SLJ Reviews Editors

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, many children have had to adapt to distance learning and changes to their everyday life. In this ­season’s Series Made Simple, selectors will find books to help young ­readers articulate their feelings, as well as titles that examine the virus and the effort to create a vaccine. We cover perennial subjects, too, including animals big and small, fascinating natural wonders of the world, timely biographies, and a bevy of sports.

Some curriculum staples misrepresent cultures, reinforce racist or sexist ideas, and contain pejorative descriptions. Try these books instead of “The Little House” series, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.