I honestly thought I could fit all the Black Experience books this year into two posts. but when I hit nearly 30 after just the middle-grade books, I realized it was going to be three posts! This is why this is showing up on a rare Monday, and the last of which will be next week, so it all fits …

Happy Black History Month! To celebrate, we’re collecting all the books about the Black experience from our finalists and nominations this year. There are a LOT of books, so we’re starting with the younger set: board books, fiction picture books, Elementary nonfiction, Easy Readers, Early Chapter books, and poetry collections. We’ll catch the rest in two weeks after our winners’ …

One of the things I noticed while going through the lists of nominations looking for mental health books last week, was there were a lot more books featuring characters who are differently abled then I expected. Then I remembered that “Disability Visibility” is a High School Nonfiction finalist, and this week’s list is born. Hopefully, every book I’ve chosen is …

One of the themes I’ve noticed in kids’ books this year has been more of a willingness to talk about mental health issues. I’m taking a broad definition here: I’ve seen books on anxiety and OCD and depression, but also ones about ADHD and emotional awareness. I’m glad that these issues are being written about in books for kids, and …

About mid-January, when I’ve recovered from the holidays and there’s nothing left but dark and cold in my part of the world, I start longing for the warmth and sunshine and ocean waves. What better way to get us there than through books that are exploring all things ocean? Good Eating: The Short Life of Krill by Matt Lilley, Illustrated …

Because the process of coming up with finalist lists is collaborative, every year panelists have ones that they’re passionate about, but just don’t quite make the cut. Having been one of those panelists many times, I understand the pain of having a really good book not quite make it. Which is why we have this post! It’s a chance to …

There aren’t as many books about dragons and knights this year as in the past, but there was one that captured my fancy (and the fancy of all the booksellers at the store I work): Knight Owl. So I was quite tickled when it made the fiction picture book finalist list. I am not above admitting that I’ve created this …

A Happy Christmas to all those who celebrate today! As a nod to the holiday, and to be more inclusive, I thought we’d celebrate all the books that embrace religion and faith – no matter what it is – in some way. Enjoy this!   Piece by Piece: The Story of Nisrin’s Hijabby Priya Huq Harry N Abrams   Huda …

As a bookseller, I (sometimes) notice trends in children’s books, and this year it has seemed to me that there have been a LOT of birding books. (This is not just in kids books; we have a TON of bird books for adults too!) I don’t know if it was the pandemic that made everyone interested in birds and birding, …

I am a sucker for books about books and libraries, and there’s quite a handful this year. Though, it seems like it leans younger this year – not too many books for middle grade and YA books about libraries. What we need are more adventures in enchanted libraries out there. Get to work, publishers and authors! Until then, enjoy these! …