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Throughout history and around the world, dancing has been a way for people to express themselves and celebrate their cultural identity. Share these titles with young readers in time for National Dance Day on September 21.

Starting a new school, or even a new school year, can elicit a lot of emotions for many children. These board books, picture books, and early readers will help reassure young readers that all will be well when they step into their new classroom.

This list showcases 19 books that reflect our differences and model healthy interactions with those unlike us. These books are about recognizing, accepting, and celebrating our differences.

Physical books that play narration can increase students' reading confidence. Parents also like the format as an alternative to digital devices.

Houston Public Library youth and family services manager LaTrisha Milton wanted to help families manage during difficult times. With the help of partner organizations, she put together a mental health program for more than 50 patrons.

Creators are never so ambitious than when they want to get the facts into the hands of young readers. Here is our list of outstanding nonfiction books from the first part of 2024.

These diverse offerings include stories featuring STEM, mythology, gentle lessons, and more.

In these two picture books, a couple of different illustrators have shared their creative vision for Emily Dickinson’s famous poem, “Hope Is the Thing with Feathers.”

Two picture books take on the magic of trees springing up from mere seeds in stories with redemptive themes as well as teaching moments.

New readers can feed their minds as they read these books about feeding their bellies.

The New York Times best-selling author and Caldecott Honor-awarded picture book illustrator talks with School Library Journal about creating the Mo Willems Workshop channel and how librarians can use it with their students.

As reading instruction swings toward phonics, librarians need to stay in the game with decodables. These suggestions, plus a sampling of publishers' offerings, will help.

These titles take a look at two traditions around the Muslim holiday that commemorates the story of Ibrahim (Abraham).

National Book Award winner A First Time For Everything by Dan Santat and  Sunshine by Jarrett J. Krosoczka are among the many children's literature titles nominated for the 2024 Eisner Awards.

Conveying a range of experiences, these stories of family, love, humor, and loss will engage children during Caribbean American Heritage Month and beyond. 

These early readers and chapter books will be just the thing for independent readers looking to meet new characters and engage with fun stories during the summer months.

Daniel Bernstrom, Carole Boston Weatherford, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Kekla Magoon, Scott Reintgen, and others share stories about educators who played an important role in their lives.

From the Caldecott-winning Big by Vashti Harrison to a bilingual counting book in Mi’kmaw and English, these illustrated works are guaranteed to engage young readers during summer break and all year around.

Characters in these books, including a few classics, are comfortable being different from others and engage with their world in nontraditional ways.

Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan, is expected to fall around April 9 to April 11 in 2024. These picture books, along with a board book and an early reader, can be shared with young ones while they wait for the first appearance of the crescent moon that marks the end of the long month of fasting.

This selection of picture books features various traditions and ways to celebrate the holy month, showing young readers the diversity within the Muslim community while celebrating the shared principles.

Illustrated titles about strong women and self-empowerment for girls from the 2024 Rise Booklist. 

National Tell a Fairy Tale Day is February 26 this year. Young readers can revisit stories about Goldilocks and Jack and the Beanstalk—with new characters and formats giving the classic stories a fresh feel.

Bustard tells the story of a Italian priest who became a saint, Churnin writes about a female entrepreneur in the 1800s, and Strauss informs readers about the preservation of a 14th-century manuscript.

Young readers will love the sense of accomplishment they feel after reading these stories about Valentine's Day on their own or with a caregiver.

The Black Caucus of the American Library Association released its 2023 Best of the Best Books list, featuring more than 75 titles divided into three categories: PreK–4, Grades 5–8, and Grades 9–12.

The theme for Black History Month 2024 is "African Americans and the Arts." In these titles, young readers can learn about people who loved to express themselves through visual art, dance, song, and other forms of artistic creation.

In these three titles—a board book, picture book, and early reader—brother-and-sister duos celebrate Lunar New Year and Valentine's Day.

Lunar New Year falls on Saturday, February 10 in 2024. From wish soup to dragon gifts, these board books and picture books show young readers many ways to celebrate the holiday.

Here are the overall Top 10 books chosen from six curated lists, spanning early readers to YA.

When it comes to young learners, wonder is a key tool. It helps children become self-motivated learners, excited to explore where their knowledge will take them.

The SLJ reviews editors rounded up our reviews of the books lauded at the 2024 Youth Media Awards. Here, the reviews of the Caldecott Medal and Honors winners.

Remember Us by Jacqueline Woodson and Saints of the Household by Ari Tison were honored with the awards in the younger reader and teen category, respectively.

After a student shared an upsetting incident on social media, Jones set out to teach her students about safely managing social media and ended up learning a lot herself.

Three Kings Day, also known as Epiphany, is on January 6 and commemorates the biblical story of the wise men who brought gifts to the newborn baby Jesus. It is mostly celebrated in Latinx communities and marks the end of the Christmas season. Share these three picture books with young readers to teach them more about the holiday.

From a glittering party in Harlem to a dazzling parade in Tokyo, from a baba's small patch of soil to a cadre of children learning to love who they are or stand up for others, the very best of 2023's picture books invite readers into pages to meet the world head on.

In these 16 early readers and chapter books, children who are learning to read will see themselves reflected on the pages and feel a sense of accomplishment as they embark on their reading journeys.

A runaway dreidel, parading yokai, and dancing ornaments make these holiday picture books that much more magical.

Young readers will delight in these tales, both fun and (slightly) frightening, about preparing for and enjoying the holiday with family and friends.

Travis Jonker shares key elements of a good scary book for young students, titles he loves, and tips for successful spooky read-alouds (video included). 

The Jewish holiday of Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Booths, celebrates the autumn harvest and the bounty that nature provides. Share these picture books with young children for the festival and any time throughout the year.

Dogs and cats save the day in these appealing stories for young children about rescue squads and community helpers.

With large publishers falling short, independent publishers have emerged to produce children's books with Latinx characters and by Latinx creators in both English and Spanish. 

In these fun picture books, children can follow along with kids—and animals!—on their quest to obtain a new live-in best friend. These 11 stories range from the first desire for an animal companion to the responsibility of caring for another life. 

Tips for engaging young kids with these works, which can build visual literacy and foster social-emotional skills, plus a video demonstration. 

From board books to middle grade graphic novels, these illustrated narratives celebrate Latinx children and their communities.

The anniversary of women gaining the right to vote is a good time to revisit resources and offer titles that teach not only about the suffrage movement, but the women who continued the fight for equal pay, education, and more.

Reading about animals who have the same fears and other feelings about going back to school can help young readers face their own.

These elementary books also feature versions of the Monkey King, a character from a 16th-century Chinese tale and central character in a new streaming release.

For book lovers, the library is the best place in town. For young children who have never entered that space, the shelves seem endless, the stacks are tall, and they have no idea where to begin. These eight books comprise a love letter to libraries to help newcomers get their bearings. They're only a start.

Going to school for the first time, or going back to school, can be a scary experience for many children, but especially for those who are afraid they won't be accepted for being different. These four titles can help reassure children that classrooms are welcoming to all.

From Jackie Ormes to Christo and Jeanne-Claude, these 9 picture books bring young readers into the lives of creatives who were born in the U.S. or spent years making art here. Share these titles to commemorate them and all artists.

The author/illustrator describes his inspiration for this story about a mother fox making her way across an autumnal landscape to get home to her kits.

Kids will encounter bicycle-riding elephants, words-loving dragons, and a fun day at the beach in these Spanish-language books for transitional readers.

Biographies of world leaders and creators, a rollicking take on the way animals sleep, and a primer on race for kids. These Spanish-language selections are perfect for rounding out nonfiction collections.

From traditional Indigenous stories to the truth behind the Mexican jumping bean, these picture books, selected by the We Are Kid Lit Collective, offer entertaining and memorable reading experiences for kids over the summer break.

Heritage celebrations are conversation starters. Use these appealing titles for young people to facilitate meaningful discussion about Caribbean histories, communities, interests, and experiences. 

This collection of true life stories will certainly provide comfort and guidance to anyone trying to articulate and express their identity, but may also broaden the horizons of those around them and perhaps help the world become a more positive and inclusive place where everyone may feel valued.

Whether it's spring, when we first noticed these books, or summer, winter, or fall, offering children a way to look at the world that makes them appreciate and want to protect it may help guarantee its future, and theirs. 

Since June 19th became a national holiday in 2021, the list of books about Juneteenth has been growing! Here is a handful of the latest titles for children.

Decades of disagreement over reading instruction may be waning as states around the country make the science of reading mandated curriculum. 

There are many ways to approach summer reading, but book clubs can bring students and school communities together with a focus on conversations not assessments.

The Bank Street College of Education’s Center for Children’s Literature has announced the 2023 winners of the Irma Black Award and Cook Prize, which went to Bathe the Cat by Alice B. McGinty, illus. by David Roberts and Anglerfish: The Seadevil of the Deep by Elaine M. Alexander, illus. by Fiona Fogg, respectively.

Elementary and middle grade fans of this coming-of-age classic will love these recommendations.

With Mother’s Day and Father’s Day around the corner, these titles would make for some great displays and themed story hour picks.

Gotta sing? Gotta dance? Gotta run away fast? This collection may help children who have never stood up in front of big or small crowds quell those butterflies, take deep breaths, and take their first steps toward the footlights.

Some Florida districts have ordered their teachers to remove titles until they are deemed appropriate. In others, teachers are acting proactively to avoid consequences. But how do you teach with empty shelves? Three teachers share their stories. 

Brian Covey continues to educate the public about the negative impact of the Florida law that is not just about "pornography" but race and anything that might make kids uncomfortable.

Star Child by Ibi Zoboi and Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas are among the winners of the annual awards that honor outstanding children's and YA books by African American authors.

SLJ's "Heavy Medal" bloggers are still putting Freewater's unexpected Newbery win into context, as they examine 10 past winners that made an impact.

March 14th is Pi Day. From early readers who are still learning how to count to middle graders who might be ready to recite the first ten digits of this irrational number, Pi Day is a fun opportunity to get young readers excited about math. Here are 14 books to help mark the occasion.

These three picture books capture the hardship and joys that Black people have experienced in the United States, with nuance and sensitivity to a young audience.  

Illustrated works enhance classic African American songs and embrace the joys of rhythm.

This series update brings with it a batch of new mysteries, new faces (some friendly and some less so), and new linguistic tools to help transitioning readers thrive through the chapter book format.

Dragons take center stage in these series for elementary kids watching the Netflix adaptation of Ruth Stiles Gannett's 1948 classic.

Betsy Bird tours a 165,000-square-foot “Explor-a-Storium” featuring walk-in storybook experiences, from a real Great Green Room to a Last Stop on Market Street bus.

These bold Caldecott titles broke new ground in many different ways. 

New York doctor Jaclyn Sisskind shares the positive impact books have made on her patients and her concern for the harm of book bans.

With its range of text structures, innovative formatting, and rich language, expository literature is a great choice for modeling high-quality informational writing.

Enhance your curriculum by showing how these standout nonfiction works reflect strategies of nonfiction writing. 

Online learning got a bad reputation during pandemic school closures, but many districts say their virtual schools create a more personalized path for student success.

Hand these books to middle graders in need of some magical tales. 

Chapter books are such an important part of literacy, and these six selections are not only perfect stepping stones on the learning journey, but also fun gems to secure children’s love of reading.

Judges chose Harmony Becker's graphic novel over five other finalists for the prestigious award.

Share these titles with readers caught up in the magic and intrigue of the Netflix movie.

Whether it's the 80th birthday of a beloved author, new information that necessitates a surgical revision, new printing processes that bring clarity to a book's dated look, or all new art, the definition of "reissue" brings a lot of old books to a brand new audience, who don't seem to mind a bit that they are reading an "old" book. 

The awkward question will likely come up from a little one sooner or later. Might as well be prepared. These 6 titles explain the topic from sexual intercourse to childbirth in a way that is easy for young minds to understand.

Listen to these fun and (a little) frightful podcasts with kids of all ages.

Diwali is the Indian festival of lights, a holiday celebrated in Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and by some Buddhists. Bring little readers into the festivities with these 7 titles.

Think outside the box with these 12 titles for the tween and younger set that feature neurodivergent characters and celebrate the extensive ways our minds can come up with ideas, solve problems, and learn new things.

Elementary-aged fans of the Apple-TV series will like these books that chronicle managing divorce, moves, and friendship.

In back-to-school season, educators can use these books to convey the message that perfection isn’t required, good enough is good enough, and every child—and every child’s creation—has inherent value.

Día de los Muertos, a holiday with Mexican roots, is a time for family and friends to honor their deceased loved ones. The Day of the Dead is usually celebrated November 1st and 2nd. These five picture books commemorate the day and will help kids get in a festive spirit.

Nana. Amah. Ojiji. They go by many names. The bonds kids have with their grandparents are worth celebrating. Here are 9 titles for this Grandparents' Day that showcase the love between children and older adults.

Amid threats and hate-fueled protests, performers and allies remain committed to the program.

We live in a world where everything from a microscopic virus to a gun the size of a baseball bat has tried to kill our children. Books—and acknowledging a child's fear—can help.

August 26 is Women's Equality Day, commemorating the passing of the 19th Amendment, which gave white women the right to vote. Share these 12 books with young readers who want to learn more about women's suffrage.

Our reviews teams scoured the lists for the best of new books to take on the first days of school.

New policies are impacting school library purchases in Pennsylvania and Florida; one Texas district cancels its Scholastic Book Fairs for the year; and a South Carolina state senator threatens to eliminate the salaries of public library executives in his county in the latest Censorship Roundup.

Educators may naturally seek to help those who are struggling at school, but some high performers can need a different kind of support—to know that imperfect is OK.