Books & Media

The nine picture books cited in Mahmoud v. Taylor are not pornography. Nor are they obscene. What is obscene is a Supreme Court decision that denies the basic humanity and equality of LGBTQIA+ people.

This year, we awarded dozens of books a prestigious star—and among this distinguished group, several clear commonalities shine bright. From fresh approaches on topics like grief to specific recurrences, such as characters taking on another person’s identity, here are the key trends among 2025's starred books.

 AI-generated booklists are possible—and even published. So what is the value of human curation?

Lavonnia Moore lost her job after including the Kyle Lukoff book in a summer reading display at the request of a young patron; new law gives school boards in Texas authority over collection development; Ohio governor vetoed bill that would have restricted public library access to titles "related to sexual orientation or gender identity or expression."

The July issue—“the stars so far”—is our halfway point on the path to Best Books in December. SLJ reviews editors stand back to take a look at a beautiful, blossoming list of notable books.

From video games and documentaries to anime and tabletop RPGs, these standout stars shine at the top of their categories.

These audiobooks for kids, tweens, and teens offer stories of resilience, hope, and joy.

In this golden age of anime, these beginner-friendly films and series provide librarians with a strong starting point for introducing the format to new audiences.

These three titles feature tweens with parents navigating incarceration and detention in the United States.