Hand this to young readers seeking adventurous new fantasy, and who aren’t quite ready for "Lord of the Rings."
Strongly recommended purchase for elementary collections and readers who enjoy the work of Katherine Applegate.
Although formulaic, the story should appeal to elementary-aged readers seeking tales of sisterhood, animals, and magical mysteries.
For collections where Biblical Easter stories circulate well.
A rich folklore setting, goblin magic, and a spooky atmosphere with a hopeful ending make this a top choice for upper middle grade and middle school collections.
A necessary purchase for all collections serving middle school readers. Hand to fans of Barbara Dee’s Maybe He Just Likes You.
Readers won’t learn anything about either holiday from this book. Those looking for an authentic and heartwarming depiction of an interfaith and blended family should try Sarah Aronson’s Brand-New Bubbe.
A middle grade novel with heart, this one will be a hit with educators, parents, and students who will push through the injustices to favor hope.
Strange has crafted a novel that is ideal for fans of Alcott’s Little Women, and those who like stories of capable and tenacious girls overcoming adversity.
This story builds skills with appeal for some readers, but is not a must for library collections.
Suspending disbelief about a teen’s ability to conduct a thorough murder investigation, readers will enjoy this solid mystery with a satisfying resolution; the ghost stories are great.
This debut novel is very character driven and will make a great addition for collections that need realistic fiction with strong worldbuilding and character development.
A great addition to any high school collection looking to add light romance reads to their shelves and a solid recommendation for readers who are tired of drama on the screen or in real life but could use a distraction.
A must-read for those who love well-crafted whodunits, true crime, and juicy secrets.
This sweet queer best friends fall in love story is perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli.
Readers who have felt they never quite fit in, be it socially, culturally, or economically, will see their struggles reflected in Alice. However, they will also find an ending that doesn’t fully hit the mark.
This book will appeal to readers seeking dark YA fiction with a handful of thrills and chills; transcript excerpts and reality TV tropes keep the story entertaining, though not engrossing. Recommended for fans of Karen M. McManus and Cynthia Murphy.
A worthwhile addition to your collection to satisfy romance lovers and fans of Lord’s previous books.
Another deeply atmospheric, compulsively readable yet utterly unsettling offering from Hardinge. Highly recommended for all libraries serving teens.
A masterful, taut, and emotionally rich historical novel that is heartrending and essential reading for our present political climate.
Recommended for purchase where thrillers and mysteries are popular.
A quick-reading mystery that is entertaining enough to recommend to readers who like to keep guessing to the end.
Recommended for first purchase. Readers will root for Harris as he navigates the highs and lows of high school, family life, and friendships.
A delightful, opposites-attract rom-com.
This is a sweet, retro-infused text that deftly holds space for all. Ideal for bored theater kids or shy students who desire to shine.
A solid purchase for all libraries that serve middle grade readers. It deftly handles the sensitive topic of being a young trauma survivor; warning for school shooting content.
A coming-of-age middle school friendship drama disperses racist violence with justice served. Comrie provides another healthy outlet for youth to normalize exchanges about mental wellness.
A quick, immersive read. Give to fans of Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé’s Ace of Spades or Maureen Johnson’s “Truly Devious” series.
This phenomenal novel-in-verse transports readers into an impassioned tale of heartache and hope that belongs on every bookshelf serving teens.
Fans of Rachel Lynn Solomon and John Green will not be able to put this one down. It will fit right in with the YA collection of any public library.
An engaging, thought-provoking title that is easy to read, hard to put down, and will have readers wondering about the characters long after they’ve finished it. A highly recommended purchase.
A satisfying read, recommended for purchase, this may need handselling so the right readers make it past the deceptive branding.
A first purchase. Fans of the previous book will be anxious to get their hands on this title.
A charming, cozy treat for fans of A Sorcery of Thorns and perfect to curl up and read on a winter’s night.
Recommended for larger collections with a strong fantasy readership.
Recommended for all collections. Hand to fans of Brandy Colbert’s Little & Lion or Kristina Forest’s Zyla & Kai.
A great addition to any library’s YA shelves, especially where there’s a gap in the collection for love stories featuring Black teens.
Recommended for all collections.
This is an excellent addition to any children’s library collection as a great exposure to this culture, but also in any community serving a significant Iranian population.
Though kids may giggle at the silly dialogue and potty humor, the story never quite comes together.
A reassuring tale about the power of memory and storytelling to provide comfort for grieving children and a simple life cycle story for a more general readership.
This book delegitimizes libraries as sources of valid, trustworthy information, and therefore sends a harmful message. Not recommended.
A fine lesson in persistence for any classroom setting.
An excellent choice for picture book collections that uniquely explores traditional Mesoamerican tales and is sure to inspire the wish for further discovery and appreciation.
Combining nature and self-expression, this title will be useful for all collections and should spark lively discussions with children and even older elementary readers.
With a list in the back for combatting climate change and another for calming down in case of anxiety, this is a well-intentioned debut, but likely an additional purchase.
Fun for sharing at story time or a class that will end with children creating all sorts of inventive hats or other clothing items for themselves or the world around them. Delightful.
While the resolution to the protagonist’s problem might have come relatively easily in one week, children will connect with Zia’s struggles and will be encouraged to share their family traditions with others.
A uniquely told story that will delight all readers. Highly recommended.
With a clear cadence and plenty of charm, this is an ideal read-aloud to introduce lessons on friendship and compromise.
This is a beautiful story that teaches courage and offers readers a glimpse into the daily life of a Black family. This picture book would pair well with a history lesson on Civil Rights and the Jim Crow laws.
A gorgeous picture book celebrating tradition, family, and memories. Highly recommended for school and public libraries.
This is a welcome addition to all collections promoting positive skin tone discussions and leading to personal explorations of the title’s question. Provocative and generous.
A sweet musical journey from life to death that shows how music can soothe heartache and help memories live on. Not essential but lovely.
There really isn’t much here; an additional purchase to fill out sibling shelves.
A well-intentioned effort buoyed by playful illustrations, deflated by a sparse plot and lack of momentum.
A beautiful and heartbreaking tribute to the resiliency of people in wartime; with support from adults, children will gain perspective on the need for hope under hardship.
Reassuring despite depicting a dangerous journey and uncertain time; there are many children for whom this is not history, but family stories. Essential.
Beautiful and full of life, this picture book is an excellent choice for gently discussing the illness of a loved one as well as sharing the magical relationship between children and their grandparents. Highly recommended for picture book collections.
Even the youngest of toddlers will be quickly absorbed in this brief but engaging work.
This sweet and sensitive story will hold particular resonance for children and families with elderly relatives in their lives.
A beautifully illustrated ode to bookstores and the people who work there and frequent them. Recommended for school and public libraries.
A celebration sure to delight introverts everywhere, this is a recommended first purchase for all.
Describing the process of learning to read and the joy found in storytelling, this book will find its way into every niche and nook for sharing with students in a school library setting.
Thoughtful poetry and expressive illustrations could make for a meaningful conversation; purchase where message-driven stories are used to amplify SEL lessons.
Well-suited to be read aloud, and for a group or class discussion on resilience and bravery, this accessible tale of courage is recommended for general purchase.
One for the garden shelves, or intergenerational collections, this is an excellent book for vocabulary building with lap-sitters or in preschool settings.
A recommended title for collections catering to the vehicle obsessed.
Recommended for readers looking for greater understanding of the immigration experience via a masterful blend of character- and plot-based storytelling.
Perfect for fans of imperfect protagonists and “can’t look away from the car crash”–stories.
This is an all-consuming read about a young Black boy finding community and purpose. Essential middle grade and tween realistic reading.
Useful for multiple lessons from science to socialemotional learning, this title simultaneously encourages readers to find and celebrate that which makes them unique while identifying the similarities that unite us all in a common human family.
A cheery and exuberant book to be shared in joyful read-alouds with toddlers and adults.
Whether for sleepy time or not, this is an additional purchase.
A book that celebrates the power of stories and libraries to forge a more inclusive society.
An inspiring set of story prompts for younger audiences, with some longer thoughts for older ones slipped in.
This is an excellent addition to all collections that clearly introduces how positive statements build confidence, self-worth, and harmony.
Simultaneously simple and majestic, this benediction of a book is recommended for first purchase.
Cordell never disappoints and never fails to surprise readers with his evergreen ability to take a story and make it feel fresh and timeless in one go.
With memorable, colorful illustrations filled with New York City sights, this rhyming story ties together Scoot’s ambitions to survive in the big city and kindly help others navigate the migration path.
A clever adventure story recommended for readers who enjoy a twist on classic fantasies and the authors previous books.
A classic “be yourself” tale, with enough VR bells and whistles to keep tweens interested.
This is a thought-provoking read that will stay in readers’ heads for years to come. Recommend to fans of Kelly Barnhill’s The Girl Who Drank the Moon.
Harrold delivers a world as eerie as it is true, as uplifting as it is intense in a triumph of storytelling. Recommended for purchase in all libraries serving patrons who seek complex tales about growing up.
A first purchase for public and school libraries, and an excellent choice for book clubs.
This novel is for the espionage/action-adventure lover who is willing to go on boundless, seemingly implausible exploits.
Through his understanding of what makes middle schoolers tick, Korman writes the books kids love to read and teachers ought to read.
Familiarity with the previous titles is a plus, but new readers can easily jump in. Purchase where there’s a need for chapter books for older readers.
Instant classics, these stories would make for perfect classroom read-alouds and a just-right match for chapter book readers.
This book can be used as part of lessons on mapmaking and using a compass. Pair with similar titles, such as Kari Allen’s The Boy Who Loved Maps and the “Map Skills for Today” series.
A must for beginning reader collections. Seuss’s picture book fans will transition easily to this easy reader, which makes it a title that will surely find an audience.
This cheerful story with colorful illustrations will appeal to new readers and to parents looking for a read-aloud about perseverance.
A first purchase for early reader collections.
Perfect for all early reader collections.
A winner and a first purchase.
This series continues embodying wonderful themes of diverse characters of merpeople and emphasizes the importance of ocean conservation and marine life exploration.
A wonderful addition to Hale’s unique series, wherein zany humor and teamwork tells the story that children can be anything they dream of.
A third entry in this pleasant series that showcases the daily adventures of the ever-curious Starla Jean, with quirky humor, large font, and delightful illustrations.
This gives readers and their families a big message of hope, strength, and triumph in this series addition about COVID-19.
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