, but worthy for larger collections.
A worthy addition to early reader collections.
PREMIUM
The Shindig Is Coming!
An enjoyably silly title that would be a welcome addition to a library’s beginning chapter books collection; a recommended purchase.
PREMIUM
Octopus Moves
For stories about helping friends, Joe Cepeda’s I Help or Suzy Capozzi’s I Am Helpful: A Positive Power Story offer stronger narratives. However, the unique illustrations in this title make it a worthwhile secondary purchase.
A good purchase for libraries serving Spanish-speaking communities and where diverse and neurodivergent books are needed or in high demand.
A good purchase for libraries serving Spanish-speaking communities, especially those serving Puerto Rican communities.
An inspirational picture book that encourages young readers to leave a bright path behind them, this title is an excellent addition to Spanish picture book collections.
A heartfelt picture book celebrating Day of the Dead, this special title also reminds readers that every moment of life is special. Purchase for all picture book shelves.
This translated award-winning picture book with stunning illustrations has a place in every library’s Spanish-language picture book collection.
An ode to the magic of the desert and the wonders of exploration and imagination, this Spanish-language picture book is an excellent addition to children’s collections.
Despite a busy design, this is a good purchase for libraries serving Spanish-speaking communities and where STEM books are needed or in high demand.
PREMIUM
9 pequeñas personas
This sweet celebration of diverse families is a general purchase for Spanish-language picture book shelves.
PREMIUM
Un país en mi mochila
A strong choice for migrant teens looking for books that mirror their own experiences and a good addition to Spanish-language fiction shelves for older readers.
PREMIUM
Hay gatos en este libro
This is a fun title that parents and children can read and enjoy together. A general purchase for picture book shelves.
PREMIUM
Y, también, el zorro
Easily at home in nonfiction, picture book, and poetry collections, this would make a great choice for nature walks or as a precursor to research projects. Animal lovers will fully embrace this tale.
A charming bilingual picture book for general purchase.
PREMIUM
El niño con flores en la cabeza
A gentle way to explain sorrowful moments in life, this book should be in every collection.
PREMIUM
Los libros son una lata
This picture book, with its humorous protagonist and fun take on books and reading, is a fun addition to Spanish collections for children. It can be used as writing prompts or as part of the school curriculum.
PREMIUM
Joan in the Cone
A perfect read-aloud for children, especially in cases where teaching resilience and acceptance are needed.
PREMIUM
Nothing Ever Happens
Fun and clever, Nothing Ever Happens is a charming addition to collections, especially those intended for young children.
PREMIUM
Never Take Your Rhino on a Plane
Children will love the antics of the rhino and parents will recognize and relate to the perils and pitfalls of travel; this makes for a serviceable cautionary lesson on travel.
The abuelitos are a loving couple who warmly welcome their family to a celebration of love and connection; the counting and addition of well-chosen and highly supported Spanish is a bonus. Highly recommended.
Building an understanding of winter vocabulary, this is an excellent addition to any collection.
PREMIUM
Our Friendly Farmhouse
An uplifting tale of family doing hard work together to make the life they envision.
PREMIUM
The Monster in the Lake
A visually engaging story with playful elements, but the confusing message and weak plot make it a lower priority for library collections.
This celebration of creativity and resilience is a first purchase for school and public libraries.
The good heart at this story’s center may not move most readers beyond the clumsy text.
PREMIUM
Grandmother Moon
A solid choice for libraries needing books on Indigenous populations or looking for an introduction to Native belief systems.
PREMIUM
Vera the Astronaut
With a bit of suspense, this is a fun picture book about working hard and following your dreams, sure to spark contemplation about teamwork and good sportsmanship.
PREMIUM
Come Back Out, Mole!
This will allow for excellent discourse about worrying and about the quiet joys that can be found in friendship and in the world.
PREMIUM
There’s a Dinosaur in Your Book
A sweet and silly story that will help readers in the process of learning to use their inside voices, this is recommended for purchase for larger collections and where the series is popular.
PREMIUM
Vera La Valiente Is Scared
A relatable story with wide appeal about bravery and emotional honesty.
PREMIUM
Un-Wanted
This will be a big hit with toddlers at story hours and early elementary readers emerging into literacy.
PREMIUM
Meet the Smushkins
While the illustrations are intriguing and raise many questions, it is also easy to get derailed among the unusual characters and their goals. Forthcoming books in the series should reveal more.
PREMIUM
Will and Krill
A thoughtful book to share for story times and discussions about speaking up, intended for all children who need a sweet—pun-laden
PREMIUM
What If We…
A winning, emotionally insightful story of FOMO in the early years and snug sibling togetherness.
PREMIUM
The Speedysaurus
With lessons of encouragement and persistence, this tale is a warm and welcome addition to social-emotional health collections.
PREMIUM
Popcorn Bob Can’t Stop Popping
Straight to younger children from the choleric kernel, a tally of tried-and-true techniques for turning down the heat when the oil starts to boil.
PREMIUM
Mom
A lovely picture book focusing on mothers and their love, and a sweet addition to all collections.
Shelve this excellent book with Corinna Luyken’s The Book of Mistakes and share with those who struggle with anxiety and perfectionism.
This trip is a great purchase for picture book collections, bilingual or not.
PREMIUM
A Stronger Home
While admirably addressing the issue of domestic violence, this book misses its intended mark for the child reading alone; it’s better for story-hour discussions or shared one-on-one with children needing a safe environment for articulating their questions.
PREMIUM
Sounds Like Joy
This eye-catching picture book brings joy to both the eyes and ears of young children who believe in a little magic, and it is a good addition to all collections.
PREMIUM
Rosemary Long Ears
This book brings simple joy to all collections, offering a story every toddler will relate to, with lots of opportunities for pointing and naming. And it will certainly help any little one who hates the idea of bath time overcome all objections.
PREMIUM
Firefly Season
Sisterhood knows no limits, even across different cultural backgrounds, in a story that blends Indigenous and South Asian facets in a wonderfully accessible and childlike way.
PREMIUM
Noah and His Wagon
Not an essential purchase, this could be a nice addition to the SEL shelves or those covering the pitfalls of losing a friend.
Add this to collections; it’s perfect for toddlers and beyond.
PREMIUM
Eve and Adam Discover the World
After thousands of years of one interpretation, the old story is reinvigorated by this perspective, making it a welcome addition to collections.
PREMIUM
New Shoes for Leo
Recommended for all collections: the playful illustrations bring this story of family transcending borders to life. In a window and mirrors moment, the themes of the book encourage empathy and understanding.
PREMIUM
We Leap Together
Loving illustrations and eloquent but sparse text connect two children and their loving parents with an ending that leaps off the page. Highly recommended.
PREMIUM
Cranky Makes a Friend
This book is a wonderful example of how to successfully work through adjusting to new people, being secure in being our true selves, and changes in daily routines and overcoming insecurities when making new friends. VERDICT A wonderful example of how to work through issues and insecurities when making new friends.
Emotionally powerful and quietly magical, this is a story that lingers and one that readers will find themselves drawn to from the start.
Excellently illustrated and written, this Spanish-language picture book makes the topic of immigration accessible for young readers.
I wanted warmth to radiate off the page. Kids deserve a model of what respect looks like, what empathy looks like, what support looks like. Especially nowadays.
In this Q&A series, SLJ poses five questions and a request for a book recommendation to a debut YA author. A. A. Vacharat shares about This Moth Saw Brightness in this latest installment.
These three novels explore the fun, freedom, and complications of life on vacation for tweens.
PREMIUM
The First Noel: A Christmas Song
Recommended for additional purchase. Though in the format of a board book, most babies and toddlers will only delight at the pictures of the animals, unless they are already familiar with the song.
A clever retelling of a classic that has a place in all libraries.
PREMIUM
Stop That Witch!
This Halloween story will delight readers, and the surprising (and sweet) end will make it an instant favorite.
A fresh take on a touch-and-feel book that brings the Halloween spirit.
PREMIUM
Hap-Pea Halloween
Offer this fun title early in the season to inspire and support the inevitable conversation about what to be for Halloween.
PREMIUM
The Gods’ Revenge
A solid purchase for all library shelves where the first book was enjoyed.
A heartwarming story with a simple yet effective moral. Recommended for most library collections.
PREMIUM
Time for Bed!
A fantastic choice for gift-giving or giveaways. For libraries that circulate Indestructibles, this is a highly recommended addition to the collection.
While the story is predictable, the text in this book might be difficult for early readers. Librarians may want to preview before putting it on shelves.
PREMIUM
Lucy Sings on Lucy Street
A heartfelt remembrance that encourages readers to find the light in hard times. A supplemental addition for libraries seeking to expand their collection with longer picture books.
PREMIUM
How to Catch Bigfoot
Doesn’t exactly promote a paleo, or even nutritious, diet, but features enough silly bits to keep fans, at least, from examining the series premise too critically.
PREMIUM
Under One Rainbow
With immersive illustrations and simple text, this book provides a wonderful first introduction to Pride, community, and resilience for children.
PREMIUM
Bearsuit Turtle Makes a Friend
A quirky and sweet animal friendship story with special appeal for fans of the author’s other books.
PREMIUM
Year Round
A recommended choice for reading and sharing thoughts and surprises. This book goes well beyond the facts about the seasons to challenge readers to confront the unexpected.
These reviews cover volumes in new and ongoing series for young people at every stage of their reading journey.
Rigorous, research-based phonics readers for librarians, educators, and families who are supporting readers at a variety of levels.
These bright additions to picture book series will allow children to go on new adventures with familiar characters.
Old friends and new skills take center stage in these silly and warm books that kids will be thrilled to encounter on the road to independent reading.
A robust collection of chapter books filled with gentle high jinks and diverse characters.
Whether it’s harrowing tales of survival, epic fantasy, spine-tingling horror, or silly derring-do, the name of the game in these series installments is adventure.
These slim, accessible series have all the drama, intrigue, and action older students are looking to read.
From The Smurfs to the Pizzaplex, these reviews will help librarians keep up with this high-demand format.
These reviews cover continuations of YA series or duologies, where young revolutionaries become queens, friends become enemies, and enemies become allies.
Romance, action, and incredible art take center stage in these new and continuing manga series.
PREMIUM
The Right Call
A great purchase for libraries who own other Greenwald titles or who are looking to expand their sports fiction collections.
PREMIUM
Leonard Builds a Haunted House
A fun, feel-good story about self-expression with a spooky twist, perfect all year around or the Halloween shelves, even though the holiday isn’t named.
PREMIUM
Baby Cousin’s Big Day
A sweet, culturally rich read with educational value, especially in early childhood settings, this is recommended for collections to broaden representation and invite family-centered conversations.
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