News & Features

SLJ announces a new member of the reviews team: Andrew Eliopulos, who steps into a new position at the publication, graphic novels editor. 

Valdez knew from the start that Harmony Becker’s Himawari House, which earned an SLJ starred review, was something special.

Nancy Mercado, associate publisher and editorial director at Dial Books for Young Readers, learned on the go as editor of books including SLJ starred titles 'Because Claudette' and 'When We Make It.'

Amid continued attacks on the LGBTQIA+ community, an ALA Annual panel of library leaders offered advice on how to create an inclusive and safe space for staff and patrons, as well as handle angry patrons or threats to the library and staff.

This month's starred titles include a healthy dose of nonfiction, YA, and Spanish language books, as well as middle grade works by Rebecca Balcárcel and Margaret Peterson Haddix, graphic novels by Shauna J. Grant and David Zúñiga González, and more.

“We’re like jazz musicians in that we decide on a structure, but a lot is left up to improvisation,” says Griffin about working with Reynolds. Read more about how this SLJ starred book came together.

Overall, “joy and celebration” prevailed at the event, the first in-person ALA conference since 2020.

The ALA community was elated to be face-to-face again, talking about issues that matter to the industry. Comments made during a Unite Against Book Bans panel set off a Twitter firestorm that laid bare the emotion and complexities of the censorship discussion.

From Eric Herman and the Puppy Dogs's Magic Beans to Steve Elci and Friends's Nutmegger, here are ten children's music CD titles to have on your radar.