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.
Vicki Palmquist
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.
Books for Baby Gifts
Books are a wonderful way to encourage families to start the read-aloud habit early and often. Here are suggestions from people who work with children, families, and books.
Meow! The Truth about Cats
I believe this book contains everything we've ever wanted to know about cats, as well as things I didn't know we wanted to know. And the visuals! Wow.
This Biographer and Her Living Subject
I wonder how often a picture book biographer has been friends with her subject for several decades and then worked closely with that person to get her manuscript just right.
Gardening and Community
To encourage planting seeds to save the environment, to brighten spirits, and to instill a sense of connection and possibility, I like to read the following books that focus on gardening and community. Read and grow!
Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr
Ramadan begins this year on March 22nd, and culminates with Eid al-Fitr on either April 20th or 21st. Here are books you can read with your children if you are observing Ramadan or if you are honoring Ramadan with your friends and family.
Pamela S. Turner
I had several goals from the onset. The first was to make human evolution understandable. I have always been interested in the topic but found it very confusing
Finding Family: The Duckling Raised by Loons
The Loon Project, based in Minnesota and Wisconsin, discovered a loon family caring for a mallard duckling. Finding Family relates that story ...
Welcoming Spring with Froggy Books and Wild Experiences
This much-anticipated froggy season and this week's World Frog Day mark a time of increased appreciation for our amphibian neighbors. It's the perfect time to study frogs
This is the Planet Where I Live
Illustrating a book written by K.L. Going, This is the Planet Where I Live, Debra Frasier works with collage that exuberantly celebrates our connections to everything on this earth.
Two Books about Grief
Take these books to heart: two books that will help adults and children find paths into discussions about this part of life, Sitting Shiva and Walking Grandma Home.
Gandalf Lives!
I’m not certain, but I suspect stories have played significant roles in the lives of most librarians. We are story people, after all — their sacred keepers, and we delight in helping others discover their wonders.
Fabulous Food
There are so many terrific books about food! I could go on and on with selections and recommendations but these are a few of my favorites.
Library Girl
I eagerly waited for this book. I wasn’t prepared to fall in love, which I most definitely have.
Maizy Chen’s Last Chance
This book has everything going for it. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll wind up caring about the characters, and you'll want to eat at the Golden Palace in Last Chance, Minnesota.
Winter!
Now that snow has fallen in many places throughout the land, it's time to celebrate the frozen crystals in picture books, nonfiction, and early chapter books.
One Winter Up North
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota, stretching for 150 miles along the Canadian border, is the setting for John Owens’ newest wordless picture book.
The Voice of My Heart
It works well to read poems here and there from The Voice of My Heart ... but I often find myself caught up in the expressions of love and longing, moving from one poem to the next, contemplating, learning, feeling.
Dance Party
Dance has many personalities and appeals to a myriad of people. Here are some exceptional books for very young readers through teens (and adults, too).
Garvey in the Dark
With her usual positive and hopeful storytelling, Nikki Grimes reminds us that lives changed during the Covid pandemic, affecting many people in many different ways. Garvey's story will resonate deeply with readers of all ages.
Mushy Bottom Blueberry Crumble
A new recipe is always an adventure. I’ve recently experimented with low carbohydrate, low sugar recipes. Starting a new writing project is just as much an experiment. Each book requires a different look at research, and I build on what I’ve learned with other projects.
Superheroes and Lost Things
The titles of J.S. Puller's first two books intrigued me so much that I immediately checked them out of the library. Once I finished them, I asked her for an interview.
We Belong
I've seen many questions on social media, asking which books teachers will read aloud to their classroom during the first week of school. I don't teach in a classroom but I've thought about this question anyway.
Hero for the Hungry
So many young readers are activists already. How can they help becoming Hunger activists after reading this book?