Best Of

Madeline has spent 18 years at home with only her doctor mother and a nurse to care for her rare form of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) and can’t risk exposure to the world beyond her highly controlled environment. When a boy her age moves next door, he wreaks havoc with her regimented routine and makes her acutely aware of all that she’s been missing. A tender and bittersweet romance with a jaw-dropping twist.

Collecting and illustrating sea-themed verse by Hughes, Bryan frames the famed poet in a new light that will appeal to poetry fans and newcomers alike. The cut-paper collages pulsate with energy and life and echo the passion of Hughes’s words. A luminescent oceanic love song.

A psychedelic collection of animal-themed poems by Lewis Carroll, William Blake, Christina Rossetti, and more. Yoon’s vibrant Pantone illustrations transport readers through a menagerie of fanciful creatures. For added fun, four of the 16 poems are presented on spreads that fold out, adding to the whimsy and playfulness of this imaginative romp.

Black teen Rashad is assaulted by a white police officer. White classmate Quinn, who was practically raised by the police officer, witnessed it. When a video of the brutal event surfaces, the school, city, and country explode with protests and outrage, and the two protagonists must examine who they are and what they believe. Told in alternating chapters, this timely YA novel presents a stirring account of two young men coming to grips with the racism that pervades this country and the steps they must take to turn the centuries-long tide.

Information fuses with imagination as two siblings experience the wondrous ways that water changes form, from cool summertime quaff to autumn fog, fast-skating winter ice, and springtime snowmelt. Readers will relish poring over the effervescent rhymes and winsome action-filled paintings as they soak up the science.

A thought-provoking look at our culture’s obsession with beauty. With echoes of the Persephone myth, this magical realism tale centers on Finn’s search for the missing Roza, his older brother’s love and the town sweetheart. Alternating chapters from his and her points of view reveal the sinister and otherworldly nature of Roza’s abductor. Ruby’s lush language, intricate plotting, and impeccable sentence-level writing make this a winning title for sophisticated teen readers.

High school baseball star Braden is the only witness to the car accident that killed a police officer. His father, a Christian radio personality, was behind the wheel. When his prodigal older brother returns, Braden’s convictions about his father, their family’s past, and his faith in God waver. Alternating between the present and past, with baseball metaphors sprinkled throughout, this poignant debut shines with the hope of truth and forgiveness.

Tim Wadham, SLJ’s Libro por libro columnist, along with the members the Top 10 Latin@ Books committee, select superlative titles about the Latin@ experience.

Mama and Papa Bunny are charmed by the adorable wolf cub they find on their doorstep, but wary Dot is convinced that their decision to adopt Wolfie will lead to trouble. OHora’s winsome thick-lined acrylics and Dyckman’s simple text work together to subvert expectations and seamlessly tell a humorous yet heartwarming tale of sibling bonding and the often surprising joy of family.