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If you received your latest issue of Booklist in the mail then you might have noticed that its editors got together and created nothing less than the 50 Best Middle-Grade Novels of the 21st Century. I substitute some of their choices for my own for fun.
Though this novel is funny and highly readable, the tragic trans narrative makes it one to skip.
The first DC Zoom graphic novel disappoints; there's too much shoved in without any substantial resolution.
A book that effectively establishes normality, disrupts it with horror, and then assures the reader that normality can return. If Tsurumi's previous picture book, Accident, was about taking responsibility for your mistakes, Crab Cake is about taking care of yourself when the mistake is not your own.
Seed dispersal is the topic of collage artist Robin Page’s latest nonfiction picture book. Versatile for use throughout the seasons, this teaching tool plants the seeds for important classroom conversations about nature, interdependence, and the importance of conservation.
This batch of books features new titles from Rafi Mittlefehldt, David Almond, Tim Wynne-Jones, and Kasie West, among others.
It was 75 degrees here in Michigan yesterday and I am feeling summerish. So summerish, in fact, that I decided to sift through the 8oo some odd children’s books publishing in June, July, and August and pick 10 that I am especially excited about. Picture Books A Normal Pig by K-Fai Steele June 4 | […]
Graphix and Toon Books release titles to help readers from kindergarten and up find and develop their creative side in this week's new comics picks.
Of all the 100 best selling books on Amazon, how many are children’s books? And which children’s books are they? That was my question, and I embarked on a keyboard journey to find out. Some of them I expected, others I’d never heard of, and the power of Easter certainly played a role. #98 #92 […]
I had a blast interviewing Jess Keating for this episode of The Yarn. Her World of Weird Animals series is fantastic. I hope you enjoy listening to the episode as much as I enjoyed producing it.
Fast food franchising gone mad spells the end of the world itself in Nathan Hale's scary adventure/horror hybrid Apocalypse Taco. Our only hope? Thee kids on a late night food run, and a couple of grad students.
Can you guess the classic children’s book by its scathing one-star review on Goodreads or Amazon? Seriously, who thought this was a good idea to write, publish and distribute. Unfortunately we purchased it – must have been a patron request! How very sad someone actually thinks crayons (if they could talk) would be negative. Click […]
"Picture books are especially great in that way because they can be as funny for a toddler as they are for an older sister and the parents and the grandparents, too. If the whole family can share a good laugh, that's pretty life affirming, no matter what’s going on in the news that day." We talk with Adam Rubin about his latest book and why humor is key.
It’s time for another roundup for new and forthcoming YA (and sometimes not YA) books featuring LGBTQIA+ characters. Get ready to do some collection development!
April is National Poetry Month, so I thought it might be helpful to take a look at the poetry offerings of 2019. What did I miss? Let me know in the comments.
Blisteringly honest with a respect for young readers that is sadly uncommon, Jerry Craft has created something revolutionary: An everyday black boy in a comic for kids.
Birdie and Daniel are adorable, flawed creatures who solve mysteries, eat pie, and fall for each other. You'll want to recommend this one widely--and you'll want to eat some pie.
Every year I like to round up all the new books by past award winners. So far, we’ve looked at 2019 releases from previous Newbery, Caldecott, Geisel, Sibert, and Coretta Scott King winners. Today I have all the 2019 books from previous Pura Belpre author and illustrator honor and medal winners. What did I miss? […]
Kyle Lukoff discusses his trans boy picture book When Aidan Became a Brother and explains why, to make use of a Rudolph metaphor, "we're all jerk reindeers AND misfit toys at the same time."
Iron Circus Comics and Oni Press have some cautionary tales in this week's list of new releases.
"The pee is simply the warm, wet catalyst that exposes the characters personalities." Zach and Bob discuss unicorn pee, the difficulties of painting wet pants, and how kindness is king.
Have you found yourself wondering if YA is truly for teen readers anymore? Join us for this ongoing conversation as we wonder where younger teen readers fit in to the current YA publishing market.
Ideal for explorations in science, language arts, and social studies, for whole class and small group explorations, and for quiet rereadings by shell-lovers and beachcombers, Seashells: More than a Home has many roles to play in the classroom and beyond.
Can you guess the classic children’s book by its scathing one-star review on Goodreads or Amazon?
I’ve been reading such a Hodge Podge of books. There’s no rhyme or reason to what I’m reading. There are review copies coming to my doorstep that interest me and books arriving in new shipments and books I hear about finally available at the library. So here’s a few random titles…
We order some of the books for our school library through Follett. On their Titlewave website they have something called Student’s Choice lists, showing the 50 most popular books for elementary, middle, and high school levels. The thing that I like about these lists is that they are created from the actual circulation statistics of […]
Sarah W. Searle shows us a young woman adapting to a new city during a hot, lonely summer.
There are books for kids that dare to be more thoughtful than pulse pounding. If chosen freely by a child, they can unlock something inside. Something that means more to the person reading than anyone else. The Line Tender carries this promise in its pages. It's the right book for the right reader.
Pokemon meets Dragonball in this somewhat derivative but engaging manga series based on the popular, Akira Toriyama-designed Dragon Quest video game franchise
Some titles have garnered strong Heavy Medal reader support and our list is growing! Thank you, readers of new children’s books and of the Heavy Medal blog. We’ll see you again in early May for another round of suggestions. Please comment and let us know if you see anything missing! New Kid Craft 13 Pay […]
This look at the school experiences of LGBTQ youth in schools, the challenges they face, and the support they need should be required reading for anyone who works with students of any age.
So far we’ve looked at 2019 books from past winners of . . . Caldecott Newbery Geisel Sibert But today is for the CSK. Here are all books by previous Coretta Scott King Award Medal and Honor winners (including author, illustrator, and John Steptoe New Talent). What did I miss? Let me know in the […]
We’ve already looked at 2019 books from pervious Newbery, Caldecott, and Geisel winners – today is for nonfiction. Below are books publishing in 2019 from previous Sibert Award Medal/Honor winners. *Note* I tried to keep it nonfiction here (I like themes). So I didn’t include the couple instances of past Sibert winners with fiction books […]
“Have you ever been told you are not enough?” With this opening line, author-cartoonist Joel Christian Gill grabs the attention of readers of all ages and introduces us to the legendary Bessie Stringfield, the first African American woman to ride solo across the United States on a motorcycle.
Dark Horse Comics and First Second let loose the hounds in books from this week's new releases.
Disney tilts at windmills in adapting Cervantes' Don Quixote into a kid-friendly retelling starring Goofy and Mickey Mouse, part of a new Dark Horse-published line of classic literature comics featuring cartoon mice and ducks.
The Girl and the Wolf by Métis author Katherena Vermette and Cree- Métis artist Julie Flett, is an original fairytale in the purest sense of the term. Essentially, it takes a European idea and flips it on its head. A book that cracks the limitations of the fairy tale form wide open.
I heard Colby Sharp call The New Kid the best graphic novel (so far) of 2019. And I agree.
Quick and to the point reviews of some recent YA titles. Post-it note reviews are a great way to display books in your library or classroom and an easy way to offer a more personal recommendation.
Want to create a cool glitch effect for your photos? There's an app for that.
Books from Amulet Books and IDW Publishing take center stage in this week's list of new releases.
A bunch of teachers at my school asked students to draw their favorite book and write a couple sentences about why they love it. They’re on display in the hallways. The pictures are so great I thought it would be fun to turn it into a challenge. Can you name the book based on the student […]
I can think of no better time to present to you the truly wonderful smattering of science and math titles for kids out in 2019 that struck me as worth knowing. They look to the skies, the plants, even inside our own craniums, so as to teach and instruct our young readers. Let us thank them, then, by taking a gander at their contents.
The Berrybrook Middle School series by Svetlana Chmakova continues with a fourth book.
A father with ALS asks his daughter to do the nearly unthinkable in this moving exploration of mortality, family, and impossibly difficult decisions.
Today I’m honored to share the book trailer for The Panda Problem, a picture book written by Deborah Underwood and illustrated by Hannah Marks. But first, I wanted to ask Deborah some questions about the book. Travis: Hi Deborah! What was the initial spark for THE PANDA PROBLEM? Deborah Underwood: Oh gosh, I can’t remember […]
Thank you all for the suggestions in March. We’re asking for your input of more titles to put on everyone’s radar. (A word on the selection of featured cover here: it does not mean an endorsement, only a title that has garnered some critical praises that is eligible for suggestion.) Please: – Suggest books that […]
Let's talk about YA lit and teen programming! Share your program success stories and what's hot with teens right now.
Lori takes a look at the kids' comics, manga, and graphic novels coming out this Wednesday.
Simple, yet soulful, Bloom Boom! is a book full of teaching possibilities for poetry reading and writing, plant investigations, student research, nature walks, and photo illustration.
We’re ending a busy week with some big news: Art Baltazar, half of the Art-and-Franco team who gave us the Tiny Titans and lots of other super-cute all-ages comics, is going solo with a trilogy of graphic novels titled Drew and Jot, to be published by BOOM! Studios under their kid-friendly KaBOOM! imprint. The first […]
Post-It Note reviews are a great way to display books and offer a more personal recommendation than just the flap copy. This roundup includes new books from Cynthia Lord and Lisa Graff as well as a sure-to-be-popular graphic novel.
April is coming up. April is National Poetry Month. April is the time for book spine centos (see above). It makes a great program for kids (or former kids). So . . . Here are my tips for creating a book spine cento: Check out the book spine poem gallery for inspiration. This is always […]
We think about aliens all the time and what they might be like. Imagine actually finding other planets where they might live. That’s what Just Right does. It allows for the scope of possibility, even as its very message about the difficulty in finding planets like our own reinforces the fact that this place is pretty special.
A teacher and comics creator shares some tips on how to have fun at a comic con.
While it doesn’t happen with quite the same frequency as Caldecott, Newbery winners have been known to win more than one. So I compiled a list of all the books coming out in 2019 from authors who have already won a medal or honor. Is there a 2020 winner or two below? What did I […]
Today we have a special exclusive first look at Adventure Time: Marcy & Simon #4, the latest issue in the series featuring the once immortal Simon and the still immortal Vampire Queen Marceline. The writer is Olivia Olson, the voice of Marceline on the TV show, and the artist is Slimm Fabert, who has worked […]
Get out your TBR lists! New books starring a girl who must devour the energy of men in order to survive, a murderer, a boy with cerebral palsy, girls who summon a pair of ancient creatures, and so many other compelling characters.
Louisa May Alcott's best known work is having a bit of a Renaissance. Now, in 2019, two books have come out, set in the modern day, based on the original book. But you wouldn't necessarily know one was Little Women-based unless you were told. Say, by your friendly neighborhood children's literature blogger. More to the Story is the latest book by Hena Khan.
Each year when Caldecott medal and honor winners are announced, there usually at least one (and sometimes more) previous winners among them. In 2019 it was Sophie Blackall, who won her second Caldecott. So let’s have a look at 2019 books from previous Caldecott winners, eh? Maybe some of these will end up on the […]
Here today are some thoughts from a prolific teen reader about some new and upcoming YA lit titles.
Since it began in 2016, Illustoria magazine has been one of the coolest around. Billed as a mag “for creative kids and their grown-ups”, every issue is bursting with visual delights. Today the folks at Illustoria have some news to share: moving forward they will be published by McSweeney’s, the San Francisco publishing house founded […]
For bird lovers, word lovers, and poetry lovers alike, Bulion’s latest collection is ideal for classroom explorations of language and grammar, poetry, and the world of birds and their many adaptations, preparing you for April's bird migrations and celebration of poetry.
Lucille Clifton was one of the most prolific Black picture book authors in the 70s. Spring has officially sprung and I realized that today's book (which New York schoolchildren are read and given to read every single year around this time) would be the perfect way to celebrate not just the season but Clifton herself.
Archie Comics and Marvel Comics are soaring with two new titles starting this week featuring fan favorite females in their own adventures.
So, here’s a reversal of the usual order of things: For years, the Archie digests have run one new story and a bunch of older stories that originally appeared in the monthly comics. Now they are launching a new monthly comic, Betty and Veronica Friends Forever: Pets, that collects those new stories from each the […]
Travis: I sat down with author/illustrator Molly Idle during the 2018 NCTE conference in Houston. We had a great conversation about her most recent picture book, Pearl, and about her Caldecott Honor win for Flora and the Flamingo. We hope you enjoy the episode. Subscribe below to catch every episode.
So you want to write about YA literature. What books are you using as your examples and why?
So you want to write about YA literature. What books are you using as your examples and why?
Over at the ALSC YouTube channel, they are slowly posting reaction videos from the 2019 Youth Media Award winners. First up, Newbery winner Meg Medina.
Scooby and the gang team up with Magilla Gorilla in Scooby-Doo Team-Up #47, as DC reaches way back into my childhood for a new guest character. Here’s the 411: “How much is that gorilla in the window?” For years, Mr. Peebles has wanted nothing more than to finally sell Magilla Gorilla and get the big […]
Here’s some good old-fashioned Saturday morning cartoon fun: A preview of Looney Tunes #248, featuring some Bugs Bunny shenanigans: Blacque Jacque Shellacque is back—and he’s in pursuit of gold karats and Bugs Bunny wants golden carrots, leading them both up the beanstalk to fulfill their desires. But what they find instead is a giant problem […]
Can you guess the classic children’s book by its scathing one-star review on Goodreads or Amazon? Totally all about how racial profiling is a good idea and justified by reality. “Subtle” nudges in the direction of traditional gender roles. Other than that, pretty cute. Click here for the answer. Why do I share these? Click […]
Ms. Cassandra Federman is on hand to answer a question or ten about the creature in question and her own book. Along the way she clarifies for me the difference between a manatee and a beluga whale, the trend of 4th wall busting characters, and her own history of rescuing manatees.
Convention season has begun, and that means the comics news cycle is heating up. Here are some news flashes from around the comicsphere. First Second has been breaking some news lately: They did a cover reveal for their book Open Borders: The Science and Ethics of Immigaration at Paste Magazine, and they gave the AV […]
'Positively Izzy' follows up 'Invisible Emmie' with a story that is less about the mores of middle school than about the awkward relationships between parents and children at that age.
Author Hal Schrieve writes about the way that queer people and many others are seen as monsters; the threat of breaking violent systems through survival, solidarity, and love; and hir forthcoming novel, Out of Salem, a Teen Zombie Werewolf Witchy Faerie fantasy murder mystery.
The Other Half of Happy, Rebecca Balcarcel's debut middle grade novel, arrives on August 20th. I have the honor of debuting the cover today.
Here’s an idea: Why not take the idea of a world gone mad and give it a jolt of lightning to the veins? Set your book in another era when America went a little crazy, then liven things up with spies, car chases, murder attempts, gunshots, traitors, double agents, and that’s just the first few chapters! A book for the kids that want to read a response to our age that will thrill them to the core, and maybe plant a couple of seeds of rebellion in their craniums at the same time.
My first note for this book was "Ack! This book is SO LOVELY immediately." That's pretty much how I felt throughout the read of this moving look at pressures, identity, first love, and the desire to be seen.
Lois Lowry's award-winning YA novel The Giver has now been adapted into a graphic novel.
Told from the point of view of a female polar bear journeying across the diminishing ice from winter to summer, Sea Bear: A Journey for Survival is both poetic and gripping. In her debut picture book, author/illustrator Lindsay Moore has crafted a lyrical text complemented and extended by breathtaking watercolor and pencil illustrations.
Women show what they're made of, and start new adventures in this week's picks from Abrams Comicarts and Scholastic.
I don’t think there is a clear cut answer, and that everyone’s answer is a bit different. I have been asking myself this question for months now, and I thought I would take this chance to explore my thoughts on the subject.
A look at some new and forthcoming books by Muslim authors
This is roundabout the time of year when I start stretching the old award-season muscles. I'm going to pull out the books for you that I think have a darn good chance. At the very least, they're contenders, if not outright winners. Something to guide your reading then.
Colby: I had an amazing time talking to Laurie Halse Anderson at NCTE last fall for The Yarn. I hope you enjoy the episode, but more importantly I hope you read her book Shout. It is an important one. Subscribe below to catch every episode.
It was a pleasure to present to the Oakland County Reading Association today with John Schumacher. If you were in attendance – thank you for coming! Click here to view the handout from the presentation.
As a child, Arthur Geisert really wanted to be a mountain climber. Selfishly, I’m glad it didn’t work out. Because now we have a bunch of great Geisert-created picture books (like this one). This video finds A.G. in his studio, talking about his life and work.
Tooling about the internet yesterday, I ran across Travis Jonker's recent blog post 10 to Note: Spring Preview 2019. Here then is my own list of upcoming 2019 titles that I simply adore. All of these are Picture Books. Thank you for the idea, Travis!
This faithful adaptation of 'To Kill a Mockingbird' is an excellent companion to the original novel.
March's LGBTQIA+ new books include a graphic novel, a book for younger readers about Stonewall, a King Arthur retelling starring a girl, and a Teen Zombie Werewolf Witchy Faerie fantasy murder mystery.
You have other books about emotions that you love, I have no doubt, but seriously consider supplementing them with Rash’s latest. A loving little book unafraid to be happy, sad, angry, scared, and supremely good.
Today Kathi Appelt's new YA book, ANGEL THIEVES, comes out. She joins us to share about the importance of Place when crafting a story and the multiple layers that only that particular place can hold.
I scoured publisher catalogs (can I borrow your Visine?) and I’m here to share 10 spring books that I’m excited about. Picture Books I Love My Colorful Nails by Alicia Acosta and Luis Amavisca, illustrated by Gusti April 2 | NubeOcho | Grades K-2 This one’s for all the boys who like to paint their nails. […]
Winner of the 2019 Schneider Family Award, the story of Jessica Kensky’s road to healing after the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing robbed her of the use of legs is offered in a heartwarming picture book autobiography.
Overall, I really liked this book and recommend it. It's a subversive look at the patriarchy through the lens of an all girls finishing school that takes a lot of darkly unique twists and turns.
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