The nine picture books cited in Mahmoud v. Taylor are not pornography. Nor are they obscene. What is obscene is a Supreme Court decision that denies the basic humanity and equality of LGBTQIA+ people.

This year, we awarded dozens of books a prestigious star—and among this distinguished group, several clear commonalities shine bright. From fresh approaches on topics like grief to specific recurrences, such as characters taking on another person’s identity, here are the key trends among 2025's starred books.

 AI-generated booklists are possible—and even published. So what is the value of human curation?

In this golden age of anime, these beginner-friendly films and series provide librarians with a strong starting point for introducing the format to new audiences.