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I struggled for several years to find a way to do “Goblin Market” justice, while still respecting my audience.
We can’t always understand the things that scare us, but scary stories are the safest places to experience our fears again and again, as many times as it takes for them to become comfortably familiar.
Come with me, way back to 2018. Such a simpler time (ha). I open up my Publishers Weekly Rights Report and what do I see? This: John Schu and Lauren Castillo – two of my favorite people in children’s literature – teaming up for a picture book: This Is a Story. Now, let’s return to […]
The weeks of summer vacation are winding down and one of the things I will miss most when I head back to school is not being home to immediately open all the great book mail that shows up at my house. I have a whole system for the massive amounts of books that appear here: […]
Today I’m sharing with you new and forthcoming titles from Wednesday Books.
PREMIUM
Five Little Dreidels
Colorfully appealing if superficial art isn’t enough to overcome mediocre text. Pass on this unexceptional offering.
The positive intentions of this commercial tie-in fail to elevate its lackluster execution.
The length and complexity of the text, combined with a meandering plot, will require older readers with a deep well of patience. Recommended for libraries only where the first book was wildly popular with patrons.
PREMIUM
Happy All-idays!
Although it might be a cute stocking-stuffer, this book does not add anything to a library collection.
A lighthearted way to introduce Krampus to toddlers. Recommended for collections looking to broaden their Christmas horizons beyond traditional Santa titles.
PREMIUM
I’m a Little Snowman
A recommended addition to library collections in need of new titles on winter and snow.
PREMIUM
Best Kids’ Hanukkah Jokes Ever!
This unexceptional joke book might fill a hole in Jewish collections desperate for Jewish-themed jokes. All others can pass on this uneven and pedestrian offering.
Bursting with color and joy, this book vibrantly shines with life, hope, and diversity. Recommended for purchase.
PREMIUM
12 Days of Richard Simmons
Not recommended for libraries. This quick read is a novelty gift for Richard Simmons fans.
PREMIUM
The Christmasaurus
Though not an essential purchase, this title is recommended for libraries looking to freshen up their holiday picture books with a positive message.
A compelling novel that covers an important time in Chinese history while also giving readers an enjoyable teen romance. Recommended for all libraries.
PREMIUM
All That’s Left in the World
Recommended for all public and school libraries, this novel will appeal to a wide audience who are attracted to post-apocalyptic literature. It will help bring together kids of all identities who love this genre and want to see themselves, and others, represented.
PREMIUM
A Night to Die For
A fast-paced thriller, told in multiple perspectives that will have readers on the edge of their seats until the conclusion and murderer are revealed. A perfect summer read for teens.
PREMIUM
Pig the Rebel
Laugh-out-loud funny illustrations will have devotees of the series hoping that Pig hasn’t really transformed and will send new readers looking for previous titles to enjoy the exploits of this unforgettable character.
PREMIUM
Brave Dave
Brilliantly hued illustrations capture a forest tale of self-acceptance and bravery. This title would be useful for launching a discussion about going beyond mere acceptance and tolerance to true celebration and appreciation of the diversity in our world.
PREMIUM
Dancing With Our Ancestors
The message may not translate to the preschool crowd and will require further conversation about death, but this book will find a ready home in public library and elementary school library shelves in the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia, and anywhere looking to expand picture book knowledge of Indigenous cultures.
Any picture book collection tackling the Civil Rights Movement has to start here. Highly recommended for all shelves, this exemplary title for history and biography collections shows how the events of the world impact our youngest citizens.
PREMIUM
Ava’s Homemade Hanukkah
With several other make-your-own menorah stories already crowding the Hanukkah bookshelf, this one may not stand out. See Karen Fisman’s Nonna’s Hanukkah Surprise, Lauren L. Wohl’s The Eighth Menorah, Jamie Korngold’s Sadie’s Almost Marvelous Menorah, and Marissa Moss’s The Ugly Menorah.
PREMIUM
Black Canary: Breaking Silence
Listeners who like superheroes, fantasy, and adventure will want to pick this one up. Recommended for libraries where alternate superhero worlds are popular.
A must for fans of McManus’s previous books and anyone who enjoys unconventional murder mysteries. Teens will devour this thriller with its nonstop action and constant revelations.
A cute, not too scary, addition to library Halloween collections. Recommended.
PREMIUM
Fire Becomes Her
Fantasy, mystery, and magic fans will want to pick this one up. Recommended for libraries where fantasy is popular.
The Sea Knows My Name asks how our stories shape us. It asks us what happens when all our stories are about Zeus rather than Leda; Apollo rather than Daphne; Ajax rather than Cassandra.
What's yummier than a book trailer reveal? An interview with its creators of course. Open wide and take a big bite out of today's talk.
I don’t think I’ll ever forget the things Hazmat has taught me, I don’t think I want to: I love thinking of book plots (and life!) without a beginning, middle, and end…but, instead, seeing moments and days as a wild quilt flashing by, a horizon that keeps opening and expanding …on and on.
You know what I liked best about this book? I didn't know where it was going. I wasn't sure what decisions the characters would make or if things would work out. At points, I wasn't even sure what "work out" meant for these characters.
This roundup includes picture books for older readers, works that celebrate family and friendship, and inspirational tales for children that you'll want to add to your Spanish-language collections.
These 10 Spanish-language and bilingual early readers are perfect for early elementary kids starting to read independently.
PREMIUM
Daughter
While the premise is alluring, this might be best for a collection where crime and thrillers are in demand over a general purchase.
PREMIUM
Today I’m Strong
Instead of a story with characters readers can cheer for and believe in, this book relies on simplistic tropes and stereotypes.
With its simple, predictable text and bold illustrations, this book is great for teaching a Christian perspective on Christmas.
A manga that promises a sweet romance, beautiful boys, an appealing main character, and enough unique touches to find its own niche in the fantasy romance pack.
With less focus on Santa and more on people coming together for the holiday, this is a lovely read for libraries to add to their Christmas collections.
PREMIUM
Biscuit and the Great Fall Day
Most public libraries will want to add this title to their collection of materials for emergent readers.
Among pearls of knowledge, there are a few problems, but the idea of animal best friends may prove irresistible to children.
PREMIUM
Sofi and the Bone Song
Perfect for teens making the transition from middle grade to young adult books, although older readers are likely to desire more emotional complexity from both the romance and central plot.
PREMIUM
A Secret Princess
Recommend to teens who enjoy A Little Princess and The Secret Garden but have their expectations kept to a medium.
While I wish I could say that burnout can be solved by writing a book, it can’t. But it was a good start and helped me realize how much I love education and teaching. It helped me find my way back to what I love.
During the middle school years, kids are in different phases of development, navigating puberty, exploring their identities, and transitioning from childhood into young adulthood. To say a lot is going on would be an understatement.
A live episode of The Yarn with Christina Soontornvat and Meg Medina
This will be a popular series for elementary and middle school age kids who love humor, science fiction and fun.
PREMIUM
J.R. Silver Writes Her World
Well-paced chapters and captivating characters will keep readers entertained and may also inspire some writing.
A delightful romp through a magical world of fangs and flannel sure to keep young readers on their (twinkle) toes.
This colorful story where the true monsters are the humans will appeal to young graphic novel fans who enjoy cartoony styles and fantasy elements. A suggested purchase for collections where graphic novels circulate well.
PREMIUM
Flip Turns
A recommended purchase for tween collections where swimming, mysteries, and summer romances are popular.
A fun new entry in the field of magical mysteries, this action-packed tale will keep readers engaged and leaves room for a sequel.
PREMIUM
Wild Is the Witch
An atmospheric fantasy novel recommended for readers who appreciate paranormal romance and exploration of mental health themes.
PREMIUM
Meet Me in Mumbai
The dual narratives of Ayesha and Mira provide readers with a contemplative juxtaposition recommended for high school teens.
PREMIUM
The Ballad of Never After
Recommended for fans of romance and fantasy, and where the first book was popular.
A first purchase for all professionals serving older teens who seek to diversify their collection.
This impassioned ride toward the truth, based on a true story, will make readers think about the media bites they consume and white youth’s easy access to radicalization.
PREMIUM
The Charmed List
Fans of the romance genre will recognize tropes including hate-to-love, there’s only one bed, and more in this cozy and engrossing story about second chances and new beginnings.
PREMIUM
The Drowned Woods
This adventurous quest and its unlikely crew will provide an enjoyable escape for readers of all types of fantasy novels.
PREMIUM
A Venom Dark and Sweet
A satisfying conclusion to Lin’s duology, and teens will be clamoring for more.
A sparkling and powerful exploration of grief, gender roles, and escaping the strong grip of expectations, this is a must-purchase for all libraries serving teens.
PREMIUM
Stealing Infinity
An optional purchase: this book is obviously setting the stage for the series, introducing characters, conflict, and suspense with tidbits of more to come. When the next book comes out, hand both to students. The full series might hook readers of time travel and mystery and ultimately turn into true page-turners.
PREMIUM
How to Survive Your Murder
A must read for slasher fans, and sure to delight any readers looking for a thrill.
PREMIUM
Belladonna
Put into the hands of readers looking for a dark fantasy with a hint of mysterious intrigue.
Reminiscent of Natasha Friend’s The Other F-Word and Robin Benway’s Far From the Tree. Highly recommended.
Realistic teen characters, hypnotic writing, and an honest portrayal of adolescence make this debut a perfect choice for fans of Sarah Zarr, Tiffany D. Jackson, and Phillippe Diederich.
PREMIUM
The Memory Index
A clever and empathetic work of speculative fiction that examines the power and fragility of memory, recommended for general purchase. Cinematic writing, teen sleuthing, and a nostalgic setting make this book a great recommendation to fans of Stranger Things.
Details about Sally’s past and a chance to spend more time with beloved characters will appeal greatly to fans of the original movie but may not tempt others.
PREMIUM
Thornwood
Almasy skillfully ensures each of Cypess’s characters gets distinctly heard in a rousing celebration of empowering sisterhood.
Recommended supplemental purchase for professional development.
Useful, if a bit flawed; this compendium serves as a dual crash course on readers’ advisory and genre blends for anyone recommending youth materials.
PREMIUM
Playing Games in the School Library: Developing Game-Based Lessons and Using Gamification Concepts
Pavey’s text is dense with ideas, from copyright to assessment, and is always centered on the student. School and public librarians considering adding game-based learning to their list of accomplishments would do well to start here.
A delightful book that amuses and educates. Strong first purchase recommendation.
A delightful introduction to poetry; a valuable potential bonding experience for young children and their caregivers.
School librarians looking for STEAM titles that pair silliness with educational topics in the style of Douglas Florian will love this fun, math-themed poetry collection that joins English language arts and mathematics as a dynamic duo.
An engaging read, this is a fun and thoughtful work suitable for every young person living in our tech-driven world.
Beginning gamers along with intermediate gamers will find something of interest in this title. A recommended purchase for library collections.
The usefulness and timeliness of this book cannot be overstated. Committed young activists and entrepreneurs will grab this fascinating read like a lifeline.
A timely, inclusive, and necessary purchase for any library serving teenagers.
An important addition to a middle school library or public library YA collection.
PREMIUM
Uni’s Wish for Wings
Overall, a good addition to early reader collections to appeal to young patrons and help them improve their reading skills.
This is an accessible story that will help young children transition tothe expectations of school, especially when they are feeling trepidation themselves.
PREMIUM
Not Yet, Yeti
With vivid illustrations and a positive message, this book is a good addition to share with children nervous about trying something new.
This charming story is an excellent addition to preschool and kindergarten classroom collections that focus on social-emotional learning.
An excellent choice for back to school and “new kid” picture book collections. This will resonate with many readers. Highly recommended.
An excellent purchase for school libraries and public libraries with a big homeschooling community; a title to promote to teachers at the beginning of the school year.
This would be a wonderful book to read aloud on the first day of kindergarten so classes could create their own kindness pledge and then share it with others.
Though this book falls short in several important respects, libraries with larger collections might consider it.
With illustrations and text fully grounded in research, including welcome historical details and photographs that appear in the back matter, this book is heartily recommended for elementary nonfiction collections.
PREMIUM
Truth or Lie: Dogs!
It’s hard to go wrong when presenting young readers a book about dogs. Those looking to enhance their collection of nonfiction, science-based transitional readers will “sniff out” a great addition with this title.
As with all of Portis’s books, natural science is served sunny-side up, without a word out of place, in this essential guide.
PREMIUM
Mister Rogers’ Gift of Music
While other picture book biographies offer a more complete picture of this icon’s life, the focus on the musical elements, along with the wondrous illustrations, make this a recommended purchase.
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