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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.
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.
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
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.
SLJ shares an exclusive sneak peek and cover reveal for Nathan Hale's The Mighty Bite, which publishes on April 4, 2023. A Q&A with Hale includes the inspiration for this wacky new graphic novel series, his approach to making nonfiction fun for kids, and his experience as a painter for natural history museums.
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.
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.
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.
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators has launched its inaugural micro-grants program with a school library grant; author Stephen King testified about the negative impact the merger of Penguin Random House and S. & S. would have on writers, and it's time to vote for a library to get a makeover in this edition of News Bites.
PREMIUM
J.R. Silver Writes Her World
Well-paced chapters and captivating characters will keep readers entertained and may also inspire some writing.
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.
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.
PREMIUM
Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day
A worthy addition to middle grade fiction collections, especially where books like Jason Reynold’s “Track” series is popular.
PREMIUM
A Perfect Mistake
Readers will enjoy a first-rate mystery which as an added benefit subtly reinforces the practice of empathy. Highly recommended.
Highly recommended for middle school readers who enjoy dystopian adventures and science.
PREMIUM
The Black Slide
A good choice for libraries where readers are moving on from “Goosebumps” and are in search of something to bridge the gap to YA horror.
PREMIUM
The First Rule of Climate Club
A great choice for middle grade readers interested in climate change, social justice, and student activism.
PREMIUM
Shades of Rust and Ruin
This fantasy-horror-steampunk quest will please readers who love complex language, lush descriptions, and plots as twisty and deceptive as Celtic knots. Hand it to fans of the movie Labyrinth who are ready for a grittier, but equally labyrinthine matching of wits with the devious fae.
PREMIUM
My Imaginary Mary
Give this book to younger fans of historical fiction and tentative fantasy who aren’t familiar with Shelley’s work and want an easy entry into this time period.
Hand this to anyone who loves tarot, astrology, and witchy things; enthusiasts of short story collections like Meet Cute or Hungry Hearts; and fans of Ashley Elston and Jenny Han.
PREMIUM
Never Coming Home
A summery, social media–focused murder mystery with light gore, perfect for fans of the “#MurderTrending” series or the work of Karen M. McManus.
PREMIUM
Cake Eater
Add this to your YA collection and encourage history buffs looking for new fiction to take a chance on it.
A good buy where horror anthologies are popular. Hand this book to fans of “good for her” horror movies like The Witch and listeners of horror anthology podcasts such as Old Gods of Appalachia and The Magnus Archives.
Readers will be hooked from page one of Maddy’s intense journey that detonates on prom night.
PREMIUM
Those Summer Nights
Readers who have enjoyed other summer romances featuring unusual jobs, like Maurene Goo’s The Way You Make Me Feel, Jennifer Dugan’s Hot Dog Girl, and Morgan Matson’s The Unexpected Everything, will find this one to be similarly engaging.
PREMIUM
The Loophole
Kutub’s debut occasionally turns bewildering with excessive narrative prongs, but Jain adroitly guides readers through.
The choosiest audiences might turn to the page to enjoy Oh’s girl-power adventure.
PREMIUM
An Arrow to the Moon
Following the bestselling success of Pan’s The Astonishing Color of After debut, demand will be high for her sophomore effort. Libraries will want multiple formats.
Even as he brilliantly exposes society’s ills, “His Dark Materials”–mastermind Pullman effortlessly entertains; Glenister keeps readers thoroughly enchanted throughout.
Alcántara deftly, undeniably boosts Randall’s empowering adventure with empathy and energy.
Soontornvat’s fans will surely appreciate access via multiple mediums; Siu assures listeners chills and thrills.
Even when the narrative occasionally drags, Free advances with irresistible glee.
PREMIUM
Winnie Zeng Unleashes a Legend
Annie Q sounds like a youthful, cultural (Chinese American) match for introducing bestselling author Zhao’s new series, but her often overenthusiastic delivery pushes reluctant hero Winnie and her cohorts into farcical realms.
PREMIUM
Tamarind & the Star of Ishta
Bowri warmly enhances Tamarind’s quest for answers and understanding.
PREMIUM
Kiki Kallira Conquers a Curse
While the majority of Starr’s performance provides fast-paced entertainment, certain choices fail; voicing twin sisters while seemingly holding her nose proves to be an especially clumsy misstep.
Salvatore knows how to tell an empowering story. Graves embellishes with indispensable sparkle.
PREMIUM
Blood Scion
Femi shrewdly enhances Falaye’s underlying exposé of colonialism, genocide, and eternal war.
PREMIUM
Glass Slippers
Leigh energetically continues the delight of Cypess’s cleverly crafted, girl-power-driven second book (after Thornwood) of the “Sisters Ever After” series.
PREMIUM
Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit
Fans of B.B. Alston’s missing-older-sibling “Supernatural Investigations” series will appreciate getting to know Theo
A wonderful start to a new series centering STEM and history; great for any children’s library collection.
PREMIUM
Whiz Kid
Ideal for growing independent readers, this is highly recommended for fans of “Jada Jones” or Kara West’s “Mia Mayhem” series.
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