Greater representation serves young library users and the profession. But more effort is needed to bring in—and retain—Black librarians.

SLJ spoke with five school librarians about how they came to the profession, the work they do each day, and their connection with students.

The SLJ reviews editors rounded up our reviews of the books lauded at the 2023 Youth Media Awards.

Here is the complete list of the winners at the 2023 Youth Media Awards.

In the past year, school librarians have faced coordinated, hate-filled censorship campaigns that impact available books and collection development decisions. Here, they share their stories.

Ahead of Banned Books Week, which begins Sunday, the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom released data on challenges from January to August of this year.

The first comprehensive look at book bans in the 2021-22 school year breaks down the numbers by state, author, title, content, and legislative pressures. 

K.C. Boyd, Amanda Jones, Cicely Lewis, and other School Librarians of the Year share new plans and perspectives for 2022-23.

On the Diverse Books Survey page, users can access related content, newly updated, as well as our Diverse Books Survey report.

While in the minority, the SLJ Diverse Books Survey reveals some librarians are declining to purchase books with diverse characters to avoid a challenge.

2023 starts off with a good selection of starred reviews that range from picture books by Laeken Zea Kemp and David Bowles to the latest YA novel in verse by 2021 National Book Award for Young People's Literature finalist Amber McBride.

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.  

Here are a few middle grade and YA titles to pass along to young readers interested in time loops. If they love them, they can read them over and over.

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

Striking images, stunning narratives, rich colors, and complex panel designs are prime examples of why these 22 works of sequential art belong in the classrooms and on library shelves.

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.

These 27 picks for teens offer so much for young people pushing to define themselves--first love, fantastical worlds, betrayal, political upheaval, and more.

Stellar research, unexplored histories, scientific breakthroughs, and heartbreaking truths loom large in this whopping list of 52 choice nonfiction works.

This month, we feature John Lewis's follow-up to the "March" trilogy, Samira Ahmed's middle grade debut shines, Tiffany D. Jackson delivers another winning suspense novel, and two nonfiction titles discuss Charles Dickens.

Including fiction, nonfiction, and memoir, these titles cover topics from the making of the atomic bomb to the history of video games.

2023 starts off with a good selection of starred reviews that range from picture books by Laeken Zea Kemp and David Bowles to the latest YA novel in verse by 2021 National Book Award for Young People's Literature finalist Amber McBride.

With its layers and emotional verisimilitude, Kiss Number 8 is a lengthy and rewarding read, a true modern masterpiece.

Graphic novels were well represented at the 2023 Youth Media Awards. "Good Comics for Kids" offers a complete list of the honored titles.

Striking images, stunning narratives, rich colors, and complex panel designs are prime examples of why these 22 works of sequential art belong in the classrooms and on library shelves.

Navigating new friendships can be tough, as every middle schooler knows. Yet in these graphic novels, sharing a hobby or an extracurricular activity proves a surefire way to bring kindred spirits together.

The Archie Encyclopedia catalogs the sprawling cast of characters that make their home in Riverdale, as well as characters from other Archie Comics, like Sabrina and Josie and The Pussycats.

Twitter’s decline makes the case for information literacy.

 

 

Marla Frazee stops by to talk about IN EVERY LIFE.

Today author Zetta Elliott joins us to discuss her latest book, celebrating the power of community and the importance of Juneteenth.

SLJ spoke with five school librarians about how they came to the profession, the work they do each day, and their connection with students.

Driven by conspiracy theories and memes, contemporary antisemitism is spurring new strategies to inform youth, empower allies, and hold social sites to account.

The stories I want to tell are the ones where trans kids fall in love. I want to write stories to let them expand and take up space and find and choose their joy, in spite of everyone else.

Gloria Chao talks about the inspiration behind her new book and shows us how to make paper lanterns.

Travis Jonker raises up the best titles for reading aloud. “Some will be obvious and popular. Others lesser known. All will be story time gold.”