Back to School

We Need Diverse Books offers a new website with resources for librarians and educators about books by Native creators and how to use them in the classroom; Newbery-winning author Susan Patron has died; YALSA releases Teen Top 10 list; federal education employees will create AI guidance and policy for K-12; and more in this edition of News Bites.

This roundup features reference titles for all ages, including a volume on Norse myths for tweens and encyclopedias on hair, Supreme Court decisions, and African American firsts for high schoolers.

These series about friend duos will appeal to young children just starting to read independently—and watching the streaming show on Apple TV.  

For teens eagerly awaiting their escape to college or those reading "up" about older students, here are 12 YA novels set on colleges campuses.

Booktalks are brief, in this case uber-brief, pitches to “sell” young readers on a given title. We invite readers to give it a shot, submit a stellar video booktalk for potential publication on SLJ.com and our social channels.

The most viewed stories: recommended titles for the return to the classroom, fiction and nonfiction, and ways to make books available in a time of rampant censorship. Meanwhile, M.T. Anderson calls us to what counts: love. 

The Digital Public Library of America has launched The Banned Book Club, offering free access to e-books and audiobooks in areas where the titles have been restricted or banned.

Music mogul Jay-Z is working with New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft to combat book bans; Ta-Nehisi Coates attended a school board meeting to support a teacher told to stop using his book; President Obama joins public library Tik Toks to spread the message about the importance of access to books; and more.

EveryLibrary and GLAAD teamed up to offer practical advice for fighting censorship in your community; the Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA) announces its 2023 Best Book Awards; and publishing news from Baker & Taylor and Nosy Crow in this edition of News Bites.