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To celebrate this unexpected milestone I thought I’d reflect on the six most interesting facts about this weird, bittersweet, wild ride of a story.
From going to work in faraway or dangerous jobs to walking with their kids around the neighborhood or reading bedtime stories, these fathers offer support and encouragement and set an example for their kids. As Father's Day approaches, or all year long, share these titles with little ones and families to recognize the important role Dad plays in their lives.
When kids at school say there are "no good books" to read, I send them to two places: graphic novels or the list of short books/books under 250 pages.
Among this month's standouts are the latest graphic novel co-authored by Gender Queer's Maia Kobabe, a picture book from Kyle Lukoff, and a video adapted from Carole Boston Weatherford's book about Mary Hamilton.
I started making up this story with my brother when I was in middle school, and it’s taken all these years to finally finish it.
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.
Everyone—children, teens and even adults—need safe outlets to explore their emotions, fears and unspoken curiosities. Whether you’re writing a book or reading a book, stories can be that safe harbor.
STEM comes to life for beginning readers in these stories, which can be used to complement science, math, or reading instruction.
We are lucky to live in a time where there is just so much wonderful middle grade coming out. There's no reason to hear a middle schooler say "I'm bored" this summer.
PREMIUM
The Storyteller
A fresh selection to offer to young children experiencing the loss of a loved one; a good choice for the grief or intergenerational shelves.
PREMIUM
The Blue Pickup
A beautiful celebration of the bond between a grandfather and his grandchild, and the importance of preserving the past through storytelling.
PREMIUM
Nana in the Country
This heartwarming tale of intergenerational connection, complemented by its inviting artwork, is a delightful addition to any library or collection.
PREMIUM
Peg Gets Crackin’
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.
PREMIUM
Kenya
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.
A fable wherein the courage of the lion was in the girl all along. Jackson imbues what could have been a tired concept with depth, breadth, and power. Great for reading aloud in a group or individual sharing and an excellent addition to all collections.
PREMIUM
Not Perfect
An sweet narrative promoting resilience and embracing imperfection, this is an amiable addition to the shelves.
PREMIUM
Boba Emotions: A Bilingual Book in English and Cantonese with Traditional Characters and Jyutping
Recommended for a slightly older age group than the usual board book audience, but still, quite a find.
A great choice for collections in need of books with diverse family composition.
A well-researched account of an essential historical account of the U.S. labor movement. Highly recommended for middle school readers and beyond.
PREMIUM
Stay Dead
Perfect for fans of What Beauty There Is by Cory Anderson or Be Not Far From Me by Mindy McGinnis.
PREMIUM
Icarus
A poignant exploration of family, identity, and self-discovery, offering late teens a thought-provoking journey as they navigate the complexities of emerging into new adulthood.
PREMIUM
What Monstrous Gods
While billed as a loose interpretation of the “Sleeping Beauty” tale, this dark fantasy is more akin to Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin with its religious musings about duty, love, and purpose.
PREMIUM
Not Like Other Girls
This strong debut belongs on library shelves, especially where mysteries are popular.
PREMIUM
Cancelled
This ode to feminism belongs on shelves where similar works are popular and also makes an excellent title for discussion.
An evocative novel that seamlessly blends elements of mystery, history, and psychology, this is a must-read for anyone looking for a thought-provoking puzzle that explores the lasting impacts of war. Highly recommended for any collection but particularly for libraries where Alan Gratz or Elizabeth Wein books are popular.
PREMIUM
The Ballad of Darcy and Russell
This look at the realities of what comes after love-at-first-sight is worth a read, especially for those who enjoyed Nicola Yoon’s The Sun Is Also a Star and Jennifer E. Smith’s The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight.
PREMIUM
Off With Their Heads
An additional purchase for collections where retellings circulate well, and a further recommendation that the book will likely resonate with fans of Chloe Gong and Rin Chupeco.
An excellent addition to nonfiction collections for young readers.
A love letter to Muslim children at a time when it is needed most. A recommended first purchase for school and public libraries.
Providing necessary AANHPI representation, humor, and instant middle school appeal, this novel is a first purchase.
PREMIUM
10 Things I Love About Hanukkah
With nothing new presented, this an additional purchase unlikely to stand out on the overcrowded holiday bookshelf.
A basic counting book for babies that is mildly Halloween-themed.
Not only a survey of various animals, this will resonate with little ones who see themselves reflected in the mongoose, needing an outlet for its energy before settling into the family burrow and falling fast asleep.
An engaging and bright treatment of a Mexican sculptor that will inspire burgeoning artists, purchase this bilingual book for elementary collections.
PREMIUM
How Starling Got His Speckles
This modern fable that combines science with storytelling will find a home complementing early nature and science instruction.
PREMIUM
Marley’s Pride
A sensitive work, based in bittersweet lessons, this is also a practical guide to overcoming anxiety with the help of others.
PREMIUM
Book, Beast, and Crow
A good starter suspense tale for middle schoolers, but older or more experienced mystery readers may find it lacking in depth.
PREMIUM
A Whisper in the Walls
A spectacular sequel in an exciting fantasy series and a must-purchase for all libraries serving high schoolers.
A nice guide to keep at the desk or to use in school rooms.
PREMIUM
Olive Blackwood Takes Action!
An important message about overcoming anxiety is muddled in a busy plot. Purchase for larger collections.
PREMIUM
Lucky Scramble
A fun, feel-good look into the world of competitive speed cubing that will surely inspire young readers to pick up a cube for themselves.
An important novel for every library to have. Readers will find they’re not alone in dealing with a loved one’s addiction, as an estimated one in eight children have a parent dealing with substance abuse.
It’s not a perfect summer at the beach, but Winnie’s feelings are perfectly real, and the resolution is satisfying and hopeful. Highly recommended.
PREMIUM
Halfway to Harbor
Fans of the series will love Harbor and her family, and will root for her on and off the court.
PREMIUM
The Spindle of Fate
A worthy addition to any library where readers are gobbling up fantasy, and more importantly, a poignant story about family grief and love.
A must-read graphic novel that will draw fans of Jerry Craft’s New Kid and Raina Telgemeier’s Smile. This book belongs on library shelves everywhere.
PREMIUM
Vega’s Piece of the Sky
A multiple-viewpoint realistic novel with broad appeal recommended for most upper elementary, middle school, or public libraries.
Give this story to children everywhere. A powerful story of finding your voice and using it to advocate for yourself.
PREMIUM
Picture a Girl
Readers will root for Adelaide to catch a break and be able to return to the life of an 11-year-old instead of an overwhelmed person with adult responsibilities. Recommended for realistic fiction shelves.
PREMIUM
The Girl in Question
A vengeful adventure that ties up loose ends just tightly enough; a must-purchase for any collection containing the first volume.
PREMIUM
The Merciless King of Moore High
A fun but dense read; for fans of gruesome monsters and political drama.
PREMIUM
A Crane Among Wolves
An intense mystery and slow-burn romance that highlight a historical moment. Recommended for all YA collections.
PREMIUM
Everything We Never Said
A dark romantic thriller with a surprise plot twist, this is a welcome addition to collections for mature teens, due to sexually explicit scenes.
Ripped from the headlines, Ahmed’s latest novel frames the fight against book banning as a hopeful endeavor in active civic engagement that a wide audience would benefit from reading.
Whether teens enjoy mysteries, historical fiction, or both, this is one to get into their hands.
PREMIUM
Under This Red Rock
Haunting and enormously gripping, but the suicide content deserves consideration for sensitive readers.
PREMIUM
Brownstone
A great YA graphic novel for teens who are trying to figure out who they are or anyone who has ever felt like they were on the outside. This would be a popular title for fans of Christine Suggs’s ¡Ay, Mija!: My Bilingual Summer in Mexico, Deb JJ Lee’s In Limbo, and Emily Bowen Cohen’s Two Tribes.
PREMIUM
The Lamplighter
A gloomy horror novel, perfect for middle schoolers too old for “Goosebumps,” but not yet ready for more terrifying fare.
PREMIUM
Wild About You
Witty and amusing prose will take readers on a romantic journey that realistically addresses anxiety.
PREMIUM
Pretty Furious
A slice-of-life thriller with a compelling concept but underwhelming execution.
PREMIUM
The Reappearance of Rachel Price
Jackson continues to beguile and intrigue readers with this absorbing mystery. Recommended.
PREMIUM
Promchanted
Recommended. Grab this one for your Disney readers and for those who enjoy a great prom story.
A deeply satisfying standalone readers will race through and a rare Pacific Island–inspired fantasy that belongs in all YA collections.
PREMIUM
Snowball Earth, Vol. 1
This sci-fi adventure with heart will appeal to teen readers who have been looking for their next battle mecha story.
With its imaginative storytelling and illustrations, Safer Places is perfect for new and seasoned readers of graphic novels and is a must-have addition to any library’s collection.
PREMIUM
Bijan Always Wins
In this excellent addition to SEL shelves, children will find themselves learning from Bijan and enjoying his story at the same time.
PREMIUM
Gaga Mistake Day
This homage to the eccentricities and charm of special grandparents ticks a lot of boxes. Highly recommended
A manual for constructing a contented life, this book makes children look deeper and behave with deliberation. And when they do, Henkes says, they are lucky.
PREMIUM
Abuela’s Library
A story teaching the valuable lesson of making lemons out of lemonade. Recommended.
A beautiful story that should be sitting on the shelves of school counselors and child therapists everywhere.
PREMIUM
Dare to Be Daring
The creators have come up with an excellent book for caregivers and children who are struggling with their fears, for discussion or as a guide to pushing through.
An unusual addition to a baby’s first books and may be particularly useful in a public library setting to see who gravitates toward it; especially recommended for parents interested in immersing their slightly older child in a STEM-related field.
PREMIUM
Garbage Gulls
While this is not a necessary purchase, it buoys shelves dedicated to the imagination and shows another side of summer vacation that requires no money and no adults to be a success.
A humorous addition, though not an essential purchase, to picture book collections.
A reassuring book for the very young that allows for ambition, curiosity, and homecoming in equal measure, and the knowledge that someone watchful is nearby, if needed. Lovely.
A solid and browsable introduction to the veterinary profession that will pique the interest of young animal lovers.
A worthy purchase for the animal lovers in the library.
Recommended for libraries where biographies for younger children are popular.
An exceptional addition to all collections.
Highly recommended. This outstanding work has offerings in both theory and practice and is an excellent resource for both LIS students and experienced librarians.
Highly recommended for professional or staff collections in academic, public, school, and all libraries.
An interesting though repetitive roundup of stories from booksellers and librarians that will make readers feel the passion behind the professions.
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