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Check out this week's list of new comics, manga, and graphic novels for readers 12 and under featuring Suee and the Strange White Light from Amulet Books and Nightmare Brigade Volume 3: Finding Alice from Papercutz.
Our list of books to consider for our 2024 Heavy Medal Mock Newbery stands at 38. Now's the time to add to that number by sharing your June suggestions. Add up to five titles in the comments and we'll keep building a list of the best children's books of the year.
A fantastic look at periods, social justice, period poverty, economic inequalities, and the power of taking action. Get this one on all shelves!
Part of We Are Kid Lit Collective's 2023 Summer Reading selections, this list features early chapter books, graphic novels, and other transitional books for emerging readers.
These three graphic novels published for adults with teen appeal will keep young adults engaged during the break. Plus, an eye-opening Black queer feminist statement is also featured in this We Are Kid Lit Collective Summer Reading list.
Here's an update on recent graphic novel deals for books coming out in 2024-26.
If we as adults (and authors) can’t give our kids a world that makes any sense, the least we can do is let them play in one.
PREMIUM
Frog
Vibrant colors and engaging use of die-cuts will have young children learning while being completely entertained with this well-designed title.
PREMIUM
Sorry, Snail
While the message is earnest, the method is extreme in today’s climate of online bullying and harassment; the sensibility has a very specific appeal and should be doled out with caution.
PREMIUM
Un secreto
Purchase where there’s a need of literary Spanish-language novels for younger teens.
Young readers will greatly enjoy finding this child in the colorful illustrations. Highly recommended for early childhood read-alouds.
PREMIUM
100 First Words: Nature
Straightforward, engaging and sturdy, this book will appeal to its intended audience and the adults who want to develop their natural vocabulary.
PREMIUM
Bug
Children will enjoy the adventures of Bug and will be ready to go on a nature walk looking for insects as soon as they turn the last page.
PREMIUM
Animal Atlas: A Pop-Up Book
Children will enjoy the interactive elements as they span the globe and meet a wide variety of animals.
PREMIUM
Where’s the Cat?
Tactile engagement with soft flaps for toddlers and their caregivers to enjoy, this is a great choice for board book shelves.
Useful for teacher-led-sharing, the lifespan of the book is limited if less-than-gentle hands are going to engage with the pop ups.
This inspiring and highly relatable title could be used with readers of any age to discuss topics of body image and self-love. Recommended.
PREMIUM
Where’s the King?
This title’s vocabulary choices make this an unsuitable title for most North American libraries unless a London setting and British-centric vocabulary is desired.
PREMIUM
Seton Girls
A page-turning debut centering on a close group of Black girls and a football team’s takedown following an accusation of rape.
Can you guess the children’s book by its scathing one-star review on Goodreads?
This companion novel allows me to tell another one of those untold stories—uncovered through videos and memoirs and articles—of a young boy yearning to, one day, reunite with his father.
Recommended as a lyrical read-aloud and an informational text.
A charming introduction to the big idea of school, and an angle that will resonate: it’s not the building but the people that make up a school.
Highly recommended for public or school libraries. This gently exciting story will be enjoyed by adventure-loving children.
A completely unique and important narrative not to be missed; readers and teachers will come away with a new appreciation for the myriad contributions Indigenous people have made.
A catchy title and guaranteed audience, but the checkout versus recipes cooked may be disparate. Not recommended.
PREMIUM
Sneak!
Despite a flawed text, the pull tabs and engaging illustrations will keep children returning to this book; it will not stand up to heavy use, but in limited circulation or story hour sharing, it will be a hit.
An enjoyable read and a first purchase, especially for collections in need of accessible books on jazz history for younger readers.
A delicious series of memories full of hope and human connections despite the hardships of immigrating to a new home.
This beautiful book is a wealth of knowledge on the wildlife that live in the incredibly diverse habitats of the United States; sure to be a popular selection with visual learners and young researchers.
This is a must for any collection where young readers have an interest in storytelling, as well as generally a good pick for fans of the author.
PREMIUM
Our World: Ethiopia
Even though board books are usually intended for very young children, it would also be appropriate to include this one in younger elementary school settings as part of a global awareness unit.
Another stunning title from a gifted pair of creators, this deserves a place in all collections as children will root for Cox and be inspired by her amazing accomplishments.
Overall a cute work, this might still be best suited where cookbooks and food writing among young readers are popular.
For fans of Jarrett Krosoczka’s Hey, Kiddo and Robin Ha’s Almost American Girl, this coming-of-age memoir will appeal to youth who are struggling with their identity. This engaging graphic novel is a recommended purchase for all libraries.
An overwhelmingly helpful and inclusive book that will benefit kids and grown-ups alike.
PREMIUM
Who Is Malala Yousafzai?
An impressive collection of data, smoothly told, with colorful artwork, just right for kindergartners.
An intriguing window into remarkable animal antics that may be part of larger discussions about endangered species, protecting the planet, and the care of wildlife.
A fascinating and browsable collective biography that will inspire further research. Recommended for women’s and film history studies.
A visually appealing and well-researched addition to biographical narratives, for use with the original Make Way for Ducklings or with the recent picture book biography Mr. McCloskey’s Marvelous Mallards by Emma Bland Smith.
The Margaret A. Edwards Award winner took over SLJ’s Instagram for a live Q&A that spanned his books, inspiration, censorship, and AI. Here's what he shared.
Our latest video game reviews feature a vengeful god, a speedy bipedal hedgehog, a laser-wielding space bounty hunter, and a squishy pink puffball.
Which books work well as standalones, and which are best for series fans? Use our input to navigate whether to begin or expand these series selections at your library.
The story of The School Living Club continues in this special one-shot manga.
I’m a sucker for a good happily ever after. I believe that most people deserve one, and deserve to see people like themselves have one. Which is one of the reasons I wrote Rhythm & Muse, to fill a void that I wasn’t finding at the time. A black, teenage boy finding his.
Check out this week's list of new comics, manga, and graphic novels for readers 12 and under featuring Extincts Volume 2: Flight of the Mammoth from Amulet Books and Jurassic Jeff: Space Invader from Random House Graphic.
This is my love letter to all the equestrians who haven’t seen themselves on the page. I’m going to need your help and support to get my books into the hands of kids who want and need them, so I hope you go on this ride with me.
Growing up, I loved fairy tales and Greek myths. As a young queer person, I was keenly aware of how LGBTQIA+ characters never appeared in these stories.
Since June 19th became a national holiday in 2021, the list of books about Juneteenth has been growing! Here is a handful of the latest titles for children.
ABCs. 123s. The first year of school has come to an end, and it’s graduation time. These seven titles are the perfect picks for celebrating this monumental milestone.
A Podcast Experiment: SPEED ROUND w/ Marla Frazee, Dan Santat, Doug Salati, and Amina Luqman-Dawson.
Listen to our first-ever SPEED ROUND episode of The Yarn podcast!
Colby and I decided to try out a new idea: speed round-only episodes of the podcast. Today is the first one.
With a single photograph you get a truly great picture book pairing and the start of a beautiful collaboration. To life! To joy! To books!
Esther checks out the new Spider-Man manga from Viz, Spider-Man: Fake Red.
Crilley talks about writing and illustrating a novel paying tribute to Taiwan more than 30 years after living there to teach English.
PREMIUM
Codex Black: A Fire Among Clouds
With roots in Mesoamerican mythology, this fantastic tale will charm any reader. Its connection to history and tradition makes it wonderful for teaching while being entertaining with its adventure.
PREMIUM
Claro de luna
An engaging novel for younger teens that centers around a relatable heroine and a fascinating history.
PREMIUM
Another Dimension of Us
An ambitious and convoluted adventure that misses the mark; not recommended for purchase.
An authentic journey for adoptees who are not allowed to feel sad but thrust into a stance of gratitude for a life they were given and for all readers who, after a loss, are reconstructing their identities.
PREMIUM
Visions of the Crow
A graphic novel recommended for teens interested in stories about social justice and the importance of family roots.
PREMIUM
Lost in Taiwan
A love letter to Taiwan that is visually stunning, but lacks in character development. Purchase where realistic fiction graphic novels are popular.
Xie’s sparse fabrication of real events never successfully achieves the admittedly difficult task of visually depicting how music can touch the spirit. Small human moments abound, but the story’s attempts to portray more sweeping emotions fall short.
PREMIUM
In Between
A welcome choice for picture book collections, especially where nature and animal books are in high demand.
PREMIUM
Walking Together
This is a great educational resource for elementary collections, and could serve as a powerful conversation starter for classroom discussions on the environment. Recommended.
A silly celebration of play, imagination, and devoted fathers that would enhance a Father’s Day program or display. Recommended for first purchase.
A great addition to graphic novel sections of libraries and classrooms in middle schools.
An ambitious effort that misses the mark for the intended age. Purchase for a public or school library where students show a great interest in science and engineering.
PREMIUM
Rain
This quiet, heartwarming story is a lovely tribute to nature’s rhythms. Ideal for a weather-themed story hour or a cozy read-aloud at bedtime, this title is a welcome addition to any picture book collection.
PREMIUM
I Am a Rainbow!
While the story is far from unique, this book ably retells it, while showcasing a lot of diversity.
PREMIUM
The Minus-One Club
A raw coming-of-age story that illustrates the multi-faceted nature of grief and growing up.
PREMIUM
Un hijo
A ruminative novel that might be difficult for some adolescents to follow. Experienced readers of Spanish might find this more accessible.
Even if the road ahead is scary, we’re optimistic for the future and grateful for how far we have come. TIME OUT, ultimately, is filled with that optimism.
A conversation (& cover reveal) with Sydney Smith about his upcoming picture book, DO YOU REMEMBER?
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl team of Ryan North and Erica Henderson have reteamed for a new adventure in which a girl and her talking dog must try to save their post-apocalyptic world.
The seriousness of issues doesn’t mean there’s no room for joyfulness. On the contrary, by cultivating and celebrating joy and all that it encompasses—hope, unity, resiliency—we can more powerfully effect change than we ever thought possible.
Can I tell you it beautifully captures the delicate yearning that marks so much of adolescence? And will you know what I mean by that? Because it just does.
Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro's middle grade adventure receives a star this month, as do a Jarrett Lerner early reader and the Nintendo game Metroid Prime Remastered.
SLJ and NCTE have revealed the 2023 round of “Refreshing the Canon” selections. The following seven works will deepen young readers’ understanding of the historical context of The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 and inspire them to connect its social justice themes to present-day issues.
SLJ and NCTE have revealed the 2023 round of “Refreshing the Canon” selections. Use these multimodal recommendations to contextualize and extend the messaging of Virginia Hamilton's acclaimed Black folklore collection The People Could Fly.
Linda Sue Park's Newbery Award–winning middle grade novel A Single Shard tells the story of Tree-ear, an orphan in 12th-century Korea. The boy's heart and courage resonate with readers, and these multimodal picks are great way to expand on the novel's themes and world.
Sarah Everett wrestles with an outsized and ambitious bit of plotting, all the while keeping her cards close to her chest. Here’s some advice: Hand this to kids that like their books with a bit of a twist. And do NOT skip to the ending and read that first.
Here's a look at some recently signed graphic novel deals—and what we can expect coming up!
I'm down to a handful of days of school left and cannot wait to start digging into the TBR Mountain Range currently in my office.
Ever Since and When Oceans Rise are about telling stories. More importantly, they’re about the power of telling your own story, even when it’s hard, even when society pushes back.
SLJ reviews the latest addition to the Gale suite of databases, this one aimed toward educators.
Today we're talking with Stephanie Lucianovic about viral tweets, wildfires, and the reality of those early COVID days captured so perfectly in her upcoming verse middle grade novel.
The LIA PARK series blends Korean art, history, landmarks, mythology, and language into an action-packed middle grade contemporary fantasy, creating an easily accessible entry point into Korean culture.
Not Quite Narwhal has been adapted as an animated series for Netflix.
For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we offer this list of nonfiction and fiction titles to commemorate the lives of the thousands of people of Japanese descent who were impacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Executive Order 9066, which forcibly relocated them into concentration camps.
Tang ultimately writes an uplifting story of support and love that doesn't shy away from the challenges that come with this family's decisions. I adored this book and hope to see many more from her.
A timely and necessary addition to any elementary or middle school library, especially as LGBTQIA+ children are seeking examples of loving communities who fully embrace every part of them.
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