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The game is afoot! Give these chapter book and middle grade capers to fans of whodunits and thrillers.
There’s not a dull moment in these transitional books for the main characters and their siblings!
An appealing title that touches gently on the Japanese immigrant experience in the United States.
PREMIUM
More Than a Million
This book is a suitable gift for Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day but is long-winded and lightweight for library collections.
Appealing only to children who want to understand the process of preparing a guide dog, this book creates considerable confusion around an important issue.
PREMIUM
Xolo
Place this on the shelf next to Jon Klassen’s The Skull and recommend it to readers who love mythology, dogs, and books that break the mold.
PREMIUM
The Dangerous Alphabet Book
Find room on the shelf for another abecedarium! Most collections will want to add this silly and fresh spin on a classic genre.
PREMIUM
I Am a Highly Dangerous Warrior!
Full of speech bubbles and humorous scenes, this very silly story has a great underlying thread for both kids and adults about listening and trusting each other’s abilities and knowledge. Sure to be a favorite.
PREMIUM
Hut! Hut! Hike!: A Branches Book
This first installment in a series of sports novels for emerging readers is a well-intended, well-designed start.
A touching yet humorous novel adaptation of a Webtoon-turned-graphic-novel that feels fresh, exciting, and fun.
PREMIUM
Not Today, Satan
Great for readers who enjoyed Becca Fitzpatrick’s “Hush Hush” series, those who prefer quick reads, and individuals who enjoy supernatural elements in their books.
A feel-good stand-alone for fans of time travel and romance, with an entertaining blend of science, humor, and feminist themes.
PREMIUM
Kissing Is the Easy Part
With its blend of romance, humor, and heartfelt moments, this book is perfect for those exploring the intricacies of relationships and personal growth. A great addition to a high school library.
PREMIUM
The Fangirl Project
A serviceable romance, but librarians with smaller YA romance collections will want to skip this one.
PREMIUM
A Matter of Murder
Those who love Jane Austen or mysteries will adore this version of the beloved couple Lizzie and Darcy. A superb addition to any library.
PREMIUM
How Girls Are Made
An emotionally rich exploration of the burdens, expectations, and realities for young women that will resonate with many, especially readers who also connected with Tiffany D. Jackson’s Grown.
This one is a can’t miss for fans of Shusterman.
PREMIUM
Shiny Happy People
Readers who liked Octavia Butler’s Dawn, Mira Grant’s Parasite, or M.R. Carey’s The Girl with All the Gifts will enjoy this book. A recommended purchase.
PREMIUM
The Cuffing Game
High school readers drawn to the K-pop aesthetic and an inclusive cast will enjoy this homage to Pride and Prejudice.
PREMIUM
Girls Who Play Dead
There’s a lot to unpack and explore within this text, so it’s great for book clubs or classroom use. A must-have for teen collections.
PREMIUM
We Fell Apart
The deeply nuanced, complex plot of legacy versus choice easily crosses into adult readership, but the richly developed characters and a quick-moving plot make it a perfect teen read.
This is a secondary purchase but may appeal to fans of Korean graphic novels.
PREMIUM
How We Play the Game
Gamers and non-gamers alike will enjoy this one; hand to those who enjoy Brittney Morris’s Slay and Eric Smith’s Don’t Read the Comments.
PREMIUM
Hear Her Howl
A great addition to collections, as the cross-genre will appeal to a variety of young women on their journey to find themselves.
Recommended for those who enjoy character-driven novels, fantastical settings, and elaborate alternative histories.
PREMIUM
Dreki: My Icelandic Dragon
Recommended for readers who enjoy Norse mythology, fantasy, coming-of-age stories, and books with a strong sense of place.
PREMIUM
The Snowman Code
A delightful winter adventure and a thoughtful exploration of emotions and empathy; a great pick for readers looking for heart, humor, and a little bit of magic.
PREMIUM
Thrash Force
Fans of Dungeons & Dragons and the “Captain Underpants” series will enjoy this light, playful book.
PREMIUM
The Ink Witch
A fun and fresh take on traditional fantasy and witchcraft; highly recommended.
PREMIUM
Hurricane Heist
A winning mix of history, humor, and high-stakes sleuthing for returning fans of the series or new readers.
A stellar companion novel about one tween’s struggles and ambitions that can stand alone but will have newer readers sprinting to the rest of the books in this excellent series.
PREMIUM
The Academy
A solid purchase for soccer players and fans who are looking for middle grade books about their favorite game.
A tearjerking realistic fiction read about love and loss that should be added to all middle grade collections.
Time-traveling fans will devour this humorous tale that shows how humans are all connected.
PREMIUM
The Tear Collector
A novel that handles heavy topics with a light touch; recommended for upper middle grade.
PREMIUM
Wolf Club
An eye-opening window or mirror story for collections that need more stories involving Ojibwe beliefs, relationships, and a touch of the supernatural.
PREMIUM
The One About the Blackbird
Perhaps this is best for the shelves intended to help grandparents seeking to connect with the young generation.
PREMIUM
Sticky Hermana
This title is one any pair of sisters can relate to and encourages being honest with familial frustrations. A recommended general purchase for picture book collections.
PREMIUM
Waiting for Max: A NICU Story
A warmly illustrated, heartfelt resource that combines comfort with information, this is an essential purchase for libraries serving young families.
PREMIUM
Mazel Toes!
Though not for every collection, this bright and inclusive board book celebrating the value of family and community is an ideal selection for Jewish families welcoming a newborn.
Lilting prose and textured collage visually and lyrically represent big feelings in this powerful title. Highly recommended.
PREMIUM
House of Hearts
A lush, spooky page-turner perfect for readers of Arndt’s other novel, Together We Rot, or Stephanie Garber’s Once Upon a Broken Heart.
PREMIUM
Butterfly Heart
A powerful novel about family, friendship, love, and the indigenous culture of the Sámi people. Young adults living between multiple cultures will appreciate the rawness of self-discovery throughout.
PREMIUM
The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire
Recommended for collections where fairy romantasy is popular.
This book is inviting, making it appropriate for young adult mystery collections.
Strongly recommended for fans of Greek and Roman mythology, particularly feminist retellings such as Jennifer Saint’s Ariadne or Madeline Miller’s Circe.
A charming, tender story about making friends, sisterhood, and the importance of family and community.
National Geographic books are a trusted favorite for a reason: kids love them, parents and educators rely on them, and the learning happens almost effortlessly. This one is a must for home, classroom, or library shelves.
A thoughtfully designed book for adults to share with children or for young readers to explore on their own, with plentiful, stunning images of many African animals, sparse text, and helpful scaffolds for engaging with nonfiction works.
Whether it's the latest book in a favorite series or the next great read, librarians will find plenty of options to keep their most voracious patrons satisfied.
Bright illustrations, silly situations, and a sense of continuity and rigor in skill-building are the hallmarks of this season's decodable series.
These picture book series offer a sweet escape into education or entertainment.
The gentle stories in this collection of early readers feature warm, inviting illustrations and focus on navigating family and friendships.
A chill is in the air, and there is no better time to be immersed in a juicy middle grade series.
These hi-lo titles have all the adventure, intrigue, romance, and drama that will engage striving readers.
Wild adventures, goofy characters, and candy-colored illustrations dominate this collection of graphic novels.
The books in these YA series serve up a generous dose of big feelings.
Hidden identities, action and survival, and, of course, true love can be found in these new and ongoing manga series.
These cheerful chapter books span a wide range of reading interests and genres and are a bastion of diverse stories and characters.
Not essential, but a toddler-pleaser, and minor introduction to classical music.
A lovely version of such childhood classics Runaway Bunny and an improvement over I’ll Love Your Forever, this certainly belongs on early childhood shelves.
PREMIUM
Feelings Come, Feelings Go
The pictures pull in viewers, while the text offers a direction for discussions; this could be useful for group sharing or one on one.
PREMIUM
Hot Pot Night!
Classroom hot pot, anyone? A book that will leave readers and listeners hungry, but the whole family will want to institute hot pot nights.
A sweet look at Dora’s home, as upbeat as she is, with illustrations that closely resemble the show.
PREMIUM
Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! I Love You!
As a gentle bedtime or bonding read, this fits the bill, but it lacks any deep emotional layers to keep children coming back after one read.
PREMIUM
Hello Little Ones
A board book for the early animal shelves, but also a text full of writing prompts at the early elementary level.
PREMIUM
Vroom, Baby Driver, Zoom
A fun read for vehicle-obsessed toddlers and anyone who appreciates the magic of childhood imagination.
PREMIUM
Don’t Draw in This Book!
This is a fun and funny book, and there may be motor skills children pick up along the way.
Poring over the details and finding themselves in the pages makes this a mirror-and-window board book with reach beyond the usual preschool demographic.
The pigeon will count to 10 in story hours and classroom counting units; children can take it from there. Bold and funny.
PREMIUM
Our Little Sharing Circle
This is a useful tool for introducing concepts of empathy, belonging, and peaceful problem-solving to young children, addressing important SEL concepts without being preachy.
PREMIUM
Dog Loves Baby
A pleasant, bite-sized reverie on the meaning of love, this can be added judiciously to the holiday shelves.
PREMIUM
Don’t Open This Book!
This may acclimatize children to the names of great books, if it holds their attention.
PREMIUM
Wind Whirls
A simple, charming stroll will inspire lapsitters and emerging readers alike to get out into the wind and look around.
Baby’s first football game is not a necessary purchase, but it works as an introduction to the sport.
Good intentions can’t turn this into an essential purchase, plus there is a fill-in page that caps the usefulness of this book in libraries.
PREMIUM
Most Valuable Player
Recommended as an additional purchase where contemporary romantic fiction is popular.
PREMIUM
The Wildest Dreams Bookshop
A must-buy for the young adult crowd; readers will be excitedly waiting for the next book in the series.
PREMIUM
The Leaving Room
Recommended for high school libraries, especially for readers who liked McBride’s previous books.
PREMIUM
The Secret Astronomers
A heartwarming tale about connection, grief, and challenging assumptions, this will be well-received by fans of graphic novels like Samuel Teer’s Brownstone or other epistolary YA novels like Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary Of A Part-Time Indian.
PREMIUM
Fade into You
For fans of Jennifer Mathieu’s Moxie, an overall relatable and universal coming-of-age story.
Highly recommended for readers who enjoyed books like John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars or Dustin Thao’s You’ve Reached Sam.
PREMIUM
I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm
A great sapphic romance for readers who enjoy a good will-they-won’t-they with depth and festive charm.
Deeply unsettling and absolutely perfect for those who understand the vulnerability at the root of every vicious monster.
A compelling and important addition for mature young adult collections, this novel powerfully portrays the fight for freedom and self-determination against overwhelming odds.
PREMIUM
The House Saphir
Meyer fans and new readers alike will find much to love in this spooky, atmospheric read. A welcome addition to any library collection.
A laugh-out-loud funny whodunit that is a first purchase for mystery fans.
PREMIUM
The Siren and the Star
Readers of books in verse, romance, and music history will all be drawn to this engaging book.
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