This should circulate often in an elementary library and keep readers engaged enough to continue with the subsequent books.
Steeped in clever humor, this story is worthy of multiple readings and will leave readers wanting more. Give this one to fans of “Dog Man” and “Katie the Catsitter.”
Early elementary readers will delight in Willa and Wade’s high jinks, while grown-ups will appreciate the underlying lesson of resilience. A solid addition to school and public collections.
Fans of “The Bad Guys’’ series by Aaron Blabey will welcome these rascally rabbits in this new series that’s ideal for any graphic novel collection.
A clever and charming early reader with a fun out-of-the-blue turn of events and just a few words per page, this is an ideal story for burgeoning readers and a welcome book for any collection.
Recommended for purchase where Pete and early readers are in demand.
A serviceable addition to early reader collections, and an obvious choice for libraries where the chapter book series is popular.
Hank’s story will break readers’ hearts before putting them back together again. Highly recommended for all middle grade collections.
A speedy but satisfying read that should appeal to a wide range of readers who want the perfect combination of scary, clever, funny, and quick.
A bizarre, sweet story of self-discovery and compassion that the right readers will enjoy, if they can get past the rodents of unusual size.
A horror anthology that will find an eager audience of young thrill seekers.
Ultimately this sweet novel reads like an old-school afternoon TV special. It’s realistic, if a bit cheesy, light entertainment with an obvious and hopeful message.
Highly recommended for readers looking for a unique take on the werewolf trope. Readers will root for the gentle and introspective protagonist.
Hand this book to young readers who love realistic fiction and want to save the planet.
Descriptive language and varying types of poetry make this an enjoyable read, but the element of horror is minimal. Recommended for readers who ask for a scary book but aren’t quite ready for R.L. Stine or Mary Downing Hahn.
An enchanting middle grade fantasy and excellent start to this adventurous duology.
This book features a diverse cast of characters for readers who like cooking, mysteries, and realistic fiction; it will circulate well in libraries where mysteries and friendship stories are popular.
A celebration of sisterhood, of play, and problem-solving, all at once. A perfect purchase.
For libraries without shelves about late bloomers, start here. A tremendous homage to self-esteem, individuality, thoughtfulness, surrender, and hope.
By placing a young girl’s journey to self-love alongside a journey through her ancestral history, the book carries compelling content forward and into the hands of readers. This is a good companion to Matthew Cherry’s Hair Love.
For all elementary school libraries; the author provides a self-affirming mirror for many families.
Pure silliness, this is sure to be popular with the early elementary set.
A young girl learns how to empathize with those who grieve and better understands her own mourning of a beloved grandmother.
This beautiful book will be an excellent addition to both SEL shelves for coping strategies or STEM shelves for the math.
An entertaining introduction to elephants, this title will be enjoyed by elementary students and hopefully inspire young researchers to create their own research journals.
Pitch perfect friendship-building fun! Highly recommended.
This true-to-life title is a worthy addition to picture book collections, sure to spark conversation and inspire young readers.
Celebrating families who are “wonderfully different” with gusto, this title will be appreciated by a wide spectrum of readers and their families seeking to live their lives to the fullest expression of their true selves.
Not only is it nice to a see a boy doing the party-planning, but it’s good to see a child being a fusspot in a low-stakes situation, since that’s where almost all childhood disappointments start. Recommended only for larger collections.
A solid introduction to gardening told through story and extremely well-presented facts. Highly recommended.
Everyone gets mad, and this highly relatable story shows what to do when it happens. Recommended for all collections.
A lovely addition to any collection, celebrating the enduring beauty of unconditional love.
An easy purchase to add to the board book shelves.
An affirming tale of being true to your dreams and the power of friendship in making those dreams come true. It’s never too early to learn that haters gonna hate.
Give to readers who are not quite ready for Junie B. Jones and her antics.
A simple ghost story and a mystery, too, but with substantial life lessons that are charming and memorable.
Savage is so reliable; add this to the shelves where worn copies of Polar Bear Night and Supertruck live.
For schools where Elinor is popular, or as an accessible gateway to other books about scientific inquiry and developing powers of observation.
Funny, real, and makes a delicious point without spelling it out; this book is a charmer.
This is a fun addition to seasonal picture book collections for young readers.
A beautiful introduction to a mark and decoration of enormous cultural significance makes this title recommended for all collections.
Add this reassuring title to the SEL shelves for helping elementary children understand that bad things happen, but they pass.
Purchase for collections that emphasize social-emotional learning through picture books.
This is a picture book to enter with an open heart and share widely. It invites everyone into a celebration of dance, life, and being true to oneself.
This unique addition to the shelves celebrates the American experience through the lens of a beloved kitchen table.
A story that shows an environment where the differently abled can thrive, where accessibility means everyone, and featuring an underrepresented group in picture books, this is a truly solid addition for all collections.
A beginning-to-read first fantasy title for My Little Pony enthusiasts.
Full of humor and heart, this book will be enjoyed by fans of InvestiGators by John Patrick Green and the “Hilo” series by Judd Winick.
An impactful story about discovering how to declare yourself proudly and bring awareness to your community; this opens an important window into the modern-day life of Native American culture that has yet to be fully explored thoroughly in middle grade literature.
Recommended for libraries serving young children.
Perfect for “Elephant and Piggie” fans who are ready to expand their horizons.
A general purchase for realistic fiction collections.
A powerful story about self-acceptance and showing up for life that should be put in the hands of all middle school readers.
An inspiring, culinary treat. Recommended for medium to large collections and any shelf where there are aspiring foodies in the audience.
Highly recommended for all graphic collections, especially those who are looking for a new series.
A wonderfully shareable early reader that is perfect for schools and libraries.
This fun Spanish-language title is perfect for young readers and fans of graphic novels and all things monsters!
While the book adds nothing new to the canon, it is a gentle story that young readers will enjoy. Recommended for large picture book collections.
A beautiful and sometimes haunting narrative that will appeal to readers of both realistic and fantasy fiction.
A great story to encourage early readers to think outside the box.
This moving novel carries a powerful message about the meaning of family and the importance of community. Highly recommended for all collections.
Searing and eye-opening, readers will devour Sena’s story in a day.
Slow pacing and repetitious dialogue mar this book’s journey to its unexpected ending, but for readers who enjoy character-focused psychological dramas akin to E. Lockhart’s We Were Liars and Karen M. McManus’s One of Us Is Lying, this is a solid, sapphic, addition to the genre.
A great addition to bilingual board book collections for children, especially where Lil’ Libros titles are popular.
Sure to be popular among middle school readers looking for a quick thrill.
A lovely Spanish-language picture book that would make a solid addition to school and public libraries.
A fast-paced emotional page-turner.
Give to readers who are looking for a story with dark vibes and do not mind a slower paced, highly character driven novel.
With its hilarious storyline and captivating artwork, this book is a joyous celebration of Halloween spirit and friendship.
Baptiste’s debut is a strong first buy.
This debut collection will go down as a young horror fan’s ideal example of scary. It will jump off shelves during spooky season, and word-of-mouth should keep it in constant demand, year-round.
Not an essential purchase, but a cute addition for libraries looking to expand their Halloween board book collection.
A captivating musical coming-of-age novel that sensitively explores racial identity, belonging, and mental illness.
Sweet and somewhat notable for having a single-parent household, this story can be a suitable addition to Christmas collections. But it is not a must, especially for those that already have the similar title by Chapman, Is It Christmas Yet?
A fabulous read-aloud that offers many opportunities for choral reading and movement, this text will have everyone dancing and saying “One more!”
A wonderful Spanish-language story that will leave young readers in awe, whether as a read aloud or an independent read. Magical.
Educators will appreciate the message about the importance of research and nature, and kids will enjoy the relatable story. A great choice for Spanish-language picture book shelves.
In a field of seemingly infinite Christmas picture books, both Christian and secular, this title does not stand out. Recommended as an additional purchase for religious Christmas collections.
Coming of age isn’t easy, especially when you’re trapped in a survivalist camp. A first purchase for readers of realistic fiction.
This meta–picture book will be a favorite for kids with its animal protagonists, laugh-out-loud plot, and character interactions.
A vivid queer romance whose characters and plot will captivate readers. A strong purchase.
This gentle story is written in a Spanish that sounds like home with familiar themes and images of family, root countries, and a love that spans distances; children will wait in line to have a turn to share it with their families.
Lu elevates Yang’s occasionally pedantic lessons on digital safety.
Young kids may find the fir trees particularly amusing in this amiable Christmas story.
Recommended for high school collections, this is sure to be a hit for fans of whirlwind romances such as those by Nicola Yoon and Rachel Lynn Solomon.
An inspiring story of intergenerational friendship, recommended for libraries everywhere.
This title will prove intriguing, both for high school students taking physics and fans of romance. A thought-provoking read for those who like realistic fiction with a scientific twist.
A book that deserves both its own anime adaptation and a spot on the shelves of any library with fantasy-loving teens.
The message of trans acceptance is front and center in this realistic fiction title; Huntoon creates meaningful and authentic conversations around topics important to trans youth and allies, while also maintaining a lighter tone that is more accessible for the middle school reader. Recommended.
Miami is unreal. That’s why it was the inspiration for in my newest YA novel, Death’s Country.
Hi-Lo titles are high-interest stories written at a lower reading level for striving readers. These 24 books, in genres ranging from romance to horror, are sure to grip readers with relatable main characters and contemporary coming-of-age themes.
This great read is a real page-turner and will especially appeal to readers who love family stories and readers who (like me) like their fantasy to be quite grounded in reality. An absolutely smashing read that everyone should pick up this summer!
A fresh selection to offer to young children experiencing the loss of a loved one; a good choice for the grief or intergenerational shelves.
A charming book, recommended for larger library collections.
A beautiful celebration of the bond between a grandfather and his grandchild, and the importance of preserving the past through storytelling.
This heartwarming tale of intergenerational connection, complemented by its inviting artwork, is a delightful addition to any library or collection.
Simple text could make for a fun read-aloud, but stronger titles are available about both chickens and anxiety: the human baby in Fran Manushkin’s Baby, Come Out! faces a similar dilemma and the suspense is all but unbearable and so satisfying.
A simple yet well-crafted story, as text and illustrations depict activities familiar to children everywhere as well as introduce language and facts about life in Kenya.
Quintero’s words speak to bonds of care, while the glorious illustrations sing of bodies round and safe. In this must-purchase, there is bounty of feeling, respect for physicality, touch, and sensation, wrapped in a picture book pocket.
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