SLJ Blogs

Poems As Picture Books: Zetta Elliott Discusses the Upcoming A Song for Juneteenth

Betsy Bird, Jan 31, 2023

Today author Zetta Elliott joins us to discuss her latest book, celebrating the power of community and the importance of Juneteenth.

Graphic Novel Winners | Youth Media Awards 2023

Esther Keller, Jan 31, 2023

A Conversation with Kendare Blake about BUFFY, THE NEXT GENERATION

Amanda MacGregor, Jan 31, 2023

BLOG POSTS

100 SCOPE NOTES

Surprise! Announcing CABOOSE

Travis Jonker, Feb 03, 2023

Ruth Chan and I have a new book coming . . .

TEEN LIBRARIAN TOOLBOX

WRITING FOR YOURSELF FIRST, a guest post by author M. K. Lobb

Karen Jensen, MLS, Feb 03, 2023

Author M. K. Lobb shares a guest post about why it's important that you write for yourself

HEAVY MEDAL

What’s Coming in 2023, A Feedback Poll, and Goodbye for Now…

Steven Engelfried, Feb 03, 2023

With the announcement of FREEWATER as the 2023 Newbery Medal winner, our Mock Newbery season is complete. Help us plan next year with our Readers' Feedback Poll and take a look at our early list of possible contenders for the 2024 Newbery Award.

TEEN LIBRARIAN TOOLBOX

A Coming of Age Quartet, a guest post by Krystal Marquis

Amanda MacGregor, Feb 03, 2023

What sets my novel apart is the acknowledgment of the past and its celebration of Black excellence and achievement.

100 SCOPE NOTES

A Book 25 Years in the Making: Marla Frazee Visits The Yarn Podcast

Travis Jonker, Feb 03, 2023

Marla Frazee stops by to talk about IN EVERY LIFE.

TEEN LIBRARIAN TOOLBOX

A Book Gallery: Time Loops, books where time is on repeat for teens

Karen Jensen, MLS, Feb 02, 2023

A gallery of book covers on books that feature time on repeat for teens

TEEN LIBRARIAN TOOLBOX

Celebrate Lantern Festival by Making Your Own Magic, a guest post by Gloria Chao

Amanda MacGregor, Feb 02, 2023

Gloria Chao talks about the inspiration behind her new book and shows us how to make paper lanterns.

TEEN LIBRARIAN TOOLBOX

Resurrecting Ghosts, a guest post by Kimberly Behre Kenna

Amanda MacGregor, Feb 02, 2023

Artemis Sparke is an invitation for all ages to join a brigade or, even better, to rally up their own brigade and experience the power of resurrected voices.

100 SCOPE NOTES

The Best Tweets from the 2023 Youth Media Awards!

Travis Jonker, Feb 02, 2023

All the best reactions to the 2023 Youth Media Awards.

GOOD COMICS FOR KIDS

The Archie Encyclopedia | Review

J. Caleb Mozzocco, Feb 01, 2023

The Archie Encyclopedia catalogs the sprawling cast of characters that make their home in Riverdale, as well as characters from other Archie Comics, like Sabrina and Josie and The Pussycats.

TEEN LIBRARIAN TOOLBOX

Cindy Crushes Programming: My Top Ten Craft Supplies

Cindy Shutts, Feb 01, 2023

Teen Librarian Cindy Shutts shares what she keeps in her craft supply toolbox so she's always ready for the next DIY craft program

TEEN LIBRARIAN TOOLBOX

Gothic Obsessed, a guest post by Dianne K. Salerni

Amanda MacGregor, Feb 01, 2023

In The Carrefour Curse, I have revisited my gothic obsessed childhood and had a great deal of fun doing so.

100 SCOPE NOTES

Notes on January 2023

Travis Jonker, Feb 01, 2023

3 of my favorite posts from the past month.

A FUSE #8 PRODUCTION

Jump Into this Guest Post by Shadra Strickland About Her Latest Book: Jump In!

Betsy Bird, Feb 01, 2023

Author/artist Shadra Strickland joins us today for a guest post involving gatefolds, doubt, and getting your book to jump off the page.

TEEN LIBRARIAN TOOLBOX

A Conversation with Kendare Blake about BUFFY, THE NEXT GENERATION

Amanda MacGregor, Jan 31, 2023

Kendare Blake talks Scoobies old and new, a Buffy-less Buffyverse series, and more!

GOOD COMICS FOR KIDS

Graphic Novel Winners | Youth Media Awards 2023

Esther Keller, Jan 31, 2023

Graphic novels were well represented at the 2023 Youth Media Awards. "Good Comics for Kids" offers a complete list of the honored titles.

A FUSE #8 PRODUCTION

Poems As Picture Books: Zetta Elliott Discusses the Upcoming A Song for Juneteenth

Betsy Bird, Jan 31, 2023

Today author Zetta Elliott joins us to discuss her latest book, celebrating the power of community and the importance of Juneteenth.

HEAVY MEDAL

FREEWATER wins the Newbery Medal, live reactions from Heavy Medal bloggers

Emily Mroczek-Bayci, Jan 30, 2023

The 2023 Youth Media Award announcements took place at 8 a.m. CST Monday morning in New Orleans during LibLearnX. Emily and Steven watched the live webcast and live blogged their reactions, take a look here:

GOOD COMICS FOR KIDS

Evil Secret Society of Cats | This Week’s Comics

Lori Henderson, Jan 30, 2023

Check out this week's list of new comics, manga, and graphic novels for middle school and under readers including Evil Secret Society of Cats Volume 2 from Seven Seas Entertainment and Pluto Rocket from Tundra Books.

TEEN LIBRARIAN TOOLBOX

Philosophy and/as/of Literature, a guest post by Amy Zhang

Amanda MacGregor, Jan 30, 2023

Life would be so much easier if it came with a map that contained all the right answers. But as Ocean and I have learned, mapmaking is sort of the point.