SLJ Blogs

Review of the Day: Being Home by Traci Sorell, ill. Michaela Goade

Betsy Bird, Apr 28, 2024

Look at the jaw-dropping art and stellar storytelling inside, and this book may serve to upend everything you thought you knew about moving day picture books.

2024 Books from Printz Winners

Travis Jonker, Apr 29, 2024

The Moral Dilemma of THE MONSTER AT THE END OF THIS BOOK

Travis Jonker, Apr 25, 2024

BLOG POSTS

GOOD COMICS FOR KIDS

Preview: Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #350

Brigid Alverson, May 03, 2024

Today's Archie Digest preview focuses on the hazards of high school sports.

TEEN LIBRARIAN TOOLBOX

Take Five: New Middle Grade Books in May

Amanda MacGregor, May 03, 2024

We are lucky to live in a time where there is just so much wonderful middle grade coming out. There's no reason to hear a middle schooler say "I'm bored" this summer.

TEEN LIBRARIAN TOOLBOX

Writing Lets Me Be the Kid I Never Was, a guest post by Carol Williams

Amanda MacGregor, May 03, 2024

I’ve finally been able to reach into that drawer and grab some panache. CJ and the soccer-princess-sprite deserve a lot of thanks for that.

GOOD COMICS FOR KIDS

Cat Out of Water | Review

J. Caleb Mozzocco, May 02, 2024

The Cat in the Hat comes back again, this time in the very first in a new line of graphic novels starring Dr. Seuss' characters and created by cartoonists working in their own distinct styles.

TEEN LIBRARIAN TOOLBOX

MakerSpace: Dipping My Toes into Sublimation 101

Karen Jensen, MLS, May 02, 2024

Teen librarian Karen Jensen discusses learning to do sublimation and what works, and what you might want to think twice about, in a library makerspace

TEEN LIBRARIAN TOOLBOX

It’s Been Twenty-Five Years: Thoughts on Erin Entrada Kelly’s The First State of Being, a guest post by Susan Uhlig

Amanda MacGregor, May 02, 2024

In 1999, almost everyone was worried about a computer flaw or bug nicknamed Y2K for year 2000. Now Erin Entrada Kelly has put the subject in a middle grade novel, The First State of Being.

100 SCOPE NOTES

Endangered Series #30: Nancy Drew

Travis Jonker, May 02, 2024

Should it stay or should it go?

A FUSE #8 PRODUCTION

Research and Wishes: A Q&A with Nedda Lewers About Daughters of the Lamp

Betsy Bird, May 02, 2024

What do The Joy Luck Club and Holes have in common? Both inspired Nedda Lewers' newest MG Egyptian-American inspired fantasy series for kids!

TEEN LIBRARIAN TOOLBOX

Read Rec Rachel: New YA May 2024

Rachel Strolle, May 01, 2024

Teen librarian Rachel Strolle shares a look at some of the new YA coming out in May 2024

TEEN LIBRARIAN TOOLBOX

Cindy Crushes Programming: Among Us Escape Room, by Teen librarian Cindy Shutts

Cindy Shutts, May 01, 2024

Teen librarian Cindy Shutts shares her recent Among Us themed escape room

100 SCOPE NOTES

The 2024 Ninja Report: Bleak

Travis Jonker, May 01, 2024

Where have all the ninja books gone?

TEEN LIBRARIAN TOOLBOX

Happy AANHPI Month! A guest post by Malia Maunakea

Amanda MacGregor, May 01, 2024

This month kicks off a celebration of books featuring or by Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders. I am excited to shine a spotlight on the Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander portion of that lengthy acronym.

A FUSE #8 PRODUCTION

A Sequel Coming This Summer That You Won’t Want to Miss: Bob Shea Discusses His Latest

Betsy Bird, May 01, 2024

"Ryan is a young alligator, not the buddha." Bob Shea is our guest today and he's talking up the sequel to his highly beloved Chez Bob.

GOOD COMICS FOR KIDS

Review| Agents of S.U.I.T. 2

Esther Keller, Apr 30, 2024

The latest volume of the InvestiGators spinoff is a hit with all ages in the Keller household!

TEEN LIBRARIAN TOOLBOX

Book Review: The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class books 1 and 2

Amanda MacGregor, Apr 30, 2024

I can't wait for young readers to get to discover this awesome new series!

TEEN LIBRARIAN TOOLBOX

Mazel Tov! Some New & Upcoming Bar/Bat/Bnei Mitzvah Middle Grade Books, a guest post by Joshua S. Levy

Amanda MacGregor, Apr 30, 2024

The bar and bat mitzvah—or, to use the modern gender-neutral term, bnei mitzvah—occurs at such a perfect, middle gradey moment. And new stories grounded in bnei mitzvah are being told all the time.

100 SCOPE NOTES

Notes on April 2024

Travis Jonker, Apr 30, 2024

Three of my favorite posts from the last month.

A FUSE #8 PRODUCTION

Lifetime Achievement Awards and Upcoming Books: A Talk with Christopher Paul Curtis

Betsy Bird, Apr 30, 2024

Have you missed hearing the voice of the ineffable Christopher Paul Curtis recently? Then read his incredible essay-response to my interview questions and bask in his words once more.

BLOGS

Navigating the High School and Academic Library Policy Landscape Around Dual Enrollment Students

John Chrastka, Apr 29, 2024

As more students take advantage of dual enrollment programs during a time when more states are adopting restrictive laws about access, academic freedom, and the right to read, we need new policy-focused partnerships between high school and academic libraries that will support student success and maintain institutional integrity.

THE YARN

Kate Messner Introduces The Kids in Mrs.’s Z’s Class

Colby Sharp, Apr 29, 2024

COLBY: When I first heard about the new series The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class, I had a hard time wrapping my brain around the concept. Seventeen authors each writing a book about the kids in one third grade classroom seemed impossible. Then I started to read the list of writers that would be contributing […]