March is Women's History Month, four weeks dedicated to celebrating and highlighting the accomplishments of women throughout history. Picture book biographies are an excellent way for kids to explore the impact women have had on all areas of society. These real-life...
Happy Pride! Yesterday was the last day of June which means it was the last day of Pride Month! To celebrate we are sharing picture books that celebrate identity and the LGBTQIA+ community. Each title focuses on the topics of identity, gender expression, or...
Black lives matter. Black creators matter. Black stories matter. The list below features picture books written by Black authors. Most are also illustrated by Black artists. These books capture multiple facets of life: family, new beginnings, tall tales, conquering...
Books are a great way to talk with children about current events, news, and tougher topics. The news surrounding COVID-19 is a perfect example! The uncertainty, overheard conversations, rumors, and partial messaging can be especially frightening for children. ...
The Stonewall Book Awards were first established in 1971 to celebrate and honor GLBTQIA+ literature and in 2010 the award expanded to include a category for children's and young adult literature. The Stonewall Book Award-Mike Morgan and Larry Romans Children’s and...
Another award given out this month was the Coretta Scott King awards. This group of awards recognizes African-American authors and illustrators of outstanding books for children and young adults. You may recognize some of the winners - we have some repeats! New Kid...
Pura Belpré was the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. The Pura Belpré awards were created in 1996 to honor her legacy and to support Latinx creaters. The awards are presented annually to the "Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best...
The John Newbery Medal is the big one. It is given out to the most outstanding contribution to children's literature each year. The medal winner can be a picture book, poetry, a chapter book, a first reader, and about any experience or story, by an American. ...
This week was a big week in children's literature! The annual Youth Media Awards given out by the American Library Association were announced! All through 2019 committees of librarians, teachers, and others have pored over children's books in an attempt to name the...
2019 has been a great year for picture books - interactive high-five competitions, wordless science fiction, celebrations of food and history, sports, silly animals—it was hard to narrow down my list of favorites. The books below might inspire you to give hugs, shout...