Those libraries seeking modestly religious creation stories may find this a quiet, sturdy edition to the shelves.
A stunning celebration of the darkness and all the wonders it holds.
An additional purchase for collections seeking more Indigenous representation.
Fans of this prolific author/illustrator’s work as well as children who love nature and seashore life will enjoy this short, beautifully illustrated story.
This vibrant picture book would be a good selection for libraries, with a celebration of hope that is always welcome.
This wonderful book would be a solid addition to any library for its reminder for all ages to appreciate the small things.
Sweet celebration of faraway family, the beauty of culture, and the common experiences Nuha and Jadda share makes this tale a standout. Recommended for all collections.
This title is a great addition to social-emotional learning (SEL) collections, offering a dynamic and unique approach to discussing anxiety, inner strength, and resilience with young readers during a fun and compelling read-aloud.
This book is a surefire hit for story hours, providing laugh-out-loud entertainment contained in an adorable bundle of elephant energy.
An excellent addition to any library’s poetry collection and good for teaching about the gifts of the natural world.
A kind introduction to the challenges of being shy; it will help those who are dealing with that and also those around them.
A nice addition to libraries where religious stories are of high interest, but perhaps not for wider secular audiences.
This joyful collaboration will be equally enjoyed by children who already know about Hajj and by those who are learning of it for the first time.
A poignant tale of friendship and feelings, and an appropriate addition to picture book collections.
A great book for cultural education and appreciation. This book will be of interest to all collections.
A touching celebration of the love between parent and child even during time apart, and especially good for children who may be experiencing separation.
A beautifully told and authentically grounded tale honoring the immigrant behind the famous Bing cherry and celebrating Chinese American resilience and contribution.
A good segue to reassurance for the very young, but this may be too specific for a wider audience.
A fun addition to any humor collection. This is great for a lap sit, or for use in small groups.
A powerful story with beautiful illustrations not only calls out the hate that is in the world today but also provides a message of hope for those who are in search of a creative outlet to find their proverbial home. Recommended.
PreS-Gr 3–This tongue-in-cheek guidebook from the future reveals all kinds of silly surprises about what the future will be like...
This book would be an excellent addition to any library’s picture book collection, especially those needing stories of dealing with a loss.
Exploring the world will help one find oneself. Best shared with groups of older elementary children, or in quiet one-on-one readings with younger children.
An essential purchase; Mooradian and Yim have created a powerful book to share with care. It opens space for conversations about resilience, identity, and remembrance and it shows how storytelling helps us honor the past while finding beauty in survival.
This is a good choice for libraries looking to add to their picture book collections, particularly the social-emotional learning shelves.
A moving depiction of the importance of trees and forests, this is highly recommended for all collections.
A heartwarming and informative story that reassures children that even the smallest creatures can overcome big challenges.
A useful resource for programs that encourage mindfulness and self-calming skills for young children.
While not explicitly sports focused, the title’s rejection of organized games for spontaneous imaginary play makes for a light, spirited romp for young readers.
Beautifully presented, written with deep admiration, recommended for elementary libraries, especially where baseball is popular.
With Eagles QB Hurts’ star power, this celebration of perseverance and teamwork should be an easy sell for budding football fans.
A light fantasy with soccer and gamesmanship at the heart, an additional selection for elementary sports fiction collections.
This gentle yet entertaining audiobook will engage younger listeners and hold their interest throughout. Fans of Henn’s The Music in Me will not want to miss this.
A powerful, inclusive picture book that highlights the richness of human communication and how differences bring people together.
A captivating entrée for younger children to meet Roz and enjoy the “Wild Robot” trilogy.
A visual delight and excellent take on Houdini’s life through his love of books and learning. Sure to be popular with book and magic lovers alike plus those interested in unusual illustration styles. A must have for most libraries.
A solid entry into the basics of soil and a solid purchase where needed.
A fascinating and beautifully designed exploration of an under-examined topic. A must-have for all collections.
A great class read-aloud to accompany lessons on ecosystems and environmental conservation.
Is this a poetry book packed full of information or a nonfiction study with a sprinkling of poetic joy
This is an excellent addition to any nonfiction picture book collection.
With its brief, thoughtfully chosen words, parts of this book could easily serve as an introduction to climate issues, environmental justice, and biodiversity for young children. The book can broaden and strengthen collections while gently introducing young children to what can happen when the Earth’s resources are misused.
This would make an excellent classroom book for units on history, but it also works for its uplifting message and positive affirmations.
A charming and informative look at life inside an egg that will work beautifully for read-alouds and is an essential addition to all collections.
A heavy book that is done with tact; with meaningful prose and incredible artwork, this is a recommended purchase for collections.
A buoyant shout out to our body’s most important organ (though look what’s telling us that)
Crafted with care, from texts to illustrations, this book will help young readers understand their fears.
A mix of board books, picture books, one graphic novel, and one middle grade novel make up this roundup of Christmas-focused titles for young readers.
As a beautiful introduction to the Oroqen people or a subtle look at the environment, this book would be a powerful choice for ecologically themed story hours.
This title is highly recommended for school libraries, offering rich opportunities for discussions on heritage, history, and community.
A spot-on cautionary tale and a perfect addition to any library’s collection of folktales and myths. Recommended.
A lighthearted book for preschoolers who ask these kinds of questions and need Henkes’s kind of answers.
Flett’s sentiments shine but never overwhelm in this simple message of love; it’s a first choice for any library’s picture book collection.
A lot of high jinks and not much reward.
This is a terrific book to read aloud when some humor is needed, or classroom pizza parties are about to commence.
A vibrant tale of island life, quick thinking, and community building, ripe for the classroom or group sharing.
A wonderful addition in all formats that is sure to spark joy and hope as well as big conversations.
Despite the issues mentioned above, all told, this is a joy-filled event!
This engaging and detailed book is an excellent addition to school library collections. Its unique blend of artistic digital illustrations and fascinating biological content about these often-misunderstood ocean creatures makes it a worthwhile purchase for science and nature sections.
For shelves about the great outdoors, here’s a way to invite young children into the joys of hiking and connecting with nature.
An appealing dive into the life and environment of puffins for classroom or individual reads.
An informative visual feast that celebrates the natural world on the other side of the door.
This phenomenal historical account of the Alabama River is a must-purchase for all library collections.
Part vocabulary building and part philosophy lesson, this is great for sparking the imagination of readers to find out more about mysteries in this world.
A nice addition for libraries wishing to expand their classic canon English literature collection.
A good choice to introduce babies and toddlers to the celebration of Ramadan.
This uplifting and encouraging sports biography is sure to be a great addition to any library’s preschool collection.
Recommended only where interest in the Cuyahoga River Valley is high and supplementary resources are available.
Florance’s experimental cosmic handbook is an inventive and informative nonfiction addition for middle to upper elementary students.
A fun and engaging addition to nonfiction collections, especially appealing to children who enjoy reading science-focused works like the DK’s “Eyewitness Books” or learning through hands-on exploration.
A delightfully informative addition to any career or science section, geared towards older readers.
A suspenseful and heartwarming true rescue story to captivate readers and budding conservationists.
Brimming with superficial sentiment and bad prose, this is not recommended for libraries.
From poo and tentacles to contemplative picture book biographies, this year’s picks for the Best Nonfiction for Elementary readers are filled with facts, information, and wonder.
A captivating look at the life and work of a childhood favorite, perfect for longtime fans of his work or those just encountering his legacy.
An excellent addition to collections with its helpful illustrations and plentiful facts.
A wintery wonderland of facts, introducing the sport and informational books simply and engagingly.
A delightful story certain to win over listeners at story hours or in classroom units about food and what it means.
A heartfelt reminder that care, imagination, and memory are powerful forms of protection worth celebrating in every classroom.
Sure to spark conversation for any age. Recommended for public and school picture book collections.
This offers an engaging message for readers who want to follow their dreams and is a solid choice for fans of Jitterbug and Goth Moth.
The natural world glows in these pages, but never in a sentimental way; this book pays attention to everything and reminds children to do the same.
A charming story about being accepted despite, or even because of, one’s differences.
This fun and friendly title is a perfect classroom read-aloud to prepare for, celebrate, or reflect on the joy of learning together.
A challenging topic, mental illness, is given wings by the hope stitched into the many quilts of Tompkins in this wonderful book for all ages.
Add to picture book collections to expand on Jewish culture and history through the prism of a warm, intergenerational afternoon.
Children will understand the joy of arguing, as well as its downside, in a book that needs both group-sharing and one-on-one deep dives.
An outstanding addition to collections of animals and ecosystems.
Devastating global events weave with the steadying beat of a fugue through cinematic, emotional illustrations; this is history writ large and small, for all readers.
A thoughtful, beautifully crafted title that honors a literary classic on the eve of its centennial and introduces “the Best Bear in All the World” to a new generation.
The book could stimulate readers to discuss, research, write about, and draw the forests in their neighborhood as well as forests around the world. A good introduction to an important topic.
Share with budding environmentalists and readers with a keen interest in music.
Gripping illustrations and very effective text place readers in the middle of this dramatic night in American history. Recommended.
A solid choice for lower elementary readers and a book that will look great on displays
A solemn and respectful reminder to younger readers of what was paid and what is owed
This book will not spark a reader’s interest in Bernstein or her art.
A significant, if possibly a bit sanitized, addition to baseball’s early history.
The personification works to great effect in this addition to the series and libraries should definitely give Venus her well-deserved spot on the shelves. Highly recommended.
A thematically rich story for all its seeming simplicity, excellent for shared reading and reflection around the December holidays or any other time.
A fantastic depiction of the upside of boredom
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