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It's Poetry Time on Heavy Medal! For our Wednesday Round-up, we look at several excellent collections and wonder...will this be the year for a poetry Newbery Medal?
In Be That Way, I wanted to explore the deeply personal and solitary way of making art that’s more typical of how I work. At the heart of my creative process for Be That Way was the concept of play.
"You get your story and you hold on to it, and every time you tell it, you forget it more.” We talk today with Andrew Knapp about his beloved Momo and the book he made once she was gone.
ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) puts out an annual list of Top 10 Most Challenged Books for the year. Here are SLJ 's reviews of titles on the 2022 list.
In observance of Banned Books Week, here's an excerpt from The Boy from Clearwater, the story of a Taiwanese teenager who was imprisoned for a decade for attending a meeting of a book club.
Author Jessica Vitalis discusses why we need middle grade books to talk about difficult topics like abuse, poverty and hunger
A really lovely look at the many beautiful and ugly parts of growing up.
The five finalists include a picture book, graphic memoir, YA novel, and a couple of middle grade titles.
Here are the SLJ Reviews of the five finalists for 2023 National Book Award for Young People's Literature.
The author of Speak and SHOUT sees dangerous differences between past attempts to ban books and the current, coordinated censorship attacks.
If graphic novels are flying off the shelves at your library, that reflects a remarkable trend: The format’s popularity has shot up at over 90 percent of school libraries in the last few years, according to a new SLJ survey.
Interview Triumvirate: A Three-Way Rescues Interview with Tommy and Charlie Greenwald and Shiho Pate
It's been a good year for dog books. As proof, you should probably check out The Rescues. I interview its three creators about bringing this monumentally cute story to life.
Check out this week's list of new comics, manga, and graphic novels for readers 12-and-under featuring Monster Support Group: The Mummy's Curse from Nobrow - Flying Eye Books and Coral's Reef from Seven Seas Entertainment.
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At Heavy Medal, we to follow the processes of the real Newbery Committee when we can, one of those is nominations. On the real Committee, each of the 15 members nominate 7 Newbery deserving titles with written justifications over the next three months. Nominated titles are the only ones on the final Newbery table. The […]
At Heavy Medal, we try to follow the processes of the real Newbery Committee when we can, one of those is nominations. On the real Committee, each of the 15 members nominate 7 Newbery deserving titles with written justifications over the next three months. Nominated titles are the only ones on the final Newbery table. […]
If you’re a fellow lover of mad scientists, or if you would like to trick a friend (or enemy?) into liking them too, you might also enjoy The Glass Scientists!
A quick peek at some potential Caldecott and Newbery contenders
Librarians should be attuned to alternative reading options so that blind and low-vision students have the same access to books as their sighted peers.
In this Banned Books Week edition of News Bites, the New York Public Library has launched a teen-focused "Books for All" campaign; EveryLibrary Institute and Book Riot release the results of their Parent Perception Survey; PEN America, NCAC, and ALA offer resources.
It's Banned Books Week 2023. While there are many in-person events in libraries and bookstores across the country, these virtual events will allow everyone to hear important conversations at this critical time.
We dive deep into our first Karla Kuskin book and also our first Marc Simont book. Delightful fare with a very fun take on how horrible ties are to tie.
This story of a woman bold enough to run with lions, and break barriers in the process, will appeal to animal lovers and social crusaders. Recommended for general purchase.
A great introduction to Capoeira and the persistence of Bimba to move this street performance into the mainstream. This masterpiece of illustration and narrative will appeal to readers across categories of martial arts, dance, and more.
PREMIUM
Freddie the Flyer
With few autobiographies for children about Indigenous “firsts,” this fills a niche. It is otherwise mostly of local interest or for adults already familiar with Carmichael’s story.
PREMIUM
A Hundred Vicious Turns
Trans fantasy novels are still a rare occurrence on YA shelves, and this novel will appeal to readers who prefer slower stories. A secondary purchase.
A ruthless and standout series opener to a dark, adrenaline-fueled duology. Highly recommended for all collections.
A swoon-worthy LGBTQIA+ romance with a lot of heart, this one is a first purchase for all library collections.
PREMIUM
The Reunion
This one may interest teens who enjoy thrillers, but the pacing detracts from the plot’s strengths.
PREMIUM
Champion of Fate
The tight-knit friendships and thrilling action sequences are the true heroes of this duology opener. Blake subverts classic tropes to reward new and frequent fantasy readers. Recommended for general purchase.
A compelling story as the James women struggle to deal with their own secrets, and in the process, reveal some the darkest ones in town. A first purchase.
PREMIUM
Layers: A Memoir
This heartfelt, autobiographical graphic novel is an affirming and witty look into the joys and struggles of growing up, and is a highly recommended purchase but is best suited for adults and older teens.
Make space for this in your collection; Reid’s dark and lyrical writing will hold readers captive even after the story ends.
PREMIUM
The Last Girls Standing
A recommended purchase where thrillers are popular; hand this to fans of Holly Jackson’s A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and Stephen King’s IT.
PREMIUM
When Ghosts Call Us Home
A quiet paranormal horror that, because of its slow pacing, would be a secondary purchase in libraries where these kinds of stories are popular.
PREMIUM
Have You Seen My Sister?
This is a fast-paced, twisty read that will keep readers guessing until the very end. A great addition to YA collections; hand it to readers who enjoy the works of Karen M. McManus, Jessica Goodman, and Holly Jackson.
PREMIUM
The Rosewood Hunt
This mystery will grab the attention of readers from the start as it takes them along a trail of clues. An excellent addition to library collections for teens that will satisfy genre fans.
PREMIUM
Flubby Does Not Like Snow
A great addition for all libraries looking for modern emergent reader books.
PREMIUM
Bright Star: An Acorn Book
Recommended for purchase where the series and beginning chapter books are popular.
PREMIUM
This Is Not My Story
A great addition to any library and a wonderful way to pull in reluctant readers and kids just starting to figure out how to tell a story.
Though the depth of the text is limited, the large print and vibrant digital art will keep emerging readers’ attention.
Humming with sweetness and color, this is a lovely encouragement to new readers to make one’s life matter in small but important ways.
PREMIUM
Scientists Are Saving the World!
A helpful addition to libraries looking for introductory texts on science careers.
The title perfectly portrays the bonds of friendship and teamwork, making it a great addition to any library collection.
PREMIUM
Jo Jo Makoons: Snow Day
Readers will laugh out loud at JoJo’s antics and opinions as she embraces her community, heritage, and love for life. Give to fans of “Junie B. Jones.” Recommended for all libraries.
PREMIUM
José and Feliz Play Fútbol
An excellent addition to early chapter book collections. This title has so much promise for readers who are learning Spanish, interested in soccer, or have a love of dogs.
This sprawling collection is an excellent post-primary introduction to the topic. It is simply organized, yet contains a multiplicity of topics, artistic contributions, and historical accounts.
PREMIUM
Encyclopedia of Birthdays
Purchase where there’s interest in astrology, numerology, tarot, color theory, and parapsychology.
A necessary resource to celebrate the Black experience by exalting the pioneers who are too often ignored or forgotten in discourse surrounding the history of people of color in the United States.
This book would be a great start for younger readers with a budding interest in human anatomy; older readers may want to look elsewhere for a better organized and more functionally designed choice.
PREMIUM
Exploring Norse Mythology
Recommended for school and public library collections where there is an interest in this topic.
A necessary purchase for all nonfiction sections, hand this to air and space enthusiasts, or those drawn to high interest books.
Scattershot selection of subjects and workmanlike writing citing web resources easily uncovered by high school students make this an exorbitant choice. Not recommended.
PREMIUM
The Dark Lord’s Daughter
This title may not grab readers looking for more exciting and fast-paced tales but will appeal to fans of other high fantasy stories with magic, like the “School for Good and Evil” series.
PREMIUM
Looking Up
With an imaginative ending that will make readers think, there is more than meets the eye in this funny gem.
Swartz’s latest is realistic fiction at its best. A solid story with a strong positive message about friendship, trust, and tenacity that will fit nicely into all collections.
No blood, minimal gore, but these effectively unnerving tales will stick with horror fans long after the book’s end. Highly recommended for juvenile graphic novel collections.
PREMIUM
Coral’s Reef, Vol. 1
Packed with fun times, airy characters, and a good message at its core, this is a book young readers will find relatable, instructive, and entertaining at the same time.
PREMIUM
Like a Charm
An engaging fantasy/adventure story ideal for anyone experiencing social alienation; it’s especially deft in its handling of the topics of neurodivergence and disability.
PREMIUM
Secret of the Reaping
A solid follow-up that will keep readers invested in this exciting series.
PREMIUM
Forsooth
Chock-full of theater references, middle school romance, and drama, this book will find fans among so-called “theater kids,” but is too niche for a general audience.
PREMIUM
Brave Little Bear
This sweet, coming-of-age picture book conceptualizes the different ways we can be brave, and is a good metaphorical guide for children facing new chapters in their lives.
PREMIUM
I Am Dog!
Perfect for children who enjoy pet stories, rhyming word play, and lots of laughs.
PREMIUM
The Real Story
A first purchase for most collections, this book will prove popular at story time.
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