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This chapter book companion to Bowling’s well-loved middle grade series is a recommended purchase.
PREMIUM
Snow Day in May
A perilous journey on skis, an encounter with escaped zoo animals, and a new neighbor who becomes a friend all add up to a pleasing package in this series debut.
PREMIUM
Rosie Loves Jack
Although readers will find themselves rooting for Rosie throughout her journey, this title is not recommended for collections looking to beef up their fiction featuring characters with disabilities.
PREMIUM
We Belong
Everman’s debut tackles timely topics such as immigration, and something that all adults and kids yearn for: a sense of belonging. A short, charming tale perfect for easing students into middle grade and longer chapter books.
A flawed yet touching historical fiction story worth adding to the collection.
PREMIUM
Grace and Box
All ages will relate to the timeless fun of dreaming up new vistas in this welcome addition to all picture book collections; a surefire hit for story time.
PREMIUM
Rivals
Recommended for middle grade collections; a good choice for a community-wide reading initiative.
PREMIUM
The Lives of Saints
Recommended for libraries with students who love fantasy, folklore, and Bardugo.
With the growing cultural footprint of superhero stories and other forms of fantasy and science fiction, academics have begun to examine the impact of these genres on young readers. These ten titles are an excellent introduction to the rich possibilities of early speculative fiction.
PREMIUM
Ghosted
This is a unique middle grade approach to the death of a friend that makes sense of loss through humor.
PREMIUM
Hunt for the Lost
With elements of John Stephens’s The Emerald Atlas and Lemony Snicket’s “Series of Unfortunate Events,” this magical adventure series is an exciting addition to middle grade collections.
The author of The Project discusses false assumptions about cult members, the truths of surviving trauma, and how this “crossover” book really is YA.
PREMIUM
A Small Kindness
Recommended for purchase as a solid addition to the “starting school” shelf as well as for the frequently requested topic of kindness.
PREMIUM
Boy, Everywhere
Dassu provides a fresh perspective on the Syrian refugee experience, giving readers a glimpse at a range of ordeals. Recommended for purchase.
PREMIUM
Bendy: The Illusion of Living
Skip unless you have multiple readers who are obsessed with all things Joey Drew.
PREMIUM
Girl on the Ferris Wheel
A story of how friendship and love can grow together; recommended for YA collections.
The 2021 In the Margin Book Award winners and Top 10 lists have been announced.
For the first time in its history, the SCWBI has announced a list of Golden Kite Award finalists.
In the summer of 2020, a time of tragedy and activism throughout the country, Black teens were still falling in love and discovering their relationships to the world...and Renée Watson was working on a book about radical self-love and a Black girl saving herself. Here she writes about finding joy amid pain and how love can be a personal revolution.
This utterly riveting first purchase offers a view of complex family dynamics and child labor that is shocking and powerful.
From first crushes to love of country, a grandmother's fiercely protective love to second grade boys finding the confidence to admit their feelings, we've collected a few titles we think your patrons will really fall for.
PREMIUM
There’s a Superhero in Your Book
A great read-aloud picture book that will boost story hours as listeners help save the day.
PREMIUM
Reuse This Book!
Best for one-on-one sharing, this book offers a clever way to introduce the importance of recycling.
PREMIUM
Go Be Wonderful!
Like Cynthia Rylant’s Birthday Presents, this offers a great demonstration of positivity in the face of new challenges, wherever children find them.
PREMIUM
Bindu’s Bindis
As in the recent When Nana Akua Went to School, the elder generation nudges the young to embrace their culture and the challenges of fitting in. This #OwnVoices entry offers solutions as well as a healthy dose of joy.
PREMIUM
Off To See the Sea
The illustrations along with the swirl of words on each page add to the story’s vibrancy and texture; there’s always room in the collection for this kind of collaboration.
A timely book that gently explores issues of similarity and difference, of holding on to one’s individuality while also recognizing the importance of others, this is a first purchase for all libraries.
A powerful story sure to awaken empathy and curiosity: Who else left behind a homeland, and at what cost?
PREMIUM
Curious George: Wash Your Hands
Especially in a post-COVID world, washing one’s hands is an important topic and Curious George makes it fun.
PREMIUM
Look Out, Leonard!
A silly romp with just enough suspense to be fun for little ones yet surprisingly (and pleasantly) devoid of any specific morals or lessons.
PREMIUM
Tabitha and Fritz Trade Places
A laugh-out-loud story that spells out why the grass is not always greener, with subtle language lessons built in for emerging readers.
PREMIUM
I Am a Kindness Hero
An empowering purchase for public libraries looking for new titles on building character.
PREMIUM
The Bear and the Moon
Spare text and simple illustration will immerse listeners at story times in this quiet take on love and loss.
PREMIUM
I Am Not a Dog Toy
Featuring one of the most thoughtless heroines seen in recent picture books, this sneakily adorable tale may offer readers a glimpse of their own behavior in their rushes to judgement over potential playmates and friends.
PREMIUM
Raj and the Best Vacation Ever!
A suggested general purchase, this title takes readers through the ups and downs of a first camping trip, made even better when everyone works together.
PREMIUM
Can I Sit with You?
A touching ode to the formative experience of learning to love and being loved in return.
This beautiful look at a young girl’s life and her determination to save her home is a perfect read for young environmentalists.
PREMIUM
Bear Outside
This low-key story encourages viewers to find inner resources for dealing with ordinary challenges, and could help provide children with a structure for contemplating their own armor.
PREMIUM
Once Upon a Dragon’s Fire
Themes of friendship, truth, and believing what one sees rather than what someone else says are valuable lessons imparted and shared. This is a heartwarming tale of friendship and discovery, and a compelling read-aloud.
PREMIUM
Avocado Asks
A delightful tale to help readers figure out where they belong, and, if a wise tomato is any indication, why that question may not even matter.
There really is something for everyone to find and feel good about in Barrager’s flower garden. Children will love spotting all the details and hearing their own monthly verse.
PREMIUM
A Pizza with Everything on It
Deliciously absurd, serve this tale to readers looking for fun and hilarity.
A sincere and beautiful story for all ages, and one that can gently introduce a serious discussion topic of rank and gender for older readers.
PREMIUM
This Small Blue Dot
In mixed media, Sworder makes a compelling case for a wide ranging audience to pore over these pages and take in this ode to all life has to offer.
PREMIUM
Idia of the Benin Kingdom
This unique story lyrically fills an obvious hole in picture books, animating a powerful figure and showing children that they can achieve their dreams, literal or metaphorical, through perseverance.
PREMIUM
I See You See
A quiet and peaceful picture book about how playing pretend can elevate a chore. Purchase for larger collections.
An exquisite and essential purchase for public libraries; a pitch-perfect bedtime story, this is sure to conjure beautiful dreams.
PREMIUM
Love
This will help children name their separation issues, and give parents a loving metaphor for reassuring them.
Agent Lion may be clueless but he knows how to have a good time, in this easy reader mystery that will have children laughing out loud.
Good-hearted and cheerful, this is not a first purchase, but larger collections will find space for one more entry in the ABC canon.
PREMIUM
The Boy in the Orange Cape
A simply told story about stepping forward to support the bullied and change the dynamic, this is an accessible if slight story about courage and bullying in a school setting.
PREMIUM
Patrick’s Polka Dot Tights
A solidly positive purchase. While not focusing on gender or identity issues specifically, this affirming story embraces many forms of self-expression and play.
PREMIUM
My Little Brave Girl
A gentle, simple reminder for young girls to dream big as they grow up, this is ideal for parent-child read-alouds, imparting reassurance and pride.
Illustrated with vibrant natural vistas to amplify quick, upbeat rhymes, Cyrus beckons early elementary readers to a newfound sense of the immensity and importance of trees in the world.
PREMIUM
Step by Step
A perfect book for sharing with caregivers of babies and toddlers who might be taking their first steps, too.
PREMIUM
The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt
An odd story about self-acceptance deflates a bit but is still buoyed along by charming art, a ridiculously cute leading spook, and an unusual take on Halloween.
PREMIUM
We Run the Tides
This relatable novel is recommended for high school and public library collections.
PREMIUM
Gold Diggers
Perfect for teens who enjoy deep reads like Adib Khorram’s Darius the Great Is Not Okay and Samira Ahmed’s Love, Hate & Other Filters.
PREMIUM
Justine
This novel is likely to appeal to older teens as well as adults, to whom the many details of a late 1990s adolescence may appeal.
PREMIUM
Across the Green Grass Fields
This novel is a great read for middle and high schoolers who enjoy themes of friendship and family, and a magical world of unicorns and centaurs.
This will appeal to teenage fans of adult authors like Toni Morrison, Brit Bennett, and Yaa Gyasi.
This early chapter book, with five distinct sections, will serve as a terrific transition reader for those just beginning to delve into chapter book level reading. Recommended for juvenile fiction collections.
PREMIUM
Twilight, Say Cheese!
Unremarkable but likely to please fans of unicorns and other series such as Daisy Meadows’s various fairy collections.
PREMIUM
Fox Needs Socks
This series will launch readers as effectively as Hop on Pop and Green Eggs and Ham. Recommended for most collections.
PREMIUM
The Perfect Fit
A winsome picture book for pre-readers and early readers who are learning shapes, colors, and how to navigate early friendships.
A poignant, purposeful depiction of a family learning to recognize, confront, and heal internal struggles with self-love and self-worth. Children in need of encouragement will find comforting revelations about the value of individuality.
PREMIUM
Little Scoot
The bold geometric design of the storm waves and determined tugboat will delight, although readability may be an issue for newer readers. Purchase for collections not already owning Gramatky’s tale in its dozens of formats.
A necessary purchase and thoughtful meditation, for avid fans of space exploration and newbies alike.
PREMIUM
Your Corner Dark
This novel will appeal to readers of Ibi Zoboi’s American Street and Jason Reynolds’s Long Way Down.
A cerebral and pulse-pounding exploration of what it means to be human. Highly recommended for any library shelf.
PREMIUM
Baby and Solo
A strong addition to high school libraries, as it gracefully handles mental health and demonstrates a strong, platonic friendship.
PREMIUM
Lore
In this captivating tale, Bracken brings Greek mythology to life in a battle for ultimate power along with threads of friendship, feminism, and romance.
PREMIUM
Follow Your Arrow
Recommended for public and high school libraries for readability and thoughtful examination of social identity and sexual orientation.
PREMIUM
Zoe Rosenthal Is Not Lawful Good
Though inconsistent, this novel may be a hit for geeky teens who want a quick, fun read. Recommended for middle school libraries.
A story of identity, belonging, and family, readers will thrill at this mystery set in 1400s Korea. A must for all collections.
PREMIUM
Sister of the Bollywood Bride
Purchase Bajpai’s follow-up to A Match Made in Mehendi where there is a high demand for romance.
PREMIUM
She Drives Me Crazy
Pulling vibes from classic 1990s movies such as She’s All That and 10 Things I Hate About You, this campy and fun queer romance is a breath of fresh air.
Perfect for even casual fans, this novel is action-packed with adventure and mystery. With “Star Wars” interest at an all-time high, this is recommended for general purchase.
PREMIUM
The Sky Blues
This #OwnVoices story of a gay senior’s tumultuous last semester takes Sky from despair to resilience as he realizes he has more support than he thought. Recommended for fans of David Levithan.
PREMIUM
The Other Side of Perfect
A strong portrayal of musical theater, ballet, the arts, and culture all merged into a coming-of-age story that will resonate with teens.
PREMIUM
Where the Road Leads Us
A fun and thought-provoking read for mid-size or larger collections.
PREMIUM
The Key to You and Me
An LGBTQIA romance that is sweet yet predictable. An additional purchase.
PREMIUM
She’s Too Pretty To Burn
This psychological thriller is sure to be popular with teens. A sapphic romance with elements of art, danger, and obsession, it is recommended for YA library collections.
PREMIUM
Nothing but Life
A moving portrayal of a complex situation that will appeal to teenagers mature enough to read about school shootings.
PREMIUM
The Hill
An engaging read sure to appeal to fans of feminist dystopian novels, especially those with survival aspects, such as Rory Power’s Wilder Girls.
A first purchase and a must-read. Prepare to be haunted and chilled to the bone by this exceptional story.
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