Shelley Diaz

SLJ and NCTE collaborated to create 18 booklists of titles to replace, or use as a companion to, canon "classics." 

In this installment of SLJ's new "Milestones" series that takes on “firsts” for young children with relevant book suggestions, we round up some festive titles perfect for nuptial newbies. Whether children are attending a celebration for the first time or having the huge honor of being a member of the bridal party, their first experience with weddings can be overwhelming (and fun). Here are some titles that can help get little ones through the big day.

In response to the growing need to defend kids’ right to read, librarians are turning to SLJ’s reviews for guidance on grade levels and appropriateness. Get a sneak peek at how we address those topics, and more, at our February 1 editorial webcast.

We are pleased to share an exclusive first look and cover reveal for UNEQUAL: A STORY OF AMERICA by Michael Eric Dyson and Marc Favreau. But before we show the cover, here is chat we had with Michael Eric and Marc about the creation of their new book, out in the world in May 2022.

The United States Census reported that the Hispanic population accounted for almost 20 percent of the U.S. population in 2020. However, only five percent of children’s books feature Latinx characters or subjects. Thankfully, more picture book biographies are being published about groundbreaking Latinx luminaries every year. These are some must-add choices for your collections.
 

Summer means slowing down, unless you're a baby! These bilingual board books will ensure that the youngest pre-literate children learn to fall in love with books, by turning the pages, seeing what's next, and finding faces like theirs in the pages.

Tehlor Kay Mejia’s debut novel We Set the Dark on Fire is a fantasy based in contemporary issues: political turmoil, sexual identity, class inequality, immigration, even a border wall. She tells SLJ about world-building, revolution, and how rage inspired her first novel.

How do the dynamics of power shift when women are in charge? These YA novels—ranging from epic fantasy to contemporary thriller with a historical twist—tackle that question and more.

 The debut YA author talks about her path to publication, the “soupiness” of her characters, and what she’s working on next.