NEWS & FEATURES

The Cover Test: Winning Book Design Strategies

How do designers create children's book covers that stand out against the competition? Here’s insight into the process behind some recent titles.

BLOGS

GOOD COMICS FOR KIDS

Review of the Day: Kwame Crashes the Underworld by Craig Kofi Farmer

BOOKS & REVIEWS

10 New Manga Titles for Kids and Teens | Manga Roundup

Author Wen-yi Lee on YA Debut ‘The Dark We Know’ | 5 Questions and a Rec

Thankful for Books: 8 Board and Picture Books to Celebrate Thanksgiving

More Books & Reviews

BOOKS & REVIEWS

10 New Manga Titles for Kids and Teens | Manga Roundup

Author Wen-yi Lee on YA Debut ‘The Dark We Know’ | 5 Questions and a Rec

Thankful for Books: 8 Board and Picture Books to Celebrate Thanksgiving

SPONSORED

SPONSORED

Diverse Voices: Recognition Equals Reading Success

SPONSORED

New Titles Celebrate Hispanic Heritage

SPONSORED

Diverse Voices: Recognition Equals Reading Success

SPONSORED

New Titles Celebrate Hispanic Heritage

EXPLORE SLJ

BOOKS & MEDIA

SLJ Reviews the Mo Willems Workshop YouTube Channel

Rachel G. Payne, Oct 30, 2024

During the pandemic, many families relied on Mo Willems’s playful, calm, and supportive “Lunch Doodle” videos, sponsored by the Kennedy Center, on YouTube. The Mo Willems Workshop channel has expanded its content. Here's SLJ's review.

BLOGS

Making Science Fun and Accessible for Teens and Kids, a guest post by Jorge Cham

Amanda MacGregor, Nov 07, 2024

There is a joy to asking questions and learning new things. It’s fun to explore, and to find the answer to a question. It’s exciting to learn that the world works in ways we did or did not expect.

BLOGS

New York Times Bestselling Author Gayle Forman Visits The Yarn Podcast

Travis Jonker, Nov 05, 2024

Author Gayle Forman is over on The Yarn podcast, taking us behind the scenes of her new middle grade novel NOT NOTHING

INDUSTRY NEWS

The Family Business: Kid Lit Duos

Mary-Kate Sableski, Nov 07, 2024

Family members who collaborate talk about the dynamics (and ground rules) of their creative partnerships.

More Editors' Picks

INDUSTRY NEWS

Spend It if You Can | SLJ 2024 Budget Survey

Marlaina Cockcroft, Apr 04, 2024

With budgets mostly flat, book challenges and rising costs pose hurdles for school librarians.

INDUSTRY NEWS

BIPOC Representation in Children's Literatures Continues Its Slow Rise, According to CCBC's Diversity Statistics

SLJ Staff, Apr 04, 2024

The Cooperative Children’s Book Center released its latest Diversity Statistics report on children's literature, showing another year of small increases in books with BIPOC primary characters and significant BIPOC content.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Sora Report: Digital Reading Increases with Double-Digit Growth in Comics and Graphic Novels

SLJ Staff, Apr 03, 2024

The State of K-12 Digital Reading breaks down the data for the 2022-23 school year, showing the popularity of comics and graphic novels in the digital format plus regional differences in reading habits.

INDUSTRY NEWS

From a Young Age, Children Tune in to Audiobooks | Survey

Marlaina Cockcroft, Jan 04, 2024

Children are eager listeners—of audiobooks, according to a new Library Journal / School Library Journal survey. Libraries are keeping up with the demand as formats evolve.

CENSORSHIP

Nearly a Quarter of School Librarians Have Experienced Harassment Over Books | SLJ Censorship Survey

Kathy Ishizuka, Sep 30, 2023

Twenty-four percent of school librarians have been harassed this past year over books or displays in their library. That’s according to a recent SLJ survey, which found the rate even higher among high school librarians, 30 percent of whom have experienced harassment.

BOOKS & MEDIA

Graphic Novels, Manga Explode in Popularity Among Students | SLJ Survey

Marlaina Cockcroft, Oct 03, 2023

If graphic novels are flying off the shelves at your library, that reflects a remarkable trend: The format’s popularity has shot up at over 90 percent of school libraries in the last few years, according to a new SLJ survey.

INDUSTRY NEWS

SLJ, NCTE Launch Survey to Remake Summer Reading Lists

SLJ staff, Jan 19, 2022

Those dreaded summer reading lists. For eons, teachers have been handing out assigned reading, mostly comprised of old “classics.” With this survey, SLJ and NCTE invite teachers and librarians to choose the titles you’d like culled from required reading and those books you would urge students to read instead.

BOOKS & MEDIA

Time to Refresh the Canon: Here Are Our Picks

Shelley Diaz, May 10, 2022

SLJ and NCTE collaborated to create 18 booklists of titles to replace, or use as a companion to, canon "classics."

INDUSTRY NEWS

Under Pressure: Survey Provides Insight into Librarians' Job Satisfaction

Marlaina Cockcroft, Feb 21, 2023

More librarians find their work challenging, but most still love what they do, the latest LJ/SLJ Survey shows.

CENSORSHIP

Censorship Attempts Will Have a Long-lasting Impact on School Library Collections, SLJ Survey Shows

Kara Yorio, Sep 08, 2022

In the past year, school librarians have faced coordinated, hate-filled censorship campaigns that impact available books and collection development decisions. Here, they share their stories.

More Research

AWARDS

SLJ’s Reviews of the 2024 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature Finalists

SLJ Reviews, Oct 01, 2024

The National Book Foundation has announced the 2024 National Book Award finalists. Here are the SLJ reviews of the finalists for the Young People's Literature Award.

BOOKLISTS

22 Fiction and Nonfiction Books About Voting and Elections for Children of All Ages

SLJ Reviews, Oct 24, 2024

As we gear up to a presidential election, these titles can help young readers to better understand the past, present, and future of the voting process.

TEENS

8 YA Thrillers That Blend Influencer Culture with Page-Turning Plots

SLJ Reviews, Oct 09, 2024

What happens when teen influencers and streamers famous for their social #content end up dead or the main suspect in a murder case? These timely, topical YA thrillers will keep readers guessing.

CENSORSHIP

Defending the Canon: SLJ & NCTE Review 15 Banned Classics

SLJ Reviewers and NCTE, Apr 17, 2024

In our last round of reviews of banned classics, SLJ and NCTE cover two of Jane Austen's works, the timely Fahrenheit 451, and the heartbreaking I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou.

BOOKLISTS

33 Great New Titles, Including a Star by Kwame Alexander & a LOVE Story by Jason Reynolds | Starred Reviews, October 2024

SLJ Reviews, Oct 28, 2024

In this month's starred reviews, Oliver Gerlach goes off menu, David F. Walker reimagines an American classic, and more.

BOOKLISTS

Keeping It Real: Eight Standout Nonfiction Graphic Novels | Stellar Panels

Brigid Alverson, Oct 24, 2024

In these recent releases, text and visuals complement each other to explain complicated concepts such as historical battles and biological cycles.

BOOKLISTS

Comics That Reflect the Vast Influence of Manga

Brigid Alverson, Sep 18, 2024

These seven works range from spin-offs of classic Japanese manga to completely original stories rendered with manga-style storytelling.

TEENS

14 YA Romances to Warm Readers' Hearts During Hispanic Heritage Month and All Year Round

SLJ Reviews, Sep 17, 2024

From fantastical to contemporary, these 14 diverse YA romance novels featuring Latinx protagonists will be loved by readers this Hispanic Heritage Month and throughout the year.

BOOKLISTS

21 Nonfiction Titles for Young People in Honor of Latinx Heritage Month

SLJ Reviews, Sep 18, 2024

From picture book biographies to historical overviews and reference titles, this roundup spotlights informational texts centering Latinx heritage. Add these works to nonfiction displays from September 15 to October 15 (and every other month of the year).

CENSORSHIP

18 More Reviews of Banned Classics | Defending the Canon

SLJ Reviewers and NCTE, Sep 23, 2024

In time for Banned Books Week, NCTE and SLJ have partnered again to provide professional reviews of banned curriculum staples. We highlight 18 acclaimed works by celebrated authors, including Alice Walker, Toni Morrison, and F. Scott Fitzgerald.

BOOKLISTS

12 Transitional Book Series Librarians Love and Why

Marlaina Cockcroft, Oct 01, 2024

Librarians responding to our 2024 Transitional Books Survey had a lot to say about their favorite series. Here's why "Fly Guy," "Mercy Watson," and others stand out to them.

BOOKS & MEDIA

15 Titles with Haitian American Representation to Share with Kids of All Ages

SLJ Reviews, Sep 23, 2024

With Haitian communities under attack in Ohio and across the country, share these titles that feature Haitian American representation or are by Haitian American authors, including picture books by Tami Charles and YA novels by Ben Phillipe and Ibi Zoboi.

BOOKLISTS

Break-Ups and Make-Ups: 14 books that tackle tween friendships | Great Books

Laura Dooley-Taylor, Aug 21, 2024

These excellent middle grade titles illustrate the significance and complexity of tween friendships.

CENSORSHIP

Banned Books Week News, Events, and Resources

Kara Yorio, Sep 17, 2024

Banned Books Week 2024 is about raising awareness and taking action. Here are some events, resources, and ways to get involved in the fight against censorship.

BOOKLISTS

8 Books to Help Librarians Thrive | Professional Reading Roundup

SLJ Reviews, Aug 07, 2024

From literacy instruction to battling book bans and censorship, the subjects of these titles will inform and inspire librarians and other educators.

BOOKS & MEDIA

8 Titles of Resilience and Hope for Holocaust Remembrance Day

SLJ Reviews, Jan 23, 2024

January 27 is designated as a day to remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust. Share these stories of resilience and hope about people of various ages, races, nationalities, and more with young readers today and throughout the year.

BOOKLISTS

19 Books Featuring Incarcerated Family Members for Young Readers of All Ages

Rachel Owens, Jun 05, 2024

Stories of children with parents behind bars are as diverse as the millions of real-life kids familiar with the experience. These 19 fiction and nonfiction titles may offer an empathetic, metaphoric hand for young readers to hold.

BOOKLISTS

81 Exemplary Picture Books | SLJ 2024 Stars So Far

SLJ Reviews, Jul 08, 2024

Get your purchase list out and make sure you include these picture books; we've found dozens of contenders for this year's Best Books collection.

More Classroom & Curricula

BOOKLISTS

Keeping It Real: Eight Standout Nonfiction Graphic Novels | Stellar Panels

Brigid Alverson, Oct 24, 2024

In these recent releases, text and visuals complement each other to explain complicated concepts such as historical battles and biological cycles.

BOOKS & MEDIA

SLJ Reviews Comics Plus Database

Andrea Lipinski, Sep 25, 2024

This great resource for readers of all ages who are interested in comics, graphic novels, and manga, has just added more picture books to its collection.

BOOKLISTS

Comics That Reflect the Vast Influence of Manga

Brigid Alverson, Sep 18, 2024

These seven works range from spin-offs of classic Japanese manga to completely original stories rendered with manga-style storytelling.

BOOKLISTS

32 Superb Graphic Novels | SLJ 2024 Stars So Far

SLJ Reviews, Jul 15, 2024

From early reader to YA titles, these starred graphic novels showcase the very best of the comics medium so far in 2024. Use the downloadable spreadsheet to ensure your collection includes these superb graphic novels.

BOOKLISTS

Best Graphic Novels 2023 | SLJ Best Books

Jasmine Amiri, Jenny Arch, Shelley M. Diaz, Andrea Lipinski, Carla Riemer, Nov 21, 2023

From stunning memoirs to sustainability guides, this year’s Best Graphic Novels list features 25 unforgettable works that take comics to new heights.

BLOGS

Boys Vs. Shark | Review

J. Caleb Mozzocco, Oct 25, 2024

It's 1975 and 10-year-old Paul Gilligan has just seen the movie Jaws, giving him an acute case of sharkophobia...and emphasizing how far apart he and his braver, more grown-up best friend are becoming.

BLOGS

Monster Locker | Review

J. Caleb Mozzocco, Oct 17, 2024

Middle-schooler Pablo Ortiz is no hero. But when a vengeful Aztec goddess and her army of monster pours through the magic portal in his locker, he may have no choice but to become one.

BOOKLISTS

32 Superb Graphic Novels | SLJ 2024 Stars So Far

SLJ Reviews, Jul 15, 2024

NEWS & FEATURES

Sara Quin of Tegan and Sara on Collaboration, Comics Books, and Coming of Age

Jasmine Amiri, Aug 26, 2024

Sara Quin of indie pop duo Tegan and Sara discusses the forthcoming final installment in the band’s graphic novel series, offering a glimpse into the life events and creative journey that resulted in Tegan and Sara: Crush.

ADVOCACY

15 Graphic Novels to Celebrate Pride This Month and Year-Round

SLJ Staff, Jun 17, 2024

As we find ourselves at the midway point of June, amidst the celebrations of Pride Month, it's an opportune time to reflect on the rich tapestry of narratives within the LGBTQIA+ community with 15 noteworthy graphic novels that can help us celebrate Pride this month, and year-round.

BOOKS

Hilda and Twig: Hide from the Rain

Oct 31, 2024

BLOGS

Goblin: The Wolf and the Well | Preview

Brigid Alverson, Jul 11, 2024

Today we have a preview of Goblin: The Wolf and the Well, by writer Eric Grissom and artist Will Perkins. This is the second volume of their middle-grade fantasy series about Rikt, an orphaned goblin, and his companion, a wolf named Fish-Breath. Here’s the publisher’s description: After losing his parents, Rikt struggles with a fear […]

BOOKLISTS

Mighty Manhwa! | Stellar Panels

Brigid Alverson, Mar 27, 2024

Korean and Chinese comics reach English-language readers.

OPINION

Turning a Page: SLJ will turn 70. How can we best serve readers? | From the Editor

Kathy Ishizuka, Oct 15, 2023

The editors are planning for 2024, SLJ's 70th anniversary year.

More Graphic Novels

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ByLine, Jan, 16 2017

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Managing Conflict with Colleagues and Patrons

Nov 12 to Nov 19, 2024

SLJ Summit 2024

Dec 06, Dec 07 & Dec 08, 2024

EVENTS

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ONLINE COURSES

Managing Conflict with Colleagues and Patrons

Nov 12 to Nov 19, 2024

IN-PERSON EVENTS

SLJ Summit 2024

Dec 06, Dec 07 & Dec 08, 2024

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The Cover Test: Winning Book Design Strategies