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.
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 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.
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.
A recommended addition to picture book collections in elementary schools and public libraries.
An exceedingly quiet picture book that lightly touches on Jewish traditions and will fill a need for stories of perseverance.
This fun, STEM-focused book blends Chinese culture, history, and mathematics into a useful and memorable story.
A beautiful book celebrating music and family, offering multiple avenues into lessons on the environment, cultures, family, music, and more.
An innovative and beautifully illustrated story that will inspire rich discussions over multiple readings.
An enjoyable bedtime or story hour treat; youngsters will wait for this book to make an appearance in their days or nights.
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 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.
Purchase where books on slime are eagerly requested and consider pairing with an always welcome slime-making activity.Lin, Jiemei. Good Night, Zodiac Animals. illus. by Jiemei Lin. 30p. Candlewick. Dec. 2024. Board $10.99. ISBN 9781536232356. PreS-Gr 2–As this book opens, 12 animals are preparing for bed. A mouse is followed by an ox (in knitted mittens), tigers, and so on until all the figures of the lunar zodiac are presented. At the conclusion, readers see a young girl tucked in bed surrounded by stuffed animals, all of whom bear a striking resemblance to the ones they’ve been reading about. It is a sweet culmination of a dreamy little board book that offers a nice introduction to the lunar zodiac. Lin’s artwork is dark and layered, and creates texture with simple strokes that are loaded with graphic appeal. The faces of the animals are welcoming and approachable without being excessively cartoonish. Rich, earthy colors complemented by shades of nighttime blue contribute to the book’s peaceful tone, and there is a visual depth and atmosphere that is gratifying in the board book form. The rhyming text is fittingly simple, with about a dozen words per spread. Li’s illustrations also include the Chinese characters for each animal, a small touch that lends the book an additional layer of authenticity. Notes at the end provide more information about the origins and rotation of the zodiac. VERDICT While not a must-have, this calming introduction to the lunar zodiac will find readership in larger collections.–Kate Newcombe
This gentle animal story equips readers with strategies to combat anxiety. An excellent choice for story times about feelings or a comforting bedtime story.
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.
Fans of dark fantasy with memorable characters and worldbuilding will look forward to the sequel of this debut duology. Recommended.
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 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.
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.
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.
Accessible, enjoyable, and educational, this collection is a positive addition to library collections for new readers.
Purchase for early readers who have graduated from “Frog and Toad.”
A pleasant and scary-but-not-too-scary addition.
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.
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.
While not a must-have, this calming introduction to the lunar zodiac will find readership in larger collections.
An incredible read and a must-have for all YA romance lovers.
A horror-fantasy woven with Indian mythology, this fun and unique duology opener is recommended for purchase.
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.
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.
Inspired by The Fall of the House of Usher, this novel has banshee lore, a closed room mystery, a gothic mansion, and a forbidden romance. All the elements are there, but it just doesn’t quite come together. An additional purchase.
Empowerment for and by unruly brains available here.
The book is good; Pressley’s audio is undoubtedly better.
Rawlins persuasively provides young readers with a crisp, memorable introduction to an enduring hero.
Beyond FOP-specific details, any reader will find resonance with Kate’s shock, frustration, anger, and resilience.
Audio provides the better solution for this one.
Netz and Newhouse provide a spookily entertaining lesson in bypassing easy assumptions.
Every library needs Blake’s disability primer in multiple formats.
Littrell remarkably manages the extensive cast, both endearing and exasperating.
Expertly ciphered by Villarreal, Van Wagenen’s memorable crew proves indeed to be excellent company.
Marie notably boosts an already charming story with another captivating performance.
Jake’s multi-diagnosis—eating disorder, OCD, depression
Author and narrator symbiotically solve for irresistible true love.
A shining triumvirate enhances Engle’s tender, polyphonic journey.
Robbins and Inocalla deliver an engaging, empowering love story amid reminders that “anyone can become disabled at any time.”
Wilson’s Hollywood experience ultimately elevates Vail’s (over)dramatic cast.
Readers with physical disabilities will find instant resonance here; any teen or tween reader will also likely appreciate.
Ancrum inventively harnesses the flourishing popularity of contemporized Greek myths; Graves notably elevates the dysfunctions of father/son relationships.
Challenges are many (including the writing of this book) but Ryan ensures listeners experience Lexi’s infectious joy.
In her own soul-baring voice, Kuehnert reassembles the Pieces of a Girl into wholeness.
A play camera, more toy than book, and not essential but certainly harmless.
Pass. This board book doesn’t even pretend to engage readers or their caregivers.
A tidy addition to a winning series, this is a perfect way to put preschoolers into the park before they get there, or to remind them, on rainy days, of a little piece of outdoors.
So much good cheer, in such a small package, this is sure to find a ready audience for story hours or one-on-one.
Not essential but plenty cute.
For those who observe, this is a simple and powerful metaphor for the presence of an omniscient and benevolent force, and one that will make children feel safe and loved. Librarians should purchase as needed.
This has always been a book to share, but now it’s ready for little hands. For folktale and fairy tale shelves, too.
A lovely domestic search with just enough suspense, the flaps may not stand up to heavy circulation but could work for story hours or in supervised settings.
Cheerful digital forms and the smiling host show toddlers that a first day waterside needs not be scary; ideal fare for the very young.
Those who have the other titles will not need this one, but the little raccoon is winsome and those adventures are so compelling.
Lapsitters or listeners, no one will be able to resist chiming in, and everyone is going to want one of these costumes. A must.
A child-pleaser, worth repeat readings, as baby after baby will want to see a familiar face behind the animal’s own smiling one.
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