Age Level

Summer is the perfect time for series and serial podcasts across genres to keep kids entertained and engaged.

We've selected some of our favorite poets to remind readers that summer is the time to slow down and savor the sounds of words. 

Though they are rarely recognized with merit awards,  licensed content books are hugely popular and often timely—addressing social-emotional issues and, lately, concerns related to the pandemic—and the comfort of familiar TV and movie characters has strong appeal for beginning readers.

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).

Using primary sources with literature can help students explore a story using a unique, real-world perspective.

Saturday morning cartoons may be a thing of the past, but the genre is living on in graphic novels. These 10 novels and series bring back that Saturday morning feeling with mad scientists, talking animals, and zany superheroes. 

Over the past year across the country, educators have altered lesson plans and curricula to address racial injustice, historically and today.

Whether kids are eager to read about friendship woes, holidays, or new furry friends, they’ll find something to satisfy them in this list of realistic chapter books. Looking for more summer reading recommendations? SLJ is publishing lists all summer long—from family stories to mysteries to teen reads. 

Educators have used targeted intervention and innovative tech approaches and offered social-emotional support.