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A mix of board books, picture books, one graphic novel, and one middle grade novel make up this roundup of Christmas-focused titles for young readers.

A fantasy series opener by Chanel Miller and a picture book from the newest Reading Rainbow host Mychal Threets are featured in November's web stars.

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.

In Dietrich’s book, Owen rooms with a prince of Hell; in Joyce’s book, the Princess of Hell plans an escape with Nate.

SLJ has selected 191 titles for our 2025 Best Books of the year! Take a look at our fabulous December issue cover, dedicated to this year's list.

From sensory-filled illustrations to relentlessly funny characters, the 2025 Best Picture Books make for excellent read-alouds, heartfelt one-on-ones, and heartrending reads.

These Best Transitional Books of 2025 for beginning, emerging, and newly independent readers include relatable friendship tales, challenges overcome, and everyday slice-of-life stories that are pitch-perfect for the age group.

The Best Middle Grade titles of 2025 feature action-packed fantasies, resonant realistic fiction, and heart-pounding horror stories for tweens.

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.

From poo and tentacles to contemplative picture book biographies, this year’s picks for the Best Nonfiction for Elementary readers are filled with facts, information, and wonder.

This year’s Best Nonfiction for Middle and High School students features true crime, an inclusive puberty book, sports titles, and lots of STEM.

Every one of our picks on the Best 2025 Graphic Novel list, ranging from early readers to adaptations of popular kid lit prose, has illustrations to be pored over and a narrative to be enjoyed.

 The 2025 Best Manga roundup features haunting sci-fi, slow-burn romance, and charming friendship tales for middle grade and YA readers.

An audiobook of Tuck Everlasting is narrated by Alexis Bledel for its 50th anniversary; Stacy McAnulty goes to Venus in the latest "Our Universe" book. We herald these and more titles in our November stars list. 

These three titles focus on intriguing, shocking, under-explored disappearances throughout history.

Whether they are returning home or going somewhere new for the holiday break, the promise of a magical Christmas romance awaits these teens.

Elephants, mice, and dragons make their appearance in these fun and festive board books and picture books.

Purchase these web-exclusive titles, including a celebration of libraries, gorgeous picture books, and stirring YA novels. 

Graphic novels by and about Indigenous people are a growing and essential category. Share these during Native American Heritage Month and all year long.

From Wonder to The Hunger Games, readers pick the most influential books of the last 25 years.

These two titles explore the drama, the excitement, and the endless moving parts involved in the world of theater.

Derrick Barnes has a picture book and a middle grade in this roundup. Plus, nonfiction picks range from Gail Jarrow’s latest to a primer on deadly snakes.

From a lushly-illustrated story of the wildflowers that inspired Emily Dickinson to vivid narratives of firefighters, researchers, and policy makers confronting climate change, these books show people engaging with the world as explorers, observers, and protectors.

These picture books that celebrate found families, friendship, and connection are great choices for holidays shelves.

The books that shine here, including the latest from Leslie Patricelli and Mo Willems, keep it simple, are all heart, and let babies be babies and preschoolers be preschoolers.

Native American Heritage Month, celebrated in November, celebrates the rich histories, cultures, achievements, and stories of Indigenous peoples across the United States. Share these four YA titles, all with Indigenous protagonists, with young readers in time for NAHM and anytime during the year.

This month’s starred selections include titles about donuts, the women of Norse mythology, the Russo-Ukrainian War, and more.

This month's notable titles include works from our fiction edition of the Series Made Simple supplement, featuring the latest entries from Kate DiCamillo and Axie Oh.

There can never be too many Halloween books! Check out these recently reviewed board books and picture books to round out Halloween displays and programs. 

In this exclusive interview, J. Elle talks with SLJ about fantasy inspiring young adults' imaginations, how both she and her main character have grown over the course of three books, and what she hopes readers will take away from her trilogy.

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!

These adult titles with teen appeal feature a range of genres and topics, from magical adventures and mysteries to nonfiction explorations of everything Taylor Swift and John Green’s adult nonfiction debut.

Celebrate Diwali, Mid-Autumn Festival, and a wedding with these fun fall titles!

These cheerful chapter books span a wide range of reading interests and genres and are a bastion of diverse stories and characters.

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.

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.

Celebrate the Day of the Dead with these colorful, educational, and fun titles for young readers.

From a personal immigration story to the latest picture book from Sonia Sotomayor, these works for young people highlight the accomplishments and history of Latine people.

These recent mysteries feature buried truths and hidden secrets just waiting to be shared and exposed. Young patrons can listen at their own risk. . . and beware the body counts!

Here’s a look at manga that feature short chapters, perfect for a quick, fun read—whether to dip in for just a few minutes or to get hooked and binge.

Check out these encyclopedias about useless facts, a compendium of curious contraptions, and a biography on Sally Ride. These ready reference titles will keep every fact nerd occupied and satisfied.

Chuseok is a Korean harvest festival on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. This year, it falls on October 6. Share these two books with little ones to teach them about Chuseok and celebrate the holiday.

Whether it’s ballet or the tinikling, dancing is fun for humans and animals alike!

From Boffone and Herrera's overview of queer identity in YA literature to Struckmeyer's title on young adult library programming, these books will inspire librarians, both new and experienced, to take a fresh look at their programs and collections.

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.

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.

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.

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.

These four titles discuss women's equality in America, as well as women's suffrage worldwide. Hand them to young readers for Women's Equality Day and throughout the year.

This month brings starred titles in gaming books, professional reading, and more.

That rocks are born, not made, will have children sitting up with delight for these two fact-filled but funny origin stories.

In these five titles for new readers, pairs of friends share in adventures and have twice the fun.

From nursery rhymes that soothe to spooky verses that thrill, these titles share a variety of poems for young readers to experience.

The first Sunday in August is designated as National Sisters Day, a time to celebrate the bond between and with sisters. These selections offer something for children of all ages and might just inspire a deeper appreciation for the sisters in their own lives.

From silly snouts to social-emotional smarts, this season’s board books are big on charm, heart, and purpose. Along with ABCs and animal antics, these titles foster empathy, celebrate identity, and reflect a wide range of families, cultures, and abilities.

Why should Christmas in July get all the summer holiday glory? This list of Halloween board books and picture books is perfect for those who want to get into the spooky spirit despite the summer heat.

This month, a poetry collection by Margarita Engle, a new middle grade novel from Dan Gemeinhart, and a nonfiction title about the Erie Canal stand out, along with other great books.

With every book, Jashar Awan comes a little closer to establishing himself as the chronicler extraordinaire of what most people see as childhood's mundane moments, and it's magic.

Finding Spanish-language books for older readers continues to be a challenge, but we’ve curated this list that includes translations of Jason Reynolds and Raina Telgemeier’s popular titles and a Spanish-original YA about an undocumented teen.

The July issue—“the stars so far”—is our halfway point on the path to Best Books in December. SLJ reviews editors stand back to take a look at a beautiful, blossoming list of notable books.

 AI-generated booklists are possible—and even published. So what is the value of human curation?

These eight forthcoming board books and picture books will be available long before December. Turn on some Christmas tunes, grab a Santa hat, and peruse these holly, jolly offerings.

Spanning genres from fantasy to thriller to romance and everything in-between, these titles for teens are sure to delight.

Ranging from heartfelt to hilarious, these remarkable graphic novel and manga titles are sure to leave a lasting impression that will stay with readers long after the final page is turned.

The accolades keep coming for nonfiction picture books that dare to offer facts and true stories to elementary-aged readers. We cannot wait for autumn, when it's time for a whole other harvest of titles that keep children reading and learning.

From picture book biographies to the Spanish-language edition of Jason Reynolds’s Lu, these picks are just-right for Spanish readers.

Whether they want to read one good poem or delight in a collection of good works, these titles offer something for all young readers.

In these two titles, librarians will be inspired by reading about the good work of colleagues and motivated to help young readers through the use of bibliotherapy.

Our starred middle and high school nonfiction offerings for the first half of 2025 are sure to keep readers engaged and informed. 

These six titles show that good things come in small sturdy packages. Board books, for the pre-literate and newest readers, continue to surprise and delight in equal measure, and fly off the shelves for story hours.

From Pakistan to Spain to ordinary neighborhoods, the power of books has never been more visible than in these 65 gems plucked from the mines of picture books published in the first half of 2025. 

New readers will feel proud of their ability to read these fun, outstanding stories on their own.

From rollicking fantasy to heartbreaking realism, these excellent additions to the middle grade and hi-lo genres will have something for every tween to enjoy.

These three titles feature tweens with parents navigating incarceration and detention in the United States.

This month includes transitional books, holiday titles, poetry reads, and more receiving special recognition.

From figure skating dreams to dungeon crawler adventures, these seven popular manga titles with recent anime adaptations offer something for every taste and age.

Margarita Engle’s collection of poetry heralds Latinx heroes and Juana Martinez-Neal’s latest celebrates a Peruvian scientist. A sprinkling of self-help titles round out the list.

In these stories, tween and teen protagonists with a range of abilities face real and fantastical challenges, from time loops to dust storms to going viral. Share these titles with readers in time for Disability Pride Month in July, and all throughout the year.

These recent, incredible titles cover under-explored events, figures, regions, and even creative literary approaches that warrant a spotlight in the WWII literary canon.

These Juneteenth offerings include various formats, ranging from cookbooks to early readers to audiobooks, so all your young readers can find their preferred way to learn more about this holiday.

What titles stand out as the greatest in literature for children and young adults? That’s the question School Library Journal has posed to readers.

From cheerful picture books to a thought-provoking YA novel, these titles about July 4th offer stories for children, tweens, and teens.

In the lead-up to July's Stars issue, June is bursting with top quality reads in holiday titles, Spanish books, cookbooks, anime, and more.

Whether they are going to school for the first time or facing the beginning of another academic year, the start of the school year can be a time of high emotions for little ones. Share these titles to help them prepare.

Seven recent graphic novels that feature family stories of love, loss, and lineage.

Just in time for Father's Day, we've rounded up a few of the latest board books that highlight the special bond between fathers and their children. Share these titles with your young readers before mid-June or all year long.

This month, readers will journey with a ghost looking for a new haunt, start a new school, listen to the stars, and go on many more adventures in these pages.

From romance to fantasy to graphic novel to poetry—there’s a book for every teen’s summer reading pile in this roundup of diverse titles.

These three novels explore the fun, freedom, and complications of life on vacation for tweens.

Authors and illustrators have become evermore adept at hooking readers with fantasy and humor while providing solid details like bait to hook their continuing curiosity. These five fishy tales prove it.