This book is sure to be a hit beyond Valentine’s Day and is a great addition to early reader sections and for kids who love funny books.
This warm family story will resonate with youngest children everywhere, regardless of a particular holiday or season. Highly recommended.
This story reflects the inclusivity of the Lunar New Year and the love people have for one another as they celebrate a holiday that brings the community together.
Not an essential purchase, but a decent addition to library Easter collections for its depiction of imaginative play.
An exceptional, heartfelt Eid story that gently impresses upon readers that community is about both giving and receiving.
With limited quality titles centered on St. Patrick’s Day, this book is a charming and worthwhile addition to any holiday collection.
A charming read-with-me experience in the tradition of many door-based, lift-the-flap board books.
A good additional purchase where transitional graphic novels are in demand.
A welcome addition for collections seeking more representation of Muslim characters and an entertaining read for grade school students who enjoy realistic fiction with a dash of humor.
A thought-provoking, if uneven, novel best suited for strong readers ready to grapple with layered themes; teachers may find it most effective as a guided read-aloud or small group discussion text rather than an independent reading choice.
A simple story for those seeking to add to their lower elementary graphic novel collection.
A humorous and engaging read-aloud with wide appeal; a strong choice for storytime and preschool collections.
An enjoyable learn-to-read vowels set. Great for new readers at home or in the classroom.
As a beautiful introduction to the Oroqen people or a subtle look at the environment, this book would be a powerful choice for ecologically themed story hours.
This title is highly recommended for school libraries, offering rich opportunities for discussions on heritage, history, and community.
A solid story about a positive experience with a first haircut; this is a good choice for libraries needing books about people in the community for young readers.
Part vocabulary building and part philosophy lesson, this is great for sparking the imagination of readers to find out more about mysteries in this world.
A spot-on cautionary tale and a perfect addition to any library’s collection of folktales and myths. Recommended.
A nice addition for libraries wishing to expand their classic canon English literature collection.
A lighthearted book for preschoolers who ask these kinds of questions and need Henkes’s kind of answers.
Whether bug lovers or bug dodgers, they’ll be drawn into Lydia’s enthusiasm. Add this playful, fact-filled pick to the shelves.
Flett’s sentiments shine but never overwhelm in this simple message of love; it’s a first choice for any library’s picture book collection.
A lot of high jinks and not much reward.
This is a terrific book to read aloud when some humor is needed, or classroom pizza parties are about to commence.
A vibrant tale of island life, quick thinking, and community building, ripe for the classroom or group sharing.
A wonderful choice for Spanish-language chapter book collections, this title will have readers wanting to dive into the other series entries.
Calderón’s concise celebratory text is an essential bilingual reference for the middle grade classroom.
This beloved and well-known series will be a delight to find in the children’s Spanish section. A solid staple for any Spanish-language collection: reassuring, vibrant, and informative.
Realistic illustrations and lovely Spanish text come together to create an informative, enjoyable, and almost peaceful nonfiction picture book about what is often thought of as a fierce predator. A wonderful addition to Spanish-language nonfiction for children.
A recommended, entertaining, and educational bilingual adaptation that will be a great resource for language learning.
A high-quality book that combines mystery and fun with math and learning. Highly recommended for the dual-language format and bilingual story time.
Purchase for browsable nonfiction collections, especially where there’s a gap on bilingual titles.
A gentle book perfect for reading at bedtime, and for all board book collections.
This nonfiction picture book has a place in every collection. This would also make a great curricular tie-in.
An engaging rendition of this must-have YA response to Casey McQuiston’s popular Red, White & Royal Blue.
A fun, diverse, and modern take with opportunity for classroom connections.
A wonderful addition in all formats that is sure to spark joy and hope as well as big conversations.
Despite the issues mentioned above, all told, this is a joy-filled event!
This lighthearted middle grade mystery tackles a heavy subject—the power of friendship and family
An immersive must-listen that’s sure to delight.
This engaging and detailed book is an excellent addition to school library collections. Its unique blend of artistic digital illustrations and fascinating biological content about these often-misunderstood ocean creatures makes it a worthwhile purchase for science and nature sections.
For shelves about the great outdoors, here’s a way to invite young children into the joys of hiking and connecting with nature.
An appealing dive into the life and environment of puffins for classroom or individual reads.
An informative visual feast that celebrates the natural world on the other side of the door.
This phenomenal historical account of the Alabama River is a must-purchase for all library collections.
A solid read that tackles the challenges of a tween realizing she’s bisexual, the pressures of growing up too fast, and discovering who your real friends are.
A recommended purchase, great for fans of Janae Marks or Dusti Bowling.
Chang’s latest is a welcome addition to any middle school historical fiction collection and will surely attract readers drawn to impactful stories told through lyrical verse.
An entertaining sci-fi romp with grounded, real-world tween struggles.
An astute and emotional story of the courage it takes to truly accept oneself and to love others for who they are.
Intriguing and dramatic, this is a fantastic introduction to middle grade fantasy from the author of Star Scouts.
A solid purchase for upper elementary and middle school library collections where realistic reads and heartwarming magical stories are popular.
A fun graphic novel with cute characters, recommended for mystery and animal lovers alike.
An excellent coming-of-age graphic novel from the author of Pumpkinheads, great for tweens and teens learning more about themselves and what they want from their future.
A heartfelt, fast-paced look at courage, connection, and discovery among the stars, purchase where sci-fi is popular.
Ultimately, the patience required to juggle multiple plotlines make this an additional selection for the middle grade magical realism audience.
A community-oriented Valentine’s Day story to sweeten any library holiday collection.
A charming book that will be in high demand for Christian families wanting an Easter read-aloud.
A whimsical holiday read with standout artwork, recommended for most collections.
Add to collections where more secular Easter books are in demand.
A thoughtful, if uneven, resource for introducing a wider range of Jewish holidays to young audiences.
This delightful introduction to colors, Mandarin Chinese, and Lunar New Year traditions is recommended for general purchase.
A recommended purchase, especially to add Islamic titles to picture book shelves.
An excellent and informative book to introduce toddlers to many of the Lunar New Year traditions.
This joyful, culturally rich introduction to Lunar New Year is a fantastic addition to any collection.
Regardless of slight flaws, this is a welcome addition to the series.
This Father’s Day tale is a welcome and meaningful addition to any collection.
A strong addition to school and public library collections, this is ideal for young readers, especially those interested in learning about family traditions, Ramadan, or the joy of preparing special meals together.
A simple story with lots of charm, this is a nice addition to any fall book collection.
A queer Romeo and Juliet, a memoir from a member of the Exonerated Five, pretend magic, and more!
Another hit from Pilkey, sure to be popular with his many fans, this is a multi-copy purchase for any library serving young people (and adults!).
An excellent and sometimes bittersweet conclusion to a sweeping story filled with romance, drama, and adventure.
A good choice to introduce babies and toddlers to the celebration of Ramadan.
Avi is a master of historical fiction, addressing universal issues that transcend his novel’s setting and timeline. A first purchase.
This uplifting and encouraging sports biography is sure to be a great addition to any library’s preschool collection.
An accessible and inspiring introduction to Jella Lepman’s work that provides a meaningful read for children and adults alike, especially those interested in history, literacy, and the transformative power of books.
Recommended only where interest in the Cuyahoga River Valley is high and supplementary resources are available.
A good choice for readers who enjoy browsable, highly illustrated nonfiction; this may be too basic for those wanting details or for research.
Florance’s experimental cosmic handbook is an inventive and informative nonfiction addition for middle to upper elementary students.
A wonderful addition to any fantasy collection, this is especially good for reluctant and new readers of middle grade.
A fun and engaging addition to nonfiction collections, especially appealing to children who enjoy reading science-focused works like the DK’s “Eyewitness Books” or learning through hands-on exploration.
A delightfully informative addition to any career or science section, geared towards older readers.
A suspenseful and heartwarming true rescue story to captivate readers and budding conservationists.
Canadian sportswriter Schultz Nicholson brings the sport of girls’ hockey to the forefront, with plenty of players and goals to cheer for.
This beautiful gem offers simple joy and a dreamy glimpse into subway travel. A must-purchase to bring joy, movement, and poetic wonder to shelves.
Brimming with superficial sentiment and bad prose, this is not recommended for libraries.
Today’s guest blogger is Lisa Menasha, introducing WEIRD, SAD, AND SILENT by Alison McGhee.
I'm curious what's moving the most at your libraries, especially if you're in Minnesota.
Can you guess the children’s book by its scathing one-star review on Goodreads?
One title is for young readers and the other is for middle grade, but both books share the importance of the cultural holiday that begins on December 26 and has been celebrated since 1966.
"The mode of operation in writing about one’s past is searching for the hidden patterns. They are there in the first place but only the hindsight examination avails them to you." Eugene Yelchin recounts his teenaged years in Russia and we discuss what doing that entails.
In cartoonist Hamish Steele's new book, lonely little boy Tobi becomes a giant, kaiju-fighting superhero. In addition to being a lot of fun, this is also a metaphor.
Lullabies for the Insomniacs strings together the countless lonely sleepless nights I spent as a teenager, stranded in the turbulence of my mind and emotions.
Lullabies for the Insomniacs strings together the countless lonely sleepless nights I spent as a teenager, stranded in the turbulence of my mind and emotions.
I chat with Fuse #8 Production blogger Betsy Bird about her latest picture book.
Bold and brassy (but never bratty) the iconic pig reaches her 25th year, and we've her editor and publisher on hand for a quick Q&A.
In typical McBride fashion, the lines and verses evoke a story that is more shadow play than structure.
This year's Newbery winner will need to excel in the area of "presentation for a child audience." As we consider this year's contenders with that in mind, let's recall some past award winners that were especially notable for the ways they connect with child readers.
The 2025 YA Best Books list has a choice for every teen—long-anticipated companion novels, adorable rom-coms, and genre-bending romantasy.
Vibrant anthologies, powerful celebrations of groundbreaking figures, and volumes filled with concrete poems and traditional rhymes make their appearance on our Best Poetry list.
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