by SLJ Reviews

These picture books, with their exuberant illustrations and positive prose, offer portraits of Black joy, within and beyond the African diaspora.

June is Caribbean American Heritage Month. Here are some picture books, middle grade, YA, and adult books for teens that you can share with your kids in June (and all yearlong).

Featuring vivid settings, relatable characters, and absorbing narratives, these moving titles will inspire readers to learn more about these eras—and to question whose stories still go untold.

These realistic novels for teens explore identity, family relationships, and figuring out your place in the world, all told with honesty and nuance.

Warning: These 22 titles may induce hearty chuckles, grossed-out giggles, or milk-out-the-nose laughing. 

How to tempt those readers who have moved beyond picture books but aren't quite ready for middle grade novels? These chapter book graphic novels will do the trick. With humor and heart, these eye-catching books take on everything friendship, mystery, adventure, and even a bit of metafiction (from none other than Dav Pilkey).

These 13 books for children and adults are packed with gardening inspiration, as well as activities and information to help anyone interested in growing their own plants. 

The young people featured in these middle grade novels are intrepid, confronting racism, grief, queer identity, and more. They’re relatable teens and tweens, making mistakes and stumbling as they find themselves. Looking for more summer reading recommendations? SLJ is publishing lists all summer long—from family stories to mysteries to teen reads. 

From Rome to Tokyo and summer camp to private school, these YA reads are as hilarious as they are heartfelt.