School Library Journal

PREMIUM

The Mysterious Virginia Hall: World War II’s Most Dangerous Spy

Friddell, Claudia

This biography is a good addition to a secondary school’s biography collection. Readers who enjoy stories of bravery, espionage, and strong female figures will find Hall’s story both thrilling and inspiring.

PREMIUM

Generation Queer: Stories of Youth Organizers, Artists, and Educators

Topping, Kimm

A must-read for anyone looking to understand the future of advocacy in a rapidly changing world.

PREMIUM

Epic Athletes: Caitlin Clark

Wetzel, Dan

An engaging and well-crafted tribute to a talented athlete, offering an inspiring read for sports enthusiasts, Clark fans, and aspiring athletes alike.

PREMIUM

Yellow Singing Sail: A Memoir of an Only Child in China

Huang, Yinfan

Graphic memoirs are a fantastic way to capture the sense of an era and experience, and Huang does so masterfully, bringing 1990s China to life.

PREMIUM

Holler: A Graphic Memoir of Rural Resistance

Nalamalapu, Denali Sai

This book puts a relatable face on climate resistance in Appalachia for YAs.

PREMIUM

Drawing Is...: Your Guide to Scribbled Adventures

Haidle, Elizabeth

A general purchase for an art curriculum tie-in.

Zoomi and Zoe and the Sibling Situation

Haydu, Corey Ann

A solid, heartwarming addition to early chapter book collections.

PREMIUM

Little Mouse Saves The Day (A First Comic for Brand-New Readers)

Smith, Jeff

A well-crafted graphic novel about facing one’s fears, recommended for early reader or graphic novel sections.

Earl & Worm #2: The Big Mess and Other Stories

Pizzoli, Greg

This new standout early reader series is highly recommended for general purchase.

PREMIUM

Gertrude Gish on a Dish on a Fish: A Seuss Studios Book

Hwang, Sarah

This rhyming tale of an unusual character in a wacky situation will appeal to fans of Dr. Seuss.

PREMIUM

Sports Are Fun!

Avant-garde, Zaila

This wonderful early reader about a variety of sports is a great addition to any preschool or elementary library collection.

PREMIUM

Lissa Loves Bugs

Blom, Tracy

The perfect chapter book for young lovers of science or fantasy, especially bug enthusiasts who enjoy a hint of suspense in their stories as well. Strong female characters will also inspire readers of all ages.

PREMIUM

Pete the Cat’s Mars Mission

Dean, James & Kimberly Dean

A recommended purchase for libraries where Pete the Cat is popular and early readers circulate widely.

Sunnyside School: A Community Helpers Book

Ward, Lindsay

This is an awesome addition to all collections. People are always looking for community helpers books, and the bonus here is the school setting.

Bulldozer Goes to School

Broach, Elise

Sure to be a hit with vehicle lovers, this engaging title for early chapter book readers cleverly uses a bulldozer child protagonist to address social fears about new situations and friendships. Highly recommended.

PREMIUM

I’m a Preschool Kid!

Adamson, Deb

An accessible introduction to preschool, helping young children as they prepare to transition to a new environment.

PREMIUM

Little Troublemaker Defends Her Name

Ajayi Jones, Luvvie

A simple, yet impactful, story about big feelings and how kids can effectively manage them.

PREMIUM

I Love Kindergarten! Numbers

Steinberg, D.J

An academically solid, aesthetically underwhelming volume of math-themed poetry.

PREMIUM

First Day Around the World

Zoboi, Ibi

A delightful celebration of global connection through the lens of education.

PREMIUM

Yeti Is Not Ready for School

Carter, Leigh Anne

Sensitive and only slightly spooky, this book makes Yeti’s first day of school amusing and relatable.

PREMIUM

My Teacher Is a Dinosaur!

Canterbury, Bill

Dinosaurs are perennially popular, making this a sound addition to picture book collections.

PREMIUM

I’m Your School Bus

Eliot, Hannah

Libraries, especially those with fans of buses and vehicles, looking to increase their board book collections will find this title worth the purchase. Otherwise, an additional purchase.

PREMIUM

The Goodnight Train Ready for School

Sobel, June

Perfect for the younger crowd to get them excited about going to school, or for a back-to-school storytime.

PREMIUM

School: A Super Fun Question & Answer Lift-the-Flap

Purchase where back-to-school collections need bulking up.

PREMIUM

Alpaca Goes Back-A to School

Bardhan-Quallen, Sudipta

Recommended for school and public libraries: going back to school is an event that most children will encounter at one point or another.

PREMIUM

Grumpy Monkey School Stinks!

Lang, Suzanne

Grumpy Monkey retains his usual humor while slipping in a little new knowledge in this book that may become a favorite reread.

When You Go to Dragon School

Campbell, Chelsea M

A must-purchase. This one will leave kids wanting more.

PREMIUM

On the First Day of Preschool

Rabe, Tish

A great addition to any library collection. Children will enjoy seeing themselves in activities they have done in their school.

PREMIUM

Preschool Is Cool!

Moyle, Sabrina

For public libraries or early childhood programs looking for works that eases nerves and makes school look like a place to learn and grow.

PREMIUM

Kitty vs. Kindergarten

Freeman, Martha

A generally amusing title for cat lovers and school newbies.

Today at School: With Yesterday and Tomorrow

Young, Jessica

A cute social-emotional back-to-school must-purchase.

PREMIUM

Tiny T. Rex and the First-Day Oopsies: A Back-to-School Book

Stutzman, Jonathan

Young children will relate to Tiny and his first day of school jitters, while being reassured that school is a place to make mistakes and grow.

PREMIUM

Flat Cat: The Class Pet

Lazar, Tara

An amusing and memorable story for cat lovers.

PREMIUM

Fish Don’t Go to School

Pilutti, Deb

Children will enjoy reading about Henry’s first day of school and seeing how he maintains his individuality and makes new friends.

PREMIUM

Trusty Bus

Verdick, Elizabeth Weiss

A comforting tale about a necessary and sometimes overlooked companion in a successful school day. This story will resonate with beginning school populations and lovers of things with wheels.

PREMIUM

Batter Up for the First Day of School!

★Hegedus, Bethany

This is a peppy first day of school story to knock game-day jitters out of the park.

Batter Up for the First Day of School!

Athlete Is Agender: True Stories of LGBTQ+ People in Sports

A must-purchase not just for sports fans but any reader looking for hope and stories of belonging.

PREMIUM

Future Millionaire: A Young Person’s Step-by-Step Guide to Making WEALTH Inevitable

Rodgers, Rachel

An interesting and well-structured guide for young readers looking to build wealth and break free from financial limitations, though future editions may need periodic updates to keep up with evolving financial trends and political policies.

PREMIUM

Oppenheimer and the Atomic Bomb: Young Readers Edition of American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer

Bird, Kai & Martin J. Sherwin

Despite some faults, this book is a strong choice for nonfiction shelves and as a curricular tie-in due to the significance of the subject’s contribution to science and world history.

Oppenheimer and the Atomic Bomb: Young Readers Edition of American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer

Inspired by Scooby Doo: Character Creation in Love at Second Sight, a guest post by F. T. Lukens

Amanda MacGregor | Blogs, Apr 28, 2025

The characters in Love at Second Sight are not direct parallels to the Scooby Doo crew despite referencing them at one point, but they were one of many inspirations. And with that, I would like to introduce the Love at Second Sight characters through the lens of Scooby Doo.

Book Review: The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner

Amanda MacGregor | Blogs, Apr 28, 2025

Perfect. This book is perfect.

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Martha by Gennady Spirin

Betsy Bird | Blogs, Apr 28, 2025

Recently Kirkus Reviews came up with their own list of the Best Books of the 21st Century (So Far). And it seemed to me that it would be a good idea if we tackled one of those books that neither of us knew. Looking into it, they included the 2005 title Martha by the illustrious […]

My Week of Celebrating Children’s Books in Alaska

Colby Sharp | Blogs, Apr 27, 2025

COLBY: Our latest episode is a little different from what you are used to listening to on The Yarn. Instead of interviewing a children’s book creator about their latest book, I share what it was like spending my spring break in Alaska working in schools. I hope you’ll give it a listen! Subscribe below to […]

Sunday Reflections: My Daughters are Not Your Incubators

Karen Jensen, MLS | Blogs, Apr 27, 2025

Teen librarian Karen Reflects on thoughts about teen pregnancy and women's rights throughout the years as a teen librarian and as the mother to teen girls

Murder at the Library | Top Stories on SLJ

SLJ staff, Apr 27, 2025

Book access and other restrictions on libraries and library values remain top of mind for readers. So too, practical posts toward serving library patrons, with creative ideas for staging a crime investigation to teach research skills and preserving family recipes getting the most views on SLJ.com.