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This outstanding book with great information is endearing as well, demonstrating the power of perseverance, love, and commitment. A first purchase wherever children flock.
A strong addition wherever animal and ecology books are popular.
PREMIUM
We Are the Scrappy Ones
A meaningful work for children with disabilities and those who interact with them, this is a purchase for all collections.
PREMIUM
Take Me Out to the Ball Game!
A great angle for a global sport, and a recommended purchase for all libraries.
No matter the level of reader familiarity with spirituals, this title brims with lyricism and soul-lifting strength through its emotional illustrations and compelling text.
Teachers and librarians will be able to use this as a mentor text for research projects; young readers and their families will love poring over the pictures and telling friends about the new facts they’ve learned. A must-have for any elementary library.
Full of drama and heart, this is the story of a heroic man of faith who boldly spoke out against slavery; his story has a place in all library collections serving upper elementary students. Highly recommended.
The Young Adult Library Services Association announced the finalists for the Morris Award for a YA title by a previously unpublished author and the Excellence in Nonfiction Award for nonfiction YA books for ages 12 to 18.
NCTE has announced Stealing Little Moon: The Legacy of American Indian Boarding Schools by Dan SaSuWeh Jones and The Last Stand by Antwan Eady, illus. by Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey, as the 2025 Orbis Pictus and Charlotte Huck award winners, respectively.
Regardless of classroom uses, young readers will enjoy this one immensely; it’s a first choice for libraries needing nonfiction about diving and deep ocean travel.
PREMIUM
Transport
This book is packed with fun facts and charm; add to collections where Richard Scarry’s “Busy Town” or Raul the Third’s “¡Vamos!” series are popular.
Despite the sloppy presentation, this book is a valuable addition and a good resource for a language that its speakers are diligently working to keep alive.
Great and engaging nonfiction.
Only for those who want a slimmed down adaptation of the original.
PREMIUM
Athletes Who Changed the Game
Browsers and sports fans will be drawn to these concise yet engaging vignettes and will want to learn more about and cheer on these noteworthy athletes.
Primarily for browsers; but offers plentiful food for thought on this critical topic.
With these titles, young readers can see some of the many different ways people celebrate Christmas around the world.
The mysterious octopus is explored in-depth through its evolution and ecology in this young readers adaptation, targeting engaged and patient tweens.
A strong overview of a wide range of Asian American icons who have helped, and are helping, to shape the world; recommended for juvenile nonfiction collections, and as a research jumping-off point.
For collections requiring more on the hijab and its importance to devout Muslim women, this book is an ideal addition; those seeking comprehensive biographical information on female Muslim athletes will need to look elsewhere.
PREMIUM
Weirdest Animals on the Planet
While this book is not recommended as a first purchase due to its disorganized formatting, it will circulate well in children’s collections where books on unique animals are popular and desired.
An attractively designed fact book that stumbles in its execution; purchase only where the series is popular.
An excellent mentor text for either poetry or science, this book is also an elegant way to compare and contrast different kinds of wind in a toddler or preschool setting. A first choice for any library.
A fascinating and well-told look at a little-known African animal. Recommended.
PREMIUM
Meet Bisticeratops
This series is a solid purchase, offering access for younger readers while providing new knowledge for older ones.
PREMIUM
TIME for Kids: Weather
A rich array of science terminology is woven into this visually appealing book, designed to challenge upper elementary readers with advanced syntax and introduce meteorological phenomena.
Keleti’s life experiences will captivate new generations of readers while simultaneously teaching important history lessons.
A fun book that would be great in the hands of readers who want to learn more about where their food comes from but aren’t ready for in-depth information.
This is a wonderful STEM book to add to any collection; the witty, lighthearted format will engage readers across a broad age range.
For music collections, biography, or even Americana, this book lends itself to story hours and certainly as an icebreaker for conversations on style, substance, and marching to the beat of a different drummer.
Perfect for young marine biologists, this title uses humor and fascinating facts to capture the imagination and remind readers that new discoveries are being made every day.
This serves as an accessible introduction to a civil rights hero, regardless of flaws, and is worth an add to larger collections.
Suited for classrooms and browsers, this is an excellent choice across the curricula and a winner across the board.
PREMIUM
Meet Mbiresaurus
This series is a solid purchase, offering access for younger readers while providing new knowledge for older ones.
PREMIUM
Meet Meraxes Gigas
This series is a solid purchase, offering access for younger readers while providing new knowledge for older ones.
PREMIUM
Meet Yuxisaurus
This series is a solid purchase, offering access for younger readers while providing new knowledge for older ones.
The blossoming ranks of stellar biographies for young readers continue to crowd the shelves. Japanese athletes hit their summits in two vastly different ways, an author attempts to right the record on Rosalind Franklin, and a forgotten sports hero at last gets his due. And that's just the start of the Best Books in the category of nonfiction for the elementary grades. Come have a look.
SLJ's 2024 best middle and high school nonfiction selections run the gamut from insightful memoir; thoughtful explorations of cultural, biological, and environmental phenomena; to unrelenting exposures of dark times in our world's sociopolitical history—and the crucial lessons we must learn from the past.
An interesting take on the planets and exoplanets with great illustrations but an uneven text structure.
PREMIUM
A Kids Book About Diversity
Somewhat preachy, this title is a serviceable tool for parents and teachers on a very important topic; it may function best when combined with a storybook on a similar theme to enhance lessons on diversity.
Well-crafted and inspiring, this is an excellent choice for readers interested in sports and issues of gender and social justice.
The best poems educate with their facts and inspire with their beautiful flow of words. These 11 titles contain poems that do both exceptionally for young readers of all ages.
SLJ will reveal the 193 titles selected for this year's Best Books list starting November 19 and culminating November 25 with a live webcast.
Highly recommended for any high school library in need more memoirs emphasizing the importance of sports and mental health.
Humor and detailed illustrations make this a great introduction to oceanography and marine biology for upper elementary and middle grade readers.
A thorough and well-designed text that is best for confident, older elementary school-age readers.
PREMIUM
Kamala Raised Her Hand
A cursory biography that focuses on encouraging children to raise their hands; the highest demand for this will be at public libraries.
This lovingly designed, poetic nonfiction story introduces young readers to the life and challenges of the sea wolf species.
PREMIUM
We Miss You, George Floyd
A valuable book for libraries and classrooms interested in continuing conversations on systemic racism, police violence, and community loss and grieving.
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.
This example of science writing at its best is highly recommended for middle and high school library collections.
The technical information on parasites presented in this book is accessible through the use of humor and illustrations, making it a solid choice for libraries serving middle grade students.
A great resource for readers with enough background knowledge to truly understand the material.
A glorious and filling book that will leave readers well-satisfied.
PREMIUM
London: A History
Despite some missing elements, this book’s delightfully effective partnership of visual and textual storytelling makes it a solid choice for upper elementary and junior high school collections.
A fascinating and important tale of one scientist’s dedication to ocean conservation and community that will inspire many to follow in her footsteps.
While the soft yet dynamic and detailed illustrations are the stars of this book, the lyrical writing combined with solid scientific information make it a must-have for upper elementary and middle school library collections.
An excellent purchase for school and public library collections.
A professional purchase for most school libraries.
A good resource that offers detailed insights and practical examples on how to strengthen advocacy and collaboration through ecosystem thinking.
A scholarly work more at home in academic libraries for those studying the impact of classic children’s literature and for superfans of Montgomery’s work.
A necessary purchase for elementary professional collections; the read-aloud experiences included provide a wealth of ideas to utilize across content areas and grade levels.
PREMIUM
Tove Jansson: Life, Art, Words
The love of the work and artist is evident, but the magic is lost in translation.
School libraries will find this a helpful addition to a well-used professional collection.
A crucial title for all academic libraries; this should be required reading in graduate library science, education, and higher education programs across the U.S.
Highly recommended.
The detailed illustrations and the dual layers of text make this a versatile and informative addition to collections.
Despite the playful presentation and the problems inherent in a “tear-out” section in a library, this is polished nonfiction; irreverently fun and informative, it’s an excellent selection.
A wonderful volume that gives insight into the powerful source of joy and intention; Powder’s dedication to her teachings extends into the next generations with every turn of the page.
A “loud and proud” celebration of the roots and branches of a unique musical heritage.
Enticing glimpses of both a country’s troubled history and of a cultural icon who will be new to most young audiences.
This first children’s book about an important trailblazer “abzuglutely” belongs on the shelf of every library alongside other portraits of leading Jewish women, such as I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark by Debbie Levy, Goldie Takes a Stand!: Golda Meir’s First Crusade by Barbara Krasner, and Emma’s Poem: The Voice of the Statue of Liberty by Linda Glaser.
An excellent resource for children who are experienced in the outdoors, those new to it, or teachers and classroom staff prepping students for an excursion.
With the wish for young cooks to “seek out global flavors,” this team has created a beautiful and informative cookbook that will inspire children to find connections with cuisines and cultures around the world.
This beautifully written homage to a great American writer is a must-purchase for picture book collections.
Tabei’s life and accomplishments are succinctly delivered with engaging text and brilliant illustrations to celebrate this trailblazing woman. Strong first buy.
PREMIUM
My First Book of Fancy Letters
An additional purchase for schools or libraries needing a read-aloud alphabet book, this is for children who already know their letters.
This roundup of 2024 books centering Native American stories offers something for every reader to enjoy this November and all year long.
PREMIUM
The Scroobious Pip
A great first buy. Lear’s poem and the illustrations that accompany it make for a whimsical and fascinating read with broad appeal.
PREMIUM
The Awesome Physics in Your Home
This is an excellent introduction to physics in a highly relatable format and a strong choice for libraries.
A strong first buy. Children will be captivated by Fox as they join him on a joyful romp through his world.
A thorough and well-designed text that is best for confident, older elementary school-age readers.
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.
In these recent releases, text and visuals complement each other to explain complicated concepts such as historical battles and biological cycles.
PREMIUM
Erno Rubik and His Magic Cube
This insightful and inspiring look at the mind behind a puzzle that is now a familiar favorite is a worthwhile addition to library collections.
Given the educational purpose of this book, a parent or guardian’s guidance is strongly recommended in order to help readers make sense of and ask questions about the book’s key topics.
PREMIUM
All About Vulvas and Vaginas
Readers will require a counselor, parent, or guardian close by to make sense of the health- and body-related vocabulary and topics of this book that is designed to foster a private conversation for discussion.
A remarkable book suitable for all; it’s a valuable and thought-provoking read that provides a unique perspective on a pivotal moment in American history.
Denmead provides readers with a scope of Wilson’s early life and artistry; she promotes the value of his expressiveness as his achievements are still relevant and have an ongoing cultural impact on modern points of view.
An inspiring tale of passion, resilience, and innovation, covering a remarkable life and encouraging children to pursue their own interests and their dreams.
PREMIUM
Teachings of the Drum
An accessible short work with a blended color palette shares the great connection of a drum to an Indigenous boy’s heart.
PREMIUM
Urban Coyotes
An informative and engaging photo-illustrated book on research into the lives of urban coyotes that would support ecological research.
An informative read full of compelling stories, this is a good choice for most nonfiction shelves.
With accessible language and inspiring message, this book is an excellent addition to any library.
PREMIUM
Not Just the Driver!
This charming book is an excellent addition to any library, encouraging young readers to appreciate the collective effort that keeps the world moving.
A meaningful and moving story, albeit with some narrative flaws. Recommended for older elementary students, this would benefit anyone looking to spark important discussions about immigration, equality, and the right to an education.
An in-depth look that is thought-provoking and comprehensive on a complex and timely topic.
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