Related
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 youth living a marginalized existence, with a specific focus on narratives and informational texts that address the disproportionality of injustices experienced by BIPOC youth. This year, the committee selected three top titles in the categories of fiction, nonfiction, and advocacy and social justice. They also released their full Top 10 list.
The debut author spoke with SLJ about the risks and rewards of creativity, taking a chance on yourself, and the significance of father figures in her middle grade novel.
Dr. Duchess Harris, an academic, author, legal scholar, and a professor of American studies at Macalester College delivered the keynote speech at last year's Day of Dialog in Saint Paul, MN. Her enlightening speech discussed the far-reaching influence of African Americans and her path to becoming a global citizen.
It's more than just a day. Educators planned activities throughout the week, as teachers and school librarians changed schedules to prioritize and celebrate reading aloud.
Barnes & Noble and Penguin Random House planned to get young readers interested in the classics by making them more inclusive with new covers featuring people of color. The idea backfired badly.
Authors discussed their experience with soft censorship at “Not-Quite-Banned: Combating the Invisible Censorship of LGBTQIA+ Stories,” an ALA Midwinter panel.
Our page dedicated to the 2020 Youth Media Awards includes exclusive SLJ content about books in all YMA and affiliate award categories.
Lee & Low Books' Diversity Baseline Survey 2.0 shows the publishing industry has not become measurably more inclusive since 2015.
It was a big day for Kadir Nelson and The Undefeated. The illustrator won the Caldecott Medal for the book, written by Kwame Alexander, as well as the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award and a Newbery Honor.
SLJ's reviews of the Youth Media Award winners (YMAs) announced at a press conference at the American Library Association’s Midwinter conference in Philadelphia.
The first graphic novel to take home the award, New Kid is the book that Craft wrote for his 10-year-old self, who rarely saw books with which he could identify.
Many young people don't know what the Holocaust is. To help, here is a sampling of titles recommended by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee.
Mariko Tamaki's Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me and Padma Venkatraman's The Bridge Home earned The Walter for teens and younger readers, respectively.
An accurate count in this year's controversial census is critical to securing library funding and keeping school and health programs going. Use these resources to create teachable moments with students and host a census count at your library.
Tonya Bolden's newest historical novel, Saving Savannah, follows an affluent African American teenager as she navigates the tumultuous summer of 1919 and discovers the need for activism and the ways in which she can make a difference. Bolden talks to SLJ about doing research, connecting the past to the present, and taking inspiration from Toni Morrison.
Author and Anti-Racist Montessori educator and consultant Tiffany Jewell discusses what it means to be anti-racist in a racialized society, how everyone can disrupt and defy racism, and how educators and teachers can decolonize their bookshelves.
Librarians who add a little hip-hop, spoken word, and rap to their repertoire get students reading and writing.
These fiction, poetry, and nonfiction titles will engage casual readers and hip-hop aficionados alike.
Despite the rich history of stories within the D/deaf, Hard of Hearing, or Deaf-Blind community, finding #OwnVoices books, especially for children and teens, remains a challenge. Hopefully this list will provide a starting point and serve as a call to action for more books about Deaf kids.
A bookmobile staffed by teen volunteers gives away high-demand YA titles to low-income students or those who are in foster care or experiencing homelessness.
These recent titles, including picture books, middle grade, and young adult, showcase the complex beauty inherent in being black in America.
These eight recent and forthcoming novels, most of them #OwnVoices, highlight the experiences of biracial and multiethnic children and teens.
From the best in books for children and teens to stirring stories of inspiring individuals, these were the most viewed stories on SLJ.
Middle grade author David Bowles makes the case that all writing—especially that which upholds and does not challenge the status quo—is inherently political.
Free meals for all children and culturally relevant programming led to higher community engagement and joyous experiences.
Lewis, a Georgia high school librarian who challenges students to “Read Woke,” has been awarded the inaugural National Teacher Award for Lifelong Readers.
Author Andrew Clements is being remembered by educators, fans, and peers; the Library of Congress presents Rosa Parks through her own writings, photos, and memorabilia; Science teachers can earn a prize valued at $5,500 in an engineering contest; and more in this edition of News Bites.
Censorship expert Pat Scales provides advice on a teacher's claims of a “political hoax,” a warning to avoid books with the N-word, and other challenging situations.
Scholastic has long embraced the power of story through our simple mission to encourage the intellectual and personal growth of all children, a growth that we believe begins with literacy. We know that stories empower, stories transport us to new worlds and introduce us to new characters, but perhaps most important of all, stories have the power to connect us.
The 2019 National Conference spotlighted equity and inclusion, along with advocacy, media literacy, makerspaces, reading, and other topics, in more than 130 professional development sessions.
The new imprint from HarperCollins Children's Books will bring titles by Native creators to young readers.
Stories are genuine. Stories can feel real, even when we don’t feel real to ourselves. Stories reflect who we are back at us and make it easier for us to know it’s true. This is especially important for those of us who aren’t cisgender, heteronormative, non-disabled white men from traditional families. That is, for most of us.
When I was young, I was bullied and isolated and felt no hope for my future. It was through reading that I felt I had friendships with the characters, that I felt someone saw me and loved me, even if none of my peers did. As an author now, I can see that someone did see me and love me—the authors of those books, who had perhaps once felt the same pain that I did.
Books for middle school readers, including YA and middle grade realistic, fantasy, series, and standalone titles, as recommended by librarians.
A collection of personal essays by immigrants in high school empowers them and affects their peers.
A heads-up to subscribers: an extra edition of SLJ will provide our starred reviews of the year and recommended books in eight #OwnVoices categories, in an exclusive print presentation.
One of the reasons I wrote The Forgotten Girl was so that little girls who look like Avery and Iris and little boys who look like Daniel can see themselves on the page, and not have to spend their lives proving they are worthy of recognition from people who should realize their greatness anyway.
These male protagonists—from single dads to married men, uncles, and grandfathers—reflect a range of caring adults who are key figures in black children’s lives.
Writer Hena Khan shares insights on identity, and the creative process behind her newest middle grade book inspired by Louisa May Alcott's classic.
The New York Times Magazine's 1619 Project and companion curriculum is being used by teachers to change the narrative of American history lessons in the classroom.
In Charlotte Nicole Davis's debut YA fantasy, The Good Luck Girls, young women escape from a "welcome house" on a planet inspired by the Wild West. Davis discusses how the Old West inspired her to create an adventure story Black and brown girls can see themselves in and building a fantasy world to understand our own.
Bring students in from the sidelines to participate fully in group discussion.
Speaking about the librarians who stayed past their regular hours at the Enoch Pratt Free Library to help him with schoolwork, the longtime Baltimore congressman got emotional. “There are a lot of good people who really care,” he said.
In this month's Pondering Printz column, Lalitha Nataraj considers titles that center underrepresented voices and the inherent value of all books, whether or not they take home the award.
Now I know that I identify as aromantic bi-gray-asexual, and I never would have known if not for writing Tarnished Are the Stars. There’s inherent power in seeing yourself in the pages of a book, but there is power, too, in writing yourself onto those pages, in making sure your story is told.
When I decided to incorporate more tech in the library, it made sense to connect it to my Read Woke initiative.
As childhood trauma is recognized as a public health issue, librarians and educators help students who have experienced violence, loss, and other issues.
Kevin Noble Maillard’s debut children's title is a poetic picture book tribute to a family tradition and a food with origins in the diaspora of Native peoples in the United States.
The shortlist for the 2019 National Book Award Young People's Literature was announced today. Here are SLJ's reviews of the finalists.
On July 9th at Nerd Camp Michigan, Scholastic sat down with New York Times Bestselling, award-winning author Jason Reynolds to discuss the Power of Story.
Truly Madly Royally follows goal-getter Zora Emerson, who, at a la-dee-da university’s summer program, meets and falls for an actual prince. She has to learn to navigate a privileged world so different from her own, while sticking to her mission to build an aftercare program for the children in her town.
It was a salute to picture book art and children's literature in general at the annual award and fundraising event.
Actor and activist George Takei is as impassioned as ever about social justice. The author of They Called Us Enemy, his graphic memoir, Takei spoke to Brigid Alverson about the Japanese American experience and how the lessons of history can inform the current struggle for democracy.
The public policy expert and activist explains the impact of systemic racism and white supremacy on access to information.
There is a phrase in Her Own Two Feet: A Rwandan Girl’s Brave Fight to Walk: amahirwe aza rimwe, which translates to “chance comes once.” When Rebeka had a chance to do something difficult and scary, we faced the challenges together. Now we’ve partnered again to share her story, so that others will be inspired to take chances that change lives.
Illustrious author Barry Wittenstein and award-winning illustrator Jerry Pinkney (A Place To Land), share the books that shaped them as readers and creators.
Administrators' efforts and advice, the power of immigrant stories, and the impact of the library on journalist Scott Pelley were among the highlights of the second day of the SLJ Leadership Summit.
Ranging from memoir to fantasy, these titles star young people living with a range of disabilities.
The day after my thirteenth birthday in January 1963, Alabama governor George Wallace proclaimed, “segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.” I sat stunned on the sofa watching the six o’clock news. It felt to me that he had just declared war. Child of the Dream is my memoir of the year that followed.
Among these 10 titles include Laurie Halse Anderson's memoir, historical fiction from Laura Ruby, and a collaboration between Kwame Alexander and Kadir Nelson.
As Hispanic Heritage Month kicks off on September 15, here’s SLJ’s coverage of titles for kids, tweens, and teens with Latinx creators and characters. Our roundup of this year’s reviews and interviews features #OwnVoices creators and books that center Latinx experiences.
Yellow might still be a painful word to many Chinese, but it’s also the colour of gold, of Chinese royalty—just as I made sure to portray it in Caster. To begin remembering is to reclaim that power for good. And that is the power of story.
Jen Wang's childhood experiences and eye for detail informed Stargazing, her new graphic novel about an unlikely friendship.
James Brandon's debut YA novel Ziggy, Stardust and Me is set in 1973, when being gay was considered a mental illness. Sixteen-year-old Jonathan undergoes conversion therapy but finds comfort in music and in Web, an American Indian boy who isn't ashamed of his sexual identity. Brandon talks to SLJ about David Bowie's queer legacy, overcoming shame, and how the events of 1973 echo in our world today.
Grandparents loom large in young children's lives, and storytimes featuring these beloved family members are especially welcome as Grandparent's Day (September 8) nears.
It is the truth of my childhood, remembered in my new book, Girl Under a Red Moon, in a little town called Yellow Stone in southern China.
The fifth year of New York's LGBTQ comics convention saw its highest attendance yet and a wide variety of entertainment for geeks, gamers, cosplayers, and more.
Award-winning author Celia C. Pérez (The First Rule of Punk) spoke with SLJ about tactile story writing, activism, and living vicariously through one's characters in Strange Birds: A Field Guide To Ruffling Feathers.
In Sing a Rhythm, Dance a Blues: Education for the Liberation of Black and Brown Girls, Monique W. Morris centers the experience of these marginalized girls and highlights the actions of some educators and community members around the country who are making a positive difference in the students' lives.
The American Academy of Pediatrics released a policy statement on the continued impact of racism on children's health and what pediatricians must do to combat it. Educators, too, can help, and organizations offer professional development and training on anti-racism, so they can support their students better.
Twelve wonderful middle grade and young adult #OwnVoices titles that reflect Indigenous life and culture. They include historical and contemporary fiction as well as anthologies, graphic novels, and speculative science fiction.
The Nobel Laureate was remembered for her words and inspiring countless writers to follow her lead.
The nonprofit, we are, works with children, families, and educators with a goal of dismantling systemic racism in schools and beyond.
Homelessness is on the rise among students. With help, these kids can find their potential.
Co-founder, executive director of We Need Diverse Books assess organization's impact and share plans for the future.
In the wake of President Trump’s remarks, telling four U.S. Congresswomen to "go back" to their countries, we wanted to hear from you. Have you experienced bigotry or witnessed it in your school or library? Share your story in the comments here, on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
Contrary to what most historical novels depict, people from marginalized groups have existed throughout the ages, and their stories were not solely ones of hardship. These authors—Daniel José Older, Stacey Lee, Mackenzi Lee, Melanie Gillman—are correcting that representation in historical fiction.
IMLS-funded free, online professional development racial equity curriculum is now available; Dav Pilkey and Scholastic try to "Do Good"; youth writer awards announced and more in this edition of News Bites.
Dylan Meconis takes a playful approach to history in her graphic novel Queen of the Sea, which represents the diversity of female experiences in the 16th century.
The music and lives of four jazz greats in words and pictures.
Inspiring projects, discussions of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and creating with—not just consuming—augmented and virtual reality were just some of the highlights of ISTE 2019.
Authors Kwame Alexander and Jacqueline Woodson were among those who helped celebrate the golden anniversary of the awards.
Using numbers from the Cooperative Children's Book Center, this infographic—updated from 2015—illustrates representation in children's literature. The quantity of diverse books may have gone up, but that doesn't necessarily indicate accuracy and quality of titles.
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.
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.
“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.
Award-winning writer, hip-hop professor, and author of The Roots of Rap, Carole Boston Weatherford talks to Tiffany D. Jackson about Jackson’s new book Let Me Hear a Rhyme, a love letter to 1990s Brooklyn and the hip-hop generation.
Cicely Lewis chooses books for her nephew, her graduating seniors, and young friends facing the larger world.
Summer activities at the Dakota County Library will include a sensory-friendly petting zoo and music, American Sign Language initiatives, and programming in the new Calming Space.
Hafsah Faizal and Nafiza Azad are debut Muslim fantasy authors, and both of their #OwnVoices YA novels are out this week. Here, they talk to each other about world-building, intersectional feminism, subverting stereotypes, and more.
From romance to fantasy to memoir, these books represent a rich scope of experiences.
Education may be part of the solution to stopping the incidence of anti-semitic harassment, vandalism, and physical assaults at schools.