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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.
Marla Frazee stops by to talk about IN EVERY LIFE.
PREMIUM
Angry Bear
The bear’s okay. The approach is funny. The safety mirror is sturdy enough for library use.
PREMIUM
Nine Liars
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.
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.
PREMIUM
Don’t Mix Up My Dinosaur!
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.
PREMIUM
The Remembering Stone
Readers will find the topic of childhood grief is handled gently here and human connections are celebrated. Recommended for fiction collections.
PREMIUM
Salt and Sugar
A fun read that will have readers cheering for the courage and love of the two protagonists.
PREMIUM
The Prince of Steel Pier
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.
PREMIUM
Abuelito
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.
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.
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 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.
In The Carrefour Curse, I have revisited my gothic obsessed childhood and had a great deal of fun doing so.
This image-heavy, informational text will be enjoyed by dino-fans and is a great choice for browsing and reports.
PREMIUM
Star Eaters
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.
PREMIUM
Going Dark
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.
PREMIUM
I Am Curious!: An Acorn Book
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.
PREMIUM
Sleepy Sheepy
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.
PREMIUM
The Sky’s the Limit!: Minecraft
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.
PREMIUM
The Secret of Locker 24
Recommended for middle school collections, especially where hi-lo titles are in demand.
PREMIUM
Choujin X, Vol. 1
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.
PREMIUM
A Million to One
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.
PREMIUM
Robin
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.
PREMIUM
Trashed!
A fun mystery adventure with small openings for important conversations about racism and more.
PREMIUM
Hervé Tullet’s Art of Play: Creative Liberation from an Iconoclast of Children’s Books (and Beyond!)
An excellent choice for art classes, courses on writing and craft, and biography shelves.
PREMIUM
The Animal Song
Despite some flaws, this will pair nicely with the original song for a music-themed story time.
PREMIUM
The Wicked Bargain
This novel sets the standard for inclusive, swashbuckling romance; it’s adventurous, fun, and highly recommended.
PREMIUM
My Red, White, and Blue
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.
PREMIUM
The Art of Getting Noticed
An enjoyable introduction to legends of Bigfoot and Nessie that is certainly worth noticing. Recommended for public and school libraries.
PREMIUM
Yesterworld
While the series has a fun dystopian premise, it ultimately fails to come together. Not recommended for purchase.
PREMIUM
The Roof Over Our Heads
A theatrical spectacle that will entertain stage and historical home fans alike.
PREMIUM
Who Will Win?
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.
PREMIUM
Egyptian Lullaby
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 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.
PREMIUM
Rebel, Brave and Brutal
This duology had a strong start that faltered at the finish line. A secondary purchase for collections that own the first book.
PREMIUM
Grace Needs Space
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.
PREMIUM
Plátanos Go with Everything
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.
Despite some hiccups, this is a nice choice for Spanish-language collections, especially those in need of graphic novels.
PREMIUM
The Island
Recommended purchase for all libraries. Hand this to readers who are fans of Preston’s other works, and who enjoy books that keep the tensions high right up to the very last word.
PREMIUM
The Stranded
This novel will be a favorite among patrons who love dystopian fiction and will be a popular read in any high school library.
Featuring the unconditional, iridescent love of a caregiver and Elbert’s own stoic nature, this is a stellar purchase for every picture book collection.
Highly recommended. All teachers and administrators need to have a copy of this book to help prioritize their well-being.
A quality selection for informational books about artists and BIPOC individuals, this is likely to spark some real love in conversations surrounding the role of folk art, community outposts such as neighborhood barbershops, and more.
PREMIUM
My Flawless Life
A fresh thriller that will appeal to fans of E. Lockhart’s We Were Liars, Dana Mele’s People Like Us, and Alexa Donne’s The Ivies.
A good choice for genre studies shelves.
PREMIUM
A Dangerous Duo
With little character development or plot, poor illustrations, and simplistic writing, this one is unsuitable for most libraries. Not recommended.
Informative as well as inspiring, this book shows how Karikó’s tenacity is proof to never give up. A first purchase for all biography collections.
A simple story of a tree which transforms into a glorious celebration of life, growth, and community.
This true crime history is highly recommended for library collections serving upper junior high and high school readers.
PREMIUM
The Yellow Áo Dài
Naliah’s story teaches readers about the importance of family and culture in forming identity. Purchase where books on identity and culture circulate well; this would pair especially well with Eva Chen’s I Am Golden, Joanna Ho’s Eyes that Kiss in the Corners and Nabela Noor’s Beautifully Me.–Heidi Dechief
PREMIUM
Bea and the New Deal Horse
A gorgeous, almost bygone-era tale of overcoming adversity, full of wisdom for all. Upper elementary students, high schoolers, and beyond can learn resilience and wisdom from these characters.
Highly recommended for nonfiction and even parenting collections, where it will fly off the shelf with science-loving kids and neutralize any adult melodrama around talking to kids about sex.
For story hours or classroom use, this is a calming and reassuring read that demonstrates mindful breathing in a way that will resonate for many children. Recommended where books on mindfulness and social emotional learning are in demand.
An excellent reference resource on Latinxs, this update to the Hispanic Almanac is perfect for school and public library collections.
Despite the pleasant appearance, this format is too onerous for purchase.
An accessible graphic novel for high schoolers seeking a character they can relate to and a safe space to read about mixed heritage and identity.
Purchase only where the first novel has fans; readers will be more enthralled with the characters in dystopian titles like The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey or Legend by Marie Lu.
PREMIUM
Silver Bounty
A secondary purchase for larger collections, but worth having if patrons enjoyed the first volume.
PREMIUM
Dandelion Travels
An exploration of teen drama that will appeal to a wide range of high school readers.
PREMIUM
Little Critter: Monster Truck
A satisfying addition to emergent reader collections for classrooms and for libraries where previous titles by this author are popular.
PREMIUM
Baby Drag Queen
With contemporary themes, relatable characters, and plenty of high school drama, this title is recommended for high school libraries.
PREMIUM
Innocent Blood
Part of a new series centered on the mysterious Texas sinkhole, this is fun, light horror for fans of supernatural stories.
This reference set could be an essential teaching item in the secondary classroom and a welcome addition to a college library’s catalogue of electronic resources.
PREMIUM
The House Swap
A strong, heartwarming coming-of-age tale for tweens, teens, and even adults.
PREMIUM
Hungry Ghost
The book’s path toward healing is an example of bibliotherapy for teens. An excellent choice for YA collections.
PREMIUM
Promise Boys
With social justice themes, relatable teenage protagonists, and a satisfying conclusion, this is an essential purchase for teen collections.
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