Quick and to the point reviews of some recent YA titles, including one I admit to only skimming.
The phrase "best friends forever" takes on new meaning for Dino and his former BFF July, who is not-dead, in this really readable, engaging, strange, poignant, and funny journey through a relationship autopsy.
Three strong and exceptionally talented Black YA authors have hit the trifecta with books that are new releases or coming soon and reflect hip-hop culture.
Today is Presidents Day and I’m here celebrating with a bowl of plain oatmeal, or as I like to call it, “The Champaign of Breakfast foods.”� It got me thinking about books coming out in 2019 that have to do with presidents. Turns out, some pretty interesting stuff. Let’s have a look. Did I miss […]
Get out your reading lists! New titles coming soon from S.K. Ali, Sonia Patel, Claire Legrand, and so many others.
If you know Aaron Becker's name it's probably from that magnificent quest trio of picture books, Journey, Quest, and Return. Becker took a seemingly simple form, the picture book, and gave it breadth and depth without sacrificing child-interest and focus. But apparently that wasn't enough of a challenge because now he's created a board book and it's a doozy of a marvel.
Abrams Children’s Books has announced a new series of biographies for middle grade readers: First Names. Eight books are planned and will cover historical and contemporary figures in a highly illustrated format, with titles on Harry Houdini and Amelia Earhart due August 2019.
A lesson plan for Sophie Blackall's award-winning picture book.
February's LGBTQIA+ new books include a graphic novel retelling of Little Women, a summer romance, multiple fantasy titles, and a middle grade book with a genderfluid main character.
I like it when familiar books get new covers. It’s an instant mystery: why did this book get a new cover? Sometimes it’s to appeal to a different audience. Other times to mark an anniversary. And occasionally a book might just use some sprucing up. I have six books that are being recovered in 2019, […]
The author and teacher talks about her debut novel, a sensitive yet honest look at a girl grappling with colorism, internalized self-hatred, and parents she can't always count on.
The In the Margins Book Awards honor the best books published over the preceding 18 months that appeal to the reading needs and wants of teens from marginalized backgrounds. The committee selected three top titles in the categories of Fiction, Nonfiction, and Advocacy. They also released their full Top 10 list.
This updated edition is a useful resource that is aimed at queer teens, but those seeking to provide a welcoming, affirming environment for LGBTQ youth will also find this indispensable.
BURN AFTER READING Ted Geisel’s thank you letter to a friend who stopped him from burning his first picture book manuscript is up for auction. Click here to read about it. BUT SRSLY Lauren Child thinks children’s publishing is getting the short end of the stick and is advocating for a change. Click here to […]
The author's new graphic novel, about a black student enrolling in a predominantly white private school, tells powerful truths about racism and alienation with humor and heart.
There’s nothing quite like a charming meet cute or the ups and downs of first love. Check out these contemporary YA romances that teens will fall in love with in the next few months.
A new app and database from YALSA lets users access nearly 4,000 YA titles, plus awards, a new children's imprint, and more in NewsBites.
Find all of SLJ's 2019 YMA stories, interviews, and reviews in one place.
Including the Asian Pacific American Librarians Award and Sydney Taylor Book Award winners did not overcome the disappointment felt by many when ALA did not announce the affiliates' honor books during the ceremony.
On the Diverse Books Survey page, users can access related content, newly updated, as well as our Diverse Books Survey report.
Get out your reading lists! New titles coming soon from Shaun David Hutchinson, Stacey Lee, Abdi Nazemian, Katie Henry, and so many others. Also, this batch of new books features some exceptionally awesome covers, including a girl in a hot dog suit.
Elizabeth Acevedo, whose debut novel won over the publishing world, critics, and award committees in 2018, continued her streak as The Poet X nabbed the Michael L. Printz Award and the Pura Belpré Author Award at the 2019 Youth Media Awards ceremony on Monday.
The picture book about "everything in life" follows her 2016 Caldecott-winning Finding Winnie.
The Youth Media Awards provided surprises, a diverse list of winners, and some committee decisions to debate.
Teaching ideas for Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina, winner of the 2019 Newbery Medal.
Claire Hartfield and Ekua Holmes are author and illustrator winners, respectively, in this 50th anniversary year for the Coretta Scott King Book Awards.
The 2019 Newbery Medal-winning author talks about her reaction to the phone call, writing about Latino families at this time in our country's history, and the power of the award.
I’ve done a number of cover reveals here over the years, but today is something a bit different. Dare I say an innovation in the realm of cover reveals! Today we are revealing a cover online, just as it is being revealed in the real world in Seattle at the American Library Association Midwinter. The book […]
These forthcoming books from Penguin Random House will keep you busy this spring and summer. Novels about grief, secrets, guilt, breaking free, and so much more. Get ready to add a bunch of new titles to your TBR list!
What the heck is 'Creators IRL'?". Apparently this is something Penguin created to "offer a safe space for conversations, questions, revelations, and reflections between readers and some of their favorite creators. Featuring candid discussion from some of the book community’s most beloved creators, each video will center on a particular topic and explore how that topic has influenced the creator’s life and career." Today, I'm premiering the third video in the series. Its focus? “Identity”.
DEAR ZOO: WHERE ARE THE FEMALE ANIMALS? You ever notice how in Dear Zoo, there are no female animals? This blog did. And now, for some reason, people are mad that the blog called it out??? Where’s an eye-roll emoji when you need it? (Related note: A couple weeks ago Brian Lies wrote an excellent post […]
These titles jump-start important conversations about online conduct, safety, and ethics.
Readers who like really complex relationships will love this book about best friends Sophie and Peter and what happens after Sophie donates a kidney to Peter. Life never really goes as planned, does it?
Reflection Press has put together a well made infographic regarding representation and own voices in children's publishing. Add this tool to your collection of tools to discuss representation and collection development.
When I’m old and retired and I’m giving out the award for Hardest Working 100 Scope Notes Image of All Time, you know who’s name I’m going to call? Right here: This is your annual reminder that The 2019 Youth Media Awards are coming on January 28th at 8:00 am PST (11:00 am EST). The […]
Young people have always used a language of their own. But does that language belong on the page? Is it literary?
REBOOTING Roald Dahl’s The Witches is coming back to theaters and Anne Hathaway will be a part of the action. Click here to read. CHOOSE YOUR OWN LAWSUIT The Choose Your Own Adventure publisher is suing Netflix over Black Mirror: Bandersnatch. Click here to read. LET ME TELL YOU WHAT YOU SHOULDN’T READ In “You […]
When Riley's mother goes missing, his only hope is that the Whispers in the woods will help bring her back home. A moving, thoughtful examination of trauma, grief, and the power of imagination.
In Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan's stunning new book, the authors introduce readers to two budding activists who challenge the status quo at their school.
With anti-Semitism on the rise, teaching the lessons of history to inform students and counter bigotry has never been more important. Here are resources with recommended books for young readers about the Jewish experience and a new curriculum to help students understand the Holocaust and its legacy, with the life of Oskar Schindler as an entry point.
Netflix has brought back Carmen Sandiego and, with her comes a series of books and series-related materials for educators. That and more industry news in NewsBites.
The Poet X and Ghost Boys are winners of the 2019 Walter Dean Myers Awards for Outstanding Children's Literature.
By the end of WWII, 6,520 black women served in the US Army. This well-written and incredibly engaging book tells some of their stories and is highly recommended for all collections.
R.I.P. JB One of the picture book greats, John Burningham, has passed away. If you’re a fan of the form and you haven’t dug into Burningham’s catalog, you should. Click here to read more. AWESOMELY WIMPY I remember watching a video interview with Jeff Kinney a while back (I can’t find it now or I would […]
As we celebrate multiple space exploration anniversaries in the next few years, these are just some of the recent crop of titles that will spark kids’ interest.
The author of The Music of What Happens had an annual award named after him after he spoke out against a bigoted panelist at the NCTE conference in November and talked about the incident emotionally a couple of days later. He is quick to admit, however, that he doesn't have all the answers when it comes to the right way to combat hatred and bigotry.
There are a wealth of opportunities in this edition of NewsBites—from a earning school library grant or a social media superstar award, winning book donations and an exhibition possibly stopping at your branch.
Greg Howard joins us to talk about his forthcoming middle grade debut, THE WHISPERS, absent mothers, and turning reality into fiction---sort of.
New Year, new books. Here are 10 that I’m excited about this season. So excited, in fact, that I included 11 books instead of 10. Picture Books The Lost Book by Margarita Surnaite Margaret K. McElderry Books (Simon & Schuster) | February 5 | Grades K-2 A rabbit finds a book that sends him on […]
The debut YA author talks about her path to publication, the “soupiness” of her characters, and what she’s working on next.
Happy New Year! Two coming soons to keep an eye on . . . Coming Soon #1 Netflix released this trailer about animated Roald Dahl stories to come. I am cautiously optimistic about this news, especially since they will be animated. Is it just me or is live-action more difficult to pull off? Maybe I’m […]
On April 4th, Lantana Publishing will release Maryam al Serkal’s tale about a little girl that wishes her curly hair were straight like her mama’s. Filled with vibrant art and images, it’s about embracing your natural hair, no matter where you’re from.
A school librarian combines her love of dogs and books in a successful pilot program.
“Give a kid a cardboard box….” You’ll often hear parents quip that their child was more interested in the box rather than the new toy. And I know when my groceries are delivered in cardboard boxes, my kids beg me to keep it around. It becomes a house, a bus, and anything their imagination allows. Chad Sell and his many collaborators use this concept to create a rich story about a group of neighborhood kids that allows their imagination and ours to soar.
January's LGBTQIA+ new books include sequels, trilogy starts and finales, a Muslim girl with a secret, and a middle grade debut.
Guest post author/illustrator Brian Lies discusses the choices he made to both art and text when creating GOT TO GET TO BEAR'S!, and the implications and importance of gender choices in even the sweetest of picture books.
Murdock weaves a mystery about redemption and desire into a world that believed in scraps of wood, bone and dust.
Salt Lake City patrons line up for free gun locks, while Ohio library staff gets mental health training, and Baltimore system teams up with TV personalities in this edition of NewsBites.
Guest reviewer Erica Friedman thinks Manga Classics improved on Hawthorne's original version of the Scarlet Letter by making one character a bit more relatable.

Through a well-told first person account and captivating illustrations, this personal yet universal story of illness and hope presents the many shades of human emotion. An excellent selection.
A good fit for confident readers, and for fans of the "Who Was?" series.
A fun read-aloud before art class or in a maker workshop.

A rich history both of hip-hop and photography, for all collections.
A supplemental purchase inspired by a noted American woman in the field of medicine.
Recommended for medium to large collections in need of light friendship stories.
A great story of friendship and how it's rescued by a comic book. Pair with John Himmelman's Chickens to the Rescue for a heroic storytime.
Most libraries will want to have this lengthy, detailed volume for students looking to beef up their general knowledge.
A solid choice for libraries serving music history buffs, a browsable volume for general interest shelves, and good starting place for reports.
This is a good choice for libraries interested in expanding art themes for preschool and kindergarten age children.
A general purchase for most YA collections, especially those looking for genre-bending mysteries.

This successfully delivers a message of everyday celebration in one simple gesture. As an introduction for children to social activism, this book will serve well. A terrific read-aloud for one-on-one and small group sharing.
A well-presented work, recommended for most collections serving high school students.
An excellent addition to middle school and high school library collections.

A must-have for all libraries and fans of sci-fi.
A good selection for classroom and library storytimes, as it naturally presents a lesson about talent and jealousy that children just entering school are likely encountering.
Sure to spur the conversation on race and identity, this is a strong addition to any collection for mature teens, especially as a supplement to history texts that have left out the stories and voices of people of color.
Recommended for burgeoning activists and teens interested in politics, history, and current events.

An excellent choice for most biography collections. The rollicking language and gorgeous art make this a terrific read-aloud and conversation starter for older elementary students.
Lovers of Jane Austen will find much to enjoy here as they explore the perspective of Miss Caroline Bingley.
A timely account that most libraries will want to consider.
An exciting and romantic look at a lesser-known superhero, for DC comics followers and newcomers alike.–Anna Murphy, Berkeley Carroll School, Brooklyn

Painstaking research, straightforward delivery, and succinct explanations make this a smart addition to nonfiction collections.
This tender story of parental love is an excellent choice for one-on-one sharing, but groups will also relish making the animal sounds and chiming in on the repetitive phrases.
This thoroughly appealing and empowering starter course in woodworking skills is a first purchase for libraries serving young makers.
A good choice for collections in need of titles that provide a broad overview of American space history.
Highly recommended for all horror and psychological thriller collections.
An excellent choice for independent reading and sharing in small groups.

A must-have for all collections.

For all graphic novel collections.
–Francisca Goldsmith, Library Ronin, Worcester, MA

Compelling and relatable, this is highly recommended for all middle grade collections.
This joyful introduction to significant women throughout history is highly recommended for upper elementary and middle school nonfiction collections.
A hopeful, if somewhat predictable, story about students trying to resolve problems large and small.
A laugh-out-loud crowd-pleaser perfect for storytime and small group sharing.
A suggested general purchase for guided reading, the visual variety of images urges readers to infer changes in text.

Eye-catching visuals and intriguing material make this overview of all things frog a first-rate choice.

Spotlighting underrepresented voices, this work is highly recommended for all communities in their efforts to promote empathetic, inclusive discussions around immigration.
A sweet and hopeful tale—highly recommended for one-on-one and small group sharing.
A fine addition to middle and high school collections where history titles are in demand.

A novel exploration of societal roles, gender, and equality through the eyes of captivating lead. Recommended for all young adult collections.
A lovely, dark, and twisted fantasy for those of who have never quite outgrown fairy tales.
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