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Middle-schooler Pablo Ortiz is no hero. But when a vengeful Aztec goddess and her army of monster pours through the magic portal in his locker, he may have no choice but to become one.
Fostering a love of reading in students is one of the most rewarding roles for me as a school librarian. However, in today’s fast-paced, tech-savvy world, it can be challenging to keep young readers engaged. In this post, I will explore a variety of strategies school librarians can use to captivate students’ interest in reading. […]
Kids don’t grow up in a vacuum; they are terrified and confused and experience great loss, too. If we want our children to feel safe and to grow into emotionally intelligent adults, they need to know that death is a part of living.
A look at the trailer for the film adaptation of OUT OF MY MIND.
After a challenge, Colonization and the Wampanoag Story by Linda Coombs was moved to fiction at the Montgomery County (TX) libraries; Kokila won't back down from its mission to empower children and publish diverse titles; and more news.
Like or loathe these takes on the purveyors of information science, they’re memorable.
Why is so little short fiction for older readers published in America today? We talk with two middle grade expert authors on the topic and get some insights into why that might be.
A student with a low power level must find a way to survive his new environment in this action-packed manga.
It's been nine years since a picture book won the Newbery Medal: that was LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET by Matt de la Peña. This year's notable picture books include palindromes, the Korean War, and a kitchen table. Which 2024 picture books are the strongest candidates for the Newbery Medal?
They say to “write what scares you,” and I often use my own fears and anxieties as a guide of urgency for determining what topics people need help starting conversations about.
The Undies and Endies are back for 2024!
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.
In this Q&A series, SLJ poses five questions and a request for a book recommendation to a debut YA author. In the latest installment, Rebecca Stafford shares about Rabbit & Juliet.
Hope is hard to write in a book. Hope is particularly hard to write in a picture book. Still, when someone gets it right, there’s nothing else like it. Maybe it’s true. Hope? It really is a thing with feathers.
Check out this week's list of new comics, manga, and graphic novels for readers 12 and under featuring Detective Beans and the Case of the Missing Hat from Andrews McMeel and Sidekicks from Graphix.
The truth is we need books that tackle tough topics because kids are already tackling them—whether they’re going through the issue themselves, supporting a friend, or just trying to understand how the world works.
The books I think will end up on the 2024 NYT Best Illustrated Books list.
The Tri-Interview Spectacular! Winkler! Oliver! Santat! It’s a Detective Duck Interview Extravaganza
Interviewing three people at once? It's a challenge but, by gum, not an impossibility! Watch! Amaze! Admire! As I talk with the creators of the Detective Duck series at once!
One of this year's recurring themes is moms that are dealing with a lot of personal issues.
The library didn’t give my mother, my sister, and me our strength. But the library was a place where we could learn to unlock our power ourselves.
One afternoon when my fifth-grade class was at the library for our weekly visit, my friend Jessica handed me a purple paperback book. “I just finished this,” she said. “It’s SO good. You have to read it.”
Tale of the Flying Forest is Narnia, if Narnia was grounded in Judaism rather than Christianity.
Sometimes adults shy away from discussing tough topics with children, but those conversations are necessary.
I recommended some voting/election books for the New York Times.
Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, occurs this year on October 31 through November 1. Share these titles about the holiday with young readers.
"He's a chonky baby and he has a good heart." We talk orange cats (NOT Garfield) and a legitimately spooky book from Brinton Turkle "purveyor of terror" (or so I called him on this blog back in 2011).
The future of school librarianship requires strategic legislative action to safeguard these vital roles. This article outlines seven key legislative and policy proposals designed to protect and strengthen school libraries, ensuring equitable access to resources and intellectual freedom for all students.
DC has announced six graphic novels and a box set for publication in Fall 2025.
While we've been building our list of possible Newbery Medal contenders on Heavy Medal, other Mock Newbery groups have been doing the same. Looking at other mock lists might help us identify outstanding books that need a closer look.
Undeniably one of the weirdest and best books I've read in my lifetime of reading.
If I had a dollar for every time I said something to the effect of "graphic novels are real books" or "reading graphic novels is reading" to someone disparaging them... well, I couldn't quit my job, but I would have a LOT of dollars.
You’re never too old to read a picture book!
PREMIUM
The House with a Dragon in It
A modest but heartfelt tale about loneliness, belonging, and the quiet magic of human connection. Although it may not fully meet the fantastical expectations its title suggests, this is a meaningful exploration of what it means to find one’s place in the world.
PREMIUM
This Is Not a Dead Girl Story
Readers who enjoy Elana K. Arnold and Courtney Summers will appreciate this thought-provoking suspense story.
PREMIUM
Past Present Future
A must-purchase for fans of sentimentality who enjoy Solomon’s style, sweet romances, and stories about new beginnings.
PREMIUM
Keep It Like a Secret
Although this book may not be for everyone, the themes and tones can be relatable; it will make a fitting book suggestion by a trusted adult to help children cope with tough at-home, sibling situations.
A fantastic book makes a complex subject relatable and engaging for tweens of all reading levels.
This excellent historical novel, based on true events, will give readers a unique perspective on WWII. Recommended for wide purchase
While the book touches on meaningful themes of freedom and cultural traditions, it lacks the appeal and engagement needed to draw in younger readers.
An important addition to all library shelves to demonstrate how one person’s actions can change a nation and change the world.
PREMIUM
Ruin Road
Though there are occasional struggles to fit the narrative within the specificity of Cade’s wish, Giles’s story is a great combination of thriller and horror that will appeal to a wide audience. Recommended.
Filled with beautiful illustrations and bird facts, this moving book addresses the complexities of sudden death for middle grade readers who will be drawn to the heartfelt characters and adventure plot.
A welcome addition to early reader or Lunar New Year collections.
PREMIUM
If Animals Celebrated Easter
Suitable Easter basket fodder, but not outstanding enough to make the cut for most library collections.
PREMIUM
A Misfortune of Lake Monsters
A fantastic sci-fi creature thriller with a terrific cast of characters makes this an easy recommendation for those who can handle a little gore.
PREMIUM
The Unfinished
The eerie imagery is not extremely explicit, making this spooky read a tantalizing addition to middle school shelves.
PREMIUM
Wrath of the Rain God
A delightful mix of myth and modern-day struggles, this adventure will captivate young readers and is a recommended purchase for collections seeking to expand their myth-based offerings.
For all collections, this is a worthwhile biography about a WWII hero for history buffs and puzzle masters alike.
PREMIUM
Stefi and the Spanish Prince
Perfect for teen romance lovers who want all of the passion but are not comfortable with the graphic details.
This book is a vital addition to any nonfiction collection, for anyone seeking inspiration to dream bigger than they thought possible.
An excellent realistic novel in verse for all libraries serving middle grade students.
This powerful book will be enjoyed by all young readers, especially those with a fondness for historical fiction. It will remind them that no matter what, no one is “not nothing.”
PREMIUM
The Elephant and the Purim Crown
While the perspective of a Jewish girl in Burma is unique, the story feels forced and hard to believe.
PREMIUM
Mouse and Mole: A Fresh Start
Give to early readers who prefer their books with as gentle drama as possible.
Give to early readers who prefer their books with as gentle drama as possible.
Taking those books home allowed me to escape the entrapment of those silent days when I could not communicate in English. I will never forget the feeling of joy upon receiving that first library card!
One of Heartstopper’s central themes is that it’s rude, even dangerous, to speculate on someone’s else’s sexuality. But some fans aren’t getting the message.
This version of pillow fighting is a semi-professional fight club where anything goes as long as the pillow is the first point of contact. It’s more roller derby or WWE-style wrestling than a pillow fight in pajamas at a girls’ night sleepover.
The power of books, reading, and a good library help create brave spaces.
Checking in on potential Newbery/Caldecott contenders on Goodreads.
The Black Caucus of the American Library Association, Inc. (BCALA) welcomes book submissions for the current cycle of its Children & Young Adult Literary Awards.
A thoughtfully curated digital resource, rich with fully vetted and accessible materials, aims to uncover how Black and Latinx women and disabled New Yorkers were central to the fight for educational justice.
Penguin Random House has a lobbyist; NYU studies impact of book bans; South Carolina district removes Assassination Classroom; and more.
Caldecott Honor artist Cindy Derby joins us today to discuss her latest title, her process, the empowerment of creativity, and small bugs in blue berets.
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