An eye-opening album to be read, cherished, used as a cornerstone for study, or shared across curricula.
Though first published in 2005, this edition’s new illustrations bring it firmly up to date, in a memoir that reads like a fairy tale of a community touched by a miracle.
An immersive look at the world of women’s soccer that makes for an enjoyable read for those who are sports fans, and even those who are not.
A little good news, for once, amplified into an easy book to work into community, LGBTQIA+, politics, and civics units.
A beautifully written and illustrated story of a man who wanted people to explore nothingness, which is a necessity in today’s busy world. A great read-aloud and a must-purchase for all library collections.Graphic Nonfiction
A graphic memoir and fantasy tales are on the table for 2026.
I know I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren’t for the people who helped me get through that early, rough period of trying to figure out how to be a writer.
A writer once told me that when I’m not feeling inspired, I should go out and collect life experiences so I would have things to “add to the pile of stuff” I could write about. I thought it was odd advice at the time, but now I get it.
These titles take a look at two traditions around the Muslim holiday that commemorates the story of Ibrahim (Abraham).
Check out this week's list of new comics, manga, and graphic novels for readers 12 and under, featuring Upstaged from Little Brown Ink and Fluffle Bunnies Volume 1 Buns Gone Bad from Tundra Books.
Centering dignity and equity, authors strive to normalize the topic of menstruation and show how different people experience it.
For new readers who like their stories with sparkle, these two books are sure to delight.
Celebrating Asian American Native Hawai’ian Pacific Islander Heritage Month with Comic Books for Kids with Angela Frederick
Kelkar talks about her latest book, AND YET YOU SHINE.
A Romanian girl immigrates to Montreal and learns to deal with her period in this middle-grade coming-of-age story.
I hope that reading the book will give readers living with chronic illness a little bit of the gift it gave me as I wrote it.
Part of why we're focusing on middle grade this year on TLT is because discoverability can feel so challenging, with chain stores stocking less MG than ever before. New authors face an even bigger challenge because kids (and their grown-ups) often gravitate toward established authors they know they will like.
This fun Spanish-language title is perfect for young readers and fans of graphic novels and all things monsters!
While the book adds nothing new to the canon, it is a gentle story that young readers will enjoy. Recommended for large picture book collections.
A beautiful and sometimes haunting narrative that will appeal to readers of both realistic and fantasy fiction.
A great story to encourage early readers to think outside the box.
This moving novel carries a powerful message about the meaning of family and the importance of community. Highly recommended for all collections.
Searing and eye-opening, readers will devour Sena’s story in a day.
Slow pacing and repetitious dialogue mar this book’s journey to its unexpected ending, but for readers who enjoy character-focused psychological dramas akin to E. Lockhart’s We Were Liars and Karen M. McManus’s One of Us Is Lying, this is a solid, sapphic, addition to the genre.
A great addition to bilingual board book collections for children, especially where Lil’ Libros titles are popular.
Sure to be popular among middle school readers looking for a quick thrill.
A lovely Spanish-language picture book that would make a solid addition to school and public libraries.
A fast-paced emotional page-turner.
Give to readers who are looking for a story with dark vibes and do not mind a slower paced, highly character driven novel.
With its hilarious storyline and captivating artwork, this book is a joyous celebration of Halloween spirit and friendship.
Baptiste’s debut is a strong first buy.
This debut collection will go down as a young horror fan’s ideal example of scary. It will jump off shelves during spooky season, and word-of-mouth should keep it in constant demand, year-round.
Not an essential purchase, but a cute addition for libraries looking to expand their Halloween board book collection.
A captivating musical coming-of-age novel that sensitively explores racial identity, belonging, and mental illness.
Sweet and somewhat notable for having a single-parent household, this story can be a suitable addition to Christmas collections. But it is not a must, especially for those that already have the similar title by Chapman, Is It Christmas Yet?
Educators will appreciate the message about the importance of research and nature, and kids will enjoy the relatable story. A great choice for Spanish-language picture book shelves.
A fabulous read-aloud that offers many opportunities for choral reading and movement, this text will have everyone dancing and saying “One more!”
A fun take on the holiday for most holiday collections for little ones.
A perfect addition to bilingual board book collections, especially where Lil’ Libros and Día de los Muertos titles are popular.
A wonderful Spanish-language story that will leave young readers in awe, whether as a read aloud or an independent read. Magical.
Vol. 3 of the illustrated fantasy novel series Children of the Phoenix is coming in December, and it will be the darkest one yet.
Without The Diamond in the Window introducing me to chambered nautiluses all those years ago, I might still be sitting at my laptop staring at a blank page.
Narrative nonfiction has the same goals as any novel – to use these same techniques of conflict, setting, characterization, etc. to build a world that a reader cares about.
NBC Nightly News visits The Rabbit hOle.
From magical school fantasies to hilarious sibling stories, these 13 selections will keep middle schoolers turning pages during summer break. Complete with graphic novels, biographies, and poetry, this list has something for every tween.
A star studded anthology brings us stories of kids with tiny superpowers. Today, we talk with the book's creators to find out what makes this title tick.
Teen librarian Rachel Strolle shares new YA LGBTQIA+ titles to help you read and build book rainbows for Pride (and all year round)
The Middle-Grade Graphic Novel Elementary-age kids are flocking to the library in droves to check out the latest Dog Man or The Baby-Sitters Club graphic novel. All kinds of kids with all kinds of hobbies are interested in reading graphic novels. The format is gaining popularity at an extraordinary rate. Why is this? There are […]
In this Q&A series, SLJ poses five questions and a request for a book recommendation to a debut YA author. In the latest installment, LaDarrion Williams shares about Blood at the Root.
In first grade, Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow was the only non-white kid in her first grade class. Her response? Write a truly stunning and lovely picture book about it as an adult. We discuss all.
Here's a look at some recently signed graphic novel deals—and what we can expect coming up!
Grade-schooler Měi Yīng's life seemed happy enough until she got to fifth grade and encountered a relentless bully who made fun of every aspect of her life. Can the examples of her mother and grandmother help her find the inner strength to deal with it?
History is boring to most kids—totally unfair to history, BTW. But it’s true: students often rank my subject, social studies, as their least favorite.
10 books I'm looking forward to this summer.
Talking today about what it takes to make a great food-related picture book readaloud. We discuss pasta, Bee-bim Bop, and more! Warning: This Q&A may make you hungry.
Centering dignity and equity, authors strive to normalize the topic of menstruation and show how different people experience it.
Two authors, who met via social media in 2017 and have been friends since, both published books centering children who happen to be disabled. Here they are in conversation about the need to call disability what it is, and to allow those with disabilities to have the same story lines as everyone else.
Talking today about what it takes to make a great food-related picture book readaloud. We discuss pasta, Bee-bim Bop, and more! Warning: This Q&A may make you hungry.
Check out this week's list of new comics, manga, and graphic novels for readers 12 and under, featuring Kindgom Races from IDW Publishing and Summer Vamp from Random House Graphic.
For readers feeling their own haze all around them, Mackenzie's story will show that complicated realities will always be better than empty fictions.
The updated Heavy Medal Mock Newbery list features 36 excellent children's books that could be contenders for the 2025 Newbery Medal. Check out the full list here; and we'll add more titles each month.
To celebrate this unexpected milestone I thought I’d reflect on the six most interesting facts about this weird, bittersweet, wild ride of a story.
From going to work in faraway or dangerous jobs to walking with their kids around the neighborhood or reading bedtime stories, these fathers offer support and encouragement and set an example for their kids. As Father's Day approaches, or all year long, share these titles with little ones and families to recognize the important role Dad plays in their lives.
In their follow-up to Measuring Up, Lily LaMotte and Ann Xu send a very reluctant young girl to Taiwanese-American summer camp to get in touch with her heritage and grow closer to her sister—will the experience help her learn to be herself, or will she continue to strive to fit in on others' terms?
By choosing books that combine the thrill of a mystery with a unique setting, educators can review geography, address differences in the ways people live and work, and still engage young readers.
When kids at school say there are "no good books" to read, I send them to two places: graphic novels or the list of short books/books under 250 pages.
In a field of seemingly infinite Christmas picture books, both Christian and secular, this title does not stand out. Recommended as an additional purchase for religious Christmas collections.
Schools and libraries should add Ramadan to their shelves.
Originally published in Russian, this is a beautiful addition to nonfiction collections looking for books on the subject, and those seeking more translated works.
Coming of age isn’t easy, especially when you’re trapped in a survivalist camp. A first purchase for readers of realistic fiction.
This meta–picture book will be a favorite for kids with its animal protagonists, laugh-out-loud plot, and character interactions.
Recommended for high school libraries as a memoir that may offer words of encouragement to those ailing, grieving, or seeking inspiration.
A vivid queer romance whose characters and plot will captivate readers. A strong purchase.
This gentle story is written in a Spanish that sounds like home with familiar themes and images of family, root countries, and a love that spans distances; children will wait in line to have a turn to share it with their families.
Lu elevates Yang’s occasionally pedantic lessons on digital safety.
Young kids may find the fir trees particularly amusing in this amiable Christmas story.
A secondary purchase for most school libraries.
Recommended for high school collections, this is sure to be a hit for fans of whirlwind romances such as those by Nicola Yoon and Rachel Lynn Solomon.
An inspiring story of intergenerational friendship, recommended for libraries everywhere.
This title will prove intriguing, both for high school students taking physics and fans of romance. A thought-provoking read for those who like realistic fiction with a scientific twist.
A book that deserves both its own anime adaptation and a spot on the shelves of any library with fantasy-loving teens.
The message of trans acceptance is front and center in this realistic fiction title; Huntoon creates meaningful and authentic conversations around topics important to trans youth and allies, while also maintaining a lighter tone that is more accessible for the middle school reader. Recommended.
Practical and entertaining, this is a worthy resource for budding story writers.
More than 47 percent of the titles targeted [for book bans] represent LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC voices and experiences. Publishers are responding to book challenges by endorsing Right to Read acts, contributing book résumés to the Unite Against Book Bans initiative and continuing to prioritize titles representing LGBTQIA+ individuals and families.
Among this month's standouts are the latest graphic novel co-authored by Gender Queer's Maia Kobabe, a picture book from Kyle Lukoff, and a video adapted from Carole Boston Weatherford's book about Mary Hamilton.
Somehow, Ursu has managed to write a legitimately scary ghost story (sorta) that’s also about accusations of hysteria, invisible illnesses, and issues in middle school.
May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and though Pearl by Sherri L. Smith and Christine Norrie won’t be released until the summer, why not celebrate its upcoming release with a review?
May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and though Pearl by Sherri L. Smith and Christine Norrie won’t be released until the summer, why not celebrate its upcoming release with a review?
Miami is unreal. That’s why it was the inspiration for in my newest YA novel, Death’s Country.
Just a few years removed from a global pandemic that saw the intense politicization of public health initiatives, the U.S. public’s faith in science has declined. Books that help students understand complex issues and inform them about important scientific advancements and the critical role that STEM plays in our society can help produce more informed citizens who support the need for scientific investment.
These early readers and chapter books will be just the thing for independent readers looking to meet new characters and engage with fun stories during the summer months.
Today we talk with a man who slowly, methodically, carefully, and with great love, churns out some of the smartest books for kids today.
Full of humor, memorable characters, great dialogue, and more wrestling than maybe any other book I've read before, this empathetic and meaningful look at grief makes it clear that there's no wrong wrong to do it, even if that means living with the voice of a professional wrestler in your head.
I started making up this story with my brother when I was in middle school, and it’s taken all these years to finally finish it.
Checking in on the 2025 Mock Newbery and Caldecott lists on Goodreads.
Hi-Lo titles are high-interest stories written at a lower reading level for striving readers. These 24 books, in genres ranging from romance to horror, are sure to grip readers with relatable main characters and contemporary coming-of-age themes.
Two high schoolers are drawn together by the power of the number 8 in this one-shot manga.
Here’s the thing that took me awhile to learn: suppressing our feelings, or berating ourselves for having them in the first place, only makes those difficult feelings worse.
Cape Verdean books for kids may be rare in America, but there's at least one author out there working to fill the gaps. Today we talk with Janet Costa Bates about her latest early chapter series.
Check out this week's list of new comics, manga, and graphic novels for readers 12 and under, featuring Anzu and the Realm of Darkness from Viking Books for Young Readers and Action Dude from Silver Dolphin Books.
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