Another excellent title from Fitzharris. Recommended for all middle schools.
Readers who enjoy true-life mysteries and survival stories will be pulled into this book and inspired to learn more about this little-known but fascinating event.
Children, and adults, who enjoy baking, and decorating their creations will value this crafty book most.
Heiligman’s depth of research and absorbing, crisp writing makes for a page-turner about a fierce, complex, and influential dissident. Recommended for all libraries.
A thoughtful and visually rich collection that honors the depth of Persian mythology while making it approachable for a new generation of readers.
Older teen readers will be enriched by this graphic memoir of a young man seeking to break out of the oppressive Soviet regime.
Delving into a unique element of WWII, this book will be well received by students, teachers, and anyone interested in military strategy.
A fun, informative book about human’s best friend that will easily find an audience.–
Highly recommended, especially for older tweens drawn to true stories of grit, growth, and survival against the odds.
This engaging collected biography would be a wonderful addition to any library. The eye-catching cover and title may encourage reluctant readers of nonfiction to explore these mystifying women of magical history.
A good addition to libraries looking to introduce young readers to Walter Dean Myers, Harlem, and life for Black children in the 1940s and 1950s.
An essential addition to middle and high school libraries, this graphic novel is a green how-to manual for 2025.
This debut is a heartrending coming-of-age story of loss, self-discovery, and self-acceptance that will be enjoyed not only by derby fans, but those who are derby-curious, or are just looking for a story with some emotional depth and featuring LGBTQIA+ characters.
A gritty story of trust and betrayal, Lucy’s life absorbs readers and leaves them wanting more. A definite first buy.
While seemingly formulaic at times, what good romance novel isn’t? Give this one to any lover of the genre.
Recommended for those who enjoy romances, a historical setting, and supernatural narratives.
This page-turner is an ode to slasher films and funny ghost stories. A great, twisty introduction to horror for teens.
Consider sharing this contemplative graphic novel about a girl’s formative summer with fans of Mariko and Jillian Tamaki’s This One Summer.
Fans of unsettling and propulsive realistic fiction will welcome this gripping addition.
A skilled author of popular Australian children’s books takes on issues of suicide and serious illness with love and care in her first YA novel.
This flawed but fast-paced novel will be of interest to teens who enjoy romance and music. The diverse racial and ethnic cast of characters also adds to the book’s appeal.
If the names were changed, this could be the origin story for the Scooby Gang. Wood has reimagined Mystery Inc., for a whole new generation.
A secondary purchase for high school collections, recommended for libraries where Courtney Gould is popular.
Feel free to highly recommend this young adult read.
A highly recommended read for fans of young adult psychological thrillers and Jackson’s previous works.
Guron creates a spiral of twists and turns, truly unpredictable and sure to engross readers as the full story unwinds.
A lovely look at burnout, grief, and coming-of-age with just a dash of teenage romance as a treat.
A fantastic read, a beautiful reflection on the past, and an exposition of human connection
A sweet and spicy gay Goth romance.
Yun’s intent to help readers live with grief is well-executed as she reminds readers of the importance of facing it. Recommended.
In today’s classrooms, literacy isn’t just about decoding text. It’s also about navigating, interpreting and finding meaning in the stories students are reading, regardless of length or format.
Because I love imagery, developing an image system for a verse novel is one of my favorite challenges.
Young chefs and bakers will gobble up these cookbooks that run the gamut from spooky sweets and fake cakes to activism-inspired family recipes!
This roundup of active nonfiction features forays into nature, hands-on science experiments, and SEL guidebooks.
A musician struggles with a creative block and self-doubt in this special one-shot manga.
Entering portals requires bravery and hope and the willingness to see what happens, which are generally good things to apply to living life in general.
Teachers and students are returning to school this fall amid a lot of uncertainty. But integrating books into the formal curriculum, and making books available for independent reading and enrichment, continues to be fundamental in helping schools achieve their learning and literacy goals.
In the mood for some menudo? I get to ask Erika Meza about one of her latest, and we touch on everything from gay grandparents to the chaos and buzz of a family weekend.
Check out this week's list of new comics, manga, and graphic novels for readers 12 and under, featuring Max and Chaffy The Great Cupcake Mystery from DK Children and Space Case from Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers.
How does what we put on our plate intersect with climate change? How can we think about our diet in a way that is kinder for the earth and ourselves?
The power of words can help save us---reading them, writing them, feeling them. They can help us find our way back to ourselves when it seems like everything was taken. A powerful look at trauma, bravery, and survival.
School Library Journal and NCTE continue to champion works that have long been taught in classrooms, including YA classics like Caroline B. Cooney's The Face on the Milk Carton and Robert Cormier's We All Fall Down.
"How is this a birthday for Frances? This should be A Birthday for Gloria! The title is wrong!" Kate and I wildly disagree on the rating of today's book and whether or not it's worth your time.
COLBY: Back in the summer of 2016, I interviewed Sophie Blackall the day before she gave her Caldecott acceptence speech for Finding Winnie. It was a huge honor to get a little bit of her time right before this huge moment in her life. I selfishly never shared our conversation. It was mine, and sort […]
Julie and Stan Sakai's kid-friendly version of comics' most famous samurai rabbit returns in a new expanded edition, featuring 30 pages of new material.
Sometimes we are not okay. Sometimes we crave respite from the onward march. Sometimes we need the relief of being seen. And that, I believe, is okay.
The memory of a song helped inspire my latest nonfiction book, Many Voices, Building Erie, the Canal that Changed America.
Here’s a look at seven graphic novels for a range of ages, in which monster tales are reimagined as stories of empathy, identity, and the unknown.
Betsy Bird looks at the state of children's nonfiction. In many ways, with nuanced and interesting topics, it is the "golden age of informational books for kids," she says. But it's also a time of unprecedented book banning—and that includes many nonfiction titles.
In a huge legal win for freedom to read and First Amendment advocates, a U.S. district judge ruled in favor of the plaintiffs. In other censorship news, a Michigan school librarian is suing a parent for an alleged smear campaign against her that led to harassment and death threats.
"I understand the value of escapism for kids, but I also understand the value of representation." Craig Kofi Farmer goes deep with his latest book on what toxic mentorship can do to a kid.
Writer A.J. Locascio talks about his picture book Spoops, a sweet Halloween story about a girl who teams up with some tiny Halloween sprites to enjoy the creative side of the holiday.
As a writer, it’s been fascinating to watch the publishing team and artists add a visual layer to these books. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how and why they do it.
Leigh Knapp made collection development decisions focused on improving the reading skills of the refugee population at her Milwaukee elementary school and helping the students acclimate to their new surroundings.
Kelley Armstrong talks with SLJ about danger, mystery, and romance in her upcoming book A Deadly Inheritance. Following the Q&A is an exclusive first look at the cover.
The organization, One Word at a Time, will focus on kids 8-15 and run multiple initiatives, including virtual visits from Kwame Alexander and other kid lit authors, as well as a Teacher Study program.
“Anything less is not good enough for a child.” Those would be the words of the irascible editor, Ursula Nordstrom. Now she's getting a middle grade nonfiction book on her life, and author Nancy Hudgins is here to tell us more.
When does protecting children do more harm than good? If I’d understood those times better, maybe I’d be better prepared for these, and so would my children.
Contributor Riley Jensen shares a list of 5 YA books coming out September 2025.
Today we have an exclusive preview of Goat Magic, by Kate Wheeler, which Oni Press will publish on August 19, 2025. Here’s the publisher’s description: Trill, a spirited goat herder with a unique ability to communicate with her flock, yearns for a life beyond mountain pastures. Her “goat magic” feels common compared to the sorcery […]
This fantasy-themed TTRPG roundup features games perfect for library programming, where players can step into the boots, paws, or claws of adorable animals and outlandish creatures to work together and save the day.
A warm, inviting celebration of love, acceptance, and the beauty of finding your place in unexpected spaces. Ramírez’s lyrical text introduces readers to Esmerelda, a charming, wide-eyed squirrel navi...
Were you aware that ghosts are the hot trend of 2025? Not sure what that says about the state of the world today, but it does give me an excuse to talk to the creator of the ghost with the most.
Learn how you and your teens can get Galleys for teen reviews from Penguin
Check out this week's list of new comics, manga, and graphic novels for readers 12 and under, featuring Wizkit Volume 2: A Tail of Disruption from Atheneum Books for Young Readers and Cryptid Kids Volume 2: Moby Duck from First Second Books.
The list of suggested titles for the Heavy Medal Mock Newbery has now reached 87! Check out the full list of possible contenders for the 2026 Medal.
Author Ellen Forney joins us to talk about her new book, The Adventures of You!: How to Write, Draw, and Star in Your Own Comics.
For more than 60% of children in the U.S., walking into a school or library represents their first encounter with books. If we make that experience as welcoming as possible, we're giving them fuel for success.
Arguably Tomi Ungerer's least weird picture book, we at last tackle the tale of a woman and her beloved reptile.
articles