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A lively, educational celebration of mariachi instruments and a strong addition to bilingual board book collections.
PREMIUM
La profecía equivocada
This magical boarding school drama with a Greek myth twist would be perfect for Spanish-language fantasy collections.
A must for Spanish-language collections serving tweens, especially where fantasy is popular.
PREMIUM
El porqué de las estaciones
A great purchase for early elementary school collections and curriculum and for communities serving Spanish speakers.
A visually playful introduction to Latin American treats that works best for Spanish-speaking families. While the concept is appealing, stronger Spanish-language board books exist for teaching vocabulary.
Purchase for early elementary school collections and communities serving Spanish speakers and learners.
A more fact-driven but engaging introduction to bunnies. Ideal for themed, bilingual story times or early Spanish nonfiction collections.
PREMIUM
Eres libre
This poetic picture book teaches children about diversity, freedom, identity, and respecting others; it’s a great addition to any SEL collection.
A charming introduction to read at home or for a themed bilingual story time.
Behind the scenes of the StoryKind podcast with Kelly Yang and Kate DiCamillo!
Kimmel creates a brand-new tale that feels ancient and wise; Kurpiel finds so much more in these mighty giants.
This month’s board book roundup is bursting with variety. From globe-trotting adventures to nature facts, silly animals, dancing feet, and everything in between, there’s something for every child.
The SLJ reviews editors rounded up our reviews of the books lauded at the 2026 Youth Media Awards. Here, the reviews of the Geisel, Odyssey, Alex, and Batchelder Awards.
A love triangle, a foster kid, a GATSBY reimagining, book banning, a hurricane, and more.
A ghost story, a teen investigative podcaster, a Great Gatsby reimagining, a Sundown Town thriller, and a reimagining of The Winter's Tale.
We've waited long enough. Bring on the Caldecott. Bring on the Newbery.
I wrote this relationship because I believe that love is limitless and that traditional expectations can be severely limiting. This theme can be applied to so much more than someone’s sexuality. What better takeaway can a teen have than the notion that their future is full of infinite possibilities?
Books about Crohn's disease, jinns, a Nigerian village, puberty, and more!
PREMIUM
Love in Ruins
A good fit for older readers looking for a book involving Mediterranean culture along with a tale of a teen finding her voice.
An excellent addition to YA collections. Hand to any fans of fairy tales.
PREMIUM
Every Last Liar
Highly recommended for high school libraries, especially where gritty, fast-paced thrillers are popular. Hand this to fans of Holly Jackson and Stephen King.
Readers who enjoy fantasy, mystery, theatre, and a little bit of romance will love this twisty story.
PREMIUM
Ungodly Chaos
Action-packed and a lot of fun for readers seeking an entertaining supernatural murder mystery.
PREMIUM
Love on Ice
Librarians who can’t keep Jenny Han or Julie Murphy on their shelves should add this sweet romance to the collection.
PREMIUM
The Danger of Small Things
A thoughtful and somber read reminiscent of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, with an environmental crisis backdrop and heavy with important issues.
PREMIUM
Ambrosia Lee Drops the Mic
This book is smart, funny, and sneakily unputdownable. Give this to fans of John Green, Jenny Han, and Holly Smale.
PREMIUM
Goodbye and Everything After
A beautiful portrayal of grief, love, and acceptance that delivers a heartwarming sense of peace by the conclusion.
PREMIUM
Dragon Cursed
An excellent romantasy series opener with complex worldbuilding and an absorbing narrator.
PREMIUM
Tommy the Coward
An excellent choice for any elementary bookshelf in need of a spooky adventure story that shows that being scared doesn’t always mean you’re a coward.
PREMIUM
Each and Every Spark
Engaging historical fiction with a contemporary spin and a dash of detective intrigue. Recommended.
PREMIUM
Chris Makes a Friend
A book for socially awkward bibliophiles and kids experiencing family upheaval.
A strongly written, spooky choice for any middle school library. An outstanding recommendation for readers who enjoy R.L. Stine’s “Goosebumps” series or are drawn to the horror/fantasy genre.
PREMIUM
A Sea Monster Conundrum
A jam-packed, fast-paced adventure that will satisfy series fans and entice newcomers to jump in. Recommended for juvenile fiction collections.
An intense, educational, and visually striking addition to any school library. This is a must-have for fans of Tarshis’s “I Survived” books and anyone who enjoys high-stakes, gritty graphic novels.
PREMIUM
Kid X
A high-interest superhero sequel that has plenty of action without sacrificing depth. Highly recommended for fans of the X-Men, Shazam!, and Into the Spider-Verse.
A steampunk alternate-universe WWII adventure that’s perfect for readers who enjoy strange, swift, and engaging stories.
PREMIUM
Outside
This fast-paced roller coaster of a thrill ride is perfect for Margaret Peterson Haddix fans.
PREMIUM
Europa
Perfect for mystery lovers who enjoy Stuart Gibbs’s “Spy School” and a great addition to collections where the previous installments in Ponti’s series are popular.
A lovely book that will appeal to multiple readers; this will be hard to keep on the shelf.
PREMIUM
Nadia Islam, On the Record
Recommended for purchase for elementary collections, especially for readers who enjoyed Saadia Faruqi’s “Yasmin” series but are ready for more challenging texts.
PREMIUM
A Blood Moon
A strong start to what could be a long-running, middle grade series, perfect for fans of the “Warriors” books.
PREMIUM
Hilo Presents: The Mighty
Winick’s fun-loving, heartfelt storytelling presents a new hero whom Hilo fans will be glad to welcome with open arms.
PREMIUM
Goodbye, French Fry
A mildly didactic sequence of slice-of-life vignettes. Purchase where realistic fiction featuring culturally diverse characters is needed.
A sweet fantasy adventure that touches on themes of grief, with a good amount of humor and artistry throughout.
PREMIUM
Bad Sister
Fans of the “Identikill” series will want to know the ending; purchase where the first title is popular.
PREMIUM
Checked Out
A secondary purchase for collections in need of accessible engaging texts and for those with fans of social themes.
An excellent picture book biography that amplifies one of the unsung heroes of science.
A strong addition to libraries, perfect for sharing stories about growing up, familial love, and learning to take on new responsibilities.
PREMIUM
When I Redraw the World
A terrific picture book that will work in many kinds of units for many types of readers, asking hard questions while also making problems surmountable.
PREMIUM
Come on Out!
This engaging picture book breaks the fourth wall for young readers in an accessible way, inviting them to be part of the story as it unfolds.
PREMIUM
The Rare Bird
Share this playful episode with children to offer a sense of the bracing joy of temporarily viewing the world through different eyes
This lovely story about gender stereotypes, with its fun scenes and solid messaging, is an excellent addition to any library’s picture book collection.
Each story stands alone, making this a flexible and valuable resource for parents, caregivers, and educators seeking to help children navigate complex emotions and ethical dilemmas. Thoughtful, entertaining, and visually appealing, it’s a strong addition to early childhood SEL collections.
PREMIUM
There’s a Bunny in Your Book
Purchase where other books in the series are popular or where collections are in need of more interactive titles.
Full of corny humor, absurd situations, stilted dialogue, and (a little bit of) basketball, this faux-futuristic adventure with a sports twist may appeal to sports-loving families.
PREMIUM
I Told a Little Lie
Not a mandatory purchase but a fun and important one that would do well supporting a collection in need of materials dealing with complex emotions. It is a charming choice for one-on-one sharing and a natural springboard for conversations about telling the truth.
PREMIUM
A Friend Is a Friend Is a Friend
This is a helpful, jovial addition on camping for collections with its gentle guidance on friendship and how to cultivate it.
An appealing picture-book introduction to the wide world of bread-baking, good for classroom units or story hours.
PREMIUM
This Superhero Needs Your Help!
A wonderful creative adventure, though inappropriate for library circulating.
A solid book to talk about the life cycles of bears, kindness to others, using pictures to make predictions, making pancakes, and seasonal changes.
PREMIUM
Just Right
Illustrating the importance of emotionally supportive caregivers, this heartwarming story is “just right” for every library collection.
PREMIUM
Cat’s New Book
Charming illustrations and an approachable story make this a worthy selection for school and public libraries.
A first purchase for all libraries, this is a resource for celebrating spring but also for recognizing the beauty and brevity of all life.
Add this to all picture book collections, as it’s sure to be enjoyed by students and teachers alike.
An outstanding reminder that we are all emotional beings, and that for all their smaller bodies, children’s feelings are as big and intense as any adult’s.
PREMIUM
Ayah and the Big World Outside
This lovely and accurate story supports readers in developing empathy and imagination. A unique and beautiful addition to picture book collections.
Misfits #3, a whodunnit, a magical beasts meets body-swap story, new Chanel Miller, and a story set during the 1885 expulsion of Chinese Americans from California.
A creepy YA focusing on Edgar Allan Poe's descendant, a nonfiction title honoring Black basketball players, and board book and audiobook offerings appear on the first starred list of 2026.
The spirit of a teen girl is always formidable. There’s so much to explore. It’s a gift to spend time inside the mind of one who has a lot to say, who wants many things, who gets plenty wrong—and who does not have to shrink to be loved.
New Dan Santat, a girl gang, a friendship break-up, a story inspired by Armenian and Persian mythology, and a memoir.
Blessings are all around in these gentle picture books that exalt sharing and gratitude in a manner accessible to children.
Every year, Colby Sharp and I like to record an episode of The Yarn podcast looking ahead to the upcoming year in children’s books. In our 2026 preview, we talk about books we’re excited to read, books we’ve already read and loved, and make some predictions for the year. You can listen here: Subscribe below […]
I’ll always be a Jo, but I’m trying to be a little more like Beth March.
PREMIUM
Hoot Hoot
Perfect for story hours and one-on-one reading, this will be a crowd-pleasing choice on library shelves.
A strong addition from a neurodivergent author and illustrator that will resonate with many children and families.
PREMIUM
The Smushkins: ABC Zoinks
A strong primer for early ABC learning and a recommended purchase for most libraries.
PREMIUM
The Tiniest Giant
A lovely choice for potential nature lovers everywhere, and their caretakers.
A joyful and informative introduction to the Chinese New Year that belongs on library shelves.
PREMIUM
One Night In Bethlehem
A suitable purchase if more religious board books are needed in the collection.
A striking blend of high-contrast art and real photography that makes this a first purchase for most collections.
PREMIUM
My Mom Loves . . . Music!
An additional purchase for libraries seeking books that highlight mothers.
A first purchase wherever Taylor Swift is popular, which is to say, everywhere
PREMIUM
Make Tracks: Great Outdoors
A lovely choice for outdoorsy families and curious young explorers.
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