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2 weeks ago | 
slj.com | Amanda MacGregor |Sam Bloom |Edith Campbell |Ariana Sani Hussain
Vacation season is on its way, which for many young people means road trips, theme parks, and cruises galore. But it can also mean sharing vulnerability, processing grief, repairing family relationships, and navigating blossoming romance. These three novels explore the fun, freedom, and complications of life on vacation for tweens. Cartaya, Pablo. A Hero’s Guide to Summer Vacation. 288p. Penguin/Kokila. May 2025. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780451479754.
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2 weeks ago | 
slj.com | Amanda MacGregor |Sam Bloom |Edith Campbell |Ariana Sani Hussain
This diverse list of titles includes prose novels, novels in verse, and graphic novels. It has solid middle grade books as well as selections more suited for upper middle grade or younger YA tastes. This diverse list of titles includes prose novels, novels in verse, and graphic novels. It has solid middle grade books as well as selections more suited for upper middle grade or younger YA tastes. Share this list for Pride Month and throughout the year. Hearts Still Beating by Brooke Archer. Putnam.
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1 month ago | 
slj.com | Amanda MacGregor |Beth McIntyre |Betsy Bird |Edith Campbell
It’s the perennial question of teachers, librarians, and parents alike: How do you get kids to read more over their summer break? Research has shown that kids’ favorite books—and the ones they’re most likely to finish—are the books that they choose themselves. Understanding this, publishers focus on fun books for summer reading. David Glover, marketing director at Flowerpot Press, believes it’s all about sparking curiosity. “Unless you get the curiosity going, the children won’t read it,” he says.
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1 month ago | 
slj.com | Cat Miserendino |Amanda MacGregor |Betsy Bird |Edith Campbell
. May 2025. 384p. Tr $24.99. ISBN 9781536219234. COPY ISBN Gr 9 Up–Combs and Eakett do a fantastic job of providing readers an incredibly comprehensive and strongly researched—yet somehow compact—look into the history of trans identity. This vividly illustrated nonfiction graphic novel delves deep into the past, starting in the ancient world and explaining how trans identity has roots and connections to recorded historical figures from that era.
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Feb 24, 2025 | 
slj.com | Amanda MacGregor |Edith Campbell |Betsy Bird
Setting up new elementary school libraries is no small feat, but with the right support, it can be a transformative experience for students and educators alike. This was the case for Fitchburg Public Schools in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, where the establishment of first-ever libraries at its elementary schools marked a significant milestone.
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Feb 17, 2025 | 
slj.com | Amanda MacGregor |Edith Campbell |Esther Keller |Betsy Bird
When Rachel Weatherford joined Faldyn Elementary School in Katy, Texas, as its first-ever Library Media Specialist, she knew she was embarking on a significant journey. Building a library from scratch is no small feat, but Rachel embraced the challenge with enthusiasm. She understood that to create a thriving library, she needed a vendor that would be a true partner, supporting her every step of the way. Finding the Right PartnerRachel’s search for the perfect vendor led her to Follett Content.
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Jan 1, 2025 | 
slj.com | Terry Hong |Edith Campbell |Emily Mroczek-Bayci |J. Caleb Mozzocco
by (text) & narrated by Kim Staunton . Oct. 2024. 14p. $6.99. ISBN 9781546120841. COPY ISBN K-Gr 3–“Long before a slave ship sailed,/ we shined like stars—/ brilliant and beautiful,” Oso opens.
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Nov 30, 2024 | 
pearlsandrubys.slj.com | Edith Campbell |Ncte Ncte
Greetings all m’dear book nerd friends!Are you still working on your holiday plans, trying to find that special ‘me’ time? How about warming it up with a new book, a little snack, AND a new friend? Join me on what I hope to make an annual tradition connecting with others doing what we enjoy doing most: reading. You might squeeze your reading in between unwrapping, caroling, and feasting. Maybe books will rule the days for you. Or, perhaps you’ll burn that late-night yule log and read until dawn.
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Nov 22, 2024 | 
pearlsandrubys.slj.com | Edith Campbell |Ncte Ncte
I didn’t think I needed to see the cover because this one had me at the title: Legendary FryBread Drive-In. It’s so imaginative, isn’t it? I placed my ARC request on Edelweiss. Reading the list of contributors moved me to add the book to my library’s order list. And the cover? Yes, I most certainly needed to see that cover! Editor Cynthia Leitich Smith describes it best, saying that “The cover beckons.
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Nov 16, 2024 | 
pearlsandrubys.slj.com | Edith Campbell |Ncte Ncte
So many of us could tell you want went wrong. We probably all have different ideas, and most are probably right. It was a catastrophe of epic proportions that didn’t just begin with this election cycle. Now, however, our energy is focused on watching things unroll so we can be prepared for what’s next. We are concerned about the future of education, the safety of BIPOC, disabled, and queer and trans bodies, and the bits of equity we’ve gained.
