Responding to audience need, SLJ has created a new resource.

Fiction Series Made Simple will debut in December 2024. Modeled after our long-standing supplement Series Made Simple (SMS), the new publication will cover 500 titles in series fiction.

“We’re envisioning being able to cover books we wouldn’t ordinarily have space to cover in our traditional monthly issues,” says Shelley Diaz, SLJ reviews director.

“But we know librarians need these reviews more and more,” she adds. School policy generally requires librarians to secure two professional reviews in order to make a purchase for their collections. Especially now, librarians are being held to policy; otherwise they’re more open to book challenges, says Diaz.

Then there’s the sheer volume of series books published each month, which precludes the standard review assigning process.

“We’re looking to cover more series in general,” Diaz says. This encompasses Hi-Lo series, manga, and especially decodables, “a new space that librarians, publishers, and the community want more guidance around.”

Given strict policies in the current climate, Diaz notes the potential impact on big-name series. "There might be a time when a library may not be able to acquire the latest Wimpy Kid or Magic Treehouse," Diaz says.

Resources

Spotlighting series nonfiction, SMS is produced twice a year in April and November and features 850 to 1100 titles.

Revised submission guidelines are available at slj.com/reviewsubmissions.