Kimberly Fakih

SLJ chats with the Pura Belpre–winning artist about the creative process for this year’s December Best Books cover.

From sensory-filled illustrations to relentlessly funny characters, the 2025 Best Picture Books make for excellent read-alouds, heartfelt one-on-ones, and heartrending reads.

From poo and tentacles to contemplative picture book biographies, this year’s picks for the Best Nonfiction for Elementary readers are filled with facts, information, and wonder.

The books that shine here, including the latest from Leslie Patricelli and Mo Willems, keep it simple, are all heart, and let babies be babies and preschoolers be preschoolers.

For more than 60% of children in the U.S., walking into a school or library represents their first encounter with books. If we make that experience as welcoming as possible, we're giving them fuel for success.

With every book, Jashar Awan comes a little closer to establishing himself as the chronicler extraordinaire of what most people see as childhood's mundane moments, and it's magic.

The July issue—“the stars so far”—is our halfway point on the path to Best Books in December. SLJ reviews editors stand back to take a look at a beautiful, blossoming list of notable books.

Starred reviews are always good news, for what they mean and for what happens next.

Starred reviews have a big problem. And it begins and ends with the 10 points in this list.