INDUSTRY NEWS

SLJ, MSRI Launch Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards

The awards offer grants to Title I schools to purchase titles from the Mathical Book Prize list.

BLOGS

Friday Finds: January 24, 2020

HMC Ballot #3 – Discussion of the Final 7

HMC Mock Ballot #2 Results – still not there

HMC Mock Results – No Winner Yet

EXPLORE SLJ

BEST OF

Best Young Adult Books 2019 | SLJ Best Books

Kristin Anderson, Katy Hershberger, Janet Hilbun, Amanda MacGregor, Desiree Thomas, Nov 18, 2019

Seventeen titles made SLJ's list of the most distinguished young adult books published in 2019.

DIVERSE BOOKS

Reshaping the African American Narrative, from Picture Books to YA | Great Books

Desiree Thomas, Dec 17, 2019

These recent titles, including picture books, middle grade, and young adult, showcase the complex beauty inherent in being black in America.

ED TECH

Creating Makerspaces for All: Lessons From the Experts

Christina Joseph, Dec 04, 2019

As part of SLJ’s Tech Trends series of webcasts in cooperation with ISTE, a panel of experts discussed makerspace learning and offered guidance on how to create and design an effective program.

BOOKS & MEDIA

Middle Grade Is too Young, YA too Old. Where Are the Just-Right Books for Tweens?

Katy Hershberger, Nov 01, 2019

Librarians and publishers address a demand for more tween-centric reads.

More Editors' Picks

INDUSTRY NEWS

Can Diverse Books Save Us?
In a divided world, librarians are on a mission.

Kathy Ishizuka, Oct 21, 2018

The majority of public and K–12 librarians consider it "very important" to have a diverse book collection for kids and teens, according to SLJ's nationwide survey. But there are hurdles, including a lack of quality titles in specific areas.

DIVERSE BOOKS

Shelving Debate: To Separate or Integrate?

Kara Yorio and Kathy Ishizuka, Oct 26, 2018

Librarians respond to the challenge of where to put diverse books once they have them in their collections.

DIVERSE BOOKS

SLJ Diverse Books Survey Page Updated with New Resources, Access to Full Report

SLJ Staff, Jan 31, 2019

On the Diverse Books Survey page, users can access related content, newly updated, as well as our Diverse Books Survey report.

PROGRAMS & PROGRAMMING

Public Library Summer Programming Is Vital to Communities, SLJ Survey Shows

Lauren Barack, Jun 11, 2019

These services meet the needs of children and families across the country, with programming ranging from robotics to summer meals to ever-popular reading challenges.

PROGRAMS & PROGRAMMING

Summer Reading Incentives: Love Them or Hate Them, Prizes Bring Kids In

Kara Yorio, Jun 11, 2019

Nearly 100 percent of public libraries use incentives in their summer reading programs, according to SLJ's survey. Still, respondents had a lot to say about prizes as well as what motivates kids to read over vacation.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Scholastic Survey Reveals Large Drop in Reading Between Ages 8 and 9

SLJ Staff, Mar 20, 2019

Scholastic releases its latest Kids and Family Reading Report.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Poll on Public Schools Shows Parents', Teachers' Views—Where They Align and Where They Differ

Kara Yorio, Aug 09, 2019

Survey shows parents and teachers agree public schools—and teachers—need more money, but have differing opinions on the role of public schools and how to evaluate them.

DIVERSE BOOKS

Diverse Characters Impact Decisions To Buy Books

Kara Yorio, Oct 24, 2018

While in the minority, the SLJ Diverse Books Survey reveals some librarians are declining to purchase books with diverse characters to avoid a challenge.

More Research

BEST OF

Best Young Adult Books 2019 | SLJ Best Books

Kristin Anderson, Katy Hershberger, Janet Hilbun, Amanda MacGregor, Desiree Thomas, Nov 18, 2019

Seventeen titles made SLJ's list of the most distinguished young adult books published in 2019.

PROGRAMS & PROGRAMMING

Best Tabletop Games for the Library

Cindy Shutts, Jul 08, 2019

A game-loving librarian's suggestions to raise the level of your collection. With recommended games for elementary, tweens, and teens, from Candy Land, Uno and Oregon Trail, to Exploding Kittens and Sushi Go.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Lacking Research Skills, Students Struggle. School Librarians Can Help Solve the College Readiness Gap.

Wayne D’Orio, Sep 04, 2019

Here's an information literacy action plan to support college-bound students.

GRAPHIC NOVELS

Superheroes: 10 Graphic Novels for Middle Grade Readers | Stellar Panels

Brigid Alverson, Sep 25, 2019

Superheroes and comics go together like mac and cheese. These 10 graphic reads celebrate heroes, from Black Canary and Green Lantern to Dog Man, Super Potato, and, yes, Rainbow Brite.

BEST OF

Best Picture Books 2019 | SLJ Best Books

Joy Fleishhacker, Daryl Grabarek, Ruth Guerrier-Pierre, Kiera Parrott, Luann Toth, Nov 18, 2019

Twenty-one exemplary titles made SLJ's list of the best picture books published in 2019.

BOOKLISTS

Native Stories: Books for tweens and teens by and about Indigenous peoples

By Kara Stewart (Sappony) and Dr. Debbie Reese (Nambé Pueblo), Aug 20, 2019

Twelve wonderful middle grade and young adult #OwnVoices titles that reflect Indigenous life and culture. They include historical and contemporary fiction as well as anthologies, graphic novels, and speculative science fiction.

BOOKS & MEDIA

YA Anthologies: Discovering and Using New Collections For Teen Readers

Kelly Jensen, Dec 03, 2019

In the last few years, there's been a rise in YA anthologies hitting shelves, and the trend isn't slowing down. Librarians weigh in on these books' popularity and how to use them in schools and public programming.

BEST OF

Best Graphic Novels 2019 | SLJ Best Books

Mahnaz Dar, Kelley Gile, Matisse Mozer, Alea Perez, Nov 18, 2019

Fourteen outstanding titles made SLJ's list of the best graphic novels for children and teens published in 2019.

DIVERSE BOOKS

These Girl Athletes Rule | Read Woke

Cicely Lewis, Sep 20, 2019

Sports-themed titles to empower all young readers.

More Classroom & Curricula

AUTHORS & ILLUSTRATORS

WATCH: National Book Award Finalist Elizabeth Acevedo Talks About Representation in YA Lit

Shelley Diaz, Nov 06, 2018

Check out the recording of Acevedo’s 2018 SLJTeen Live! keynote, in which she talks about her path to publication, the importance of literacy and seeing yourself books, and more.

AWARDS

Watch: SLJ Chats with Carle Honors Recipients Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop and Paul O. Zelinsky

SLJ Staff, Sep 28, 2018

Just hours before the 13th annual Carle Honors gala, SLJ reviews managing editor Luann Toth talked to the 2018 Carle Honors recipients at the legendary Algonquin Hotel in New York City on September 27 on Facebook Live

DIVERSE BOOKS

Highlights from SLJ's Summit Saturday

Kara Yorio, Oct 28, 2018

There was a lot to take in on the first day at SLJ's Leadership Summit, which was full of moving speakers, inspiring panels, and breakout sessions with ideas for attendees to take back to school and implement.

BOOKS & MEDIA

Watch: Behind the Read Woke Movement

SLJ Staff, Oct 15, 2018

What is Read Woke? School librarian Cicely Lewis and students at Meadowcreek High School in Norcross, GA, explore the idea that led to a reading revolution at their school—and internationally.

NEWS & FEATURES

With Books, You Can Change the World—and Future Politicians Who Tweet, Says Angie Thomas at SLJ Day of Dialog

Kathy Ishizuka, May 31, 2018

In a talk that ranged from her Mississippi roots to her personal influences, including a certain young reader who inspires her today, author Angie Thomas delivered a forceful keynote at School Library Journal’s Day of Dialog.

MAKER

Video: Toy Take-Apart with Kristin Fontichiaro and Ben Rearick

SLJ, May 14, 2018

Get out the pliers and roll up your sleeves: All you need to know to lead a toy-take apart session with students.

Headline

ByLine, Jan, 16 2017

Testing bluconinc section

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Middle Grade Magic 2020

Apr 08, 2020

LJ & SLJ Public Library Youth Service Leadership Summit

Mar 12 & Mar 13, 2020

EVENTS

More Events

VIRTUAL EVENTS

Middle Grade Magic 2020

Apr 08, 2020

IN-PERSON EVENTS

LJ & SLJ Public Library Youth Service Leadership Summit

Mar 12 & Mar 13, 2020

SPECIAL PROJECTS

INDUSTRY NEWS

SLJ, MSRI Launch Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards