Every year, librarians and staff at The New York Public Library select noteworthy new kids books for readers and recommend them as their Best Books of the Year. Here are some of their recommendations for kids books in 2025. 1. Amina Banana and the Formula for Friendship by Shifa Saltagi Safadi; illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel. Amina is eager to make friends after moving to Indiana from Syria. She’s sure her formula will lead to success,…
Read More »Thousands of titles have been removed from public schools across the country this year. PEN America has documented nearly 23,000 banned books in public schools nationwide since 2021, a number never before seen in the life of any living American. This censorship is being mobilized by groups espousing conservative viewpoints and has spread to nearly every state. It predominantly targets books about race and racism or books featuring individuals of color and LGBTQ+ people and…
Read More »Founded in 2003, National Book Month is a month-long celebration focusing on the importance of reading, writing, and literature. National Book Month encourages both reading and writing, two activities that both children and adults can benefit from greatly. Not only will frequent reading help to develop better reading and writing skills, but it will also expand knowledge, improve vocabulary, and provide great entertainment, too. You can also use National Book Month as an opportunity to…
Read More »in First grade reading, Holidays, Kindergarten reading, Libraries, Reading, Teaching Your Child To Read
This September, be sure to pick up a book, visit a library, and explore places you could only see in literature’s grandeur. September is National Literacy month, which promotes awareness and interest in improving the overall literacy of a community. This can have a pleasing ripple effect through every individual life, their children, and their families. Multiple efforts to impede illiteracy have been made since the first National Literacy Month, but even after all these…
Read More »in Events, Libraries, Reading, Summer Tips
Immerse yourself and develop stronger reading skills with Boston Public Library’s summer reading program for youth 0-17 years old. The program runs from June 17, 2024 to August 25, 2024. This year’s theme is Adventure Begins at your Library, developed by the Collaborative Summer Learning Program. Check out these incredible options available at the Boston Public Library for their summer reading program: Want personalized reading recommendations? Fill in the Shelf Service request form, and one…
Read More »in Libraries
Everyone knows you can save money on books by checking them out at the library instead of buying them, but did you know that libraries can help you save on other things, too? In some locations, you can borrow tools, take free language classes, and even get free tickets to local museums and attractions. The resources that your library has to offer will depend on its size and funding, which comes in part from taxpayer…
Read More »As protests against racial injustice spread to communities large and small in this year, many educators have been pushed to examine how systemic racism harms students. Some have publicly proclaimed the steps they will take to create anti-racist schools, including diversifying classroom and library bookshelves. That task may be easier than ever, thanks to six years of advocacy by the We Need Diverse Books campaign. “There’s no excuse for the books in your classroom and…
Read More »No one can deny the concrete and long-lasting effect the Harry Potter series has had on the world of children’s literature. Last summer marked the 25th anniversary of the release of the famous books in the United States. The first book of the series was released in England in June 1997 under the title “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” and on Sept. 1, 1998, Scholastic published the first book in the U.S., renamed “Harry…
Read More »in ELA, Libraries, Reading, Summer Tips
Summer is finally here, and so are the American Library Association summer reading lists. The lists are full of book titles to keep children engaged in reading throughout the summer. Four summer reading lists are available for birth-preschool and grades K-2, 3-5, and 6-8. Each list is available to download for free. Titles on the 2023 Summer Reading Lists were compiled and annotated by members of American Library Association’s Quicklists Consulting Committee. American Library Association…
Read More »When we think about the school library as a place where reading communities begin and are nurtured, we have to remember that a school is a place where many students do not inherently feel welcome. Historically speaking, school systems have sometimes been an instrumental part of systems of colonization and indoctrination, and culturally relevant libraries are not something everyone has access to. The tendency to demonize the unique parts of us that make us individuals,…
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