Monarch and Mourning Cloak
Learn from this gorgeous and factual book about two very different butterflies, the monarch and the mourning cloak. Replete with information, poetry, and terrific illustrations.
Vicki Palmquist
Wildfires
A list of books about wildfires and forests requested by a summer school teacher who shared that her "students have been consumed by worries about wildfires."
Houdini’s Library
Yes, Houdini was a magician and an escape artist. He was world famous. But that’s not what this book is about. Harry Houdini was a reader.
A Forest Begins Anew
In a world that craves understanding, there’s a book for that. This is one of those books. The finest kind.
Resistance
It's vital to remember the books published in the recent past that will help children and teens learn about, understand, and process their own calling to be a part of the resistance.
A Year Without Home
In a world that craves understanding, there’s a book for that. This is one of those books. The finest kind.
Snowshoe Kate and the Hospital Built for Pennies
I love true stories about people who do big things in unexpected ways. Right now, I think we all need to realize our actions, no matter how local, can cause big ripples.
This Pirate Needs Your Help
This time of year, I like to recommend books that make ideal holiday gifts. As a kid, I especially liked books that could DO something, that would play with me.
Cuddly Companions Can Hold Our Heartaches and Happiness
Did you have a beloved stuffie or doll—one you hung onto no matter how many years passed? These books share stories of these comfort animals.
The House on Rondo
If someone from the government came to your house and said, “You’ll have to abandon this house. We’re going to tear down your neighborhood and put a major highway through here.” How would you feel?
Jolene Gutiérrez and Elizabeth Weiss Verdick
Two simpatico authors, Jolene Gutiérrez and Elizabeth Weiss Verdick, interview each other about writing picture books with neurodivergent characters.
Autumn Leaves
It's October and thoughts turn to the annual changing of the leaves. Here are some of the best books about leaves and their trees to share with young readers.
Curiouser and Curiouser with Betsy Bowen
I first read about this playground group creation in The New York Times in 2020, and remained curious about how it went.
The Metamorphosis of Bunny Baxter
Barbara Carroll Roberts’ evident love of gardening and insects and not-sports and reading and kids and families and friends gives us a page-turning book that I spent happy hours reading.
The Wheels on the Bus
Bright yellow school buses are a familiar sight: they’re big, they’re noisy, and they’re on the move. Hop on and let’s explore bus books for kids.
A Day at the Beach
Lately, I find myself beguiled by short story collections. I have always been someone who enjoys a long book. What’s happening?
Bicycles, Bloomers, and Books about Invention
Since 1900, most of kids' riding and rolling has happened on bicycles. It’s no wonder that children love these clever machines. As kids learn to ride, their worlds widen; their independence grows.
Coöperation
You'll find these books about cooperation, from picture books to novels, to be good discussion starters.
The AI Incident
What does it mean to be human? Not every middle grade novel tackles that question. The AI Incident doesn’t shy away from examining AI, robotics, learning, and being human. It does so with laughter, caring, and intrigue.
I Love Blueberries!
Celebrating a terrific book for young people that will get them excited about growing their own food. Hydroponics, yummy blueberries … you’ll want to share this one.
Nikki Grimes
We're always excited when Nikki Grimes shares one of her new books with us. This one is especially lovely, A Cup of Quiet, which celebrates the grandparent and grandchild relationship as well as all the sounds we hear when we're quiet and we pay attention.
Community in Action
Our communities in action: suddenly, many books that felt like distant history have become topical once again. Reading about the desperate challenges our forebears have faced, especially in well-researched novels and nonfiction, give us all hope that we can find a bridge to the better side.
Our Beautiful Homelands
There are those among us who are doing vitally important work. Merna Ann Hecht is a bright light among those wonder-workers.
Community Building: Picture Books
a booklist featuring picture books that relate stories of peace through community building
Community Building: Novels
In this booklist, we recommend novels for ages 9 to adult that tell stories of characters who build a caring community around them.
Torrey Maldonado
Here’s a letter from my heart to someone who helped inspire what’s at the heart of my writing and teaching, and what’s at the heart of books I hold close.
Death and Grief
For those who are mourning the loss of a relative, a pet, a friend, a teacher, these books for young and old are recommended by our subscribers.
Floods and Hurricanes
With recent hurricanes and flooding so much in the news and a part of conversations, we've pulled together a group of books that will help those who learn from fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.
Scary Short Story Collections and Novels for Middle Grade Readers
While Halloween is just weeks away, scary stories are year-round favorites for many kids. Scary story collections and stand-alone novels often appear on the bestseller lists in kid-lit publishing.
Let’s Offer Readers a History Buffet
There are, of course, a myriad of possibilities for your history buffet: mix and match middle grade fiction, long form nonfiction, picture books, both nonfiction and informational fiction, artwork, film, and museum websites.
Firefly Light and Great Books about the Night
Do you remember summer nights when you were a child? Running on bare feet? The grass silk-soft and dewy? Crickets chirping? A bright slice of moon? Fireflies and the first stars?
It Takes Place on Alcatraz
Books about a specific locale are magnets for readers. One of the places that has mythological status in American culture is Alcatraz Island. Here are some of the books about this island that captivates our imaginations.
Tumble
Adela doesn't know who her father is. Now her stepfather would like to adopt her but state law requires the birth father to give up parental rights. With some research, Adela finds her father and a family she knew nothing about.
My Incredible India
I am utterly mesmerized by this book! The author and illustrator express their love for the wonders of this vast and many-faceted country, which shines from each double-page spread, irresistibly inviting the reader to discover more for the sheer joy of learning.
Math for the Young Set
There are all kinds of ways to bring math into a young child's life. Count birds outside the window. Talk about shapes and give them names. Discuss measurements while cooking. Our favorite way is to read stories and look at picture books, absorbing math concepts easily.
The Labors of Hercules Beal
There’s a right time for the right book. The time for this book is now. Reading it, you cannot help feeling hopeful.
Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko
Dogtown is a funny, heart-warming story about an animal shelter from a dog's point of view, written by collaborating authors Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko.
Hands
Trev is a talented artist. He’s kind, thoughtful … and he doesn’t want to learn how to fight. But … he needs to protect his family.
When Families Gather
In the midst of the holidays, or at any gathering-time of year, these books are "just right" for reading out loud to young and old. Celebrate family!
Toni Buzzeo
I most fervently hope that my young readers will learn that the voices and opinions of children are important in any conversation — that children, especially tweens and teens, are important contributors to family decision-making and community change.
Thank You, Moon
Night is my favorite time of day, so I was entranced by this book about the many ways in which moonlight affects animal behavior ... including humans.
To Rhyme or Not to Rhyme
If you’ve ever dipped a toe into the children’s book publishing world, you’ve probably heard cautionary tales about writing in rhyme. In short, most insiders say, “Please don’t rhyme.”
Mark Ceilley
Writing this book was a wonderful experience for me. I am proud to be a part of writing a book that incorporates themes of friendship, kindness, cooperation, and building self-confidence.
Ralph Fasanella: Artist of the People
I find this book so exciting! I love discovering a new artist and I confess that I’m not familiar with Ralph Fasanella’s paintings. It's such an apropos book for our time.
Granny Rex
Kurtis Scaletta is an experienced writer of middle grade and chapter books. Now his first picture book is out and we're curious about his experience of writing in this format.
See the Author / See the Illustrator
Once in a while, a duo creates several books together and they get to know one another. We're curious about how that works. Meet David LaRochelle, author, and Mike Wohnoutka, illustrator, of six books together (so far).
Marveling about Migration
Flyways? Up until this moment, I confess I had a relatively elementary-school-like understanding of how and why birds migrate. Join me in learning more.