SLJ Reviews

Blessings are all around in these gentle picture books that exalt sharing and gratitude in a manner accessible to children.

Since our July 2025 Stars So Far ­issue, SLJ has starred over 300 additional titles, reviewed in print and online from June through ­December. From board books and ­holiday titles to professional reading and manga, this list highlights must-have ­selections for every collection need.

From a first-words title on the hardware store to Mo Willems’s counting book featuring The Pigeon, these sturdy volumes will engage little ones.

This roundup includes YA, poetry, nonfiction, and picture books about first love, monkeys, and influential Latine people who made an impact on history.

Fill holiday collections with fun new works for Halloween, Christmas, and Rosh Hashanah.

With the latest offerings from Kate DiCamillo, Atinuke, and Cynthia Rylant, humor abounds in these transitional books.

This list features new outings from Katherine Applegate, Jeanne Birdsall, Ann Brashares, Rebecca Stead, and Jason Reynolds and Tiffany D. Jackson’s middle grade debut. 

These stellar works range from high-octane thrillers and charming rom-coms to stirring historical novels and sweeping romantasies.