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The winners of the 2025 Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards are I Know How to Draw an Owl by Hilary Horder Hippely, illus. by Matt James; Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribay; and Death in the Jungle: Murder, Betrayal, and the Lost Dream of Jonestown by Candace Fleming.

In June, ALA Council will decide the fate of YALSA, voting on the recommendation that the teen division be eliminated and its work be moved under the umbrella of ALSC.

Beloved YA author Tiffany D. Jackson, winner of this year’s Margaret A. Edwards Award, speaks to SLJ about the award, her expansive work, and how real life influences her stories.

The National Coalition Against Censorship is launching a new Teen Advocacy Institute over the summer; a read-in is scheduled during ALA Annual to support the push for librarians in Philly schools; the lawsuit against Lucy Calkins is dismissed; and more in this edition of News Bites.

The Book That Almost Rhymed by Omar Abed and illustrated by Hatem Aly is the winner of the Irma S. Black Award. Life After Whale: The Amazing Ecosystem of a Whale by Lynn Brunelle and illustrated by Jason Chin earned the Cook Prize.

Starred reviews are always good news, for what they mean and for what happens next.

Jones, a library media specialist at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Louisville, KY, received the 2025 award, announced today by SLJ and sponsor Scholastic. Two School Librarian of the Year finalists were also selected: Tatanisha Love of Southwest Academy Magnet School for Science and Engineering in Baltimore, MD; and Jennifer Mathews of the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind in Colorado Springs, CO.

At the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind, Jennifer Mathews built a library from scratch and learned American Sign Language and braille to better serve her preschool through 12th grade students. 

To inspire students, Tim Jones proves a little fun goes a long way. For his work transforming the school library into a hub of learning and inspiring students and staff with compassion and humor, Jones has been named the 2025 School Librarian of the Year.

What's the favorite part of her job? Turning reluctant readers into bookworms, says Tatanisha Love, library media specialist at Southwest Academy Magnet School for Science and Engineering in Baltimore.

Starred reviews have a big problem. And it begins and ends with the 10 points in this list.

Bank Street College of Education has revealed the 2025 Margaret Wise Brown Board Book Award honorees, along with the Best Board Books of the Year.

This year, the committee recognized twelve outstanding books of poetry and nine novels in verse as 2025 Notable Books. These selections emphasize inclusiveness and diversity, showcasing a wide range of experiences and perspectives.

While winning the Newbery, Caldecott, and Printz awards often leads to a bump in sales and a spot on school library shelves, censorship legislation, librarians afraid of challenges, and the growing anti-diversity movement could change that this year.

The 2025 Ezra Jack Keats Writer Award went to Breanna J. McDaniel for Go Forth and Tell: The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller. X. Fang won the Illustrator Award for We Are Definitely Human.

The Black Caucus of the American Library Association, Inc. and School Library Journal have revealed the winning titles in the 2025 Children & Youth Literary Awards, which celebrate the diversity of the Black experience.

Following a devastating year of violence against children, our deepest hope is that these 40 outstanding international titles, and the words within them, can inspire bridges of understanding and peace. Download the full list here.

Author Hilary Horder Hippely's title earned the annual award given for outstanding writing in a picture book.

Shark Teeth by Sherri Winston and Black Girl You Are Atlas by Renée Watson are this year's winners in the younger readers and teen categories, respectively.

The SLJ reviews editors rounded up our reviews of the books lauded at the 2025 Youth Media Awards. Here, the reviews of the winners of the Geisel, Odyssey, Alex, and Batchelder awards.

SLJ reviews of YALSA's Excellence in Nonfiction Award titles and the winner and honor books of the 2025 Robert F. Sibert Informational Award, administered by ALSC.

Bestowed annually, the William C. Morris Award honors a young adult title written by a first-time author writing for teens. The 2025 winner: Not Like Other Girls by Meredith Adamo. Four honor books were named.

This dedicated page features everything about the awards, including all of SLJ's reporting of the 2025 Youth Media Awards ceremony and recognized titles and creators; a complete list of winners and honor books; plus links to book reviews, author interviews, blog posts, and related coverage.

SLJ is following the award announcements on children's literature's biggest day. This story will be updated with the winners throughout the ceremony.

The SLJ reviews editors rounded up our reviews of the books lauded at the 2025 Youth Media Awards. Here, the reviews of the Caldecott Medal and Honors winners.

The SLJ reviews editors rounded up our reviews of the books lauded at the 2025 Youth Media Awards. Here, the reviews of the Newbery Medal and Honors winners.

The SLJ reviews editors rounded up our reviews of the books lauded at the 2025 Youth Media Awards. Here, the reviews of the Michael L. Printz Award and Honors winners.

The SLJ reviews editors rounded up our reviews of the books lauded at the 2025 Youth Media Awards. Here, the reviews of the Coretta Scott King Medal and Honors winners.

The SLJ reviews editors rounded up our reviews of the books lauded at the 2025 Youth Media Awards. Here, the reviews of the Pura Belpré Award and Honors winners.

The SLJ reviews editors rounded up our reviews of the books lauded at the 2025 Youth Media Awards. Here, the reviews of the Asian/Pacific American Award and Honors winners.

The SLJ reviews editors rounded up our reviews of the books lauded at the 2025 Youth Media Awards. Here, the reviews of the Stonewall Book Award and Honors winners.

The SLJ reviews editors rounded up our reviews of the books lauded at the 2025 Youth Media Awards. Here, the reviews of the Sydney Taylor Book Award Gold and Silver Medalists.

The SLJ reviews editors rounded up our reviews of the books lauded at the 2025 Youth Media Awards. Here, the reviews of the Schneider Family Book Award winners.

Erin Entrada Kelly became a two-time Newbery Medalist with her win at the 2025 Youth Media Awards, announced Monday morning at LibLearnX in Phoenix.

The First State of Being, a middle grade novel about time travel, Y2K, family, friendship, anxiety, and loss, earned Kelly the coveted award.

Rebecca Lee Kunz has been vaulted into children's literature's elite with the Caldecott win for illustrations in this story of a Cherokee family and a young boy just trying to help.

The coming-of-age graphic novel written by Samuel Teer and illustrated by Mar Julia, which tells the story of a mixed-race teen connecting with her estranged father, tackles themes of family, friendship, culture, and gentrification.

These books are the best of the Rise committee's selection of  "well-written and well-illustrated books with significant feminist content for young readers."

A longtime Printz observer (and former committee member) considers some of the underdog titles that could win this year.

Travis Jonker makes the case for moving on from Randolph Caldecott and giving the Pinkney Medal to the illustrator of the most distinguished picture book of the year.

The Young Adult Library Services Association announced the finalists for the Morris Award for a YA title by a previously unpublished author and the Excellence in Nonfiction Award for nonfiction YA books for ages 12 to 18.

NCTE has announced Stealing Little Moon: The Legacy of American Indian Boarding Schools by Dan SaSuWeh Jones and The Last Stand by Antwan Eady, illus. by Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey, as the 2025 Orbis Pictus and Charlotte Huck award winners, respectively. 

From historical works to books influenced by personal history to those with characters who must examine the past to move forward, these five titles are strong Printz contenders.

Thirty-six schools will receive grants to purchase Mathical Book Prize titles.

Shifa Saltagi Safadi's novel in verse about an immigrant family, the 2016 Muslim ban, and a boy trying to balance school and family earned the prestigious prize.

Top 2025 Printz Award contenders include poetry, stories featuring characters at both the younger and older ends of the age spectrum, graphic works, and an author who could get her fourth Printz recognition.

The Black Caucus of the American Library Association, Inc. (BCALA) welcomes book submissions for the current cycle of its Children & Young Adult Literary Awards.

The National Book Foundation has announced the 2024 National Book Award finalists. Here are the SLJ reviews of the finalists for the Young People's Literature Award.

The five finalists include a debut novel, a poetry memoir, and a novel in verse.

PEN America released a memo with preliminary book banning numbers, showing a huge increase in banned titles from the previous school year; Carole Boston Weatherford is the 2024 Young People's Poet Laureate; We Need Diverse Books honored by Library of Congress; and more.

Here are SLJ's reviews of the books that made the longlist for the 2024 National Book Award for Young People's Literature, including six books with SLJ stars.

The 10 titles on the longlist include fiction, nonfiction, and novels-in-verse, as well as one author previously honored in the category: Randy Ribay, who was a finalist in 2019. 

School Library Journal is now accepting applications for the 2025 School Librarian of the Year award, sponsored by Scholastic. Let us know what you are doing in your school library and join an exceptional group of honored peers, including K.C. Boyd, Amanda Jones, Cicely Lewis, and Amanda Chacon.

Neal Shusterman received the 2024 Margaret A. Edwards Award, which honors an author "for significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature." The annual award is administered by the Young Adult Library Services Association and sponsored by School Library Journal. Here is his acceptance address, delivered June 30 at the ALA Annual conference held in San Diego.

At the Newbery Caldecott Legacy Awards Banquet during ALA Annual, Caldecott winner Vashti Harrison and Newbery Medalist Dave Eggers shared previously unknown, very personal stories about the difficult events that led to the creation of their award-winning books.

The Horn Book, We Need Diverse Books, and KidLit TV are all honored by the Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.

This year's Boston Globe-Horn Book Award winners include Do You Remember? by Sydney Smith, Remember Us by Jacqueline Woodson, The Mona Lisa Vanishes by Nicholas Day, and Kin: Rooted in Hope by Carole Boston Weatherford.

Since 2004, Flashlight Press has published picture books that explore and illuminate different social and family situations. The Brooklyn-based publisher’s in-demand books are available in hardcover, eBook, and paperback, and have appeared 73 times on 33 state award lists and been translated into 19 languages.

The 2024 Margaret A. Edwards Award winner talks about hope, collaboration, and the school librarian who changed his life. 

Margaret A. Edwards Award winner Neal Shusterman joins SLJ senior news editor Kara Yorio to discuss his honored work, upcoming titles, and the elementary school librarian who changed his life.

Serving on a committee or thinking about it? Consider these eight best practices from a seasoned pro.

National Book Award winner A First Time For Everything by Dan Santat and  Sunshine by Jarrett J. Krosoczka are among the many children's literature titles nominated for the 2024 Eisner Awards.

The King Penguin by Vanessa Roeder and The Book of Turtles by Sy Montgomery won the Irma Black Award and Cook Prize, respectively.

Fifteen outstanding books of poetry and seven novels in verse have been recognized as 2024 Notable Books. Selections include a range of formats—lively nonfiction, fantasy, and moving verse novels—written by familiar poets and debut authors.

The Caldecott winner can be an impactful read-aloud for all ages.

The librarian at H. M. Carroll Elementary in Houston, TX, is committed to her students and community with programming that set her apart from her peers. In addition to Chacon, two finalists were named: Tamara Cox, librarian at Wren High School, Piedmont, SC; and Jessie Storrs, teacher librarian at El Centro Jr/Sr High School, Sacramento (CA) Youth Detention Facility.

Amanda Chacon ensures a relevant, engaging collection and a welcoming library for her predominantly bilingual students and their families.

"It doesn’t really matter what they did out there,” says the teacher librarian, who serves youth from age 10 to their early 20s at El Centro Junior/Sr. High School in the Sacramento County Youth Detention Facility.

From testifying before the state legislature’s education committee to creating a library refuge that helps kids love books, Cox personifies leadership.

The 2025 conference scheduled to be held in Phoenix will continue as planned, according to ALA's announcement, which said the organization was working toward the best way to continue to present certain events during that conference, including the Youth Media Awards.

When kids read engaging stories about math, they learn to love it. That’s the idea behind the Mathical Collection Development Awards, and school librarians who have received the award say that’s exactly what happens.

The Writer Award winner is Anne Wynter for Nell Plants a Tree. Sarah Gonzales won the Illustrator Award for The Only Way to Make Bread.

The Black Caucus of the American Library Association, Inc. and School Library Journal announce the 2024 Children & Youth Literary Awards, which celebrate the diversity of the Black experience.

Sally Dunn, and her picture book assignment, left an indelible mark on the author of 2024 Newbery winner, The Eyes and the Impossible.

The James Addams Peace Association and Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction announce their 2024 winners; the kid lit community and free speech advocates mourn the loss of author Robie Harris, Lerner launches space books partnership, Paw Prints Publishing expands to middle grade, and more in this edition of News Bites.

Here are the overall Top 10 books chosen from six curated lists, spanning early readers to YA.

In each of the 41 titles on this year’s United States Board on Books for Young People’s (USBBY) Outstanding International Books list, the authors and ­illustrators empower readers to make sense of themselves and the world at large. Download the full list.

This dedicated page features everything about the awards, including all of SLJ's reporting of the ceremony and recognized titles and authors; a complete list of winners and honor books; plus links to book reviews, author interviews, blog posts, and related coverage.

The SLJ reviews editors rounded up our reviews of the books lauded at the 2024 Youth Media Awards.

La guardiana de la libreta: Una historia de bondad desde la frontera has won the 2024 Premio, Mejor Libro Infantil/Best Spanish Language Picture Book Award.

A list of the winners of the 2024 Youth Media Awards.

Read about the winners and honorees of the top awards along with more news and reactions to the 2024 Youth Media Awards announcements.

The SLJ reviews editors rounded up our reviews of the books lauded at the 2024 Youth Media Awards. Here, the reviews of the Michael L. Printz Award and Honors winners.

The SLJ reviews editors rounded up our reviews of the books lauded at the 2024 Youth Media Awards. Here, the reviews of the Caldecott Medal and Honors winners.

The SLJ reviews editors rounded up our reviews of the books lauded at the 2024 Youth Media Awards. Here, the reviews of the Newbery Medal and Honors winners.

Vashti Harrison earns a place in history with her 2024 Caldecott win for 'Big,' the first book she both wrote and illustrated.

Dave Eggers thought that maybe The Eyes and the Impossible was too weird for the world. Now it is the 2024 Newbery Medal winner.