Best Of

Here are SLJ's reviews of the books that made the longlist for the 2023 National Book Award for Young People's Literature.

This month Donna Barba Higuera's latest novel is a must-have, Phillip Pullman returns to the world of 'His Dark Materials' and the duo of Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen ask, 'How does Santa go down the chimney?'

This month's starred reviews include inclusive back-to-school picture books, the latest Zelda video game, and two audiobooks by Alex Segura and Monica Gallagher.

The first day of school, separation anxiety, a sandwich running the classroom—all the usual suspects show up in these seven beauts about helping kids cross the transom back into the world of curiosity and learning!

Board books and poetry titles are some of this month's 38 starred titles that also include transitional books, graphic novels, and more.

Brian Selznick’s new book originated as a movie with Steven Spielberg six years ago. When production stalled during the pandemic, Selznick created a 528-page illustrated novel instead.

Roy’s unique take on nonfiction is evident in The Fire of Stars: The Life and Brilliance of the Woman Who Discovered What Stars Are Made Of, about astrophysicist Cecilia Payne, and Making More: How Life Begins, about reproduction.

Chavarri has illustrated works ranging from a Little Golden Book Biography on Taylor Swift to two 2023 starred picture books with Latinx themes.

The author/illustrator describes his inspiration for this story about a mother fox making her way across an autumnal landscape to get home to her kits.