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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.
PREMIUM
Spotlight on Cynthia Erivo
A strong addition to the series that will inspire young readers to embrace who they are.
With its lilting text and gorgeous artwork, this is the rare book that amplifies the ferocity and the necessity of fire in nature, employing the ecology of the sagebrush.
An excellent choice for social studies units dealing with geography, as well as integrated studies showing how art and social studies can work together to create meaning. This is a beautiful, fascinating, and uniquely told book.
PREMIUM
Spotlight on Ariana Grande
A highly accessible format and inspiring message make this a great pick for young most collections.
Abari’s accessible text sheds light on a group of women who did not receive enough recognition during their time; students will be inspired by the story of this brave and hard-working battalion. A first purchase.
PREMIUM
Just Say Welcome
A useful addition to collections in communities welcoming immigrants and refugees, especially with its celebration of inclusivity.
A must buy for every library, fostering curiosity for cultures throughout the world, and bringing balance to such Eurocentric works as the Opies’ landmark titles.
PREMIUM
Big Family Beach Day
A wonderful multigenerational beach story, perfect for all libraries for summer reading hours, or for classroom units on family.
PREMIUM
Bitter Tea and Rock Candy
A great story for libraries looking for representation of Chinese culture, of intergenerational relationships, and of trying new things; it’s also something of an ode to the fact that grandmothers were once young.
Missouri elementary school library media specialist Carly Bogaards helps promote education, wellness, and community with an expanding outdoor program.
A valuable addition to any library collection aiming to support social-emotional learning and inclusive education.
A good addition to the nature section of most libraries.
Recommended first purchase for all library collections. Ideal for read-alouds or independent readers.
This charming but slight story is for larger collections.
A wonderful story that combines sensory experiences of nature with lush language.
A celebration of family traditions and the lessons learned from them. A strong addition for picture book collections
PREMIUM
The Box Full of Wonders
Although it’s important to have titles that feature blended families, this book unfortunately requires significant explanation from an adult.
An absolute winner with comic touches and tenderness that will speak to a generation of readers who are part of families that are “on the go” and yet looking for an alternative to the pace of modern life. Highly recommended.
PREMIUM
Home Is a Heartbeat
While not an essential purchase, this celebration of the joy of extended family will make some children wish they were part of a large group with lots of traditions.
This celebration of food and family is a perfect addition to picture book collections.
A fun addition to library shelves where surprising adventures are sought.
PREMIUM
Piccolo
A happy taste of Italian language and culture, sweet as gelato and bound to leave readers and listeners of any age responding “Grazie.”
Sparrow is suitable for young readers exploring emotions and change, and the end notes provide valuable context for older readers interested in history, culture, and language.
PREMIUM
Thank You, Old Oak
A touching story, engaging illustrations, and valuable educational content in the back matter make for a great addition to school library collections.
Working well as both a read-aloud and for one-to-one experiences, this purchase is for collections needing wry humor and a funny treat for all to enjoy.
PREMIUM
The Elevator on 74th Street
A charming story with a unique point of view that will have children thoroughly connected to the human and non-human characters alike. A highly recommended tale of friendship.
PREMIUM
It’s Taco Knight!
With humor and whimsy, this book is a good read, but may not stand out as particularly exceptional compared to other food-related books.
A great addition for any community. This is a story about love and loss of extended family from a child’s perspective where difficult realities are faced, but it still ends on a hopeful note.
A sweet, heartwarming tale that celebrates the universal language of friendship and understanding. A recommended choice for sharing one-on-one or in small group read-alouds.
PREMIUM
Specs
A great read for anyone who has been newly prescribed eyewear, and a valuable addition to any collection focused on fostering self-confidence and celebrating individuality.
Educators and caregivers alike will love sharing this title, an excellent book for all.
A somewhat saccharine, fall-themed bedtime story with lovely watercolor and pencil illustrations.
PREMIUM
Mama Car
This loving and enjoyable picture book is a strong choice for preschool collections.
PREMIUM
The Winding Willow
A delightful addition to picture book collections, perfect for snuggling up and sparking imagination.
This lovely refugee story of perseverance drawn from the author’s experiences is a great purchase for picture book collections.
PREMIUM
BananaNow
This book can fill a collection development gap in libraries that seek to address the use of electronic devices, but has limited interest for a general audience.
PREMIUM
Amanda Gorman: Poet and Activist
A recommended purchase for libraries looking to include relevant, inspiring individuals to their biography collections for young readers.
A good introduction to landmarks for early elementary children.
Firmly rooted in Wyeth’s childhood this title will appeal to budding artists as Wyeth’s story is one that offers a path for those who find their passion for the world best expressed through art. Recommended.
PREMIUM
I Am Strong!
Ideal for read-alouds, and toddler and baby story times, this is recommended for purchase for libraries serving the youngest patrons.
PREMIUM
Dexter: The Stand Up Dog
A true story of overcoming challenges one step at a time, this is sure to be popular with those already familiar with Dexter.
PREMIUM
Maisy Loves Frogs
A welcoming and engaging choice for young nature enthusiasts, perfect for story time or one-on-one reading.
Recommended where rock climbing or national parks books are popular.
Not an essential purchase, this interesting subject lacks a consistent presentation throughout.
A “grate” choice for public libraries needing to expand their board book collection.
PREMIUM
Hi, Worry. Bye, Worry!
This guide is a great choice for elementary SEL shelves and curriculum and respects its audience
PREMIUM
A Kid’s Guide to Backyard Trees
A good purchase for any library looking to offer more books on exploring the outdoors.
PREMIUM
The House That Floated
Imaginative and thought-provoking, this beautifully crafted, wordless picture book is a profound addition to library collections for young readers.
An admirable goal of sharing under-represented children and the obstacles they overcome disappoints with an awkward presentation.
This aesthetically pleasing picture book biography will be a good addition to the art shelves.
Best suited to an elementary school-aged audience, this narrative nonfiction picture book engagingly introduces young readers to a lesser-known WWII hero.
PREMIUM
The Museum of Shapes
Recommended as an essential purchase for the kindergarten and early reader crowd.
In these five titles for new readers, pairs of friends share in adventures and have twice the fun.
QuizHub is a digital quiz platform that provides rapid reinforcement of core subjects for elementary students with a variety of quick, matching-style quizzes.
PREMIUM
We Carry the Sun
This ambitious book will require booktalking but has STEM intrigue as well as a glimpse of how breakthroughs happen
This is a first choice for any library seeking picture books about the fascinating origins of “We.”
An excellent and necessary addition to every STEAM-focused library serving children.
Clear explanations that acknowledge that not all questions have answers, this book encourages young thinkers to ponder the world around them and perhaps find some answers through their own investigations. Recommended for all collections seeking to add to theirgeneral knowledge sections.
This book is a great informational text that makes amazing use of alliteration and is perfect for read-alouds and makerspace activities.
This would be a first choice for any library looking for new nonfiction picture books. The artwork and the story are inspiring and beautiful.
PREMIUM
The Blue Jays That Grew a Forest
A recommended purchase anywhere nature lovers and animal fanatics abound.
PREMIUM
Kente for Jojo
This wonderful celebration of Ghanaian weaving culture will be welcome in all library collections.
Destined to become a cherished read-aloud in classrooms everywhere, this title is a first choice for picture book collections.
PREMIUM
So Many Books!
With sing-song cadence, spritely pacing, and a positive message, this text could be included in read-aloud lineups, but, with limited storyline or character development, this may only be of use during lesson-driven story times. Additional purchase only.
PREMIUM
Far, Far Away
An unusual outing, problems specific to the setting while the lesson is universal, and the warmth of family all combine in a compelling story of expectations defied, with amazing results.
An unusual sensory exploration that plants readers alongside Lewis, offering them a blueprint of sorts for listening closely for their own personal soundscapes.
A delightfully imaginative approach to phonetic awareness that will prompt giggles and smirks.
This vibrant and heartwarming tale is an exceptional addition to every school and classroom library. Not only is it fun and exciting, but it also delivers a powerful and necessary message about recognizing the value in everyone’s abilities, affirming that each individual is important and necessary.
PREMIUM
The Mixed-Up Owl
With comic foils and Shakespearean pratfalls, this small, funny volume offers big laughs and wisdom, too.
PREMIUM
Midnight Motorbike
Vibrant illustrations and poetic text make this story of family relationships well-suited for one-on-one reads or for group settings with room for Q&As.
Author and illustrator, one working with a spare palette of barely expressed emotions, and one creating nakedly realistic, beautiful scenes of boyhood, deliver a story of bonding that is so very much greater than the sum of its parts.
There are no mistakes in these pages, just an SEL lesson writ large, delivered with perfect comic timing. A must.
PREMIUM
Becoming Boba
This wonderful picture book about topics of culture, familiar foods, and acceptance is a grand addition for picture book collections.
PREMIUM
If You Want to Write a Story
A sweet and satisfying choice for a story hour about imagination, or to introduce an elementary school unit on creative writing. This title is a solid purchase for any picture book collection.
This book is straight up O.G. and brand new; children will scream, "Just right!" at story hours and envy Bear and his louche life among human objects.
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.
The list of errors and sloppy presentation feels endless, making this a poor choice for any collection.
A strong addition to elementary and middle grade nonfiction collections, particularly for libraries serving families who travel or readers eager to explore the world.
New readers will feel proud of their ability to read these fun, outstanding stories on their own.
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.
PREMIUM
The Dreams I’ll Dream Tonight
A great bedtime read-aloud that’s not essential to collections, but a winsome take on a childhood problem.
A touching story, replete with cultural detail and built-in curricular extensions.
PREMIUM
Embarrassed Ferret
A wonderful addition to classroom and library shelves that will help teachers and children engage in conversations about compassion and helping one another out during inevitable moments of embarrassment. Recommended.
PREMIUM
Ai & Aiko and the Little Curve
Readers may enjoy Draw’s animations, and adults may admire his philanthropy, but those looking for the nuance and sensitivity in this picture book will be disappointed. An optional purchase for most libraries.
PREMIUM
We Match!
Though the subject matter will speak to devoted dog lovers, the execution is more for the young-at-heart than for the actually young.
PREMIUM
Best Buds
Spirited Spencer and his many plants will encourage other young readers to find friends and make connections in ways that feel right to them. Recommended.
PREMIUM
On Our Way with Mr. Jay
Essential for building universal respect for the school bus drivers who pour their hearts into the work they do each day, this book will find a place on most shelves.
PREMIUM
The Moving Book
An appealing family story, well-suited for both one-on-one and large-group read-alouds.
Younger audiences, as well as teachers and librarians on the lookout for quick indoor stretches that are fun and safe, will go bananas.
Though the lives of both Attenboroughs are incredibly compelling material, this is not recommended for purchase.
PREMIUM
The First Peoples
This distinctive and thought-provoking adaptation will pair well with analogous tales from around the world and spur discussion on culture and gender.
PREMIUM
Before I Lived Here
Gr 1-4–As a young boy peers out his window, he imagines the layers of history beneath his neighborhood...
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