Ruth Chan and I have a new book coming . . .
Author M. K. Lobb shares a guest post about why it's important that you write for yourself
With the announcement of FREEWATER as the 2023 Newbery Medal winner, our Mock Newbery season is complete. Help us plan next year with our Readers' Feedback Poll and take a look at our early list of possible contenders for the 2024 Newbery Award.
What sets my novel apart is the acknowledgment of the past and its celebration of Black excellence and achievement.
Marla Frazee stops by to talk about IN EVERY LIFE.
Only for the collection that is really pining for it.
The bear’s okay. The approach is funny. The safety mirror is sturdy enough for library use.
Johnson delivers another satisfying mystery, with diverse characters, authentic depictions of mental health, and friends holding one another accountable for their actions in loving, supportive ways. Highly recommended.
Equal parts heartbreaking and heartwarming, this is a poignant, affirming story.
This is more than a board book; it’s a Rosetta Stone to a whole world, offering a tiny window into a glowing cityscape, whether familiar or not.
Touch and feel books are always popular with this age group, and this one will stand up to heavy use in circulation.
An adventurous biology and archaeology book filled with beautiful images and impeccable design. Recommended.
Readers will find the topic of childhood grief is handled gently here and human connections are celebrated. Recommended for fiction collections.
A fun read that will have readers cheering for the courage and love of the two protagonists.
This fast-paced middle grade novel will engage and resonate with readers. Recommended for school and public libraries looking to expand their historical fiction selection. Pair with Gennifer Choldenko’s Al Capone Does My Shirts.
This powerful work of persistence and hope is highly recommended.
Losing a loved one is never easy, but having someone to help us through the grieving process allows us to heal; Benavides and Buchet have created a work that allows readers to understand the connection between love and grief, healing, and new beginnings.
A gallery of book covers on books that feature time on repeat for teens
Gloria Chao talks about the inspiration behind her new book and shows us how to make paper lanterns.
Artemis Sparke is an invitation for all ages to join a brigade or, even better, to rally up their own brigade and experience the power of resurrected voices.
All the best reactions to the 2023 Youth Media Awards.
Greater representation serves young library users and the profession. But more effort is needed to bring in—and retain—Black librarians.
SLJ spoke with five school librarians about how they came to the profession, the work they do each day, and their connection with students.
From Virginia Florence, the first Black woman in the U.S. to receive a library science degree, to Clara Stanton Jones, the first Black president of the American Library Association, pioneers of the profession.
With engaging design, impeccable research, and actionable suggestions for making an impact, these four middle grade & YA titles discuss what strides are being made by scientists, activists, and young people who are fighting to save the planet they’ve inherited.
The author's debut was a Printz honor book, along with winning the young adult category of the Stonewall Awards and the Sydney Taylor Book Awards at the 2030 Youth Media Awards.
This dedicated page features everything about the awards, including all of SLJ's reporting of the ceremony and recognized titles and authors; a complete list of winners and honor books; plus links to book reviews, author interviews, blog posts, and related coverage.
The Archie Encyclopedia catalogs the sprawling cast of characters that make their home in Riverdale, as well as characters from other Archie Comics, like Sabrina and Josie and The Pussycats.
Teen Librarian Cindy Shutts shares what she keeps in her craft supply toolbox so she's always ready for the next DIY craft program
In The Carrefour Curse, I have revisited my gothic obsessed childhood and had a great deal of fun doing so.
3 of my favorite posts from the past month.
Recommended purchase for art and children’s books scholarship.
This image-heavy, informational text will be enjoyed by dino-fans and is a great choice for browsing and reports.
Light speculative fiction with a vague hint of romance, this is a secondary selection.
A worthy purchase for reference collections.
A good choice for middle schoolers that could also serve as a talking point for teachers and parents.
Overall, this is a clever take that will please fans of the genre and de la Cruz’s books.
An excellent resource, especially for those looking to center equity and justice in their practice.
Highly recommended for middle school collections.
This delightful book features a relatable and inquisitive little girl who many readers—especially those who love science
Recommended for purchase in a school or public library, this work is historically accurate on an underrepresented topic in the curriculum.
A must-have for school libraries; perfect for author studies, lessons on book awards, and all fans of Pinkney’s work.
This could easily end up a story hour favorite and an often checked-out new bedtime classic for not-so-tired kids and their very tired parents; this will especially work a spell on preschoolers.
A sure pick for Minecraft enthusiasts who may need a way in to reading practice and peer connections.
There’s not a word out of place in this blustery adventure, a masterful collaboration of illustration and text; this cozy winter tale with its striking pictures may appear to be cold but is quite the opposite.
Likely to become an instant classic and a favorite for families to snuggle up and read together, this charming picture book is recommended for first purchase.
Recommended for high school libraries.
Recommended for middle school collections, especially where hi-lo titles are in demand.
While this first volume is more setup than payoff, the suspense is undeniable, and readers of series like “Attack on Titan” will have a good time embracing this manga’s eccentricities.
Dramatic, moving, and energetic, this diverse historical novel about found family and choices at the end of the world is a YA must-have from the author of Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating.
Sure to be a cherished favorite, this simple but resonant book is highly recommended for early elementary collections.
This would be a great motivational tale to share with young artists, aspiring writers, and gifted education classes. With its emphasis on creativity, self-expression, and production, this delightful book is perfect for libraries with makerspaces.
For collections where the series is already circulating, this transitional segment teases what might kick into higher gear next volume.
An excellent follow up to the first book. Fans of Schwartz will not be disappointed. Recommend to readers of the first installment or fans of Gothic romance.
A fun mystery adventure with small openings for important conversations about racism and more.
An excellent choice for art classes, courses on writing and craft, and biography shelves.
Hand to reluctant high school readers looking for a good crime story.
Despite some flaws, this will pair nicely with the original song for a music-themed story time.
Recommended for fans of Laini Taylor and Stephanie Garber.
This novel sets the standard for inclusive, swashbuckling romance; it’s adventurous, fun, and highly recommended.
Sure to inspire children and readers of all ages to ask questions and prompt insightful discussion; in an era when the flag has been co-opted by various groups, this book is a reminder that it belongs to everyone and means many things. Highly recommended for purchase.
An enjoyable introduction to legends of Bigfoot and Nessie that is certainly worth noticing. Recommended for public and school libraries.
While the series has a fun dystopian premise, it ultimately fails to come together. Not recommended for purchase.
A theatrical spectacle that will entertain stage and historical home fans alike.
Readers will wish the story wasn’t over. A must for all library collections.
This clever tale should find a place in most collections, especially given the lack of Indigenous voices and representation in the beginning reader format.
A compassionate look at the asylum seeker system in Ireland through the eyes of a teen girl. First purchase.
A sweet peek into Egyptian family culture that is relatable to all. Purchase for picture book collections where representation of North African, Arabic, or, Egyptian traditions is lacking.
A necessary addition to all collections, warmly illustrated and beautifully told.
Definitive proof that a book doesn’t have to delve into the dark corners of the dictionary to be deeply affecting. An ideal tool to illustrate poetic elements or emphasize stories of sharing scary yet necessary truths.
A secondary selection where climate fiction is popular.
A curious and appealing biography that is recommended where literary classics are popular.
Accessible, detailed, alternately terrifying and inspiring, these reference books on the war in Ukraine are a welcome alternative for students seeking something beyond Wikipedia.
This duology had a strong start that faltered at the finish line. A secondary purchase for collections that own the first book.
The sci-fi setting creates high stakes for this realistic story of a tween ready for adventure, navigating her relationships with separated parents. Highly recommended; give to fans of Molly Brooks’s “Sanity & Tallulah.”
This Irish import will please children who want an over-the-top bully book jam-packed with adventure. This novel is wacky, awesome, and terrifying. It hits the right balance of ridiculous and real, but a sibling trying to kill a sibling is still intense and may be a specific fit for prepared readers.
A welcoming paean to home, recipes, and family, and although the emphasis is the Dominican Republic, there are few whose mouths will not water over these pages. A feast for cultural sharing, awakening, and creating.
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