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This year, members of the committee recognized 12 excellent books of poetry and six novels in verse as 2023 Notable Books. Picks include a range of formats—lively nonfiction, reflective verse, and moving verse novels—written by familiar poets and debut authors.

A manga title makes the starred list, as well as two Kwame Alexander audiobooks, the latest Brian Selznick novel, a Joy McCullough title in both audio and print, and more.

Children often turn to stories to make sense of the world, so books addressing COVID-19 can help them better understand their own experiences. Not only are these 12 titles relevant to contemporary readers, they paint a valuable picture of this historic event for future generations and will stand the test of time.

Many inventors and scientists of color have made incredible contributions to our modern life, but they have not necessarily had the attention they deserved. In this fun and engaging series each volume is devoted to the life and work of one of these inventors and scientists.

From a fictional tale about saving orangutans and rainforests to a real-life story about a biological conservation mission to the lost city of the jaguar, hand these 11 titles to tweens who care about the environment and want to help any way they can.

In this year’s round of “Refreshing the Canon," we would love to hear which titles you would KEEP on your summer reading lists—classics that you as librarians and educators believe should still be taught in schools. 

Publishers are keenly aware that their books have to work harder than ever before—with more exciting storylines, more eye-catching and mature design, and popular topics that entice reluctant readers, like mysteries, horror, paranormal phenomena, dangerous jobs, cars and planes, and pre-historic creatures.

These titles about Passover include a mix of contemporary and historical stories, transporting young readers to various times and places, including the Spanish Inquisition, Washington DC during the Great Depression, and Iran in the 1950s.

At Scholastic Library Publishing, it is our mission to publish engaging series nonfiction for all ages, including early childhood. We pick topics that are curriculum aligned and present them in the most fun way possible. We want to keep our readers engaged, and we want our books to contribute to our readers’ ability to LOVE learning as they move into higher grades.