An excellent choice for a book report and a good addition to a children’s nonfiction collection.
A pleasant, nonessential purchase for libraries.
A gripping, authentic window into the soul of a young person, this would be a solid addition to any collection.
Middle and early high school readers who love a gripping adventure or survival story will tear through this one. Highly recommended.
A good choice for classrooms where projects are in the works.
This strong SEL title is a perfect addition to any library with dinosaur lovers and children who are new to the school environment.
A lovely back-to-school story that a growing number of children will find relatable and that will encourage empathy in others.
A solid addition to any library’s school-themed picture book collection.
A sweet reminder that although school might initially appear to be challenging, with the support of parents and friends, learning will be fun.
A valuable addition to any library or classroom collection.
A first purchase. This is a great title for sharing with children to encourage vocalization of feelings, especially those related to the experience of going to school for the first time.
A sweet and useful way to empower young readers to have ownership over the supplies that will help them reach their dreams.
A lively read-aloud for preschool classrooms or home, with detailed illustrations that beg for close examination.
A strong introduction to informational books for beginning readers.
Informative and inspirational without veering into sentimentality, this title is useful across curricula and will have readers rethinking the value of items that appear seemingly worthless. Highly recommended.
As an important work in combating mob mentality and misinformation, this is a good purchase for libraries to connect historical events to today’s current issues.
An interesting, albeit brief, introduction to the history of humans and dogs with enough detail to capture the variety of ways that the relationship has been of benefit.
Pair this with a traditional biography of Washington for a refreshing look into the legacy of both the president and the painter. Highly recommended.
A fun and colorful ABC book for board book collections.
A very interesting and well-illustrated biography, this is surely a necessity for the shelves.
This is an appealing option for parents and caregivers looking for ways to introduce sustainability topics to young children.
For graphic depictions of how humans get fuel, this is a fine collection of images, but the text will leave readers wanting more.
Providing a unique take on the highs and lows of two monumental discoveries, this is a recommended purchase for libraries where narrative nonfiction and science topics circulate well.
An inspiring and detailed biography of strength in the face of adversity, and a highly recommended purchase.
A beautifully written love story to the Australian coast meets a coming-of-age saga with mixed success. An additional purchase.
Cherokee writer Reno crafts a powerful debut centering an important issue affecting Indigenous women and families; a strong purchase for all middle schools.
A sensitive and powerful look at grief with the uplifting reminder that even with all the bad crowded in, there is still room for joy and happiness. Highly recommended.
This highly readable verse memoir beautifully portrays the internal anguish of growing up and adapting to life in a new country.
Fans of Five Nights at Freddy’s or Goosebumps will enjoy the worldbuilding and satire. There’s plenty of excellent craft, but perhaps not enough to ignore the goofy twists.
Tales within tales create a modern Jewish-based fairy tale, to be purchased where reimaginings and fractured fairy tales are popular.
Good representation but doesn’t add many surprises to the always-growing world of kids’ graphic novels about friendship drama. Even so, this will still be much appreciated by kids who devour these stories, particularly if they like a sports twist.
A lightly comical tale of fifth grade that fans of Diary of Wimpy Kid and similar books will enjoy.
A reimagining of a beloved classic that will appeal to fans of heartfelt adventure manga and works like She-Ra and the Princess of Power. An ideal series to help fill the middle grade manga demand.
Those familiar with Hunsinger’s moving New Yorker comic story “How to Draw a Horse” will be thrilled with this beautiful, heartfelt, longer work. A must-have for any library serving middle and high school students.
This is sure to be a hit with fans of the X-Men franchise, but Baptiste’s inclusion of real-world topics is the story’s true superpower.
This is another fine addition to the middle grade graphic novel genre that embraces individuality and lets readers know it’s okay to be themselves and no one is perfect.
This is a story that will resonate with many readers, especially those who enjoy fantasy and coming-of-age stories.
A quintessential fantasy that will delight readers of all ages who can handle intense storylines; this will circulate well in public and school libraries alike.
Encourage readers to push through early chapters for a character-driven fantasy series opener with tons of adventure. Recommended for most collections, especially those serving fans of Jennifer Nielsen or Kate O’Hearn.
Every library that already owns Escabasse’s previous work will want to add this to their shelves.
This coming-of-age story for teens may run a bit slow at times but brings more excitement and panic when dealing with something truly haunting in the dark.
Recommended for readers of fantasy, this novel incorporates diverse perspectives, including exploration of LGBTQIA+ and immigrant identities.
This coming-of-age debut featuring a beautifully flawed queer-identifying protagonist endeavoring to succeed in a largely underrepresented sport will likely be enjoyed by readers beginning their roller derby journey or those who can’t get enough of it, as well as those curious to know more about derby culture.
An important addition to YA collections, to be enjoyed by any readers who like coming-of-age books and especially those who are looking for relatable stories about queer, aro-ace, or disabled teens.
A candy bar of a book readers will want to devour in one sitting. Recommended for purchase.
A fun, thrilling mystery than spans almost a century, and a must-read for mystery fans.
A searing and suspenseful debut.
A convincing and darkly romantic YA, even if slightly scattered.
Finch’s debut is perfect for readers of other myth-based books, such as “Percy Jackson,” and fans of the Marvel cinematic universe who want to learn more about traditional Norse mythology.
A emotionally rich and complex coming-of-age story. Amélie is a well-written character teenagers will understand and will want to root for.
This second volume continues to do a lot of what its predecessor did well. Stirring characters, impressive art, and a rousing plot makes this a worthwhile purchase for young adult collections.
A new guardian rises and tensions build in this action-packed second installment.
With broad appeal to both WWII and mystery enthusiasts, this highly recommended title is a first purchase for all libraries serving tweens and teens.
Recommended. Readers who like a challenging mystery tied up with the trials of growing up, love, jealousy, and the importance of family will find much to like here.
This healing slice-of-life graphic novel lights a bright path for LGBTQIA+ romance plots by including characters with intersectional experiences. A must-have for all collections.
When the world seems to be collapsing, living can be the hardest challenge to overcome. A first choice for collections serving older teens.
Readers will be invested in Phoebe’s transformation into a more empowered and confident teen, and Phoebe and Jess make a compelling and fun-to-watch pair. A recommended purchase for libraries where teen romances circulate well.
This coming-of-age cozy fantasy is recommended for all YA collections, but especially any collection lacking queer-inclusive titles.
A LGBTQIA+ romance wrapped in wishes, self-discovery, and roses. Hand to older teens who like their romance with a healthy dose of angst.
A must-buy for YA collections.
A sweet, enjoyable read recommended for young adult collections.
Yang creates an extraordinarily rich cultural background in this beautifully written work. Recommended.
This generation’s Anna and the French Kiss, give it to fans of Emily in Paris. Highly recommended.
A must for all collections, this four-generation saga of Filipino fathers and sons will resonate with teenagers of all cultures.
An additional purchase where suspenseful murder mysteries and sapphic romances are popular.
An upbeat read, despite the serious themes, that will hopefully inspire teens to fight for a cause that affects their own lives.
Fresh and important while also being comforting. This book highlights themes and sentiments that all readers can relate to, regardless of identity or orientation.
A tantalizing summer thriller, recommended for romance fans looking to try something new.
A wickedly good time, stock where the first installment has readers. Recommended for purchase.
Recommended for YA collections.
A thoroughly engrossing novel, with a satisfying plot and enough mystery to stay up all night reading, sure to cause goosebumps.
Written in true Hopkins style, these verses pack a punch with low word count. This story is highly accessible and will be devoured by realistic fiction readers.
This long-awaited follow-up to I'll Give You the Sun is well worth the wait.
A recommended read for enthusiasts of coming-of-age novels and historical fiction, especially those of real people overcoming struggles and strife.
Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House meets the rage of Xiran Jay Zhao’s Iron Widow in this romantasy. Recommended for those with a taste for dark academia and morally gray enemies-to-lovers.
A welcome, diverse spin on royalty rom-com and coming-of-age tropes.
This fast-paced and exciting reflective story on sportsmanship and overcoming self-doubt provides concise representation into Cherokee cultural activities while keeping the story relatable to many growing readers.
Filled with extraordinary art, this picture book is a necessary addition to shelves on culture, image-positivity, and SEL, in a wonderful ode to the beauty of Black hair.
An affirming family story featuring a smart young woman showing off her solid map skills.
Sure to be a popular book for dog lovers and a fresh addition for teachers to use when teaching about colors.
A meaningful take on grief and loss that will fill a hole in many collections.
A perfect, calming story for afternoon story hours, or to fill out curricula on the experience of night across various locations.
This beautiful celebration of Black women and girls is a perfect addition to every collection.
Illustrations and minimal text convey a deeply felt story that will provide rich opportunities for children to extend the storytelling and perhaps tell their own survival stories. Beautifully presented.
This funny picture book about a clueless, acornless squirrel is a solid purchase for collections.
There are not enough mysteries aimed at this age group, who love being in on the puzzle and helping figure it out. This is a safe choice for the shelves.
Lukoff models good behavior for kids (and, let’s face it, adults) without being lecturing or preachy. A must-have.
A thematically unique nursery rhyme board book to add to bilingual collections. Recommended.
An adorable and hilarious picture book that teaches readers the magic of the very low bar.
A unique story that celebrates queer love and Chinese folklore, and a distinctive addition to the LGBTQIA+ shelves.
A recommended and useful introduction to the democratic right to protest, this title could be tidily included across curricula for sharing with children before they attend a march or to help build understanding for the role of common citizens in making positive change and speaking up for important causes.
A thoughtful offering for SEL units as well as an upbeat lesson on resiliency in nature; this is also a great choice for sharing one-on-one.
This update on popular experiments is a welcome addition to most middle grade science classrooms and public libraries looking for STEM programming ideas.
A highly recommended purchase for libraries looking to add to their habitat and endangered animal collections.
A great choice for school libraries and caregivers looking to take the fun of learning science outside the classroom, literally.
A safe and fun introduction to hiking on trails for children and families that would be at home on public library shelves.
Purchase this interesting volume for large collections.
A must-read relationship guide offering practical advice, personal insights, and essential tools for the aspec community and beyond.
Purchase this educational and beautiful series where nature programs and field exploration are popular and where there’s a need for more artistic nature guides.
An informative and enjoyable title for those curious about otherworldly ideas. Fun for school and public libraries alike.
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