News & Features

As we commemorate the lives and history of Black peoples in the United States this February, SLJ has curated lists of fiction and nonfiction books that can be paired in the classroom to offer a nuanced presentation of major historical events of Black history.

Kaye Johnson brought a statement from George M. Johnson, the author of All Boys Aren't Blue, which was one of six titles a group wanted removed from the public library. The Board of Trustees decided that all six titles will remain on the shelves at the Glen Ridge Public Library.

These three picture books capture the hardship and joys that Black people have experienced in the United States, with nuance and sensitivity to a young audience.  

The godmother of rock ‘n’ roll, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, has influenced music greats like Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis. These picture book biographies finally put the pioneer center stage where she belongs.

These eight titles center anthropomorphic animals, from snails to cats, and many more, celebrating special days like Valentine’s Day, Easter, and Purim.

 For our September issue, journalist Martha Hinton reported on new approaches to teaching the topic of slavery in U.S. classrooms. 

Share these titles with the youngest readers to help them ring in the new year. 

On this new episode of Author Fan Face-Off, the 2021 Newbery winner goes head-to-head with a young superfan.

Freedom! The Story of the Black Panther Party by Jetta Grace Martin, Joshua Bloom, and Waldo E. Martin, Jr., and The Tower of Life: How Yaffa Eliach Rebuilt Her Town in Stories and Photographs by Chana Stiefel are the winners of the 2022 Freedman Award.