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.
Historical fiction at its finest: a first purchase.
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.
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.
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.
A solid follow-up that will keep readers invested in this exciting series.
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.
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.
Perfect for children who enjoy pet stories, rhyming word play, and lots of laughs.
A first purchase for most collections, this book will prove popular at story time.
This enjoyable story of two unlikely friends who make each other brave is a good addition to library collections.
With a well-told story whose simple illustrations convey complex emotions, this book will be a great addition to any library.
This beautiful book offers young readers a way into a world they may not encounter, deep in the woods, in winter.
Highly recommended, this humorous and cozy book is an excellent addition to any collection.
A heartwarming story, recommended for purchase.
A newly discovered treasure from a beloved children’s book magician.
A demonstration of individual responsibility, this loving and conscientious story deserves a home in all library collections.
This is a great addition to any collection, especially for story times looking to give kids—and families
Highly recommended for picture book collections, this fun-filled rumpus will delight young children and leave everyone in a glow.
A great book for story hours, and ideal for helping families awaiting their own new bundle.
Illustrating one aspect of anxiety, this title will be helpful to children in recognizing their own anxiety and also how other children might be feeling.
Add where there are fans of the series; otherwise this is an additional purchase.
Knowing that mistakes happen and that improvement is possible is an important message for all ages.
The illustrations are transporting, perfectly capturing the magic of the hotel and the charm of a European town, and that may be enough for some readers. Recommended as a secondary purchase.
A creative celebration of dance, friendly competition, cats and their gifts.
The book is certainly timely, as anxiety among youth is on the rise. An excellent addition to all library collections.
A savory delight for young readers who enjoy dreaming about food as much as eating it.
A generous, thoughtful celebration of community and embracing life’s transitions.
A wonderful reminder of the power of imagination and a launching point for story hour discussions.
A masterful integration of storytelling, an introduction to a complex language, and cross-cultural understanding make this an excellent addition to any elementary library.
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.
This one may interest teens who enjoy thrillers, but the pacing detracts from the plot’s strengths.
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.
A secondary purchase where crime thrillers are popular.
Make space for this in your collection; Reid’s dark and lyrical writing will hold readers captive even after the story ends.
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.
A quiet paranormal horror that, because of its slow pacing, would be a secondary purchase in libraries where these kinds of stories are popular.
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.
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.
A great addition for all libraries looking for modern emergent reader books.
Recommended for purchase where the series and beginning chapter books are popular.
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.
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.
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.
A good secondary purchase for libraries.
A kid-friendly early reader graphic novel that hits all the right notes. You Gotta Go purchase for early elementary shelves.
These chapter books will whet children’s appetite for reading many other Anne of Green Gables adaptations, or perhaps the unabridged original, in all its beautifully purple prose.
Humorous play throughout ends with the featured child being told “Good Night!” Good luck putting a child to bed after all that fun! Highly recommended.
While not every dog needs all the winter gear involved, young children will appreciate the adorable pups bundling up for snowy activities.
Simple, active text with classic illustrations, this is Carle for a new generation.
An outwardly simple title has helpful tips for caregivers to deepen the reading experience.
A fun introduction to Australia.
Pitch perfect for an audience of children who want to be self-reliant and have the stubbornness to prove it!
Children will love squeaking Baby T. rex long after the story has been read.
Introducing superheroes for the youngest fans
Fun illustrations combine with interesting characters in search of age-appropriate adventure.
Useful as a window or a mirror, this title is highly recommended.
A good follow-up to the first book, this also works as a standalone. Both are fine additions to middle grade collections.
Sutton’s prose is fluid and readable
Fans of show business will cheer Simi along as she tries to find her place in both the Bollywood music industry and among her fellow students.
A lovely genre introduction, perfect for those starting out to enhance reading comprehension with and enough fun to keep seasoned readers engaged.
With nonstop action that is always thrilling but never too scary, this fantasy is perfect for younger readers who are fans of Rick Riordan or Kwame Mbalia.
Speaking of classics, why not bring in Ezra Jack Keats’s The Snowy Day, too, and have a joyful story hour to remind kids that efforts, not results, count, and snow is a glorious break from everything.
A wonderful way to introduce fine art to very young children.
This visually compelling tale is a thought-provoking addition to libraries for elementary school-aged readers.
Highly recommended for all collections.
A sweet and relatable story of feeling lonely, missing loved ones, and community; an excellent purchase for libraries.
Skillful Shalan deftly elevates Pla’s latest novel from good to great.
Dutt bestows aural enhancement to debut author Pinto’s homage to “Hansel and Gretel”
The author's words are unmistakable: “your deaf experience is valid...you belong.”
Libraries, take note: audiobooks get a specific shoutout from Claire, more reason to enable other readers like her.
Small’s versatile accents and rhythms guarantee a dramatic performance; her recitation as Claudie’s mother recalling a lynching to her young daughter is exceptionally haunting.
Relative audiobook newbie and Spanish-fluent Rocha is a thoughtful narrator, subtly spotlighting Lalo’s under-the-radar maturity. Rocha attentively reads rather than performs the various characters, but his compassionate, deliberate exposition is just the calm Lalo needs to be distinctly heard.
Once started, even the most reluctant readers will be hard-pressed to hit the pause button.
Zamamiri’s dynamic performance parallels Rana’s aspirational goals as she takes center stage.
The fear is real: Tedla’s expertly modulated adrenaline spikes will likely eclipse technical irritants.
A dynamic duo amplifies an already powerful novel about responsibility, justice, and family.
The shared Korean American background of author, narrator, and protagonist ensures a persuasive experience.
BIPOC youth will find resonance here; privileged audiences, perhaps, need this most of all.
For the more resonating experience, choose the page; it’s a visual homage to Erebia’s hybrid verse/prose/dichos (proverbs) exposition, enhanced with Julie Kwon’s empathic art.
Nimbly inserted contemporary events—#BlackLivesMatter, COVID-19, anti-Asian hate
“We Still Belong, ” the title of Wesley’s poem, becomes an essential invitation for children of all backgrounds.
Inspiring youth facing environmental threats ensure for a timely, urgent read.
The exuberance of the vast cast (with credits at recording’s end!) is a contagious gift. Hand the Martín-illustrated print and the audio to all reluctant readers.
Libraries should prepare: experiencing print and audio simultaneously will surely elicit optimal appreciation.
YA mystery is often hesitant to embrace actual murder, but Hoy-Kenny doesn’t pull any punches. A solid mystery with actual murders.
La Sala spins a devastatingly unsettling web with razor-sharp insight.
Arnold’s wrenching tale of two sisters surviving the Holocaust in Romania is a must-read.
A rom-com with a lot of heart and surprising depth, this is recommended for most collections.
A solid follow-up and worthwhile purchase for those who enjoyed the first book and readers who like stories set in one day like Blackout by Dhonielle Clayton and others or The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith.
Budding scientists looking for a chapter book series that has both developed and interesting characters, and great STEM components, will enjoy Sejal and her adventures.
A great addition for a children’s library collection.
One in a small category of very beginning reader texts that manages to communicate an interesting plot in fewer than 20 unique words.
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