Three of my favorite posts from the last month.
A glorious, too-brief glimpse of Ethiopia for elementary-age children, this will send them off to do further research on textiles and cultures.
An enchanting addition to libraries, where cultural connections are key; the artwork will inspire creativity in any classroom.
Within the context of guided family and classroom conversations, this gorgeously illustrated picture book can be an important age-appropriate tool to educate children about the Holocaust while emphasizing the enduring power of perseverance and love.
This book, about perfectly normal children having a great time, is absolutely amazing.
An inexpensive addition to “Pete the Cat” or fairy-tale remix collections.
A welcome addition to the world of beginner reader books.
A brief, engaging story for young and eager sports fans, eminently effective without trying to do too much.
A great book for early readers.
A touching and educational illustrated chapter book that highlights empathy, resourcefulness, and the importance of community. An enriching addition to library bookshelves.
A monstrous, zany early reader graphic novel for readers who enjoy the new “Bailey School Kids” graphic novels, school stories with a twist, and "Monster High."
A delightful conclusion to this chapter series. Purchase where the other books in the series circulate well.
Vivid illustrations paired with a relatable story equals a must-have for any library.
A good choice as part of a series that can help establish a core collection of early reader titles.
A feel-good, action-packed story that will keep children engaged from the first page. Recommended where other “LEGO City” books are popular.
Lighthearted and silly with a good message, this title is part of a great series waiting to be discovered.
Fans of the author’s “Owl and Penguin” books will welcome Zooni. A solid purchase for elementary collections.
A good choice where fantasy elements are popular. Pair this with Sarah’s Unicorn by Bruce Coville.
A thorough introduction to Rubble & Crew and to the tasks they like to do on their jobs. Recommended where other “Step into Reading” books are popular.
Recommended as a title that stresses the importance of friendship.
Comic illustrations, friendship, and hundreds of ducks engaged in silly activities may be enough for some readers, but libraries better go with Mo.
Overall a revisiting of classic flamboyant femmes but with enough interesting details to add freshness. Good for early elementary students.
This book is a perfect addition to any children’s shelf, whether aimed at families, adoption, multicultural stories, or topics of love and acceptance.
Color-drenched acrylic paintings and outsized proportions provide humor and affection in equal doses. Readers will want to settle in for a second read.
Once again, the dynamic team of Palatini and Yaccarino have created a story that is not only appealing to children but also fun for adults. Recommended for all collections.
Pair this chapter book with similar series for reluctant readers in this age group, including “The Time Warp Trio,” “My Weirder School,” and “Sideways Stories from Wayside School.”
Purchase this delightful book for early reader collections.
A solid choice where slice-of-life comics for young readers are in demand.
Laughs abound in this fractured fairy tale embedded in a bedtime story. Give this to fans of “Katie the Catsitter” by Colleen AF Venable and Giants Beware! by Jorge Aguirre.
An early reader worth purchasing.
A must-add to any YA collection.
Innocent camp high jinks, siblings who care deeply for each other, family loss, Latinx and Asian representation, and a sweet hopeful LGBTQIA+ love story
Full of beautiful prose and characters who laugh in the face of toxic masculinity, Miller’s debut has a lot of promise—especially in terms of BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ representation
Share with readers who have exhausted all other fantasy-romance options. A secondary purchase for where this genre circulates well.
Colbert’s latest novel deserves a spot in teen and high school collections; hand to readers who enjoy family sagas and the ups and downs of fame.
Recommended, especially for those that wish to grow the horror section in their manga and graphic novel collections.
For those who prefer spooky supernatural horror, this single volume collection of urban legends will send a pleasing chill or two up the spine.
A recommended purchase for most early reader collections.
A nice but nonessential addition to public library collections.
Even with a few plot hiccups, this reader will fly off the shelves because of the rock-solid value of the Disney Princess franchise. A recommended purchase for all school and public collections.
A great choice for fostering social emotional learning and emerging reading skills.
Armchair travelers and young dreamers will enjoy boosting reading skills as they join Sabrina Sue’s latest adventure.
A great choice for beginning reader collections.
Hand this dystopic-heist-romance in an alt-world China to fans of Marissa Meyer’s Cinder.
Heavy on vibes and atmosphere, this is ultimately an underdeveloped goth fantasy that may appeal to fans of Nicki Pau Preto’s Bonesmith.
Readers who appreciate stories dealing with the complexities of grief, such as We Are Okay by Nina LaCour, or the south Florida setting and Cuban influences of Don’t Date Rosa Santos by Nina Moreno, will enjoy this one.
A good scary read for those prepared for the mental health content.
This does its best to be original, but its concept does come with issues and may not be something young readers or educators will prioritize in an already crowded market.
A heartfelt lament for what America could be but chooses not to, this is a must-purchase for high school libraries. Recommended for fans of Ibi Zoboi and Amber McBride.
With an adventurous treasure hunt, a perilous mystery, and a character-driven romance set in a unique historical moment, this is Ibañez’s best work yet. Make space in all YA collections.
Volume two capitalizes on its character growth to deliver an affecting graphic novel about growing up in the zombie apocalypse.
Bypass this one and stick to the works of authors Jenny Han and David Yoon.
This book will appeal to readers seeking a suspenseful teen slasher about secret societies and social climbing. Recommended for fans of Gretchen McNeil, Gemma Halliday, and Holly Jackson.
A magical, political standalone packed with Indian mythology that will please those who stick with it.
A witty, feel-good romance with the perfect blend of tension, banter, and heart. Highly recommended.
An enjoyable historical romance, in the vein of Bridgerton, conveyed through quaint drawings with a pleasing color scheme. Content contains mature images that are appropriate for older teenagers.
A recommended purchase for school libraries.
A comical, musical journey, this book could lead to lively story hours across age ranges, one that even caregivers will rock to.
With an emphasis on effort before reward and a sturdy hero, this is a recommended STEAM–related title.
One step up from a board book, this celebration of great moments in babyland will work for very young SEL lessons and a generous, uplifting story hour.
Completely charming! For everyone who has tried to help a young one face those bedtime monster fears, this offers a pretty good answer.
A dentist story with a happy ending sounds a lot like William Steig’s Doctor De Soto, without the menace. Choose this for story hours on SEL or hygiene.
Some children love anticipation more than an ending, and they’ll adore this book. It delivers an entire screwball comedy in very few pages and will inspire some very interesting post-story discussions.
A child’s-eye view of the voting experience that highlights the joys and frustrations of making one’s voice heard.
A cheerful book that could be the perfect gift for young truck lovers or a fitting addition to a lesson about transportation, goods and services, or opposite word pairings, as Turbo learns the importance of moving at a slow, steady speed on the roads.
A humble subject is elevated to an anthem about beloved canine companions; these simple statements of gratitude effectively convey depths of mutual love.
This book offers much food for thought in how we work together and take turns in different roles.
With Collier’s playful yet adorable pictures to bring the characters to life, this book will find a home among animal lovers and humor fans alike.
Highly recommended for upper elementary and middle school libraries. Give this graphic novel to students asking for a fast-paced, action-packed title.
This is a well-told and highly informative read. Highly recommended for young adult graphic novel and nonfiction collections.
Libraries looking to diversify their fiction collections for middle grade students will want to consider this very enjoyable book. A great choce for middle schoolers.
A magically sublime testimonial to spirituality and ancestral connection, perfect for home or classroom reading with young ones.
A delightfully illustrated book and welcome addition to libraries to promote positive messages of self-empowerment among girls.
This read-aloud will inspire many rich conversations about community, emotions, and kindness with preschool and early–school age children. Recommended purchase.
Does there always have to be a comeuppance when a little caution will serve? This book will inspire discussions among children about who is right; with airtight pacing and a beautiful ending, it’s sure to be a story hour favorite.
A sweet and very smart book that is full of truly terrible things that almost anyone would fear, this will inspire discussions of what is scary, what is not, and when it’s time to let the wind blow.
Perfect for intermediate science lessons and a useful update for existing library collections; the large format images make it especially appealing.
A sweet read-aloud for younger readers to help them learn how the individual is part of a greater community; a standout for conveying complex concepts in an accessible format.
Fans of survival stories like Alan Gratz's books and the “I Survived” series may appreciate this action-packed quick read despite lackluster characterization.
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