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Cathy G. Johnson introduces a diverse cast of middle-school soccer players who learn that you don't necessarily need to play a sport to be a team in this engaging graphic novel.
Cathy G. Johnson introduces a diverse cast of middle-school soccer players who learn that you don't necessarily need to play a sport to be a team in this engaging graphic novel.
Lots to love in this rundown of forthcoming books from Penguin Random House. I can't wait to read the new books by Junauda Petrus and Renée Ahdieh. How about you?
YA author Amber Smith talks about the constantly twisting road that led her to being out, happy, loved, and incredibly proud of the life she's created.
Publishers Humanoids and Lion Forge are featured in this week's comics picks with titles that include magical worlds and mysterious monsters.
In this Boston Globe-Horn Book award-winning picturebook, a young girl celebrates one of the most simple, yet powerful, facets of childhood—creativity.
he Rules for Vanishing takes readers on a journey down a ghost road in order to find a missing sister and friend, with mixed results.
Colby: I had a blast hanging out and getting to know Todd Parr for this episode of The Yarn. I was so happy that he turned out to be as amazing of a person as I built him up to be. The world is lucky to have him. I hope you like this episode of […]
oxes? How scary can that get? Answer: Hoo-boy. Hold onto your hats folks. Turns out, what terrifies a fox can terrify a child just as easily. For some readers the fact that everyone here sports red fur will make the horrors a little better. For others, much much worse.
Can you guess the classic children’s book by its scathing one-star review on Goodreads or Amazon? It was your own fault, Sylvester. Get it together. Click here for the answer. Why do I share these? Click here. Previously . . . One Star Review Guess Who (#1) One Star Review Guess Who (#2) One Star […]
The school year has ended around here and books that haven’t been on the shelves since September have returned. So forgive me for thinking I’m seeing things. Hold on – is that a dragon? Wait, no – it’s just the rarely spotted shelf full of Dork Diaries. SHHH! I think I see a Griffin. No! […]
An interview with Melanie Gillman, author of 'As the Crow Flies' and 'Stage Dreams.'
This Week at TLT What’s new in LGBTQIA+ YA June and July 2019 Teen Services 101: So You Want to Do Teen Programming, but What About the Books? Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2019 Showcase: Books featuring beasties, a killer flu, a changeling, and pirates Teen Services 101: What Do We Know About Teen Programming? Sunday Reflections: […]
Heavy Medal readers continue to suggest possible Newbery-worthy children's books from the current year. Check out the updated list.
PREMIUM
Cat Science Unleashed
All children who want to know more about cats will thoroughly enjoy this book. Even if the experiments are not performed, the content will certainly satisfy readers who want to read about their feline pets, and younger readers will enjoy browsing the pictures.
A beautifully illustrated book of informational poetry.
PREMIUM
Box
Heidschötter’s artwork carries a weakly plotted story. An additional purchase where middle grade graphic novels are popular.
PREMIUM
Stone River Crossing
This is a well-researched and compelling work of historical fiction. Highly recommended for any middle grade collection.re
PREMIUM
Wish on All the Stars
Occasionally, this sequel veers on didactic and saccharine, but it is sure to find an audience with upper elementary children interested in reading about kids who get involved with social justice initiatives. Purchase for most elementary schools, but especially where the first book is popular.
If the third edition is in the collection, it is probably not necessary to purchase this one. The only changes are a few photos and some statistics which can be found in other sources.
This engaging memoir is an uplifting ode to Gharib’s bicultural background, her immigrant parents, and her road to self-acceptance. An essential purchase.
PREMIUM
The Kingdom
This highly accessible title is recommended to both science fiction fans and teens who don’t normally read in this genre, and to readers who enjoyed titles such as Lauren Oliver’s Replica and S.J. Kincaid’s The Diabolic.
PREMIUM
Hope and Other Punchlines
Fans of Buxbaum’s earlier works will enjoy her latest offering. A recommended purchase for most teen collections.
PREMIUM
Fake It Till You Break It
While it’s refreshing to read a romance with an Asian American lead, this novel reworks old tropes with no new twists.
PREMIUM
Pros and (Comic) Cons
Nicholson’s latest compendium will appeal to those unfamiliar with comics and readers whose families have been taking them to comic cons from early childhood.
PREMIUM
Bright Burning Stars
While the well-paced prose clarifies some French phrases, a knowledge of ballet vocabulary is largely presumed. This is a story filled with interesting plot twists sure to maintain a high level of interest for readers.
PREMIUM
The Jungle
This solid introduction to Sinclair’s classic text is a humanizing supplement to the at-times tiresome original. Though this work substantially differs from its inspiration, the central message—anticapitalist, pro-socialist, and morally outraged
Recommend to fans of the first novel and fans of realistic romance.
PREMIUM
Amelia Westlake Was Never Here
The variety of social pressures that Harriet and Will struggle with will resonate with readers who find themselves pulled in a dozen different directions by the expectations of parents, peers, teachers, and social norms.
PREMIUM
The Goodbye Summer
While the book is well written for a debut, the narrow subject matter may be less appealing to some audiences. Recommended for limited purchase.
PREMIUM
The Bone Charmer
Although the resolution of this story feels too tidy, plot threads are closed enough to satisfy readers while still leaving room for a sequel. Purchase for large public and school libraries where fantasy circulates well.
Highly recommended as a new crossover fantasy sports series.
A solid selection for school libraries serving middle and high school students, while an additional purchase for public libraries.
PREMIUM
Descendant of the Crane
This rich and complex OwnVoices fantasy deserves a spot on library shelves.
PREMIUM
Ship of Smoke and Steel
This girl power–infused fantasy offers gripping action and an intriguing plot. Graphic depictions of violence and frequent sexual references make this a choice for older teen readers.
PREMIUM
Every Moment After
Recommended for readers of Joelle Charbonneau’s Time Bomb, Shaun David Hutchinson’s Violent Ends, and Marieke Nijkamp’s This is Where it Ends.
PREMIUM
BTTM FDRS
While some readers won’t like the art style, overall this title would be a strong addition to a library’s collection of horror graphic novels. Fans of tentacle or organic horror such as Swamp Thing and “The Neonomicon” will enjoy this read, as will those who love social commentary horror including Get Out.
PREMIUM
Romanov
Older fans of the animated film Anastasia will enjoy this story, as will fans of R.L. LaFevers, Evelyn Skye, and Lucy Worsley’s YA novels. Place in the hands of readers new to the historical fantasy genre.
It is my supreme pleasure to introduce you to a charming picture book slated for 2020. Too early, you say? Nonsense. It is never too early to get excited by a book. Particularly when it's coming from a recent Caldecott Honor winner . . . .
PREMIUM
Big Boys Cry
With its much needed message and beautiful illustrations, this book is a highly recommended purchase for any library.
PREMIUM
Bearnard’s Book
The story’s reassuring message to be yourself because you are enough is presented in a humorous, non-didactic manner.
A useful selection in classrooms as well as a discussion starter at storytime.
Atmospheric and quietly humorous, the story shows influences as varied as Tarzan and Where the Wild Things Are, and will appeal to fans of adventure and legends.
PREMIUM
Cinderella of the Nile
A sophisticated retelling, though there are no source notes included. This may be an interesting variant and a useful addition to library collections.
PREMIUM
Nerdy Babies: Space
These simple science books will be a hit with budding scientists. Recommended.
PREMIUM
What’s that Terrible Growl?
An engaging picture book that will capture a preschooler’s attention and may be used in a participatory storytime with a theme about sounds. Ideal for the public library.
PREMIUM
Diana Dances
Overly simplified themes make this an unlikely title for motivational reading; purchase where demand for dance-themed picture books is high.
PREMIUM
To Catch an Elephant
A misguided, problematic picture book that inadvertently raises more issues than it resolves with regard to wildlife conservation.
PREMIUM
Cavekid Birthday
With its message of friendship and cohesive style, this debut is a good one to consider for those with larger budgets.
A fairy tale variant worth adding to most collections.
One to pair with Anna Dewdney’s Llama Llama Red Pajama for library storytimes and bedtime snuggles.
PREMIUM
Seagull & Sea Dragon
A lovely tale about how friendships can flourish by taking the time to chat. A good read-aloud choice for storytime.
PREMIUM
The Gothamites
A goofy collection of stories that may be useful in curriculums focused on folktales; a secondary purchase for most.
A great purchase for libraries who need a book about supporting a friend through illness. This book could find a home in fiction or nonfiction shelves.
The emphasis placed on the sounds of words and the rhythm of the language is naturally suited for reading aloud, while the content works well for elementary students learning about the parts of speech.
It’s been a little while since we last checked in on the Tundra Illustrator Studio. So what’s new? In studio videos of two unique artists. Kelly Hill creates illustrations using quilting techniques: And Lesley-Anne Green, who creates three-dimensional art:
A selection of recently reviewed books—fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, and more—that center the experiences of LGBTQIA+ teens.
From mysteries to summer adventures to first loves, these 12 titles validate queer youth, and youth in queer families, who are navigating those ever-confusing years before young adulthood.
Guest reviewer Erica Friedman takes a look at the Manga Classics adaptation of 'Macbeth,' which contains the full text of the original.
Funny Nonfiction isn't particularly common, but it most certainly exists. But how do you go about it? Let's look at some of the funnier books of 2019 and see how they tackled the challenge.
Lots to love in this rundown of forthcoming books from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. I can't wait to read the new books by Don Brown and Tamara Moss. How about you?
A selection of recently published titles consider race and the imagination, girl-positive libraries, career programming, and other topics.
The latest app in Tinybop, Inc.'s "Explorer's Library" allows students to experiment with heating and cooling solids, liquids, and gases—without setting off a smoke alarm.
A trio of games that complement this year’s Collaborative Summer Reading theme emphasize the need for players to work together when faced with galactic danger.
When the Ground Is Hard is the tale of an unlikely friendship that blossoms between the societal slabs of systemic racism, colorism, and classism in an Apartheid-era Christian boarding school in Swaziland. Award-winning crime fiction writer Malla Nunn talked with SLJ about the personal experiences that shaped this tightly woven, thoughtful, and timely YA adventure story.
From "a picture book that doubles as a love letter to the forest ecosystem" to a scenic guide to trees, these books are the perfect preamble to a walk in the woods.
As the first picture book on Stonewall, timed for the 50th anniversary, Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution provides teachers, librarians, parents, and children with an entry point into the history of the Gay Rights Movement, to be explored in the context of other books, those written and yet-to-be-written, and digital texts as well.
Esther Keller talks to George O'Connor as his Olympians series draws to a close.
This is a book that ignores the rather good advice that, "If you're in a picture book and a tiger says he's hungry, run the other way." Kate discovers that this may well be one of the MOST English picture book we've ever encountered. She also identifies this tiger as a brat as a cat and you KNOW how Kate feels about brats.
In case you missed them, here are a few of my favorite children’s literature/publishing tweets from the last week or so.
“Every LGBTQ kids’ book that manages to make its way onto a bookstore or library shelf is a life raft,” says Melanie Gillman, creator of the graphic novel As the Crow Flies. Columnist Brigid Alverson considers LGBTQIA+ themes in the graphic format, with recommended titles for young readers.
First Second and Viking Books For Young Readers find some fresh takes on classic storytelling in this week's new comics releases.
This edition of reader feedback serves up book bentos; speculation on Mike Mulligan fashion choices; and one fine endorsement of SLJ.
Can you guess the classic children’s book by its scathing one-star review on Goodreads or Amazon? A classical tale about a crazy story-teller and his obsession with confusing his child. I was never a big fan of the Disney movies and I was really not a big fan of the book. Click here for the […]
I don't truck with YA. Not my bag, baby. But, of course, it's so difficult to determine where a book falls on the Middle Grade/Young Adult spectrum. That's why, when I hear that Lisa Brown, one of my favorite people, is doing a graphic novel, I drop everything and pepper her with questions. I'd hold back but darned if her answers aren't so good . . .
Maybe I'm a little envious of Kelly Starling Lyons. She knows how to write a killer book. Plus she got paired with the incomparable Daniel Minter, so right there. Right there. But really, I have no time to be envious of anyone. I'm using that time instead to be just so darn grateful this book exists at all. Family rendered in its most beautiful light. A treasure in hand indeed.
As much about finding yourself as it is about finding love, this smart, feminist story shows that expectations shouldn't dictate the future.
Are you attending the American Library Association Annual Conference later this month? We’re recording a LIVE episode of The Yarn podcast with our reigning Newbery medalist, Meg Medina. Do you want details? Details! What: The Yarn LIVE with guest Meg Medina Where: The Pop Top stage (in the exhibits hall) When: Monday, June 24 @ […]
A new tool to help teach students which news outlets to trust; the UN releases its second book club list; and libraries are having their moment on Jeopardy!
May need some handselling but could influence aspiring young writers to follow their dreams, too.
A great addition to any library, this picture book shares information about a lesser known yet important woman who left her mark on the history of the United States
A sweet but somewhat flawed effort to bring a few more women into the light of history
PREMIUM
Waves
Simultaneously raw and compassionate, this is a lovely partnership of words and images. The combination of art style and bittersweet memoir will appeal to older teens who enjoy Lucy Knisley’s and Tillie Walden’s work
PREMIUM
And We Call It Love
This novel in verse highlights the lasting value of friendship, as well as the importance of reaching out and supporting loved ones through difficult circumstances. Purchase where verse novels and/or short, accessible reads about contemporary issues are popular
PREMIUM
Akissi: More Tales of Mischief
Akissi’s zany, laugh-out-loud adventures brim with appeal. For most collections, especially where the first installment circulates well
PREMIUM
Hotel Dare
With a mysterious hotel, space pirates, and a visit to the land of the dead, this book will have a broad appeal. Give to fans of Mark Siegel’s “Five Worlds” series or Molly Ostertag’s Witch Boy
PREMIUM
Forever Neverland
While this fantasy’s premise is interesting, its plot needed to be further developed to form a cohesive tale
PREMIUM
A Mouse Called Julian
A good book to be paired with the better-known “Lion and the Mouse,” and a satisfying addition to a picture book collection promoting friendly teamwork and cooperation
With a pinch of humor and lighthearted prose, Deeniham delivers her first picture book. It can be used to motivate readers to appreciate the gifts of Mother Nature and is ideal for the public library and elementary classrooms
PREMIUM
The Sages of Chelm and the Moon
This import, from one of the leading children’s writers in Israel, is a variation on an oft-told folktale of the wise, but mostly foolish, people of Chelm, though there is no information to help readers put this in the context of the larger body of Jewish folklore
PREMIUM
Where Birdie Lives
Sprightly and interactive, this book will engage young readers, who will enjoy flipping the flaps and looking for Birdie’s home. Recommended
PREMIUM
Koala Is Not a Bear
A fun story for reading aloud, this book is a solid general purchase for primary grade collections
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