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An appealing resource sure to spark an interest in biomimicry, from casual readers to budding scientists. Recommended for all libraries.
A welcome addition to any picture book biography collection; Williams deftly underscores the value of perseverance and education while highlighting the achievements of an influential Black female author.
Every library needs this book, which can bring in a variety of readers who may or may not be on their own journey of self-discovery.
A triumph; highly recommended for all libraries.
This moving account sheds light on shameful events long suppressed or ignored. All collections should consider this title’s value in providing historical context to current conversations about racism and America’s ongoing legacy of white supremacy.
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.
A stirring selection for any fantasy collection, this book will appeal to fans of Emily Carroll and Phillip Pullman.
A first purchase and a must-read. Prepare to be haunted and chilled to the bone by this exceptional story.
The stakes are incredibly high in this stunning conclusion to the duology. Highly recommended for all collections.
A contemporary history lesson with the uplifting message that humanity’s survival depends on us working for, not against, one another. A must-have.
Thought-provoking and entertaining in equal measure, and here’s hoping this isn’t the last we see of Simon and Alice.
Readers who enjoy everyday magic, friendship stories, and family drama will be enchanted by this magic jar of a book.
A cerebral and pulse-pounding exploration of what it means to be human. Highly recommended for any library shelf.
A story of identity, belonging, and family, readers will thrill at this mystery set in 1400s Korea. A must for all collections.
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.
A powerful story sure to awaken empathy and curiosity: Who else left behind a homeland, and at what cost?
This beautiful look at a young girl’s life and her determination to save her home is a perfect read for young environmentalists.
This book is a gift to educators, radiating with the authors’ infectious enthusiasm and wealth of experience.
Highlighting issues that all school librarians need to consider in order to advocate for their students, this is a vital resource.
Jennings paints an initially terrifying reality, highlighting the vulnerability of self-discovery and the tension of being from two different worlds and cultures. Part horror, part magical realism, this #OwnVoices story is a worthwhile addition to any collection.
This will appeal to teenage fans of adult authors like Toni Morrison, Brit Bennett, and Yaa Gyasi.
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 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.
An exquisite and essential purchase for public libraries; a pitch-perfect bedtime story, this is sure to conjure beautiful dreams.
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.
A necessary purchase and thoughtful meditation, for avid fans of space exploration and newbies alike.
Wonderful illustrations and poetry highlight cutting-edge scientific information about how trees communicate and share information. Don’t leave this one behind.
This charming history title is a true inspiration for the present. An informative must-have for all libraries.
This title is a brilliant combination of storytelling and factual information. The narrative celebrates a caring family and a young girl’s growing love of nature. The information adds to readers’ understanding and appreciation of the natural world. Highly recommended.
A must-purchase that will empower Black children, and expand all readers’ knowledge of African American history.
An essential purchase, this contemporary, high-spirited salute to motherhood is a warm and welcoming valentine to family and love.
A poetically beautiful story of grief and healing mirrored in the natural world has a touch of magical realism as a young girl processes her emotions and realizes that endings lead to beginnings.
Holczer’s use of humor, thoughtful imagery, and magical realism elements makes this a wholly unique blend of modern fairy tale, hero’s quest, and coming-of-age story. A suggested purchase for all middle grade collections.
A fun and entertaining adventure, highly recommended for fans of Jeanne DuPrau’s The City of Ember.
Many readers will yearn for more from this debut writer. Educators will find the text to be useful in teaching antiracist curricula, and teens will see a lens that mirrors their experiences or gain knowledge of a compelling perspective.
A striking collection of voices, who examine and celebrate the experience of Black women from the past and present. An excellent introduction to Black women writers who were ignored by history.
A must-have puberty survival guidebook for tweens and teens, this is a perfect choice for collections in need of health titles that use gender-inclusive language.
A perfect example of excellent narrative nonfiction and a must-have for any middle school library. This work will stand solidly beside books by James Swanson and Steve Sheinkin.
A welcome addition to animal study units, for read-alouds, and for enjoyment and learning. Truly a winner.
A well-written, must-have collection of poems.
A must-have for all schools and libraries that wish to maintain a current and vibrant poetry collection for young people.
Costner offers some thoughtful ways of encouraging readers to reflect on what kind of a person they want to be, and what they want to be known for. An absolute must-purchase for all middle school libraries.
A first purchase. Hand this to readers who don’t mind a few tears on their way to a happy ending.
A delightfully quirky story with nuance, depth, and a colorful cast of characters, this book begs for multiple readings.
A fun, compelling story that will keep readers engaged; recommended for younger siblings, fans of princess stories, and fantasy lovers.
A rich, well-designed offering with multiple uses for teachers and students. A standout among the many books about honeybees.
An immersive, smartly written view into the mind of a young woman coping with her identity and trauma; a distinct perspective to add to the mental health fiction selection.
Filled with tender moments and subtle humor, this well-paced gem will have readers rooting for Karina and Ace as they stand up for themselves and for each other. A must-purchase for all teen collections.
This fantastical, stunning tale shines in both story and artwork; a must for libraries serving teens.
Bowman sets high expectations and meets them in this standalone worthy of all YA shelves. An impeccably crafted dystopian full of beloved tropes and a generous helping of plot twists.
Most books with this much purpose fall down on the lessons. This one transcends them, for a true story of how a home happens.
A vibrant life story, with imagined conversations and brilliant illustrations, that will find a home in every collection.
Comforting and emotionally resonant with a great deal of charm, this is a first purchase for picture book collections.
A few facts, a generous worldview, and a bonding of mother and daughter makes this book ideal for story hours and lap-sharing.
This tender, wacky, and often humorous story will be enjoyed by all middle grade readers. Librarians looking for books on unique and timely health topics in fiction should consider this title.
This marvelous, welcoming book on mosques, Muslims, and Islam is a must, offering foundational knowledge on the world’s second largest religion.
A simplified but terrific tale, perfect for beginning readers or anyone seeking an exciting and funny science story.
A well-researched, detailed account of a part of World War II that remains unknown to many today. For those who enjoyed The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow by Susan Campbell Bartoletti.
A heart-pounding adventure that will pull in any reader who is looking to live life to its fullest. A beautiful, unique addition to most nonfiction sports collections.
Fans of compelling realistic fiction like that of Courtney Summers will love Becca’s journey as they cheer for her to succeed against incredible odds.
An amusing tale about stereotypes and prejudice, this is a great teaching moment clothed in an outstanding read-aloud.–
A beautiful and thorough addition to every biography section.
A beautiful story about adventure and honoring a father’s memory, this is a noteworthy addition to elementary school libraries.
This humorous, self-referential, fourth wall–demolishing easy reader features a dog who seems to be at the mercy of the storyteller
This title is a bonanza for upper-elementary or middle school independent reading, especially for students with an interest in the sciences.
At times painful, but ultimately cathartic for Ada and listeners alike; impossible to put down.
A must-share snapshot of history that invites young readers to consider what they will hold on to when they face difficult times.
This page-turning mystery is a must-listen for fans of Nix, action, fantasy, and adventure. A great addition to any library collection.
A raw and complex free verse exploration of self-love, Blackness, womanhood, and healing. A timely, essential purchase for all young adult collections.
A moving memoir of a true American heroine. Highly recommended for junior high and high school nonfiction collections, and will especially appeal to those with a passion for social justice.
Readers will be drawn to the dynamic illustrations and lively, well-structured profiles detailing these high achievers.
An excellent addition to any collection about World War II.
This is poetry for those who claim not to like poetry. Highly recommended for any library, and as a gift for all lovers of language and art.
This is an essential purchase for libraries with a call for fantasy, romance, and adventure.
Those who enjoy stories about adventure, fantasy, humor, and friendship will appreciate this sequel. Recommended for early chapter book collections.
The pandemic and the need for entire schools to rely on distance learning may fade, but components of good teaching will not. Teachers will turn to this work again and again. This dynamic selection is the one volume every educator needs.
Young readers will enjoy the antics in this chapter book, and teachers will enjoy reading it aloud. Highly recommended.
A story that beautifully touches a multitude of tough topics, this one is for readers of S.K. Ali’s Saints and Misfits, Kekla Magoon’s Light It Up, and Maika and Maritza Moulite’s Dear Haiti, Love Alaine.
An engaging novel about language, culture, and empathy. Highly recommended for all libraries.
Well-versed Poe fans will gobble this up, but the heartache, revenge, and anger that ooze from these pages should entice any reader.
This title is a first purchase for any collection. Giles has crafted an outstanding depiction of the nuances of gentrification as well as the struggle and joys of working-class Black families and communities.
This series debut has something for most readers—a complex female heroine, middle school angst, plenty of action, and magic
This gorgeous book may be the best way to tour a faraway city or to prompt children to write about their own stunningly simple, wondrous afternoons.
Through detailed visual elements, this quietly delightful picture book speaks to the potential treasure of small moments in childhood.
A touching coming-of-age story, this is highly recommended for younger audiences who are looking for alternatives to more mature titles like Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give and Nic Stone’s Dear Martin without losing the poignancy of the topics at hand. A must-have for middle school collections.
An absorbing read with well-realized characters and beautiful writing, this novel will appeal to readers of science fantasy such as N.K. Jemisin’s “Broken Earth” trilogy.
In a time where books about teen activists, including Watson’s own Watch Us Rise, are plentiful and teens try to make the world a better place, this title sends the necessary message that sometimes it’s okay if the person you save is yourself.
A pure and perfect capture of first love, joyful and painful in the worries and doubt; the love on the page is so vivid it raises goosebumps of veracity and provides parents with a model to share with any child in the throes of a lasting crush.
Ideal for shelves about outsiders and those who march to that different beat, this encourages all children to view the world with wonder.
With its gorgeous and intricate illustrations, this is perfect for sharing one on one, and is recommended for most collections.
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