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A middle school for Orthodox Jewish girls provides the backdrop for The Dubious Pranks of Shaindy Goodman. Twelve-year-old Shaindy tangles with popular girls while participating in a twisted scheme of pranks. Set during the Jewish high holidays, the Bais Yaakov girls learn life lessons about resentment, repentance, and forgiveness.

Even as teachers and librarians face continued attempts to restrict the circulation of books normalizing diversity, publishers are dedicated to putting more of them than ever before on school and library shelves.

Experiential learning has become an integral part of many classrooms and libraries as we better understand how brains work. That tactile learning mode is essential for some students and beneficial for all.

Historically, most Spanish-language originals came out of Spain. But in the U.S. Latinx population, people of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Salvadoran, Cuban, Dominican, Guatemalan, Colombian, and Honduran origin all outnumber Spaniards. It’s important that Latinx children have access to books from authors whose origins are as diverse as their own.

Courtney Koestler and Mathew Felton-Koestler teach about equity, diversity, and justice in math education. Along with Rourke Educational Media, they have created a three-book series that teaches basic financial and data literacy from a social justice point of view. Middle grade readers will learn how to use their mathematical tool kit to address social problems.

When a cat-loving family decides to bring home a pet, their quest reveals the highs and lows of everyday family life in this heartwarming story—perfect for kitten lovers and everyone who’s ever longed for a pet.

"I have seen first-hand the impact that learning about growing food can have on kids. Once children understand that our most nutritious food comes directly from the earth and from farms, a new world of connection with their bodies and their surroundings opens up."

Many of the new books available for this year’s back-to-school season aim to help students cope with their emotions and develop the resilience they need to thrive. Others are intended to help young people find a sense of hope and community after several tumultuous years.

Publishers are working to rectify the under- and misrepresentation of Indigenous voices and history, with content that authentically represents both the historic and contemporary experiences of Indigenous people.