Public Libraries

Music and sound effects can elevate an audiobook, but an authentic narrator is what makes for a stellar listening experience, librarians and industry experts say. 

Empathetic rapport, masterful pacing, pitch-perfect accents—it's all in a day's work for the top-notch talents behind audiobooks including "Horrible Harry," The Hate U Give, No Kimchi for Me!, All American Boys, and others.

Physical books that play narration can increase students' reading confidence. Parents also like the format as an alternative to digital devices.

Join three librarians on August 26 for some show-and-tell as they discuss and demonstrate brain-building read-alouds, tantalizing tech tools, and crowd-pleasing crafts and activities. 

Houston Public Library youth and family services manager LaTrisha Milton wanted to help families manage during difficult times. With the help of partner organizations, she put together a mental health program for more than 50 patrons.

Readers can see the Goa-based artist’s work in two 2024 SLJ-starred titles, each distinct in format and scope: the cover of Saadia Faruqi's novel The Partition Project and the illustrations in Abigail Wheatley’s children’s cookbook, World Kitchen.

The acclaimed graphic novel romance, written by Yang and illustrated by Pham, features supernatural elements, family conflict, and celebrations of Asian culture.

The Grand Forks (ND) Public Library created a new YA section to respond to challenges on books about puberty; Idaho librarians discuss their practical response to the state's new materials law; a review committee is overruled in a Texas district; and more.

Activities, books, and online tools address issues including the impact of pet waste on water systems, measuring water footprints, and how activists raise awareness about conservation.