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PREMIUM
The Space Cat
Okorafor’s story blends the everyday life of a pampered cat with satisfying sci-fi action. Middle grade readers who enjoy stories from the pet’s point-of-view will be delighted to meet and get to know Periwinkle.
PREMIUM
Deepwater Creek
A fast-paced horror story that intertwines a monster adventure with emotional growth.
A solid addition to middle grade graphic novel collections, this engaging series expertly blends a compelling narrative with fascinating historical details about unexplained phenomena, sure to captivate with its colorful artwork and intriguing mysteries.
PREMIUM
Free Piano (Not Haunted)
A great addition to middle grade collections, this graphic novel balances supernatural humor with real-world emotional resonance.
Short list this title for middle grade library collections and recommend to readers, reluctant or not, with an interest in pirates, history, bodies of water, or atypical family structures.
PREMIUM
Say Something, Poupeh Babaee!
An emotionally compelling, insistently educative view of a challenging immigration experience.
A real humdinger of a story told by master storyteller; this title will appeal to tweens seeking high-stakes, high-fun realistic fiction.
PREMIUM
School Dance
This story of finding the courage to overcome stage fright is a solid addition to any middle school graphic novel collection, especially where the series is already popular.
PREMIUM
Seabird
A first purchase for all libraries wishing to inspire readers to make their own path rather than follow the trail.
Confirmed sci-fi fans, comic readers, and those new to the genre or format will all find easy entry here, along with a satisfying payoff.
A delightful, interdimensional graphic adventure about found family, the need to belong, and dubious motivations.
Enhancing a classic and empowering readers to better understand complex imagery, this faithful and beautiful adaptation is a must purchase for all graphic novel collections.
A nice blend of the western Marvel-mania in a manga format that will charm both readers already in-the-know and appease those who are just getting their first tastes.
Birdsall is so adept at magical realism that after finishing this book, readers will likely keep an eye out for fairylike creatures the next time they visit a museum or library. An essential purchase for all middle grade collections.
PREMIUM
Dracula’s Brunch Club
A delightful addition to the middle grade-friendly collection of vampire titles.
PREMIUM
Schoolbot 9000
An exploration on humans vs. machines combines with a student navigating middle school life. Graphic novel fans will gobble this up and be eager for the next installment. Highly recommended.
This story of one of the most pivotal engineering accomplishments in U.S. history, told from diverse perspectives, is highly recommended for middle and high school collections.
This engaging biography contains detailed descriptions of setting and cultural context that convey a clear time line and sense of causation, as well as peeks into the artist’s intimate life.
An important and compelling work that belongs in all high school and public libraries.
PREMIUM
Steel & Spellfire
With a Regency-style setting, likable protagonists, romance, plot twists, and complex worldbuilding, this magical mystery story will appeal to readers who enjoy their historical romance laced with strong fantasy elements.
PREMIUM
To the Stars and Back, Vol. 1
This slice-of-life LGBTQIA+ romance is a secondary purchase where Webtoons or boys’ love manga is popular.
PREMIUM
Tall Water
A compelling, heartfelt story, and an excellent addition to most YA graphic novel collections.
PREMIUM
Pretty Girl County
A funny, emotional glimpse into the unique Black social system of Prince George’s County; readers will be rooting for Sommer and Reya to achieve their dreams.
Stunning illustrations coupled with a thrilling plot make this a standout title that belongs in all YA graphic novel sections.
PREMIUM
Rosa by Any Other Name
A powerful coming-of-age story about passing, resistance, and self-discovery. Recommended for YA collections.
PREMIUM
Codebreaker
This book will appeal to tween and teen readers seeking an engrossing, adrenaline-packed mystery. Recommended for fans of Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Holly Jackson, and Kayvion Lewis.
Brimming with heart and humor, this poignant and thought-provoking graphic novel is perfect for fans of awkward romantic entanglements with fantastic twists.
PREMIUM
This Book Might Be About Zinnia
Full of heart, this book is recommended for libraries where Elizabeth Acevedo’s Clap When You Land is popular.
PREMIUM
Water in Her Veins
A potential town-wide conspiracy and links beyond the veil combine for a chilling mystery sure to keep readers eager to unearth the truth.
PREMIUM
Soul of Shadow
The first in a new YA romantasy series, this novel is perfect for readers of Holly Black, Lauren Roberts, and Stephanie Garber and mythology lovers who enjoy Rick Riordan and Joanne Harris.
A beautifully written and compassionate story of healing set against the horror of a brutal generational ritual.
PREMIUM
A Spell to Wake the Dead
Fantasy fans may want more explanation to the magic as it’s glossed over; the true reward in this novel is the mystery. Overall, this is a fun, spooky read that will keep readers hooked until the end.
PREMIUM
Soulmatch
A quick standalone read for teen fans of the “enemies to lovers” trope with some mystery and thriller set against the backdrop of dystopian science fiction.
Great for fans of F.T. Lukens and those who enjoy cozy fantasy and standalones.
PREMIUM
Another
A robust horror title that deftly utilizes the uncanny valley while drawing on real-life recent events. Highly recommended for youth horror shelves.
More concept than direct instruction, this humorous art book takes readers on a journey of imagination and embracing imperfection.
PREMIUM
How the Word Is Passed (Adapted for Young Readers): Remembering Slavery and How it Shaped America
While this book addresses an important topic and will have niche readers, the lack of establishing shared context for a younger audience and the uneven approach make this a secondary pick.
PREMIUM
Mooncussers
A charming and original sequel that will take readers on a magical adventure in an alternate 19th century. Recommended for dark fantasy lovers and fans of the first installment.
PREMIUM
Kindred Dragons
A sweet way to introduce “Anne” books to newbies and a dragon fantasy for fans and potential converts.
PREMIUM
The Forest of a Thousand Eyes
Readers who love fantasy and adventure will be drawn to Feather and the dangers of a menacing and destructive Forest and crave more details about the communities Feather encounters.
PREMIUM
Worst Bot Ever: Meet Ballpoint
Readers of all ages with some knowledge of Transformers lore and a penchant for goofy jokes and fumbling heroes will have fun with this unique tale.
PREMIUM
A Beautiful and Terrible Murder
Recommended; hand this book to strong readers who like a complex mystery entwined with Victorian culture set in the center of the Sherlock Holmes universe.
A comfort read for anyone who is drawn to romances set in the Regency and Victorian eras.
An engaging and well-executed adaptation that will revive interest in the original series.
PREMIUM
Sky on Fire
Recommended for libraries with fans of Aetherbound or Johnston’s “Star Wars” novels, but its uneven pacing and lack of background context limits its wider appeal.
Living and creating with my partner is one of the great joys of my life. Love is an experience. Love is work. It comes with ease and also requires discipline. Don’t think about it too much. Just do it.
In these stories, tween and teen protagonists with a range of abilities face real and fantastical challenges, from time loops to dust storms to going viral. Share these titles with readers in time for Disability Pride Month in July, and all throughout the year.
These Juneteenth offerings include various formats, ranging from cookbooks to early readers to audiobooks, so all your young readers can find their preferred way to learn more about this holiday.
In this Q&A series, SLJ poses five questions and a request for a book recommendation to a debut YA author. Leon Egan shares about Lover Birds in this latest installment.
A great, immersive read that will leave readers anxious to see what happens next.
Check out these 12 June releases from Penguin Young Readers!
From cheerful picture books to a thought-provoking YA novel, these titles about July 4th offer stories for children, tweens, and teens.
With Dan in Green Gables, I’d like to pay homage to a book that helped me through difficult times—and offer some compassion and love to my relatives in the Smoky Mountains by focusing on happy memories of them, and what could have been, if they’d only embraced me.
A fun choice for Spanish-language middle grade shelves, perfect for summertime reading.
PREMIUM
¡Hola, Tobi!
This joy-filled, Spanish-language picture book is a strong addition to collections for children.
PREMIUM
¡Ñam, ñam, ñam!
This onomatopoeia-filled translation about picky eaters and family bonding is great for emerging comics fans and story times.
For better or worse, this depiction simplifies a complex issue and will be of value as an addition to collections.
PREMIUM
The Very Fine Clock
A text-heavy but airy story for the patient child or the adult enthusiast and a must for the Gorey shelves; not essential except as a quite charming eccentricity.
PREMIUM
Snow Babies: Touch and Feel
A cozy, hands-on pick for baby shelves and touch-and-feel collections.
PREMIUM
The Secret Powers of Animals
A standout addition to nonfiction collections, this pairs learning with delightful design.
An emotional take on a ghost story, with heartwarming illustrations and an ending to bring a tear to the eye.
PREMIUM
Finding Forgiveness
A tender, beautifully crafted story about conflict, emotional insight, and Jewish holiday traditions. Highly recommended for family reading, classroom discussions, and all library collections.
A delightful picture book of Hanukkah poems that showcases Judaism and Hanukkah in an authentic way; a great addition for those who are looking to build up their holiday collections.
Recommended as a fresh addition to public and school libraries to introduce the concept of a bruja. The story is lively and is likely to capture the interest of children and adults.
PREMIUM
The Raven: The Classic Poem
Though not for everyone, this elegant treatment of Poe’s work will find a place on the shelves of erudite readers with an appetite for sophisticated language and Gothic atmosphere.
PREMIUM
Rabbit Rabbit
While there will be readers who identify with Bee and Alice’s struggles, some of the topics addressed may be more mature than the intended tween audience.
In the lead-up to July's Stars issue, June is bursting with top quality reads in holiday titles, Spanish books, cookbooks, anime, and more.
Sometimes, in order to honor their whole personage, instead of choosing approval or someone else’s desire, girls must choose themselves.
Big or small, we need to be talking about our boobs, especially with young women. Maybe our new battle cry for boobs should be, “We must—we must—we must DISCUSS our busts!”
Whether they are going to school for the first time or facing the beginning of another academic year, the start of the school year can be a time of high emotions for little ones. Share these titles to help them prepare.
A romantic comedy is delightful enough on its own, but traveling to a new destination through the eyes of one’s protagonist brings with it an additional sense of escapism and adventure, especially if traveling in real life isn’t possible.
Author Jamar J. Perry joins us to talk about his new book FINDING PRINCE CHARMING.
PREMIUM
Home, Home
Perfect for libraries wishing to add a beautiful cross-cultural story to their collection, and for every child who has ever felt different.
PREMIUM
Dreaming of a Quinceañera
An excellent story about siblings and quinceañeras that entertains while providing a good description of the traditions and ceremonies that make up a quinceañera.
PREMIUM
12 Little Elves Save Christmas
A perfect way to introduce children to diverse Christmas traditions and cultures.
PREMIUM
Owl’s Fall Feast Fiasco
A warm title for young readers about honest and effective communication, friendship, and the understanding that differences are worth celebrating.
This is a wonderful addition to any library and would be well suited for children of all ages.
PREMIUM
Illuminary
This fantastical novel of misfits on a Quest literally and figuratively will entice readers in middle school and beyond. The cliff-hanger ending will have readers anticipating the sequel.
PREMIUM
Of Earthly Delights
This gothic romance, while occasionally repetitive, offers an atmospheric and emotionally charged narrative. Mature readers may particularly appreciate the sharp, eerie imagery woven throughout.
By sounding a warning before the catastrophe comes, it might motivate some readers to find ways to take action to mitigate the very worst of it.
PREMIUM
Kai Po Che: Mini’s Perfect Kite
This strong choice can be used across multiple grades as a read-aloud or as part of a math lesson involving kites and competition.
When I sat down to write VESUVIUS, my debut YA historical fantasy set in the final days of Pompeii, I did so to put queer people back in the narrative.
In these books that take place in part during the first semester of college, characters learn more about themselves during this time of transition—and maybe fall in love along the way.
Eventually, the time will come when you have to go your own way like me and Aaliyah. You’ve got this and if nobody else believes in you, don’t worry—I do.
Just in time for Father's Day, we've rounded up a few of the latest board books that highlight the special bond between fathers and their children. Share these titles with your young readers before mid-June or all year long.
Books are crucial tools in understanding the lives of those who may look or sound a little different from the majority.
If Castle Swimmer sounds like a story you would enjoy, then I have some additional, queer YA comics I’d like to recommend, in celebration of Pride Month.
A beautiful and reflective read, perfect for celebrating Día de Muertos or simply savoring life’s precious moments. Purchase to enrich holiday collections.
A warm and empowering story about finding one’s voice while celebrating the love of family. Highly recommended.
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