Related

A national network of organizations revitalizing communities through public spaces, Reimagining the Civic Commons offers helpful information for libraries to connect their efforts to larger goals, as well as to the work of their neighbors.

2021 School Librarian of the Year Amanda Jones has filed two new federal lawsuits for defamation and false light against a man who has posted accusations of her being a groomer, distributing obscene material to children, and more.

From moving tales in verse to romantic romps to stories of monsters both real and fantastical, these 25 YA novels represent the best of teens living, loving, surviving, and thriving in worlds and times that do not always accept them. 

All of SLJ's 193 Best Books of 2024 have been revealed, and we are blessed with a gorgeous cover for the December Best Books issue by Ekua Holmes, the illustrator of Black Girl You Are Atlas. See the stellar cover here.

Whether portraying a humble farming community, a home in the south of Korea, a synagogue filled with love and hope, or a neighborhood where more than small things are mended, the best picture books of 2024 celebrate how those working together are the models for humanity we want our children to witness.

What’s captured reader attention the last seven days? Top picks in middle grade and graphic format books, along with the political climate and the potential impact on schools and libraries.

Herewith, authors who have not won a Newbery Medal, including those who have won at least one Honor and some of the many excellent writers who haven’t yet been awarded any Newbery recognition. Emily and Steven kick off the conversation on "Heavy Medal."

Utah has added Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott to its list of books banned at all public schools; the Texas state board of education wants legislation giving it  control of school library collections; and Crank by Ellen Hopkins remains on South Carolina high school shelves, but students will need parental permission.

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.

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.

If confirmed by the Senate, McMahon is expected to advance the school choice and conservative agenda while trying to fulfill the president-elect's campaign promise of shutting down the Department of Education.

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. 

Cozy fantasies, immigration stories, and reimagined classics—2024’s Best Graphic Novels list isn’t just a collection of 25 unforgettable reads, it’s a showcase of comics that push storytelling to new heights.

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.

Gripping fantastical journeys, family secrets, unbridled joy, and inconceivable loss: in these pages, tweens are facing it all. These 26 middle grade titles are exemplars across genre of the power of truth telling and embracing one's authentic self, even when it seems impossible. 

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.

Among this year’s outstanding listens—with publication dates from November 2023 to October 2024—are two picture books, two volumes of a graphic trilogy (they count as one entry), a head-smack must-read history, and several laugh-out-loud novels. 

The curation of this list is evidence of the gigantic community working together, no questions asked, to campaign for literacy and an educated republic, by inviting young readers into the pages of a book. We’d love to know what you think of our 193 selections.

This season's series cover favorite nonfiction topics from a variety of vantage points.

Refresh your shelves with books about beloved animals and lesser-known species.

New titles in the arts and activities category promote creativity and fun.

Unsung heroes from the past and today's most popular personalities populate this diverse collection of biographies.

For striving and thriving emerging readers, these titles offer a while range of skill levels and topics.

From the reaches of outer space to the tiny world of nanobots, these science series will spark student interest.

These collections will allow readers to travel the world without leaving the library.

These timely collections will help readers make sense of the ins and outs of the U.S. Government and the election process.

Responding to stress, illness, and difficult situations is a focus of this season's health series.

The titles in these series offer a range of topics and genres to support emerging readers.

A good story can make history come alive, and these true stories from the past will draw readers in.

The practical and realistic information in these titles will help readers clear a path to their futures.