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If we as adults (and authors) can’t give our kids a world that makes any sense, the least we can do is let them play in one.
PREMIUM
Sorry, Snail
While the message is earnest, the method is extreme in today’s climate of online bullying and harassment; the sensibility has a very specific appeal and should be doled out with caution.
PREMIUM
Un secreto
Purchase where there’s a need of literary Spanish-language novels for younger teens.
Young readers will greatly enjoy finding this child in the colorful illustrations. Highly recommended for early childhood read-alouds.
PREMIUM
Seton Girls
A page-turning debut centering on a close group of Black girls and a football team’s takedown following an accusation of rape.
This inspiring and highly relatable title could be used with readers of any age to discuss topics of body image and self-love. Recommended.
Kid lit authors attending ALA Annual are ready to support and work with embattled librarians as they manage attacks on their work. SLJ spoke with Samira Ahmed, Jas Hammonds, Angela Joy, and Eliot Schrefer about the importance of spending time with librarians at the conference discussing books, censorship, and supporting young readers.
PREMIUM
Burt the Beetle Lives Here!
Emergent readers and fans of comics will enjoy getting to know Burt in this recommended title.
PREMIUM
Harry at the Dog Show
This book is an enjoyable stepping stone for children who have begun the process of reading independently and are prepared for a challenge.
Children will enjoy Biscuit’s traditional exploits while practicing their developing reading skills.
PREMIUM
Gnome and Rat
A cute new addition to the growing pool of emergent-reader graphic novels featuring best friends, this will appeal to fans of Ben Clanton’s “Narwhal & Jelly” series and Stephen Shaskan’s “Pizza & Taco” books.
PREMIUM
Boom!
A swift, sweet, and visually satisfying vignette for beginning readers to enjoy with a caregiver or on their own.
PREMIUM
Trick or Treat? It’s Halloween!
Recommended for public library collections where holiday board books are in demand.
Recommended for all libraries for display during the holidays, especially to reflect the Indian diaspora or immigrant experience.
PREMIUM
The Wheels on the Costume
Libraries lacking inclusive representation in their collections, especially their board books, will want to buy; for everyone else, this is an additional purchase.
PREMIUM
The Boo Crew Needs YOU!
Recommended as an addition to Halloween shelves, an engaging title that provides new material on the holiday topic.
Most libraries will find this appealing, accessible book a welcome addition to holiday shelves.
A great addition to libraries looking to expand their seasonal stories for infants or for those who have duopress’s other “High-Contrast” titles; a recommended read for fans of Halloween to share with their youngest patrons.
PREMIUM
Dr. Seuss’s Horton Hears a Boo!
Nostalgic and enjoyable, this is a delightful addition to Halloween storybook collections for young readers.
A solid addition to an established collection on the subject for younger children.
Public libraries with Jewish populations will find this a useful overview of holidays, but it will not replace the many other picture books covering them individually.
PREMIUM
Raaga’s Song: A Diwali Story
Recommended purchase for libraries with readers who want to learn more about the origins of Diwali and make a connection to modern-day issues.
This short and sweet primer on saying sorry for one’s wrongs is a useful SEL selection for everyone.
PREMIUM
Hope Against Hope
Give to readers who love historical fiction and are eager for an engaging story they’ve likely not heard in depth before.
A definite purchase for a middle school library, this debut novel with a delightfully diverse cast provides a truthful account of peer pressure, divorce, and consent.
Sedita and Fox have created a wistful story reminiscent of many childhood favorites, but this time from a father’s perspective and including his future hopes of closeness with his child.
There is much to ponder, practice, and observe here, and the book has a sense of play; some readers will enjoy finding a little black cat on many pages. Highly recommended, a first purchase for all libraries.
With humor and grace, Beckmeyer’s wide-eyed characters convey emotions bridging science topics and SEL, putting this whirlwind of a book within the grasp of readers across a broad age range.
PREMIUM
Good Night, Little Man
There are few books in which a parent makes mistakes and learns from them on reflection. This is a great story of the father and son bond to add to the shelves.
PREMIUM
The Fastest Tortoise in Town
With a funny twist that story hour listeners will love—a hare challenges Barbara to a race
PREMIUM
The Invitation
Anxiety is real, and Fowles takes it on in a loving way, giving children a safe way to ask all the questions they need in this delectable and ultimately calming outing.
PREMIUM
Same Love, Different Hug
This book illustrates that love can be shown with a hug, but it is perfectly acceptable to find another way to communicate affection.
PREMIUM
Alphabuddies: G Is First!
A delightful book that is more than a fresh look at the ABCs; it takes on rule-breaking and reasoning and is a fun addition to any collection.
PREMIUM
Rocket Says Speak Up!
Sure to inspire young readers to speak up for the causes they believe in.
PREMIUM
The Imaginary Alphabet
An enchanting, artistic interpretation of the alphabet, sure to delight readers from A to Z.
PREMIUM
A Bed of Stars
In an essential book about facing almost any kind of fear, the creator’s ability to honor those fears without making them the entire focus is truly remarkable and renders a universal appeal.
An age-appropriate telling by an Indigenous creative team of a tragic historical period.
Whimsical illustrations capturing cloud babies will help all readers connect with this story and encourage cloud gazers to find imaginative creatures in the skies above and room in their hearts for the struggles of other children.
PREMIUM
Billie and Bean in the City
Youngsters will delight in this tale of responsibility and self-reliance, built with just the right amount of suspense.
PREMIUM
The Last Two Crayons
A charming debut, accompanied by warm, welcoming illustrations, sure to set off conversations about the language of color and the inclusion of every hue.
PREMIUM
The Unstoppable Bridget Bloom
Libraries with large communities of rom-com readers will want to add this to their collections; recommended for fans of Becky Albertalli’s Kate in Waiting and Robin Talley’s The Love Curse of Melody McIntyre.
PREMIUM
The Secret Summer Promise
Young teens who want a lighthearted, queer, friends-to-lovers summer romp filled with authentic representation will find plenty to love in this debut.
A gorgeously written, supernatural fantasy that deserves a place in secondary libraries where romance, feelings, and magic are appreciated by teens.
PREMIUM
Never Vacation with Your Ex
Highly recommended. Fans of Jenny Han and Sarah Dessen’s summer romances will devour this book.
PREMIUM
Of Light and Shadow
Recommended for readers who enjoy strong heroines, romance, and political intrigue combined with fantastical worldbuilding.
PREMIUM
Ever Since
A powerful story of childhood trauma and what it means to confront sexual assault, Bruzas’s debut novel addresses the complexities of survival and the importance of a strong circle of support.
PREMIUM
Buffalo Flats
This title would be an excellent addition to any YA historical fiction collection.
PREMIUM
Fake Dates and Mooncakes
In a heavily saturated market of fake dating and food-themed YA romances, consider this a secondary purchase where titles like Loan Le’s A Pho Love Story or Adiba Jaigirdar’s Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating are popular.
A must-purchase rollercoaster ride that will have readers wondering if people and memories can be trusted.
PREMIUM
Borrow My Heart
Recommended for YA collections in public libraries and for those looking for a romantic teen summer read.
PREMIUM
Time Out
Despite an intriguing premise, this book feels very generic. Recommended purchase for large collections where titles about LGBTQIA+ athletes are popular.
PREMIUM
The Last One to Fall
While this book starts strong and works in a few interesting twists, too much relies on omission to hide the culprit. An additional selection for libraries where thrillers are in high demand.
PREMIUM
The Girl Next Door
Solid choice for fans of Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper and Jenny Han’s To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before.
PREMIUM
Saint Juniper’s Folly
A recommended first purchase for teen collections looking to expand their supernatural fiction and LGBTQIA+ titles.
PREMIUM
Four Months Past Florence
Primarily recommended for libraries seeking to expand their YA verse novel collections.
PREMIUM
The Melancholy of Summer
A general purchase that will resonate with students who identify with the struggles associated with the transition to adulthood.
With a Cabin in the Woods vibe, this fast-paced slasher with chills in all the right places is perfect for fans of horror novels, such as Stephanie Perkins’s There’s Someone Inside Your House.
PREMIUM
Charmed Life
Purchase where the first book is popular but pass where it has been a hard sell.
PREMIUM
The Beautiful Something Else
A perfect way to infuse fiction with science; use this with Eliot Schrefer’s Queer Ducks (and Other Animals), in SEL classes, or offer it to those reading Ann Braden or Leslie Connor.
PREMIUM
Opinions and Opossums
A healthy reminder that the status quo continually needs to be challenged by thoughtful youths. There are a multitude of metaphors found in the natural world that can provide lessons if we are open to receiving them. A good choice for tween shelves.
A great choice for libraries looking to add holiday or counting books to their collection for younger children.
PREMIUM
Celebrate the Day of the Dead!
Recommended as a first purchase for collections where holiday books about the Day of the Dead are lacking.
PREMIUM
Big Bad Wolf’s Yom Kippur
Pair with Steve Smallman’s The Lamb Who Came for Dinner. Also, look to Gloria Koster’s Little Red Ruthie: A Hanukkah Tale and Laura Aron Milhander’s Not for All the Hamantaschen in Town for more fun Jewish holiday fairy tale twists.
PREMIUM
Grumpy Monkey Don’t Be Scared
Libraries that purchase this Halloween edition in the “Grumpy Monkey” series will see it quickly flee the shelves.
PREMIUM
Fox Has a Problem
A welcome and valuable addition to any early reader collection, sure to be popular with fans of the series in addition to newcomers.
PREMIUM
Hardware Helper!
A wonderful addition to the growing array of captivating beginning reader books. Recommended for all collections where leveled readers are in demand.
PREMIUM
The Smurfs: Lazy’s Alarm Clock
A fun, action-packed beginning reader for libraries with large collections.
PREMIUM
Shark-Cam
For young shark lovers. A predator that acts against type makes for a fun, gentle narrative.
PREMIUM
School Day Drama
A solid choice for libraries that circulate graphic novels to younger readers, but may get lost among more unique early graphic novels characters.
Recommended only where the Magic Mixies web series is already popular.
PREMIUM
A Book for Bear
Whether showcasing the joys of reading or expanding a collection on friendship, this lovely book is one to seek out.
A silly story that will see many re-reads and is ideal for reading aloud, this title should be a hit.
PREMIUM
A Sky Full of Song
Solid historical fiction that fleshes out the diversity of the pioneer experience. Pair with books like Louise Erdrich’s Birchbark House or Linda Sue Park’s Prairie Lotus.
PREMIUM
Pack Your Bags, Maggie Diaz
A good, very diverse, LBGTQIA+ friendly, first choice for libraries serving middle grade readers.
PREMIUM
If You Get Lost
This tale has an abstract message and story that young readers will have difficulty connecting with. For better stories about finding things that are lost, turn to Oliver Jeffers’s Lost and Found and Mo Willems’s Knuffle Bunny.
PREMIUM
Hattie Harmony: Opening Night
Hattie is a trouper to amuse and deflect all of life’s little annoyances; for move up day or a larger piece of stagecraft, this book has an SEL foundation that makes it useful and fun in a variety of settings.
Bursting with color and with life, this picture book about a young boy’s day helping his father has something new to explore with every read through. Perfect for Spanish and English picture book collections.
Bursting with color and with life, this picture book about a young boy’s day helping his father has something new to explore with every read through. Perfect for Spanish and English picture book collections.
PREMIUM
The Many Masks of Andy Zhou
A beautiful, contemplative novel that will stay with readers. Recommended for fans of Erin Entrada Kelly and Nicole Melleby.
Sensitively captures the isolation of COVID-19 and loss of a parent. Boomi is a relatable, self-aware character readers will be rooting for as she navigates myriad social, familial and personal issues in both time periods. Highly recommended.
A worthy purchase for any children’s collection, especially those serving immigrant populations, but all readers will relate to the struggle and joy of finding connection in an unfamiliar place.
PREMIUM
Penguin and Ollie
Libraries will want to add Penguin’s latest underwater adventure to this growing collection of stories by Yoon.
PREMIUM
The Red Jacket
For story hours on a gray day, this is a great choice for readers who are shy, or anyone looking for a humorous, beachside read.
PREMIUM
The Yawnicorn
A cozy bedtime story sure to unwind the mind and bodies of sleepy young unicorn lovers.
A book about everyday teamwork and love that is sure to inspire readers to work together in their own communities.
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