This is a heartwarming Sapphic love story with a gauzy heist plot for cozy-fantasy lovers and art fans.
Shen and Bell provide a healing read/listen.
Add either print or audio—or better, both!
While there are other preschool materials addressing these topics, this is well-paced and engaging, recommended where the characters are already popular with patrons.
Overcomplications are many, but true love waits at book’s end. Avachat and Kishnani delight.
A simple well-crafted story, as text and illustrations depict activities familiar to children everywhere as well as showcase language and facts about life in Kenya.
This book is especially suited for school libraries in the Pacific Northwest or any collection expanding its Indigenous collections.
Hand to reluctant readers seeking narratives with more mature issues
Fans of Diana Wynne Jones’s Howl’s Moving Castle or Catherine Bakewell’s Flowerheart may enjoy this one, but it’s not recommended for general fantasy readers.
A must-have for tween and teen libraries.
Distance does not diminish the love of family. This is a wonderful book that will be highly relatable to many families. A must-have for any picture book collection.
Themes of misinformation on social media, cultural appropriation, and critical thinking make this debut from poet Feinstein one to give older teens looking for a unique, relatable issue- and character-driven book.
This informative book about flutes can educate children about one specific musical instrument while providing a glimpse into other instruments that are part of an orchestra.
Libraries may want to choose audio over print in adding to their collections.
Khan integrates all manner of teen topics—social media dangers, school challenges, stereotypes, parent/child dynamics, and cultural differences
Striking a balance between whimsical adventure and wistful contemplation, this title underscores the beauty and fragility of life on our planet. A first purchase for youth graphic novel collections.
A story with a strong moral that represents a wide range of social and cultural talking points. Purchase where there is a need for beginner graphic novels, or for students who love any animal duo.
A decent start to a series about a silly duo.
An essential purchase to help children embrace their own uniqueness or tackle complex emotions.
An absolute bloody blast and a fantastic choice for readers looking for the horror of Adam Cesare's Clown in a Cornfield and the deadly single-winner competition of The Hunger Games.
A must-have for teen libraries. Fans of espionage, romance, and magic will love this one.
Great for reluctant readers who love Pokémon.
Truth and reality continue to diverge, leaving audiences craving more.
This early reader showcasing a tasty treat offers children the opportunity to hear rhyming words, associate sounds and text, and practice early literacy skills.
Everyone’s a winner in this fast-paced match between canine and fruit, recommended for both public and school libraries.
A well-paced narrative that works for story hours or to have on the SEL shelves.
A wonderful teen rom-com adventure reminiscent of Rachel Cohn and David Levithan’s “Dash & Lily” series and Today Tonight Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon.Wilkinson, Lili. Deep Is the Fen. 416p. Delacorte. Apr. 2024. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9780593562703. Gr 8 Up–Wilkinson builds a mysterious world infiltrated by good friendship and dark magic. At 17, Merry is trying to navigate the world without her mom, who was a cursed witch. She protects and relies on her best friends, Teddy and Sol. When Teddy chooses to join a secret society, The Order of the Toadmen, which uses dangerous magic that is considered illegal, Merry knows that she must act to save him. Teaming up with Caraway, who has proven to be her academic competition, she sets out to learn more about the society by attending a toad ceremony. Merry learns plenty about her friendship, herself, dark secrets of the society, and Caraway
This sweet uplifting story is recommended for purchase by school and public libraries.
O’Clover’s second novel captures the sweet revelations of young love. A good choice for all collections.
This appealing book celebrates family values passed along through cooking and culture. Great for sharing, it should have a wide audience.
Fans of romantic Gothic fantasy mixed with Polish folklore will appreciate this novel. Recommended.
Oh and Park make an indubitable dynamic duo.
A great example of an escape room thriller, tailor-made for a teen audience. Not only will it “escape” your library shelves often, but it may lead to a desire for escape room programming.
Interesting illustrations crawling with bugs will be enjoyed by budding entomologists.
Not a necessary purchase for a school library.
The tension in this easy reader is low stakes and easily resolved, but the warmth of a loving family and the beautiful, colorful vegetable imagery stands out.
A book that starts simple and ends with complicated notions of identity, scaled to children’s own questioning, ever-evolving minds. Perfect.
A fast-paced journey through STEM and WWII history.
A riveting, unique, and delightfully queer adventure. Recommended for all libraries.
Tender and affectionate, with enjoyable illustrations and lovely figurative language, this book will bond caregivers to children and make story hours a riot.
Recommended as a read-aloud for preschoolers and a warm introduction to one joyful aspect of Jewish life.
An eccentric conversation about self-identity, recommended for school and public libraries.
This attractively illustrated picture book about bravery is a secondary purchase for most collections.
Story hours with a lead-in to naps can take a cue from this weary crew; here’s one for the bedtime shelves that carries the subtle message that after industry comes sleep.
A beautifully detailed Gothic fantasy that explores how ignorance and deceit can crumble a community.
A charming story whose social media star makes this an endorsed but optional purchase where demanded by circulation trends.
An excellent purchase for collections, especially where food manga and fantasy romances are in high demand.
An ominous homage with a morally corrupt lead who puts her own desires above all others. Give to readers who enjoy dark atmospheric works, such as Liselle Sambury’s Delicious Monsters and Rory Power’s Burn Our Bodies Down.
Shim’s sophomore novel exposes and entertains, challenges and inspires; Tyo’s adaptability ensures even the occasional didactic moments get infused with plenty of empowering attitude.
As parable or otherwise, this is too subtle and undeveloped for young readers. Not recommended.
An outstanding read-aloud for adults and children, bursting with humor and warmth. Recommended for all collections.
De Ocampo’s expert narration is also an encouraging choice for reluctant readers.
A satisfactory sequel; purchase where the original is popular.
Fans of Karen M. McManus will find much to enjoy here. Recommended for thriller/mystery collections.
A fun and vocabulary building edition of the can-do spider. Recommended.
A witchy series book that can easily be enjoyed as a standalone.
Lau rousingly augments Ma’s engaging lessons in vulnerability and honesty—with parents and friends
A flat-out stunner, this book is a loving ode to strength and potential, enthusiastically recommended for all libraries.
A wonderful addition to the Elatsoe universe with vital representation, worthy of any YA collection. Highly recommended.
SEL at Broadway levels, this is recommended for collections needing a boost in stories about processing difficult emotions.
A first purchase title from an author who does not miss.
A humorous and fun-filled story, and an excellent shared reading experience likely to resonate with the youngest learners.
The format of the pages will delight readers.
Fans of Karen M. McManus will love debut author Lundy’s well-developed mystery with plenty of thrills.
A first chapter book that combines pets, potions, and a happy ending; perfect for readers who enjoy lighthearted mischief and canine cuddles.
A small dose of SEL set in a lizard’s ordinary day, this book gives children permission to switch off and stretch out. Make it a story hour favorite.
Encouraging the love of reading in newly independent readers without discounting the importance of physical fitness could be a difficult feat here, but this sweet volume accomplishes just that.
Purchase where there is potential for classroom use as a discussion or writing tool. It’s provocative, and for some readers, that will be enough.
A potent portrait of grief and loss, for stout-of-heart teenagers only.
A diverse fantasy adventure about power, responsibility, and hope. Strongly recommended for YA collections.
Multiple artists have passionately brought to life a great story that adds another element for members of the game’s base—and those new to it
A sensitive work, based in bittersweet lessons, this is also a practical guide to overcoming anxiety with the help of others.
For older board book audiences, this is informative and entertaining. Recommended.
Purchase for collections serving high schoolers where there is a love of dystopian mysteries.
An essential purchase on an underrepresented topic for school and public libraries.
With unfinished business cleverly left for future volumes, audiences will certainly appreciate Tyo’s future continuity.
A great addition to any children’s collection.
While Status Royale doesn’t do anything readers haven’t seen before, the fun premise and characters are enough to entertain old and new manga fans alike.
Purchase where teens are looking for a heartfelt romance series like “In the Clear Moonlit Dusk” by Mika Yamamori or “Ao Haru Ride” by Io Sakisaka.
Recommended, especially where action manga is popular.
Fans of Enola Holmes, Agatha Christie, and Stuart Gibbs will love this engaging text that is a blend of mystery fiction and gumshoe how-to.
For those who enjoyed the series “Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End” and are looking for something less bittersweet, this healing isekai manga of unlikely friendship is one to recommend.
This fun title may inspire conversation between current teens who openly love anime and manga, and their otaku parents who had similar journeys to Megumi's.
A narrative that is at times almost overpoweringly emotional; an intense story, gorgeously told. With World War II books perennially in demand, especially Shoah stories, this one is highly recommended for elementary and middle school libraries.
Yet another heartfelt and accessible tale of growing up from one of the best in modern children’s literature.
An interesting book that shows character growth and some unexpected twists; recommended for fans of Carl Hiaasen or Gordon Korman.
A unique story and welcome addition to the library for fans of contemporary middle grade fiction.
Mariachi, family, and pan dulce are the ingredients for this perfect middle grade novel. Highly recommended for all middle grade collections.
This is a great choice for libraries looking for realistic fiction about dealing with divorce, as well as those seeking stories about the healing power of nature.
A solid addition to libraries serving tweens.
This realistic fiction novel touches on tough topics with aplomb; a worthy addition to middle grade library collections.
Bradley’s latest masterpiece features a determined and daring heroine and details that bring the past to life. Readers will be wholeheartedly rewarded.
Magical and reflective; a first purchase for stronger readers.
A powerful presentation about courage in the face of childhood autoimmune disorders is juxtaposed with fantasy elements that fail to develop. Purchase where handselling as a contemporary title can overcome mixed marketing.
Readers will enjoy this spooky middle grade mystery featuring an endearing cast of characters.
A highly recommended realistic fiction title that deftly explores classic tween themes of summer, friendship, and coming of age.
A heartfelt and humorous middle grade title shining a spotlight on the realities of living with ADHD.
A thrilling story based on real, emerging technology with kids standing up to money-hungry corporations that is, at its core, about acceptance and compassionate portrayal of neurodivergence.
Today's list is of new and forthcoming middle grade fantasies.
A bright and welcoming addition to books about vehicles, with a huge bonus of centering contemporary Colombian culture.
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