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New baby sisters, substitute teachers, and friends (even if it’s a bowling ball) are frequent themes in short novels for young readers. Favorite authors such as Karen English and Andrea Cheng deliver new titles in popular series, while Neil Gaiman and Mal Peet (who usually write for older readers) provide humor and thought-provoking storytelling for kids who are getting comfortable reading on their own. The following titles selected by the editors of Junior Library Guild are just the ticket.

Gina Damico wraps up her Croak series in "cracktastic" style with the fall release of ​Rogue. If you loved ​Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell, it's a good bet you'll be smitten with ​Fangirl, "written by a writer writing about a writer writing." The question posed in ​After Eden​, from Helen Douglas, circles around when it is or isn't right to keep a secret, especially when a loyal friend and a whole planet depend on it.

Do you know of an an outstanding educator whom you'd like to send to the head of the class? The International Reading Association (IRA) is now accepting applications for both its Arbuthnot and Jerry Johns Award.

After the storms last spring devastated the Moore (OK) community, Capstone recently sent a shipment of 3,000-plus books to support the city’s two elementary schools, Briarwood Elementary and Plaza Towers Elementary.

They say that there are more children’s book authors and illustrators in Brooklyn than any other city in the nation.  How appropriate then that they should be the ones behind the inaugural Atlantic Avenue Children’s Literature Contest.  The rules are simple: If you have never written a published children’s book then you are eligible.  You [...]

In time for the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington, John Lewis—former chairman of SNCC and now Congressman—collaborated with his comics-obsessed staffer Andrew Aydin and veteran graphic novelist Nate Powell on a powerful new graphic novel memoir, March.

Sesame Street's "Maria," Sonia Manzano, received top honors in the 2013 Americas Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature for her The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano. Celebrate International Dot Day with its creator, author/illustrator Peter H. Reynolds, at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, MA, on September 15.

Leonard Peacock has big plans for his 18th birthday....to kill Asher Beal and then commit suicide....This is a difficult, yet powerful, book. Quick’s use of flashbacks, internal dialogue, and interpersonal communication is brilliant.

The following shelf-worthy additions selected by the editors of Junior Library Guild offer readers hard-to-put-down follow-ups by Newbery-winning and NY Times-bestselling authors. From the conclusion of Gennifer Choldenko's "Al Capone" series and the latest title in Margaret Peterson Haddix's "The Missing" books, these choices will be a slam dunk for kids and librarians.