Posted in Graphic Novels, Teen, Young Adult/New Adult

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before Goes Graphic

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before the Graphic Novel: The Graphic Novel, by Jenny Han, Adapted by Barbara Perez Marquez, Illustrated by Akimaro & Li Lu, (May 2026, Simon & Schuster Teen), $15.99, ISBN: 9781665983105

Ages 12-18

The YA and Netflix smash has made its way to the graphic novel format and I know this will fly off the shelves the second it arrives in my library. For those of us not versed in the Jenny Han-verse, To All the Boys… is the story of 16-year-old Lara Jean, who writes love letters to all the boys she’s loved: all five. She pours her heart into these letters, but never sends them; she keeps them in a box in her room. Makes sense, right? She’s writing the letters as a way to work through complicated emotions, and no one needs to know. Until someone sends those letters to those five boys, and now Lara Jean has a lot of work ahead of her. This was my introduction to the Jenny Han Universe and I really enjoyed it. There’s comedy, family angst, and relationship drama all in equal measure here, with side characters like Lara’s best friend, Chris, her older sister, Margot, and Margot’s boyfriend, Josh, for whom Lara also has feelings for. It’s a light story with some laughs and some angst, perfect for teens who want a rom-com with a side of longing. The manga-inspired art is very slice of life and will appeal to readers. It’s a good first purchase for YA collections, especially since your own copies of the original novel are likely getting worn out.

 

Posted in picture books

A fairy tale and the story of a fairy tale master, all for you!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

The True Ugly Duckling: How Hans Christian Andersen Became a Swan, by Sandra Nickel/Illustrated by Calvin Nicholls, (Mar. 2026, Levine Querido), $18.99, ISBN: 9781646145768

Ages 4-8

Nickel and Nicholls create a breathtaking picture book biography about master storyteller Hans Christian Andersen. Focusing on his lonely childhood and young adulthood, Andersen’s life mirrored many of his fairytales: the ugly duckling who became a swan; the lonely outcast who became celebrated by society. Nickel draws empathy from readers by unfolding Andersen’s story as one would a fairy tale hero’s journey, using some of Andersen’s most famous stories to tell his tale: his inability to dance like a swan; his speaking and acting “like a country duck”; his singing voice becoming “more like a toad’s” when his voice changed. Nicholls’s low-relief sculptures, created with layers of paper, creates movement and texture that presents a feast for the eyes. Every single part of this book is a joy to read. Back matter includes an author’s note, bibliography, and citations. An excellent addition to picture book biographies. Display with some of Andersen’s tales and show readers how to create their own cut-paper masterpieces – start with a simple doll chain or this heart chain.

The True Ugly Duckling has a starred review from Kirkus.

 

 

Rumpelstiltskin, by Mac Barnett/Illustrated by Carson Ellis, (Feb. 2026, Orchard Books), $19.99, ISBN: 9781338673852

Ages 3-7

Barnett and Ellis go together like peanut butter and jelly, and they’re just as good. Their latest story is a phenomenal retelling of Rumpelstiltskin, the little guy who spins straw into gold for a price. Nothing comes close to Barnett’s joyfully incendiary voice: he describes the young girl’s father as a “poor miller… a nice enough guy, but he had a big mouth. ..,Here, I’ll give you an example”. The father and king play a game of one-upmanship that leads the poor miller’s daughter to the king’s castle, where she has to spin gold out of straw (thanks, Dad) or lose her head. Barnett’s storytelling is pure fun to read, and Ellis’s gouache paintings look like a medieval museum gallery: which is what influenced both author and illustrator. There are also sketches throughout. The historical feel of the artwork pairs beautifully with Barnett’s more updated prose to give readers a book they will return to again and again.

Do not miss this one: it’s got starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and Kirkus, was an Indie Next Pick, and a Book of Distinction chosen by the Bulletin for the Center of Children’s Books.

 

Posted in Non-Fiction, picture books

THREE gorgeous books for Earth Month!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Happy Earth Month, everyone! Enjoy two beautiful nonfiction picture books to share with your readers.

Monarch and Mourning Cloak: A Butterfly Journal, by Melissa Stewart & Sarah S. Brannen, (March 2026, Beach Lane Books), $19.99, ISBN: 9781665962711

Ages 4-8

Sibert Honor recipients Stewart and Brannen combine poetry, art, and facts to create a beautiful book about two types of butterflies: the monarch and the mourning cloak. Just looking at the two, they look similar – they’re butterflies, right? – but their differences make them as fascinating as their different colors. They live in different habitats, eat different foods, have different ways to ward off predators, and hibernate differently. Lovely, evocative poetry over watercolor, pen, and pencil illustration brings readers to the butterflies’ world. Using palette samples to show readers the consideration going into the colors used, we get a view of the artist’s and author’s journals, featuring a coffee stain here; a taped-down poem there; a drawing of a tree that takes life across the page. Stewart and Brannen explore the life cycles of each butterfly, accompanied by verses full of wonder and contrast: “Packed tight, / in plain sight, / monarchs hibernate”, and “Tucked tight, / out of sight, / a mourning cloak hibernates. / Shhhh”.

Back matter includes notes on creating a journal and sketchbook and notes on butterflies. Endpapers each sneak a peek at the butterflies’ life cycles and where they live. Get this book on a display and watch your readers flock to it, and for everyone thinking of summer reading programs, a nature journal sounds tailor-made for this book! Monarch and Mourning Cloak has a starred review from Kirkus.

 

The Secrets of the Jellies: Amazing Jellyfish and Their Surprising Talents, by Karen Jameson/Illustrated by Marie Hermansson, (April 2026, Chronicle Books), $19.99, ISBN: 9781797221977

Ages 5-8

Think you know jellyfish? This rhyming romp through the ocean is filled with fun facts about jellies that will astound and amazed. Paired with vibrant digital illustrations that bring action and movement to each spread, this is a book made for an ocean storytime: “See-through jellies, / bright ones, too- / colors in each shade and hue! / And in the darkness, down below, / they radiate a blue-green/ GLOW!” The fonts grow large to emphasize exclamations that punctuate each spread and readers will love seeing these colorful jellyfish dash across the pages, evading predators or travel with fish in their wake. Back matter includes fun jellyfish facts and identifies each jellie featured in the book. Endpapers show a diverse group of families marveling at tanks of jellies at a lively aquarium. Great for a STEM storytime or a fun summer storytime!

 

 

Awe!, by Chana Stiefel/Illustrated by Susan Gal, (March 2026, Scholastic Press), $19.99, ISBN: 9781546150350

Ages 4-8

Okay, this isn’t SOLELY Earth-related, but it fits because it’s all about AWE – not ‘awwww’, like when you see an adorable kitten, as author Chana Stiefel so deftly points out, but AWE: that incredible feeling you get when you witness something incredible that leaves you speechless and filled with emotion. Or, as Stiefel puts it, “… an Awesome / Wondrous / Empowering emotion”! Gal uses pencil, ink, and watercolor to create awe-inspiring illustrations of a whale breaching, the Northern Lights, and a giant city. But awe doesn’t mean the things we witness are huge – the emotions are, but we can be awestruck by seeing baby turtles run for the water and by a religious ceremony, or by helping others. Awe is all around us, waiting to be discovered; it’s up to us to find it, and that is the message at the heart of this story: “welcome those chills traveling down your spine, / welcome those sudden tears in your eyes”. A perfect read-aloud that celebrates the large and small moments around us. If you haven’t purchased this for your collection yet, buy two. They’ll move, especially with a gorgeous gatefold spread showing the beauty of the Grand Canyon.

Awe! has a starred review from Kirkus.

Posted in Fiction, Fiction, Intermediate, Realistic Fiction

Yay, SportsBall! Kids’ books about sports

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

I’m not as up on sports as some folks in my family (and most folks in my library) are, but that never stopped me from enjoying a good book to recommend. Here are some good ones to keep in mind.

Hut, Hut, Hike! (Sports Zone #1), by Andrew Maraniss/Illustrated by Aishwarya Tandon, (Sept. 2025, Scholastic Branches), $6.99, ISBN: 9781546120056

Ages 7-10

Nine-year-old Jasper is a football legend – in his own mind. When he and his dad play football in their living room, he’s a champ! But he quickly learns, when he and his friends Mo and Ruby try out for the flag football team, that he has a lot to learn. When Jasper’s team, the Frogs, plays their first game against the Beagles, Jasper is worried: will the coach bench him, or will he be able to play – and if he plays, will he do well? The Sports Zone series is a new series from Scholastic’s Branches line of chapter books and is a fun and easy read for newly independent readers. Maraniss creates situations that kids will see themselves in, including that nagging little voice that makes Jasper worry that he’s not good enough. Throw in two great friends and a coach who speaks in metaphors no one can seem to understand, and you have a story that readers will return to. Black-and-white artwork on every page includes graphic novel-type panels, breaking up the action into decodable chunks. Interesting sports facts run throughout. Fun questions and activities give the reader playful challenges.

The Sports Zone series has a book about soccer (Corner Kick!) out now, and one on baseball (Grand Slam!) coming in August. All of the books include this core group of characters, providing nice familiarity. Characters are diverse.

Posted in Graphic Novels, Middle School, Realistic Fiction, Tween Reads

An add for your graphic novel shelves: Opting Out by Maia Kobabe & Swati “Lucky” Srikumar

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Opting Out, by Maia Kobabe & Swati “Lucky” Srikumar, (May 2026, Scholastic Graphix), $14.99, ISBN: 978-1-339-01224-7

Ages 10-12

Saachi approaches seventh grade with a lot of mixed feelings. In sixth grade, they were surrounded by a core group of friends and their best friend, Lyla, shared Saachi’s love of fantasy novels and imagination. But in seventh grade, Lyla finds a boyfriend and isn’t interested in spending as much time with Saachi. Saachi’s also not a fan of the changes in her body, either: breasts and bras? Periods? AUGH! Saachi doesn’t want to be a girl or a boy: they just want to be. Be a writer; be a friend, be a person that isn’t expected to date a boy or a girl. A conflict in school with their bully serves as a turning point for self-examination; Saachi also turns to her family, who are ready to support them. Saachi’s father in particular spends time listening to and encouraging them to create their own path. Saachi’s decision to “opt out” of the binary and its expectations sees and acknowledges the stress facing nonbinary teens: Saachi’s stress at having their first period hits like a gut punch; likewise, the emotions on their face when hearing their father correct a family member on a transgender person’s proper pronouns fills readers with warmth. Opting Out is a quietly powerful story for middle schoolers and high schoolers alike. Saachi and their family are Indian, and their culture and mythology are richly featured throughout the book. There’s a great callback panel to Kobabe’s Gender Queer featured and it beautifully communicates Saachi’s internal feelings.

Opting Out has a starred review from Publishers Weekly.

Posted in Fiction, Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Uncategorized

Dan Santat does it again with Sashimi!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Sashimi, by Dan Santat, (Apr. 2026, Roaring Brook Press), $8.99, ISBN: 9781250360007

Ages 8-12

Yes, I am one of those readers that will pick up anything with Dan Santat’s name on it, but can you blame me? Beekle? Are We There Yet? The Cookie Fiasco? Then you have A First Time for Everything and The Aquanaut… trust me, I can go on and on. My point is, Dan Santat is one of the most versatile author-illustrators out there, and I love everything he creates. His newest graphic novel, A Fishboy Named Sashimi is another home run for me. The town is Barnacle Bay, and they have their own cryptid: The Beast of Barnacle Bay. When new kid Sashimi shows up at the school, he befriends Joey, whose grandfather – GASP – has been hunting The Beast for years. Which poses a big problem for Sashimi, who’s in Barnacle Bay trying to find the Beast, because he wants to find others like him. Filled with laugh-out-loud moments and sight gags aplenty, this is a great “fish out of water” story (ugh, I’ll show myself out) with a lovable main character. Highlights include Sashimi trying Mouthbomb, a soda outlawed in three states for its sugar content, and Sashimi befriending a little octopus named Tako… in a supermarket. Endearing, fast-paced, and with the promise of two additional adventures, this is a must-add to collections. It’s going to fly off the shelves. Promise. A Fishboy Named Sashimi has starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist.

Thanks again to Roaring Brook Press, who also sent me this awesome water bottle, assuring that I finally drink water while I’m at work!

Posted in Non-Fiction, picture books

Get ready for Women’s History Month with Mary Morland in the Time of Dinosaur Discovery

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Mary Morland in the Time of Dinosaur Discovery, by Jane Kurtz/Illustrated by Giselle Potter, (Feb. 2026, Beach Lane Books), $19.99, ISBN: 9781665955546

Ages 4-8

This picture book biography of one of the first female paleontologists, Mary Morland, asks thought-provoking questions of the reader. Mary, born “in a time of ribbons and lace”, preferred exploring outside to sitting inside like a “prim little miss”. When her mother died and her father sent her to live with childless friends, she turned to studying and journaling the world around her, ultimately marrying a fellow student of her mentor. Kurtz’s questions ask the reader to put themselves in Morland’s place and think about what they would do in her positions: would they feel sad if their father sent them off to live with friends after losing their mother? Would a scientific-minded child spend their days thinking about clothes, or giggling about being empty-headed? Much of the story centers on Mary being the silent partner, a woman in a man’s world to the point where her own husband didn’t credit her with illustrating his fossil collections, but she never emerges as a shrinking flower or a victim. Mary Morland takes up space in her world, whether helping her husband with his teaching or passing her love of fossils and science to her own children. Potter’s watercolor illustrations have a vintage feel and place the reader in the time frame. Back matter includes an author’s note, additional resources, and sources. A great choice for picture book biographies and STEM/STEAM collections, and an excellent choice for Women’s History Month.

Mary Morland in the Time of Dinosaur Discovery has starred reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly.

 

The Oxford Museum of Natural History has an online exhibition dedicated to Mary Morland. The History of Scientific Women webpage has a profile on Morland, as does the Geological Society of London.

★ “A delightful STEAM biography that spotlights a female scientist who deserves to be better known.” – Kirkus (starred)
 
★ “Wry interrogative narration energizes this engaging portrait.” – Publishers Weekly (starred)
Jane Kurtz was born in Portland, Oregon, but spent most of her childhood in Ethiopia. Jane speaks about being an author at schools and conferences and is the volunteer director of the bilingual book project at Open Hearts Big Dreams . She is the author of many books for children, including The Bone Wars, illustrated by Alexander Vidal; What Do They Do with All that Poo?, illustrated by Allison Black; The Clues Are In the Poo: The Story of Dinosaur Scientist Karen Chin, illustrated by Francisco Riolobos; Clara the Triumphant Rhinoceros, illustrated by Claire Messer; Oh Give Me A Home: A Mostly True Story in Verse; and the American Girl book Lanie. To learn more, visit janekurtz.com.
Giselle Potter has illustrated many books, including Once Upon a Fairy Tale House by Mary Lyn Ray, Try It! by Mara Rockliff, All by Himself? by Elana K. Arnold, and Kate and the Beanstalk by Mary Pope Osborne, as well as her own Tell Me What to Dream About, This Is My Dollhouse, and The Year I Didn’t Go to School, about traveling through Italy with her parents’ puppet troupe when she was eight. She lives in Rosendale, New York, with her husband and two daughters. Visit her at GisellePotter.com.
Posted in Uncategorized

Read Black KidLit: Black Hair Can by Sylvia Rodriguez

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Black Hair Can: The Roots of Our Roots, by Sylvia Rodriguez, (Sept. 2025, Charlesbridge Publishing), $17.99, ISBN: 9781623545901

Ages 4-8

Black hair is a symbol of identity and a strong tie to Black culture. Here, Rodriguez observes the history of Black hair: a connection to history and a way to honor ancestors; a sign of social status; “a symbol of power, pride, and freedom”. Beautiful and bold digital illustrated spreads feature faces from the African diaspora, sporting hairstyles including dreadlocks, Bantu knots, Fulani braids, and natural Afros. A haunting spread shows a group of enslaved Africans, their hair shorn, the passage reading, “Black hair can be individual and still taken away”. Rodriguez closes with a description of the Crown Act, a campaign to keep women safe from discrimination over their hair’s style or texture. Back matter includes information about the Crown Act and more detail about each of the featured hairstyles. A moving and strong choice for collections.

 

Posted in Uncategorized

Who’s Ready for Summer Scares 2026?

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

I know we’re all getting our paleontological/archaeological books ready for Summer Reading (if you’re part of CSLP, that is), but don’t forget about Summer Scares!

If you have readers who like life on the spooky side, Summer Scares is for them (and you, if you enjoy that sort of thing. I do). This year’s picks are phenomenal:

For the grown-ups:

A Botanical Daughter, by Noah Medlock (Titan, 2024)

Never Whistle at Night, ed. Shane Hawk & Theodore C. Van Alst (Vintage, 2023)

Maeve Fly, by CJ Leede (Tor Nightfire, 2023)

For the teens:

What We Harvest, by Ann Fraistat (Delacorte Press, 2022)

Gorgeous Gruesome Faces, by Linda Cheng (Roaring Brook Press, 2023)

Our Shadows Have Claws, ed. Yamile Saied Méndez & Amparo Ortiz (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2022)

For the tweens:

Garlic and the Vampire, by Bree Paulsen (Harper, 2021)

It Came from the Trees, by Ally Russell (Delacorte Press, 2023)

This Appearing House, by Ally Malinenko (Harper, 2022)

The guide will be up on the site by March 1, and there will be a series of free webinars with featured authors speaking with committee members throughout March. Who’s excited?

I was considering adding a “Summer Spookies” element for the littles, just so they’re not feeling left out. What do you think? Here are the books I was thinking of:

Poesy the Monster Slayer, by Cory Doctorow/Illustrated by Matt Rockefeller (First Second, 2020)

Take a Breath, Big Red Monster!, by Ed Emberley (LB Kids, 2025)

How I Met My Monster, by Amanda Noll/Illustrated by Howard McWilliam (Flashlight Press, 2019)

What are some of your Summer Scare suggestions? Let’s create virtual displays together!

Posted in Librarianing, programs

#SaturdayLibrarian: The Eternal Dilemma

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

My library is a pretty busy urban library in a bustling neighborhood, but Saturdays carry a different vibe. Folks dribble in throughout the day, but no one wants any kind of organized programming, as witnessed by my constantly shifting programming times that usually come up empty. When we didn’t have Saturday programming on the calendar, folks complained. What’s a #SaturdayLibrarian to do?

The answer: PASSIVE PROGRAMS. We’re normally a much smaller staff on Saturdays than our weekdays, so programming had to be easy and low-stress. One of the children’s librarians and I worked out some ideas that were reasonable and easy.

First, we went for the easy one: the educational toys area. We’d open that up for the first couple of hours of the day, when the moms bring the babies and toddlers in. We can keep an eye on the littles, but really, it’s the moms (and dads) engaging with the kids. We can wander over, talk with the caregivers, engage with the littles, and offer some literacy tips along the way. Boom, one Saturday program down.

Next up, the games and puzzles. We don’t like to put out a lot at once; we have one librarian to keep an eye on the whole room for the whole day. The answer: we rotate out puzzles and easy games (matching games, block puzzles, Mr. Potato Head) for earlier in the day, when the littles are in. After lunch, we put out a handful of board games and change up the puzzles to include a couple of more challenging ones. Enough to engage the older kids, but not so many that we lose control of what’s out in the library and, as a result, ends up lost or broken.

Third, the crafts. The kids here love arts and crafts, so we have a “Craft and Carry” weekly program that is, essentially, a grab-and-go craft that they can do either here in the library or bring home. It doesn’t have to be a staff-led program, since we’re short of staff, but still allows us the ability to engage with the patrons and help anyone having trouble. Having my Cricut has been a big help here; I’m able to cut projects out all week long, bag them up, and hand them out on Saturdays.

The result? Three Saturday programs that people are showing up for, are very happy with, and that don’t give me any more gray hair than I’m already getting. Saturdays have gone from stressful to fun again!