A compelling and poignant book that celebrates a courageous young girl’s journey toward growing up.
A love letter to books and the dreamers who read them. Hand this charming story to precocious readers and fans of Matilda.
The literary equivalent of a summer blockbuster, this spine-tingling creature feature is just right for middle grade readers.
An authentic, character-driven look at self-doubt and identity.
The perfect read for book-smart students seeking social connection and friendship stories.
Purchase where novels in verse are popular.
A delightful story, this would be a great read-aloud and a possible segue to Lemony Snicket’s “A Series of Unfortunate Events” books.
For readers who enjoy descriptive fantasy with a touch of horror.
An intrepid mystery with unexpected sci-fi elements, this story packs an emotional punch similar to Kelly Yang’s Front Desk.
A charming, easy-to-read book.
A sweet and silly mystery comic for kids just dipping their toes into the genre.
A heartwarming story of a dog’s loyalty to their human pack, perfect for young dog lovers.
A good choice for new and old fans of Pinkalicious and her adventures; especially recommended for beginning readers.
A solid choice for early readers, especially recommended for students in immersive or bilingual classrooms.
A sweet and silly story ideal for emerging reader collections.
Fans of dark fantasy with memorable characters and worldbuilding will look forward to the sequel of this debut duology. Recommended.
An incredible read and a must-have for all YA romance lovers.
An engaging story about self-esteem and choices that teen girls, especially, will appreciate.
Powerfully angry and vengeance-laden, with terrifying and very human monsters.
A recommended purchase for all libraries where thrillers are popular.
A must-have for tween and teen libraries.
A horror-fantasy woven with Indian mythology, this fun and unique duology opener is recommended for purchase.
A first purchase for high school libraries.
A great first purchase for all libraries, with a unique hero’s journey for Ezra as he begins to assume adult responsibilities.
There’s just enough romance and tension to satisfy young readers looking for a fun summer book.
A good purchase for libraries where Rory Power or Nina LaCour are popular.
A worthy addition to any YA collection, especially for those looking for a romantic comedy that tackles some important relationship struggles many teens will deal with as they reach their college years.
The basic but well-crafted plot makes this a good entry into YA fantasy. Recommended for larger collections where fantasy is popular.
Those who enjoyed Ryan’s “These Hollow Vows” series will appreciate the start to this one, so long as they don’t mind waiting for the sequel for resolutions.
Unique and utterly accessible, this sweet friendship story is a delightful addition to library collections for young readers.
An important, accessible read for young readers and a must for all collections.
An additional purchase, this is nevertheless a sweet book celebrating family, togetherness, belonging, and love.
An additional selection, mostly for fans of merpeople and underwater adventures.
A beautiful tale of loss and adjustment; for those who have never had to leave home, perhaps a lesson in insight and empathy. Highly recommended for all collections.
Touching upon the importance of sharing and kindness, this lovely picture book also introduces a beautiful ocean world and Aztec mythology to young readers.
Rich language and striking illustrations take this counting book beyond the standard fare. A real treat and recommended.
A gorgeous message of encouragement for Black girls; a great choice for any library’s collection.
A childhood scamper through simple pleasures of sibling fun made with the materials found around them, this is a delightful book to share, especially on those “there’s nothing to do” days of summer.
This beautifully illustrated picture book tackles bullying and fitting in; an essential purchase for the picture book shelf.
This lovely book will teach children what makes a community safe and beautiful; a great addition to any collection.
A solid choice for most collections, this book details an important rite of passage for many children, and could be especially useful for parents helping their child navigate wearing glasses for the first time.
This fun, STEM-focused book blends Chinese culture, history, and mathematics into a useful and memorable story.
An innovative and beautifully illustrated story that will inspire rich discussions over multiple readings.
This novel is both sweet and sad but will leave readers feeling hopeful.
This might be McManus’s best yet. Recommended for all collections.
A twisty, edge-of-your-seat thriller mystery with a surprise ending that will stay with readers.
Fans of Adam Cesare’s Clown in a Cornfield or Kathryn Foxfield’s Tag, You’re Dead will devour this one.
A well-written and thoughtful approach to emotional vampirism for collections serving high schoolers.
A fun setting and a couple who readers will root for make this a great light romance selection.
An entertaining choice, with appropriate language for the developing reader.
A decent addition, perfect for fans of the “Pizza and Taco” series or where the “Real Pigeons” series circulates well.
Purchase for early readers who have graduated from “Frog and Toad.”
Accessible, enjoyable, and educational, this collection is a positive addition to library collections for new readers.
Accessible, enjoyable, and educational, this collection is a positive addition to library collections for new readers.
Accessible, enjoyable, and educational, this collection is a positive addition to library collections for new readers.
Accessible, enjoyable, and educational, this collection is a positive addition to library collections for new readers.
A pleasant and scary-but-not-too-scary addition.
A beautiful book celebrating music and family, offering multiple avenues into lessons on the environment, cultures, family, music, and more.
An exceedingly quiet picture book that lightly touches on Jewish traditions and will fill a need for stories of perseverance.
An enjoyable bedtime or story hour treat; youngsters will wait for this book to make an appearance in their days or nights.
Purchase where books on slime are eagerly requested and consider pairing with an always welcome slime-making activity.
A recommended addition to picture book collections in elementary schools and public libraries.
While not a must-have, this calming introduction to the lunar zodiac will find readership in larger collections.
For fans of Last Stop on Market Street, this book is sure to delight younger readers and is nice addition to library shelves that lends itself to further discussion of gods and goddesses in mythology.
This is a highly effective tool for encouraging children to look into the rich diversity in their communities and realize the many ways immigration adds to the American experience for all who live here.
This gentle animal story equips readers with strategies to combat anxiety. An excellent choice for story times about feelings or a comforting bedtime story.
This may be too subdued to stand out among other picture books, but there are small lessons to be learned about companionship, appreciating each moment shared, and making the best of an experience regardless of the outcome.
Hand this book to readers who enjoy emotionally raw, true-to-life stories like Saints of the Household by Ari Tison or Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds.
Choose instead Aiden Thomas’s The Sunbearer Trials or Lani Forbes’s The Seventh Sun.
An awesome book about samosas and so much more; a great addition to any collection.
The steady, pleasing pace of plot and illustrations will complement most collections; its delicate message lands hard and is heartfelt.
This would be a welcome addition to high school libraries.
Inspired by Mo’s move from Hong Kong to the United States at the age of 10, this remarkable story about finding comfort in a new home by bringing along familiar traditions is a must-purchase for picture book collections and will resonate with any child who has struggled to fit in.
A must-read, this novel is full of charming dialogue, romantic-tension scenes, and heart-melting moments.
A clever and charming story of perspective, belonging, and finding oneself, this is a highly recommended for purchase.
A wordless picture book with so much to say, this is one for all children, and all collections.
A captivating picture book that captures the feeling of loneliness and the need for friendship, ideal for toddlers and preschoolers.
This gentle title is an excellent choice for early readers and would be an engaging read-aloud for younger children. Fans of series like Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm’s “Babymouse” and Dav Pilkey’s “Cat Kid Comic Club” will enjoy this title.
Collections needing “silly” can file this one on the shelves, but it’s an additional purchase.
An insight worth taking to heart
This lovely, dynamic picture book would be an excellent choice for libraries needing stories about the path of learning, step by step, the small joys along the way, and sharing in that joy with others.
A first purchase for libraries seeking adventurous science fiction mingled with facts about the universe.
Hand this novel to fans of David Levithan and Elizabeth Acevedo.
A sweet and serene seasonal story that will find a home in any collection.
An exciting fantasy tale of magic, friendship, and self-discovery, with poignant themes of colonization and cultural oppression that will captivate high school readers. Fans of Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen and Marissa Meyer’s Cinder will be enthralled by this adventure of rebellion and the quest for freedom.
Li’s YA debut is a hopeful coming-of-age story with a cozy New England setting.
Fans of Greek mythology will appreciate the nods to some memorable characters and stories.
A strong addition to the shelves and an accessible title to add to nature lessons or even story hours about mindfulness, with its emphasis on simplicity and an appreciation of nature.
Imagination fills the sails of this rousing, unusually inclusive, yarn.
A lively and essential addition to every folklore collection.
With its enchanting atmosphere, captivating plot, and unforgettable characters, this book is a must-read for any fantasy fan.
This title can be skipped in favor of more engaging queer romance and more balanced representation of mental health journeys.
Highly recommended for high school students, this would make a great reading group book to discuss.
A worthy addition to a collection frequented by nature lovers, and a book that takes an unusual and welcome approach to the seasons.
Come for the culinary competition, stay for the incisive take on social issues. Recommended for all libraries.
An engaging novel in verse that touches on serious issues but is uplifting and hopeful. Recommended for middle and high school libraries.
This delightfully chilling romp with a brave and clever orphan is a Halloween tale with heart, that would be a splendid read-aloud at Halloween.
Suspense stories are in high demand with teens and this one won’t disappoint. Readers will be left with their jaws hanging open when all is revealed.
A love affair among poetry, Iranian culture, and teenage angst is happily fused in Akhbari’s debut.
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