With a compassionate tone, accurate information, and thoughtful design, this book is easily one of the best resources available for young people navigating adolescence.
A solid starting point for anyone interested in the psychological and physiological dimensions of anxiety, though it could benefit from smoother transitions between its main content and outside sources.
Gr 3-5–This colorful, engaging cookbook takes young bakers through the process of baking cupcakes from scratch and decorating them in a variety of delightful designs featuring animals, space, nature, and more...
An introduction to spending time outdoors, this will appeal to readers who seek to decrease their screentime but may prove too basic for longtime nature lovers.
Gr 4-8–An introduction to complex physics concepts—quarks, relativity, curved space, and antimatter—that is both clear and engaging for young readers...
Consider purchasing where books on this topic are needed.
Animal lovers and collectors of fun facts will enjoy this colorful romp through the world of animal adaptations.
This book is a fine addition to a library’s STEM section, had many curricular tie-ins, and is useful for curious readers and young researchers.
It offers valuable insights and strives to empower teens to embrace who they are. With its vibrant tone and focus on self-love, it’s a solid resource
A fascinating book that curious young scientists and trivia lovers will happily read and revisit often. A good addition to a classroom or school library book collection.
Recommended first purchase for all library collections. Ideal for read-alouds or independent readers.
This charming but slight story is for larger collections.
A wonderful story that combines sensory experiences of nature with lush language.
A celebration of family traditions and the lessons learned from them. A strong addition for picture book collections
Although it’s important to have titles that feature blended families, this book unfortunately requires significant explanation from an adult.
An absolute winner with comic touches and tenderness that will speak to a generation of readers who are part of families that are “on the go” and yet looking for an alternative to the pace of modern life. Highly recommended.
While not an essential purchase, this celebration of the joy of extended family will make some children wish they were part of a large group with lots of traditions.
This celebration of food and family is a perfect addition to picture book collections.
A book that children will clamor for, this is ideal for etiquette shelves, SEL collections, or any lesson to help teach burgeoning social skills.
A good read for the first week of school.
A fun addition to library shelves where surprising adventures are sought.
A joyful romp that celebrates toddlerhood’s grandest adventures, this is a strong addition to collections serving the youngest readers and their copilots.
A happy taste of Italian language and culture, sweet as gelato and bound to leave readers and listeners of any age responding “Grazie.”
Sparrow is suitable for young readers exploring emotions and change, and the end notes provide valuable context for older readers interested in history, culture, and language.
A touching story, engaging illustrations, and valuable educational content in the back matter make for a great addition to school library collections.
Working well as both a read-aloud and for one-to-one experiences, this purchase is for collections needing wry humor and a funny treat for all to enjoy.
A charming story with a unique point of view that will have children thoroughly connected to the human and non-human characters alike. A highly recommended tale of friendship.
With humor and whimsy, this book is a good read, but may not stand out as particularly exceptional compared to other food-related books.
A great addition for any community. This is a story about love and loss of extended family from a child’s perspective where difficult realities are faced, but it still ends on a hopeful note.
A sweet, heartwarming tale that celebrates the universal language of friendship and understanding. A recommended choice for sharing one-on-one or in small group read-alouds.
A great read for anyone who has been newly prescribed eyewear, and a valuable addition to any collection focused on fostering self-confidence and celebrating individuality.
An excellent addition to any library.
Educators and caregivers alike will love sharing this title, an excellent book for all.
A somewhat saccharine, fall-themed bedtime story with lovely watercolor and pencil illustrations.
This loving and enjoyable picture book is a strong choice for preschool collections.
A delightful addition to picture book collections, perfect for snuggling up and sparking imagination.
This lovely refugee story of perseverance drawn from the author’s experiences is a great purchase for picture book collections.
This book can fill a collection development gap in libraries that seek to address the use of electronic devices, but has limited interest for a general audience.
This silly and funny pet story is sure to find an audience.
A great introduction to Filipino culture.
Jarvis has turned out another winner in this highly recommended early reader series.
This book that introduces the members of The Creature Cases team will be enjoyed by young readers who enjoy animal adventures similar to Zootopia.
Gr 1-4–Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit...
Another winner for the early reader shelves.
A tender story of the strength of friendship and the power of a dream, this page-turner captures the heart.
A compelling tale, this has appeal for younger readers due to the art, but the dark themes are meant for older ones. A solid general purchase.
Hand to fans of unconventional sports stories. Recommended for purchase where Bowling’s other works circulate well.
McNicoll has crafted another wonderful story representing tween neurodivergence. Teachers and librarians who want to showcase neurodivergence at an individual and family level will want this on shelves.
A great read and intended take on A Little Princess that pushes readers to think about who they are, with or without all the riches life offers.
A warmhearted tale about growing up and the animals we love on the way, this book will speak to those who love deep feelings in their stories.
An appealing male protagonist facing tough choices makes this a compelling selection for most libraries.
An easy pick for readers who enjoy some fantastical elements in an otherwise realistic story; recommended.
A must-purchase for any school library with lovers of fantasy, this novel hits all the right notes and will have readers eagerly awaiting the rest of the series.
With a ghoulish plot and some niche interests (magic minerals and funeral home procedures), this story will be a thrilling read for young mystery enthusiasts who appreciate the macabre.
A rare sequel that not only surpasses its original but creates a unique LGBTQIA+ standalone story, masterfully told in an accessible verse novel format.
A good secondary purchase for libraries where books like Ali Benjamin’s The Thing About Jellyfish are popular.
A heartwarming read that will be requested on repeat in libraries.
A fantastical story about a child’s friendship with a monster is sure to elicit thoughtful laughter and suspenseful page turns, and while it’s not a must, it may fill a hole in collections.
A strong purchase for libraries.
An intensely emotional read. Highly recommended for high school collections.
Not essential but a fun addition to the YA romance genre.
An excellent read for those who love to love or simply love their fandoms.
A high-interest mystery with broad appeal for existing Korman fans; an easy addition to shelves where his titles are popular.
Those interested in the history of the Dust Bowl and tales of resilience will enjoy diving into this novel exploring a difficult and harrowing historical period.
Why should Christmas in July get all the summer holiday glory? This list of Halloween board books and picture books is perfect for those who want to get into the spooky spirit despite the summer heat.
A fun fairy-tale mash-up with dark undertones, the story will resonate with many tweens navigating school and friend woes.
A Christmas must-purchase for this creator’s many fans.
The skills of these creators and the clean simplicity of the book are reasons to purchase for collections, despite one potentially off-putting page.
Great for a story time and nature craft combo, as well as a cute Christmas addition to library collections.
Thin on character development, long on plot, and teeming with superficial Christmas cheer. An additional purchase where transitional holiday chapter books may be of interest.
Readers will relate to this flawd but highly readable tale about adapting to a change in plans.
Bestselling author Rory Power’s new YA novel Kill Creatures is a tour de force of teenage friendship, crushes, and revenge. Here, she discusses it with SLJ.
The authors of The Unraveling: The Counsel of Crows join us talk about their book.
A sweet addition to winter board book collections. Children will love the cutouts with beautifully drawn illustrations peeking through, and caregivers will love another opportunity to cuddle with their little ones.
For slightly older board book readers, a great addition to Christmas collections.
Not for the faint of heart, but fans of gory survival fiction will love this one.
This tale of creepy disappearances in the last days of a despotic regime combines the elemental terror of a fairy tale with historical fact.
For fans of ghost stories that deliver on shivers but don’t overdo it on the scares.
Brimming with adventures, daring missions, and fierce friendships, this fast-paced story will keep fans of Stephen Gibbs’s Spy School and other spy thrillers gripped and hungry for the next installment.
A heartfelt and empowering coming-of-age story that will resonate with tweens navigating identity, ambition, and digital spaces.
A historical fiction novel that deftly tackles faith, family relationships, and daily life among social upheaval. Recommended for fiction collections.
A solid addition to any early reader collection, especially those looking for materials on fashion and fairies.
With its playful tone, imaginative worldbuilding, and a message that resonates with both children and adults, this holiday story invites readers to wonder, to dream, and to believe, no matter how old they are.
Although most of the projects may require adult assistance, this is a creative collection of DIY ideas that will appeal to kids looking for inexpensive, homemade ways to accessorize their Halloween costumes using common, upcycled materials.
A creative Christmas story concept encumbered by the uneven interplay of narrative and illustrations.
A cute and nostalgic addition to all Christmas picture book collections.
A secular successor to Charles Tazewell’s The Littlest Angel, this is an additional purchase.
An additional purchase for the holiday shelves.
The list of errors and sloppy presentation feels endless, making this a poor choice for any collection.
A strong addition to elementary and middle grade nonfiction collections, particularly for libraries serving families who travel or readers eager to explore the world.
These eight forthcoming board books and picture books will be available long before December. Turn on some Christmas tunes, grab a Santa hat, and peruse these holly, jolly offerings.
A great bedtime read-aloud that’s not essential to collections, but a winsome take on a childhood problem.
A touching story, replete with cultural detail and built-in curricular extensions.
A wonderful addition to classroom and library shelves that will help teachers and children engage in conversations about compassion and helping one another out during inevitable moments of embarrassment. Recommended.
Readers may enjoy Draw’s animations, and adults may admire his philanthropy, but those looking for the nuance and sensitivity in this picture book will be disappointed. An optional purchase for most libraries.
Though the subject matter will speak to devoted dog lovers, the execution is more for the young-at-heart than for the actually young.
Spirited Spencer and his many plants will encourage other young readers to find friends and make connections in ways that feel right to them. Recommended.
Essential for building universal respect for the school bus drivers who pour their hearts into the work they do each day, this book will find a place on most shelves.
An appealing family story, well-suited for both one-on-one and large-group read-alouds.
articles