SMITH, AJ

As the medium continues its meteoric rise, 2024 marked the debut of SLJ's first-ever Best Books committee dedicated exclusively to manga. From shock-charged action and celestial fantasy to eco-horror and edutainment, these 22 standout titles offer something for readers of all ages and interests, redefining what belongs on K–12 shelves—and why.

Co-authors Kekla Magoon & Cynthia Leitich Smith in conversation about the inspiration behind The Blue Stars Series: Mission One: The Vice Principal Problem: "When we set out to write a middle grade graphic novel series about cousins who became superheroes to save their school library, we couldn't have imagined how timely our story would become."

The best-selling author recommends nine books by Indigenous authors for fans of the award-winning TV series about four teens on an Oklahoma tribal reservation. 

A team of librarians and academics identifies different kinds of counting books and recommends titles and read-aloud strategies for each. 

The areas of K–12 education that demand a transformation of thought and action are multiple, and we must lean in to this vital work.

As more Native writers make inroads into childrens' publishing, educators and readers must set aside internalized misconceptions about Native life, people, and nations.

A middle school librarian and makerspace teacher planned a unit focused on the works of Edgar Allan Poe.

The debut author of the middle grade novel Chula the Fox, which recently earned an SLJ starred review, talks process, #OwnVoices, and learning from loss.

The author of Another Kind of Hurricane created a service project for students to aid others by sending clothes and handwritten messages of kindness.