Storytelling helps teens reflect, translate their inner world into language, and hear themselves with clarity.
A solid read that tackles the challenges of a tween realizing she’s bisexual, the pressures of growing up too fast, and discovering who your real friends are.
A recommended purchase, great for fans of Janae Marks or Dusti Bowling.
Chang’s latest is a welcome addition to any middle school historical fiction collection and will surely attract readers drawn to impactful stories told through lyrical verse.
An entertaining sci-fi romp with grounded, real-world tween struggles.
An astute and emotional story of the courage it takes to truly accept oneself and to love others for who they are.
Intriguing and dramatic, this is a fantastic introduction to middle grade fantasy from the author of Star Scouts.
A solid purchase for upper elementary and middle school library collections where realistic reads and heartwarming magical stories are popular.
A fun graphic novel with cute characters, recommended for mystery and animal lovers alike.
An excellent coming-of-age graphic novel from the author of Pumpkinheads, great for tweens and teens learning more about themselves and what they want from their future.
A heartfelt, fast-paced look at courage, connection, and discovery among the stars, purchase where sci-fi is popular.
Ultimately, the patience required to juggle multiple plotlines make this an additional selection for the middle grade magical realism audience.
A community-oriented Valentine’s Day story to sweeten any library holiday collection.
A charming book that will be in high demand for Christian families wanting an Easter read-aloud.
A whimsical holiday read with standout artwork, recommended for most collections.
Add to collections where more secular Easter books are in demand.
A thoughtful, if uneven, resource for introducing a wider range of Jewish holidays to young audiences.
This delightful introduction to colors, Mandarin Chinese, and Lunar New Year traditions is recommended for general purchase.
A recommended purchase, especially to add Islamic titles to picture book shelves.
An excellent and informative book to introduce toddlers to many of the Lunar New Year traditions.
Regardless of slight flaws, this is a welcome addition to the series.
This Father’s Day tale is a welcome and meaningful addition to any collection.
A strong addition to school and public library collections, this is ideal for young readers, especially those interested in learning about family traditions, Ramadan, or the joy of preparing special meals together.
A simple story with lots of charm, this is a nice addition to any fall book collection.
This warm family story will resonate with youngest children everywhere, regardless of a particular holiday or season. Highly recommended.
This story reflects the inclusivity of the Lunar New Year and the love people have for one another as they celebrate a holiday that brings the community together.
Not an essential purchase, but a decent addition to library Easter collections for its depiction of imaginative play.
An exceptional, heartfelt Eid story that gently impresses upon readers that community is about both giving and receiving.
With limited quality titles centered on St. Patrick’s Day, this book is a charming and worthwhile addition to any holiday collection.
A charming read-with-me experience in the tradition of many door-based, lift-the-flap board books.
A good additional purchase where transitional graphic novels are in demand.
A welcome addition for collections seeking more representation of Muslim characters and an entertaining read for grade school students who enjoy realistic fiction with a dash of humor.
A thought-provoking, if uneven, novel best suited for strong readers ready to grapple with layered themes; teachers may find it most effective as a guided read-aloud or small group discussion text rather than an independent reading choice.
A simple story for those seeking to add to their lower elementary graphic novel collection.
As a beautiful introduction to the Oroqen people or a subtle look at the environment, this book would be a powerful choice for ecologically themed story hours.
This title is highly recommended for school libraries, offering rich opportunities for discussions on heritage, history, and community.
A solid story about a positive experience with a first haircut; this is a good choice for libraries needing books about people in the community for young readers.
A spot-on cautionary tale and a perfect addition to any library’s collection of folktales and myths. Recommended.
A lighthearted book for preschoolers who ask these kinds of questions and need Henkes’s kind of answers.
Whether bug lovers or bug dodgers, they’ll be drawn into Lydia’s enthusiasm. Add this playful, fact-filled pick to the shelves.
Flett’s sentiments shine but never overwhelm in this simple message of love; it’s a first choice for any library’s picture book collection.
A lot of high jinks and not much reward.
This is a terrific book to read aloud when some humor is needed, or classroom pizza parties are about to commence.
A vibrant tale of island life, quick thinking, and community building, ripe for the classroom or group sharing.
Calderón’s concise celebratory text is an essential bilingual reference for the middle grade classroom.
This beloved and well-known series will be a delight to find in the children’s Spanish section. A solid staple for any Spanish-language collection: reassuring, vibrant, and informative.
Realistic illustrations and lovely Spanish text come together to create an informative, enjoyable, and almost peaceful nonfiction picture book about what is often thought of as a fierce predator. A wonderful addition to Spanish-language nonfiction for children.
A recommended, entertaining, and educational bilingual adaptation that will be a great resource for language learning.
A high-quality book that combines mystery and fun with math and learning. Highly recommended for the dual-language format and bilingual story time.
Purchase for browsable nonfiction collections, especially where there’s a gap on bilingual titles.
A gentle book perfect for reading at bedtime, and for all board book collections.
This nonfiction picture book has a place in every collection. This would also make a great curricular tie-in.
An engaging rendition of this must-have YA response to Casey McQuiston’s popular Red, White & Royal Blue.
A fun, diverse, and modern take with opportunity for classroom connections.
This lighthearted middle grade mystery tackles a heavy subject—the power of friendship and family
An immersive must-listen that’s sure to delight.
A moving, page-turning portrait that will resonate with readers familiar with Plath’s battles with mental health. A sound addition to school libraries.
A must-have for older teen collections.
Highly recommended for high school and teen horror collections.
A good addition to a teen or school library’s thriller collection, this can be handed to readers who like Joelle Charbonneau’s Need and Dhonielle Clayton and Sona Charaipotra’s The Rumor Game.
A compelling look at an oft-forgotten era of queer history that will appeal to teens who crave descriptive historical fiction.
A sweet introduction to the romance genre, ideal for readers who crave a happy ending.
With unexpected twists and detailed panels that bring the story to life, this exemplary graphic novel delivers Middle Eastern fantasy at its finest and should absolutely be on all shelves.
Readers looking for a stand-alone fantasy will find themselves immersed in an imaginative fairy tale of magic and romance.
An enchanting, magical twist on a classic fairy tale that deals with real-world issues in a fantasy setting, this is an excellent addition to shelves for lovers of cozy fantasy and diverse storytelling.
With its charming supernatural relationship in a fantasy academia setting, blended with humor, and the adventure and intensity of end-of-the-world stakes, this will appeal to fans of Harry Potter.
With complex yet relatable characters and an engaging plot, this is a fantastic edition to any young adult shelf, especially in libraries with avid fantasy readers.
Perfect as either a beach read or stormy night mystery, this is a hit that will roll right off shelves.
This entertaining modern-day fairy tale reinvention will appeal to fans of cosplay and all things “nerd” related.
A cozy read and perfect distraction from life’s stressors.
For older readers looking for a breezy summer romance with depth.
Give this to fans of Marcus Sedgwick, Margaret Atwood’s “MaddAddam” trilogy, and The Last of Us television show and video game.
Good for readers who like Percy Jackson or fast-paced, action-packed fantasies.
A welcome addition to school libraries.
A great addition to the YA thrillers lineup, especially for school and public libraries.
The overt themes in this first volume may feel heavy-handed to voracious readers, but fans of high-action storytelling and comic book art styles will be satisfied by this new graphic novel series.
Part vocabulary building and part philosophy lesson, this is great for sparking the imagination of readers to find out more about mysteries in this world.
A nice addition for libraries wishing to expand their classic canon English literature collection.
Teen Librarian Karen Jensen reviews the audiobook version of THE DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY'S GUIDE TO MURDER by Kate Emery
13 new and forthcoming books to add to your TBR!
It’s Betsy Bird month on The Yarn podcast. In our last episode, Betsy shares how her picture book POP! Goes the Nursery Rhyme (illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi) was made. In our latest episode, Betsy talks about her highly influential children’s literature blog A Fuse #8 Production. If you’ve ever read Betsy’s blog, I think you’re […]
A queer Romeo and Juliet, a memoir from a member of the Exonerated Five, pretend magic, and more!
Avi is a master of historical fiction, addressing universal issues that transcend his novel’s setting and timeline. A first purchase.
A wonderful addition to any fantasy collection, this is especially good for reluctant and new readers of middle grade.
This beautiful gem offers simple joy and a dreamy glimpse into subway travel. A must-purchase to bring joy, movement, and poetic wonder to shelves.
A helpful choice for children who can relate to the experience of watching the struggle of memory loss by a loved one.
This valuable picture book will help children learn about and understand traditional African wisdom and heritage.
A lighthearted cautionary message about the experience of overthinking things, with art that amply repays closer looks.
Children will delight in the adventure and admire Nani’s bravery and cleverness in taming the lion in this bright, musical new folktale perfect for read-alouds.
Good for the sports shelves or seasonal baseball displays on current sports stars.
A good addition to an SEL bookshelf, readers will easily relate to Whirby’s dilemma of needing to balance his excitement for the big battle with his need to rest and recharge.
A book that embraces libraries and patrons everywhere, meant to be enjoyed and shared.
A must-have for read-alouds in schools, this northern tale will captivate both ears and eyes alike of young listeners and onlookers.
This beautiful book is for any library needing books about art and the process of creating, learning to do something new, or the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren.
Exceptional artwork helps this book stand out in the crowded field of anger management picture books, despite a flawed and uninspired text. A fine addition for larger collections.
This lovely picture book is sure to delight young readers.
A gentle tale of friendship and acceptance that will appeal to all readers.
This beautifully sincere and striking picture book belongs in every collection.
A beautiful book about true friendship, with teachable skills for younger elementary students.
A secondary purchase for collections where sports history is popular.
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