School Library Journal Teen Live!

Photo from SLJ.com

Thursday, August 20th is the 15th annual SLJTeen Live! virtual event! Come hear about the latest and most exciting forthcoming titles for teens and tweens. From rom-coms and mysteries to graphic novels and classic coming-of-age stories, our daylong program of author panels, in-depth conversations, and keynote talks will keep you inspired and entertained.

You’ll also have the opportunity to visit the virtual exhibit hall to meet with leading publishers, and download digital galleys and other free resources.

Register for this free virtual event here.

Great New Books for Children and Teens in Person

Logo from ccbc.education.wisc.edu

 

IFLS Library System, Northern Waters Library Services, and Wisconsin Valley Library Service invites you to: 

Great New Books for Children and Teens

Presented by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) 

Thursday, April 9 from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Celebration Hall  

235 E Main St, Gilman, WI 54433

 

Register by Sunday, March 29: https://forms.gle/byHRgBQjF7LdTKW66

 

CCBC Librarians Merri Lindgren and Tessa Michaelson Schmidt will discuss this year’s best books for ages birth to 18! Highlighted books will be available for hands-on book examination during lunch.

 

This free event is open to library professionals and educators.

 

9:30 - 10 a.m. Registration & Light Refreshments

10 - 11:30 a.m. Great New Books for Birth - Grade 5 *This morning session is worth 1.5 contact hours.

11:30 - 1 p.m. Book Browsing and Complimentary Lunch

1 - 2:30 p.m. Great New Books for Grades 6 - 12 *This afternoon session is worth 1.5 contact hours.

 

Space is limited! Please register by March 29: https://forms.gle/byHRgBQjF7LdTKW66

Questions? Reach out to Emily Rogers at erogers@wvls.org.

CCBC Choices 2026

 

CCBC Choices 2026, recommending 231 books published in 2025 for children and teens from birth through high school age, is now available!

CCBC Choices 2026 is a digital publication. Entries for each book include full bibliographic citation, annotation, age recommendation and cover image, and a link to the book’s entry in the CCBC-Recommended Book Search database, where custom lists can be created. The publication also includes an introductory essay and name/title index. A citation list (bibliographic information only) of CCBC Choices 2026 is also available on the CCBC website.   If you’re interested in hearing about some of these titles, the CCBC librarians will present two webinars hosted by South Central Library System this spring highlighting selections from CCBC Choices 2026. The first is Great New Books for Children (Birth – Grade 5) on March 18, 2026, from 9-10am and the second is Great New Books for Older Children and Teens (Grades 6-12) on April 22, 2026 from 9-10am. See the CCBC events calendar for details about these online opportunities, as well as other outreach events around the state.

 

Tessa Michaelson Schmidt 

Director of the Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) | she/her

Immigration Books for Kids

Photo from readbrightly.com

In a timely article from readbrightly.com, Laura Lambert highlights books for children that speak to the immigrant experience in the United States. She asks, "what does [immigration] mean to a 3-, 6-, or 12-year old?" Included in her list are picture books like, What is a Refugee?, Danbi Leads the School Parade, and Yuyi Morales's award winning Dreamers. 

To see the full list of titles you can read the article here.

[Books for Kids About the Immigrant Experience in America. Lambert, L. Updated in 2026. readbrightly.com]

https://www.readbrightly.com/books-about-immigration-for-kids/

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

Logo from readbrightly.com

Hispanic Heritage Month starts today. Read Brightly is on of my favorite online resources. They have compiled recommended reading lists for kids of all ages to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

Take a look at some of their lists here:

• Picture books
• Middle grade books
• YA books (with the New York Public Library)

Books to Help with Kindergarten Jitters

Photo by Gautam Arora on Unsplash

Once the calendar flips to August, heads start turning away from summer and towards the start of the school year, especially for those starting kindergarten. The first day nerves can be overwhelming for some kids (and their parents!). Dena McMurdie says, in an article for readybrightly.com that, "I've sent two kids off to kindergarten and it broke my heart both times. They looked so small and uncertain on those first few days of school." While we know these feelings are to be expected, anything we can do to help families be prepared for these first days is a good thing. 

McMurdie recommends picture books to help get kids ready for that big step, including Kitty Vs. Kindergarten by Martha Freeman, Getting Ready for Kindergarten by Vera Ahiyya, and The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes. To see the full list checkout the article here.

[The First Day and Beyond: Books About Kindergarten for Kids. McMurdie, Dena. Readbrightly.com. 2025.] https://www.readbrightly.com/books-about-kindergarten/

What to Suggest when all your Elephant and Piggie books are checked out

 What to Suggest when all of your Elephant and Piggie Books are Checked Out

If your library is anything like mine it doesn't matter how many Elephant and Piggie books you buy, there will not be a single one on your shelf all summer. These books are beloved by kids and adults alike for a reason. Lindsay Barrett, writing for Brightly reminds us that, "these titles delight readers in so many ways, from their expressive dialogue, positive messages, playful illustrations, and of course, the endearing characterization of the duo at the series' heart." But, don't fret! You don't have to send kids away empty handed! There are other fun options out there for those early reader Willems fans. 

Some suggestions from Barrett include Archie and Reddie by Candy James, Jack Blasts Off by Mac Barnett, and Croc and Ally by Derek Anderson. 

Find the rest of the list here: [17 Delightful Books for Kids who Love Elephant and Piggie. Barrett, Lindsay. 2019, updated in 2025. https://www.readbrightly.com/books-like-elephant-and-piggie/]

CCBC Choices 2024 is Available!

CCBC Choices 2024, recommending 238 books published in 2023 for children and teens from birth through high school age, is now available!

CCBC Choices 2024 is a digital publication. Entries for each book include full bibliographic citation, annotation, age recommendation and cover image, and a link to the book’s entry in the CCBC-Recommended Book Search database, where custom lists can be created. The publication also includes an introductory essay and name/title index. A citation list (bibliographic information only) of CCBC Choices 2024 is also available on our website.

The CCBC librarians will present two webinars hosted by South Central Library System this spring highlighting selections from CCBC Choices 2024:

Great New Books for Children (Birth – Grade 5) on March 20, 2024, from 9-10am  

Great New Books for Older Children and Teens (Grades 6-12) on April 17, 2024 from 9-10am. 

See the CCBC events calendar for details about these online opportunities, as well as other outreach events around the state.

Collection Development: Native American Heritage Month

November was Native American Heritage Month so here are some great book lists and recommendations from across the internet to help bolster your collections!

• Abby the Librarian shared Four Crossover Book by Native American Authors
• First Nations Development Institute created a printable PDF Recommended Reading List
• Katherine at A Mighty Girl blog has 40 Children's Books Celebrating Native American and Indigenous Mighty Girls 
• Brightly author Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich wrote about 13 Books to Share Stories of Native American History and Experience with Kids and Teens
• Scholastic shared 27 Fiction Books Celebrate Native American Heritage

ROW March Titles

Check out the March titles from Read On Wisconsin!  The focus for the Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers is Family, with an emphasis on representing all types of families.  The Primary books ask readers to engage with new perspectives on art and insects.  The Intermediate titles bring all the excitement of a sporting event to the page.  March's Middle School titles are both historical, one true and one fiction.  The High School title also looks at a historical event: the Pentagon Papers.  Check out the whole March list HERE.

New Book Titles for the 2010 Make a Splash -- READ! Theme

The following titles were suggested by Julie Westby, Heberg Public Library in Janesville. With additional suggestions from Barb Huntington, DLTCL. Share other titles you think would be great for the 2010 theme (new or old) by post a comment with all the relevant information and we'll add it to the list

Chapter 3 WOW (Wonders of Water)

• Crum, Shutta. Thunder-Boomer! Clarion Books, 2009.
  
  
• Morgan, Sally. The Water Cycle. PowerKids Press, 2009.
  
  
• Richards, Jon. Water & Boats. PowerKids Press, 2008.
  
  
• Rustad, Martha E.H. Today is Rainy. Capstone Press, 2006.
  
  
• Stewart, Melissa. When Rain Falls. Peachtree Publishers, 2008.
  
  
• Tafuri, Nancy. The Big Storm: A Very Soggy Counting Book. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2009.
  

Chapter 4 – An Ocean of Fun

• Andreae, Giles. Commotion in the Ocean. Tiger Tales, 1998.
  
  
• Jenkins, Steve. Down, Down, Down: A Journey to the Bottom of the Sea. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009.
  
  
• Kalman, Bobbie. The ABC’s of Oceans. Crabtree Publishing Company, 2008.
  
  
• McMillan, Beverly and Musick, John A. Oceans. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2007.
  
  
• Milbourne, Anna. Under the Sea. Usborne Publishing, Ltd., 2007.
  
  
• Morgan, Sally. Orcas and other Cold-Ocean Life. QEB Publishing, 2008.
  

Chapter 7 – Squish, Squash: Freshwater and Wetlands

• Arnosky, Jim. The Brook Book: Exploring the Smallest Streams. Dutton Children’s Books, 2008.
  
  
• Bauer, Marion Dane. The Mighty Mississippi. Aladdin, 2007.
  
  
• Bloxam, Frances. Beau Beaver Goes to Town. Down East Books/National Book Network, 2009.
  
  
• Falwell, Cathryn. Scoot! Greenwillow Books, 2008.
  
  
• Ylvisaker, Anne. Lake Michigan. Capstone Press, 2004.
  
  
• Ylvisaker, Anne. Lake Superior. Capstone Press, 2004.
  
  

Some Additional Suggestions of Some Not-So- New Items
Barb Huntington, DLTCL

• DeMuth, Roger. Please Don’t Eat Me! Blue Apple Books, 2008.
  This is a “lift the flap” book about a fish that doesn’t want to be eaten. He escapes by going down the bathtub drain. Children can follow his progress through the plumbing system by opening a series of flaps on the pipes.
  
  
• Kleiner, Lynn. Songs of the Sea. Alfred Publishing Co., 2008.
  This is a book/cd combination. Lynn Kleiner is the founder of “Music Rhapsody,” a music school focused on infants and toddlers. She has several other books in this series. “Songs of the Sea” includes the music and instructional tips for familiar songs like “Down by the Bay’ and “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” and several familiar finger plays. But Kleiner has also included original songs. The book includes tips on making instruments, art ideas, decorating suggestions, snack ideas, and patterns for stick puppets and flannel board use.
  
  
• Form Wild software www.formwild.com
  This software is not completely new, but many librarians may not be familiar with it. It was developed by two brothers who live in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. They are graphic artists and particularly good nature artists. There are 64 species of fish on the dvd. They can be printed out in various sizes, although it does take some patience to learn to adjust size. It is a great resource for the 2010 “Make A Splash” theme, but there are also numerous birds, insects, and wild mammals on the disc. It also includes dogs and cats, farm animals, and dinosaurs. This makes it a valuable resource that can be used for numerous animal programs.
  
  
• Pledger, Maurice. Sounds of the Wild: Ocean. 2007.
  Although this is not a new book, it is worth a look as a specialty item for story times about ocean life. There are stunning popup seascapes that feature colorful ocean creatures. The sounds of various animal groups play as the pages are turned—gulls calling, whale songs, fish splashing, and dolphins whistling and chattering. It probably is too fragile to circulate, but might make a great book to share with children. There is quite a bit of background information on the animals featured in the illustrations.