The most viewed stories of the past seven days are fairly on point: recommended titles for the return to the classroom, fiction and nonfiction, and ways to make books available in a time of rampant censorship. Meanwhile, M.T. Anderson calls us to what counts: love. 

Elf Dog LaRue: A Guest Post by M.T. Anderson
By “A Fuse #8 Production”M.T. Anderson discusses why it is that pet books are both a genre that’s often trivialized or dismissed, and a genre that may contain some of the most important writing there is, writes Betsy Bird.

Suggestions Updated: 74 Possible Mock Newbery Titles to Consider
By “Heavy Medal”
Our running list of potential Newbery contenders has jumped to 74 titles! Check out the full list of suggestions contributed by Heavy Medal readers as we get ready for Mock Newbery discussions that will kick off in early September, writes Steven Engelfried.

7 Books that Take on Back-to-School Mayhem | Picture Books SPOTLIGHT
By SLJ Reviews
The first day of school, separation anxiety, a sandwich running the classroom—all the usual suspects show up in these seven beauts about helping kids cross the transom back into the world of curiosity and learning!

10 Ways to Nurture and Nourish Nonfiction Readers
By Melissa Stewart
How teachers and librarians have brought nonfiction front and center at their schools.

UPDATE: School Librarian Amanda Jones Files First Brief in Appeal of Defamation Case
By SLJ staff
Moving forward with her appeal, 2021 School Librarian of the Year Amanda Jones posted an update on her legal case on her website, where she vowed to take the case to the Louisiana Supreme Court if necessary.

Book Sanctuaries Create Safe Spaces for Banned Books and Readers
by Andrew Bauld
Book sanctuaries—where “endangered” books, the right to read, and intellectual freedom are protected—are popping up in cities, libraries, churches, and schools across the country.

New Digital Resource Offers Free Access to Banned and Restricted Titles
By Kara Yorio
The Digital Public Library of America has launched The Banned Book Club, offering free access to e-books and audiobooks in areas where the titles have been restricted or banned.