News & Features

A lucky kindergarten class in midtown Manhattan's PS/IS 111 received a real treat on March 2, otherwise known as Read Across America Day, when Fátima Ptacek, voice of Dora the Explorer, served as a storytime special guest.

Though facts and figures often grab the interests of middle school boys, adventure, fantasy, and reality stories also weigh into their decision-making when it comes to choosing books. The following titles selected by Junior Library Guild editors will not only entertain middle grade readers, but help them see that they are not alone in trying to survive middle school.

Check out SLJ's Stars list. From Julia Donaldson's "The Highway Rat" to Gail Carriger's "Etiquette & Espionage." There's something for everyone.

What do Dav Pilkey's 'Captain Underpants" and the London's Philharmonia Orchestra have in common? They're both featured in this month's column.

Vibrant illustrations, illuminating representations of basic math concepts, and dynamic storytelling add up to offerings that entertain as they educate.

Inquiry and nonfiction are closely related and books that explore the work of scientists can be ideal mentor texts as students develop skills that are essential for learning.

There's just enough on Josh Groban's new release, All That Echoes, to keep his groupies happy, though he may be stretching it. Fans of Mumford and Sons and The Lumineers can add the "breakout rock band of 2012" Imagine Dragons to this sound canon. The popular Japanese role-playing game (RPG) Emblem: Awakening makes an impressive debut here in the States, with our reviewer promising "countless hours of serious entertainment."

SLJ's grades 5 and up section has several great novels, including a new one by Ruta Sepetys.

Permanent Record by Leslie Stella. Amazon Children’s Publishing. 2013. Reviewed from ARC from publisher. The Plot: Bud Hess is starting a new school: Magnificat Academy. The official story is to give him a better education than he was getting in public school. The real story is a bit more complicated. It has to do with [...]