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I am essentially making comfy nests where other tired hearts can rest, books with arguably naive but stubborn resilience against tough odds, and books with kind power in them.
Our list of nominations for the Heavy Medal Mock Newbery includes 19 books (out of 45) that have received just one vote so far. Which ones (if any) have a real chance to earn Newbery recognition?
We're talking haunted synthesizers and Tiffany/Robin Sparkles in today cover reveal and interview!
The shining light of the drive-in evokes the warmth, healing, and joy found in the collected writings. Details in the artwork will feel familiar to Native readers and offer a rare invitation to non-Natives.
Left-handed writer and artist Kevin McCloskey reviews Lefty and offers some commentary of his own on the prejudice against left-handed people and the hazards of living in a world geared for righties.
If I pick TEN books surely I must get one or two right when the awards are announced, right?
Can you guess the children’s book by its scathing one-star review on Goodreads?
Herewith, authors who have not won a Newbery Medal, including those who have won at least one Honor and some of the many excellent writers who haven’t yet been awarded any Newbery recognition. Emily and Steven kick off the conversation on "Heavy Medal."
After a busy bookish September and October, we’re combining the posts for November and December! Here’s 10 fabulous titles that release before the end of 2024. The Davenports: More Than This by Krystal Marquis Sequel to: The Davenports by Krystal Marquis The Davenports Pitch: The Davenports live in 1910s Chicago, one of the few Black […]
In which teen librarian Karen Jensen discusses historian Heather Cox Richardson and the Department of Education.
Phoebe Zito has just started at a new school in a new state...after just starting her new life as a girl. She has to learn to balance fitting in and being herself in this fun but complex YA graphic novel by Magdalene Vissaggio and Paulina Ganucheau.
The latest title in the Aven Green universe (The "Greeniverse"?) tackles Tourette's Syndrome and so much more. We reveal the cover and discuss the book with the author.
Teen librarian Cindy Shutts discusses Anime Club and how to get a Crunchy Roll account
A young swordsmith engages sorcerers and the Yakuza in this tale of revenge.
This week's "Wednesday Roundup" looks at the many excellent titles from this year that fall into the broad and often-recognized category of middle grade fiction.
The trick is to not give up while the slow burn runs its course.
I know it isn't even Thanksgiving yet, but we are friggin' talking about Santa today. Sleigh.
I hope after reading our novel, hearts can empathize better with refugees in the community and be spurned to action. Perhaps students will take greater interest in the new classmate that just arrived in the states.
If you want to have a good time, invite a parasitologist onto your site. Chelsea Wood astounds and entrances, not simply in her new book, but in this interview as well (come for the tapeworms, stay for the lice video).
Check out this week's list of new comics, manga, and graphic novels for readers 12 and under, featuring Cat's Cradle Vol. 3: Suri's Dragon from First Second Books and Sonic the Hedgehog Knuckles 30th Anniversary Special from IDW Publishing.
With so many excellent books on our Mock Newbery list, we need to really look at what books stand out. Today we do an exercise called "Battle of the Books" where we pin two books against each other.
As it turns out, becoming a writer for teens—and teen Jan—is about the most thrilling and rewarding answer to the question: who am I?
"I'm thinking this rabbit is friggin' JACKED!" Were truer words ever said of a Caldecott Award winner? We think not.
Amazon has announced their list of the best children's books of 2024.
As you keep faith as readers, I’ll keep faith as a writer to continue writing and showing the places where our stories interconnect. Not everyone is on the same page, but we all HAVE a page. Never forget: We are who makes the story worth reading.
Vigo County Public Library is joining the growing trend of libraries responding to climate change while at the same time, users are provided with information, materials, and communities in unique ways that remove barriers to success.
With so many excellent books on our Mock Newbery list, how do we separate the very good from the truly great? One exercise that might help: the "Fortunately/Unfortunately" game.
Will one of these take home the Newbery come January? And could one of them win a Newbery AND a Printz?!
Author Terri Farley shares how series can be a comfort to middle grade readers seeking emotional shelter
Exclusive: Random House Graphic is launching Ink Pop, a new line of manga, manhwa, and webtoons for chapter book, middle-grade, and YA readers.
What's the stupidest hill you would die on? For me, there can be no question. It's upside down knitting needles in children's book illustrations, of course! Join me as I praise and kvetch.
Check out This Week's List of new Comics, Manga, and Graphic Novels for readers 12 and under, featuring The Girl in the Midnight Gown from Blue Fox Comics and Ribbon Skirt from Graphix.
Where are the covertly toxic families in children's books? Christina Wyman discusses how, for children who suffer difficult family dynamics, seeing their experiences reflected in books is few and far between.
Writing Lucy was our way of coping with the years Teghan lost: both the years trapped in self-denial about her identity and the years she spent in prison. The book is a badge of honor for those tough years we survived, and it’s a love letter to each other.
We've picked 6! The "Early 6" are titles that we've selected to be part of our Mock Newbery Book List. We'll eventually have about 15 titles on that list, but here's your chance to get started early with reading.
Today we talk with Ada Limón about her upcoming January release and reveal it cover while we're at it. We talk stichics and foxes.
The second volume of Lost in the Future sends the five time-displaced schoolkids to a different era of the future, one that's just as filled with danger as the first one they faced.
I discovered that if told with some heart and soul, history can be as compelling as fine fiction. And before long I found myself on a mission to make history come alive for young people.
A closer look at the best illustrated books of the year.
You want a plot that’s tight? World-building that manages to be both comprehensible and succinct? And heart too, right? You want to actually feel something as a result of the hero’s journey? Welp, here you go.
The quest to find the 2025 Heavy Medal Mock Newbery winner continues as the second round of nominations closed last Saturday. Eleven new titles were nominated for a total of 45 Mock Newbery potentials.
Teen librarian Karen Jensen rounds up some news articles that discuss how the election results may impact libraries and shares ways to support your library today
Anthologies are the literary equivalent to a buffet dinner. They offer a wide selection of different perspectives (both in story telling and in personal background) and writing styles on the same theme.
Send in those nominations for the Undies and Endies Awards!
You know what rules? Dogs. I sure do like them. Here are a few middle grade books featuring dogs, all approved by my rescue chiweenies, Charlie and Spot.
Critiquing how the military preys on low-income families with promises of education and employment does not sound like something that would be in a graphic novel targeted at children aged ten and up, but that is the message at the narrative’s core.
A hotel lobby, a marsh with hidden birds, and a midwestern farm are among the many evocative settings from this year's possible Newbery contenders. Will excellence in "delineation of setting" help to earn the 2025 Newbery Medal?
Tegan Quin, Sara Quin, and Tillie Walden return with the sequel to last year's Junior High, continuing the fictionalized story of Tegan and Sara's origin story.
Teen librarian Karen Jensen shares some of the resources she uses when the RA inspiration well has run dry.
There is a joy to asking questions and learning new things. It’s fun to explore, and to find the answer to a question. It’s exciting to learn that the world works in ways we did or did not expect.
Today, we are premiering Aaron's book trailer for his upcoming board book Winter Light. Before we do, however, I felt inclined to hear from the man himself about why exactly, precisely, minutely, he likes board books as much as he does.
Let's think about our personal legacy, how we're living, and making decisions that affect others. What expectations do we have of our leaders in that regard?
In this week’s Wednesday roundup, we take a look at a tough topic with a tough Newbery crowd- poetry. Are there any major 2025 Newbery poetry contenders?
Shakespeare’s greatness can live on, but we can also give space to new voices - and both can happen at the exact same time with the power of a retelling.
Take your mind off of politics with this utter ridiculous prediction post zeroing in on the potential ALA Youth Media Award winners.
The Donut Prince of New York isn't just about donuts or theater or football. It's about the revolutionary act of accepting yourself in a world that often suggests you shouldn't.
Author Gayle Forman is over on The Yarn podcast, taking us behind the scenes of her new middle grade novel NOT NOTHING
We talk to today with two creators about their latest STEM-related picture book bio. Along the way I am literally gobsmacked by the author's explanation as to why she wrote this book. See what happens!
While we might not have the capacity right now to do the long-term work to relieve the sources of our current stress, we can do a few things to feel a little better in the short term, particularly at work, where we’ve been so careful about what we say.
Check out the list of new comics, manga, and graphic novels for readers 12 and under, featuring Hilda and Twig Hide From the Rain from Nobrow - Flying Eye Books and Last Kids on Earth Volume 1 Graphic Novel from Viking Books for Young Readers.
It's time for the second round of nominations. Pick two titles you think are deserving of the 2025 Newbery. Medal.
Middle grade may not have been in my initial career plans as an author, but now I can’t imagine writing without it.
This is one of those posts where some people might read it and say “Yes, of course, Travis”, while to others, this might be news. I’m just going to move ahead like this is news to you. Remember a while back, when that dude went on Twitter and laid out how he published an A.I. […]
Can you believe Kitten is already 20 this year? On the podcast today, Kate and Betsy dive into this Kevin Henkes contender and much of what it entails.
Mistaken identity and music leads to an adorable meet-cute in this edgy manga.
We're less than three months from the announcement of the 2025 Newbery Medal, and the excellent books just keep coming. Today we highlight recently published titles that should be part of this year's awards discussions.
Anne Shirley is right to be happy we have Octobers, but November through February sort of becomes The Great Blah around here. At least there are always new books to look forward to!
In honor of the day, we have two great picture book creators in brilliant conversation!
Here is a small selection of twenty books which score 8/10 or higher on my personal "Fear Factor" grading used in The YA Horror 400.
Let's see which books are on the NYT Bestseller lists
John Hendrix uses an unusual hybrid format to tell the complex tale of the interior lives of two friends who would become the most famed fantasists of the 20th century: C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien.
35 new and upcoming titles to check out.
The age range for Newbery eligibility goes as high as 14-year-olds. Yet most books chosen are aimed at younger readers. Are there any Medal contenders this year that might push the upper limits in terms of reader age and maturity level?
A new kind of Kamala Harris picture book is on the horizon, slated for 2025, and today we're talking with the creators all about it.
To write this story I interviewed social workers and read work by social scientists and scholars of American child welfare. I learned three lessons that I believe are critical for writers, librarians, and other members of the book community.
Jess Hannigan visits The Yarn podcast!
By now a lot of us have seen some of the excellent contenders for the Newbery/Caldecott. Here's the fall prediction list in all its prediction-y glory.
Check out this week's list of new comics, manga, and graphic novels for readers 12 and under, featuring Amelia Aierwood: Basic Witch from Z2 Comics and The Firelight Apprentice from Quill Tree Books.
As we near the end of the year, yes there are new books still getting published- but with titles being nominated it’s time to begin the rereading process. This is when we look at titles again and with a more critical “Newbery-criteria” lens. I’ll be the first to say that sometimes I get suggestion happy […]
"The Latinx Kidlit Book Festival, aims to provide a platform and space to support Latinx youth literature creators and connect them with their readers and other creators and educators."
In which the people who call themselves Teen Librarian Toolbox introduce The 2025 Project!
In my latest book, We Are Not Alone, I wanted to challenge that notion of humor being “inappropriate” in a book about grief and illness head on.
Talking with KAMALA RAISED HER HAND illustrator Supriya Kelkar.
"A ludicrous concept that is funny because it is ludicrous." We talk about a bony boy with a penchant for hiccup cures.
Gayle Forman takes us behind the scenes of how her middle grade novel NOT NOTHING was made.
“Museums hold all the things that people feel are valuable or important.” In the last few years, as I’ve thought more deeply about informal learning spaces, I’ve also challenged the assumption (and the marketing) that all spaces are meant for all people. How can they be, when so much has been built on stolen land, […]
In this month's "Author Spotlight," we look at Newbery "Powerhouses": Those amazing authors who have been awarded Newbery Medal and/or Honors for more than one book. What makes them special...and who might join their ranks someday?
Teen Librarian Karen Jensen shares a RA Tool of the Week she created based on an amazing idea shared by Librarian Kristina Uihlein Holzweiss
It's 1975 and 10-year-old Paul Gilligan has just seen the movie Jaws, giving him an acute case of sharkophobia...and emphasizing how far apart he and his braver, more grown-up best friend are becoming.
Readers can let their imaginations run wild thinking about how different their days would be if they attended a school focused on honing magical skills.
Can you guess the children’s book by its scathing one-star review on Goodreads?
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