News & Features

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.

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. 

Pat Scales takes on a student teacher who thinks Captain Underpants is inappropriate, parent complaints about comics and horror, and a teacher who is using markers to alter problematic illustrations in picture books.

Older students aren't the only ones who consume news. Elementary schoolers see and hear news too, and need age-appropriate lessons to understand the sources and information.

The Jason Chin title earned the annual award for best STEM picture book.