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The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze by Derrick Barnes and Champion by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Raymond Obstfeld, and Ed Laroche are this year's winners.

Running from mid-February to late-March, the religious holidays are celebrated by Muslim people all over the world. From board books to a graphic novel, there’s something here for every young reader.

The SLJ reviews editors rounded up our reviews of the books lauded at the 2026 Youth Media Awards. Here, the reviews of the Geisel, Odyssey, Alex, and Batchelder Awards.

The SLJ reviews editors rounded up our reviews of the books lauded at the 2026 Youth Media Awards. Here, the reviews of the Michael L. Printz Award and Honors winners.

The Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature honor and recognize individual works by Asian/Pacific American authors that highlight Asian/Pacific American cultures and experiences. Here are SLJ's reviews of the 2026 Award and Honor winners.

As she dealt with grief herself, Watson wrote All the Blues in the Sky to give readers permission to feel all of the emotions related with loss and help them cope with it.

Lunar New Year is February 17. Here are some titles to share with young readers, including a new chapter book from Grace Lin.

We Need Diverse Book aims to fight book banning and better literacy with a new initiative; Library of Congressi s accepting applications for Literacy Awards; NCTE to host African American Read-in with Mychal Threets; and more.

Glitter Everywhere! by Chris Barton mentions LGBTQIA+ people on one page, which the district said violated the state’s anti-DEI law; Iowa book ban bill back in federal courts; and more.

Share these selections from Hena Khan, Saadia Faruqi, Huda Fahmy, and more in January and all year long.
 

“It's important to us that our books have staying power. We want to publish books that resonate today and that will be resonant twenty years from now,” says Associate Publisher Susan Dobinick of Astra Books for Young Readers. Two such titles are Astra’s new books celebrating Black history.

The New Hampshire bill to ease the process of removing books will not pass; North Carolina public library ousts board over Call Me Max; 2021 School Librarian of the Year Amanda Jones writes about the impact of SCOTUS not taking up Little v. Llano County.

These two adventurous novels center Black youngsters traveling across space and time to protect their loved ones, save planets, and achieve their dreams.

John Green’s Looking for Alaska is the No. 1 banned book in schools over the last four years.

Lee & Low publisher and co-owner Jason Low says publishers must continue the commitment to diverse titles while also contributing to the larger fight for the freedom to read.

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.

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.

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

The YA author shares how laughter through tears is a survival tactic employed by her protagonists—and Indigenous people—to get through difficult times.

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.

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 five titles honored by the National Book Foundation include three novels in verse.

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

Take the next four (or more!) minutes to read an exclusive interview with Amber McBride about The Leaving Room, her latest novel in verse for young adults.

PEN America released data for the 2024–25 school year, with more than 6,800 instances of book bans in districts across the country.

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

Some students in North Carolina will no longer have access to their public library through their school ID; Florida appeals Penguin Random House v. Gibson decision; book ban debates in Nevada and Iowa; and more.

In time for Latinx Heritage Month and the publication of Fall of the Fireflies, García McCall presents a guide to the supernatural gods, monsters, and fiends from the Aztec Pantheon that appear in her new series.

Book bans continue at school libraries, and at an Arizona county public library system, children's books on puberty and sex ed were moved to the adult nonfiction section.

In this exclusive interview, Chloe Gong talks with SLJ about her writing process and the themes in her new dystopian novel Coldwire, publishing in November.

Four former finalists are on this year's list for the prestigious award. 

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.

This year marks the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth, and over the last half-decade, YA adaptations have brought even more excitement to her work.

A career retrospective at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art and the current political climate have kid lit creator Grace Lin considering the purpose of her future work.

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.

In a deeply personal acceptance speech at ALA Annual in Philadelphia in June, the YA author discussed her life influences, racism in publishing, and professional uncertainty.

Censorship, AI, and federal funding top the list of concerns for school librarians heading into the 2025-26 school year.

The author/illustrator's work shines a light on Latinx icons who haven't always appeared in our history books. Here we celebrate Menéndez's illustrations in the Spanish and English editions of the excellent poetry collection Hopeful Heroes by Margarita Engle.

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.

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.

Even a so-called "narrow" ruling in Mahmoud v. Taylor would undermine the First Amendment and access to diverse viewpoints in public education and lay the groundwork for even more serious ramifications, a Georgetown law professor explains.

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 diverse list of titles includes prose novels, novels in verse, and graphic novels. It has solid middle grade books as well as selections more suited for upper middle grade or younger YA tastes.

Creaky Acres is a story about a girl, a horse, and a whole new way of life. Brigid Alverson spoke to the creators about their graphic novel featuring Nora, a competitive rider, who finds her way on a delightfully weird farm, inhabited by an equally quirky crew of young equestrians.

Seven new graphic novels, both fiction and nonfiction, that depict the immigration experience. 

For collection development or year-around displays, this celebration of joy and all things Jewish takes readers around the world. There’s a Sukkot in Uganda, a seder in Depression-era Washington, DC, and another set in COVID-19-era Jerusalem. Family is the thing, and from the personal to the universal, the gamut of human experience runs through these picture books.

From a bilingual title about merengue dancing to a colorful volume on what you can find in the grocery store, these works are perfect for the smallest hands this summer break.

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Mahmoud v. Taylor, a legal dispute that started when a Maryland district added books with LGBTQIA+ characters and themes to its curriculum and did not allow parents to opt out of instruction. Here are SLJ's reviews of those books.

Cascarones are empty eggshells that are decorated, filled with confetti, and sealed. A Latinx Easter tradition involves breaking them over loved ones’ heads. Join in the fun with these two picture books.

The American Library Association released its data on 2024 censorship attempts, but don't let the lower numbers fool you. The strategy may have changed, but the organized efforts to remove books from shelves remains.

The George M. Johnson memoir is No. 1 for the first time after Maia Kobabe's Gender Queer held the top spot the last three years. Two Ellen Hopkins titles made the list.

We Need Diverse Books will celebrate the first We Need Diverse Books Day on April 3; senators call on acting director of IMLS to continue funding programs as directed by Congress; Suzanne Collins talks philosophy and Sunrise on the Reaping; Eric Carle Honors honorees announced; and more.

It is important to work to stay emotionally and physically strong during difficult times. This collection supports finding ways to recognize and celebrate the healing forces around us.

In these titles, young readers will attend Seder meals on the side of the road and Mount Everest, follow the Sarajevo Haggadah throughout history, search high and low for the afikoman, and more.

Lifting up transgender voices in literature has always been important, but now it's more vital than ever. Share these 14 books by trans creators and/or about trans characters ahead of Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31 and all year round.

Rochester (MN) Pride cited unspecified safety concerns for canceling the visit by The Rainbow Parade author Emily Neilson; federal judge says lawsuit over removal of school library books in Florida can continue; districts in South Carolina and Texas keep The Hunger Games and Bathe the Cat on the shelves, respectively, while a Pennsylvania high school removes three LGBTQIA+ graphic novels.

Holi, also known as the Festival of Colors, is a Hindu festival celebrating spring. Young readers will enjoy these colorful picture books about the holiday.

Purim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates events told in the biblical Book of Esther. Hand these titles to young readers so they can share in the parties, costumes, and food that are all part of the festivities.

Reading about the determination of these women, both in sports and in life, may encourage young readers to similarly face any challenges in front of them. Share these titles for Women's History Month and all year.

A bill to remove legal protections from school and public librarians advances in South Dakota; Livingston Parish, LA, has emptied the YA shelves in five branches and told librarians to read every title in search of sexually explicit material; and so much happening in Arkansas in the latest Censorship News.

While winning the Newbery, Caldecott, and Printz awards often leads to a bump in sales and a spot on school library shelves, censorship legislation, librarians afraid of challenges, and the growing anti-diversity movement could change that this year.

The Black Caucus of the American Library Association, Inc. and School Library Journal have revealed the winning titles in the 2025 Children & Youth Literary Awards, which celebrate the diversity of the Black experience.

These stories share a variety of Ramadan and Eid experiences, from fasting for the first time to celebrating in a home. Hand them to young readers leading up to the holy month and all year long.

Following a devastating year of violence against children, our deepest hope is that these 40 outstanding international titles, and the words within them, can inspire bridges of understanding and peace. Download the full list here.

These five heartfelt titles feature characters whose identities fall under the trans umbrella.

Schools for military families must pull several lessons tied to immigration, gender, and sexuality and remove books that could "potentially" cover those topics; Tennessee county removes 32 books from school libraries; and Utah pulls 16th book from state's schools.

The executive order saying the United States will only recognize "two sexes" will have a ripple effect that "will undoubtedly affect public schools, public libraries, and the literature that is shelved in both," according to the statement signed by more than 50 organizations.

The New York City–based initiative is holding strong, even as book bans in schools surge nationwide and anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation expands.

The lawsuit claims the Arkansas librarian lost her job after being targeted by a group wanting book restrictions; Texas county commissioners fire a library director and put a judge in charge; South Carolina board of education removes four more books from all schools; and more in censorship news.

Shark Teeth by Sherri Winston and Black Girl You Are Atlas by Renée Watson are this year's winners in the younger readers and teen categories, respectively.

These 12 recent YA titles celebrate romantic Black love in many forms, in different periods of history, and in real and fantasy realms. They include humor, queer love, and paranormal/sci-fi encounters, expanding the much-needed diversity within the romance genre.

From board books with kids and dogs sharing Valentine's wishes to YA novels about Valentine's dances and do-overs, these titles will warm young readers' hearts this holiday season.

Spotlighting the history of Jim Crow and civil rights struggles outside the South, along with recent books and teaching resources on the topic.

This dedicated page features everything about the awards, including all of SLJ's reporting of the 2025 Youth Media Awards ceremony and recognized titles and creators; a complete list of winners and honor books; plus links to book reviews, author interviews, blog posts, and related coverage.

The SLJ reviews editors rounded up our reviews of the books lauded at the 2025 Youth Media Awards. Here, the reviews of the Coretta Scott King Medal and Honors winners.

The SLJ reviews editors rounded up our reviews of the books lauded at the 2025 Youth Media Awards. Here, the reviews of the Pura Belpré Award and Honors winners.

The SLJ reviews editors rounded up our reviews of the books lauded at the 2025 Youth Media Awards. Here, the reviews of the Asian/Pacific American Award and Honors winners.

The SLJ reviews editors rounded up our reviews of the books lauded at the 2025 Youth Media Awards. Here, the reviews of the Stonewall Book Award and Honors winners.

The SLJ reviews editors rounded up our reviews of the books lauded at the 2025 Youth Media Awards. Here, the reviews of the Schneider Family Book Award winners.

Rebecca Lee Kunz has been vaulted into children's literature's elite with the Caldecott win for illustrations in this story of a Cherokee family and a young boy just trying to help.

The coming-of-age graphic novel written by Samuel Teer and illustrated by Mar Julia, which tells the story of a mixed-race teen connecting with her estranged father, tackles themes of family, friendship, culture, and gentrification.

Across the country, educators, parents, and others keep Black history alive amid restrictions on how race is taught in schools.

Young readers of all ages can enjoy the various activities involved with Lunar New Year as they read these titles.

Every year on January 27th, International Holocaust Remembrance Day commemorates the 1945 liberation of the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. This year marks the 80th anniversary. Share these graphic novels with young readers leading up to the day and all year long.

These books are the best of the Rise committee's selection of  "well-written and well-illustrated books with significant feminist content for young readers."

From a pizza-eating dragon to a detailed look at the causes of climate change, these Spanish-language works offer young readers engaging stories and magical high jinks.

As librarians prepare to celebrate Black History Month this February, the events of the last few years underscore the significance of this occasion. Honoring the achievements of Black Americans bolsters the self-esteem of Black youth and can empower them to excel in school. Here are some notable books for teaching and celebrating Black culture and history.

Are your young readers sad that the holiday season is over? Point them to these titles, featuring holidays celebrated throughout the year around the world.

“The law deputizes librarians and booksellers as the agents of censorship," judge Timothy Brooks wrote in the ruling. Plus, more news about book removals and community pushback on censorship attempts around the country.

Kwanzaa is an African American and pan-African holiday that celebrates family, community, and culture. These board books, picture books, and audiobooks will help young children learn more about it and get into the spirit of the holiday.

The new law in New Jersey aims to limit book removals and protect librarians from criminal prosecution; in Illinois, some school districts are choosing to lose state grants instead of complying with its Freedom to Read law; additional titles removed in Oregon and Tennessee; and more in censorship news.

Cree, Sioux, and Ojibwa are featured in these picture books across fiction and nonfiction categories. Among them are an old favorite, vastly updated, plus a biography about the hero of the drum.

From board books that invite the littlest readers to hippity-hop to anthologies that encourage older readers to explore deep themes in narratives, these 11 titles celebrate the Festival of Lights in a variety of ways.

With these titles, young readers can see some of the many different ways people celebrate Christmas around the world.

Shifa Saltagi Safadi's novel in verse about an immigrant family, the 2016 Muslim ban, and a boy trying to balance school and family earned the prestigious prize.

Mythology and animal stories compose a large part of this early reader and chapter book list, alongside contemporary tales of young protagonists staying true to themselves and the things they love while figuring out how to act among peers. These titles will help children learn how to read as well as model ideas for how they can be authentically themselves.

This thankful season, children can read all about dinosaurs, crayons, and even turkeys enjoying food, fun, and family. 

Diverse books to encourage conversation during National Adoption Awareness Month.

These seven series about supernatural creatures are more humorous than scary and often emphasize acceptance.