Dennis Pierce

In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, many school libraries in the United States are looking for high-quality books in Spanish to share with students and their families. But as the population of Spanish-speaking people in the U.S. continues to grow, there is increasing demand among school libraries for Spanish-language content year-round.

As school librarians assess their needs for the 2024–25 school year, publishers are coming out with a broad range of content for the back-to-school season.

While social and emotional learning (SEL) has become a politically charged term in these highly polarized times, educators understand the value of having students of all ages learn self-management, self-awareness, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.

Just a few years removed from a global pandemic that saw the intense politicization of public health initiatives, the U.S. public’s faith in science has declined. Books that help students understand complex issues and inform them about important scientific advancements and the critical role that STEM plays in our society can help produce more informed citizens who support the need for scientific investment.

Decodables, or simple books written for beginning readers, have become staples in elementary school classrooms and libraries everywhere, and for good reason. By encouraging children to sound out words using decoding strategies rather than guessing from pictures or predicting from other cues, decodables help emergent readers learn to read independently.

Many of the new books available for this year’s back-to-school season aim to help students cope with their emotions and develop the resilience they need to thrive. Others are intended to help young people find a sense of hope and community after several tumultuous years.

An understanding of STEM ideas and principles can empower students to solve problems, take action in their own communities, and prepare them for the future. This is why STEM-related books continue to resonate with publishers and young readers alike.

Summer reading is critical for so many reasons: It helps prevent learning loss while students are off for the summer. It supports children’s social-emotional development. It reinforces the idea that learning doesn’t end when school is out of session. Most important, it’s a time when kids can read just for fun.

Nearly three years after COVID-19 shut down schools from coast to coast, parents and educators are still trying to help kids make up for interrupted learning resulting from the pandemic—and libraries play a pivotal role in their success.