Alaina and the Great PlayEloise GreenfieldKindergartener Alaina has five words to recite after the second-grade play. But when the big moment arrives, she is inspired to improviseYounger ReadersView book detailsALSC Notable Children's Books 2022
The 2022 edition contains 124 selections published by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALA). The source organizes the selections into Younger Readers, Middle Readers, Older Readers, and All Ages. It is the annual record of titles designated Notable by the ALSC committee.
2022 ALSC Notable Children's BooksSee the original list
Selections124
Published byAssociation for Library Service to Children (ALA)
Sections4 sections
Browse sections4 sections
Younger Readers
66 selections
Alaina and the Great PlayEloise GreenfieldKindergartener Alaina has five words to recite after the second-grade play. But when the big moment arrives, she is inspired to improviseYounger ReadersView book details
Amira’s Picture DayReem FaruqiAmira is excited to celebrate Eid, but she becomes upset when she realizes it falls on class picture dayYounger ReadersView book details
Areli Is a DreamerAreli MoralesThe nonfiction offering follows DACA recipient Areli Morales as she migrates to the U.S., navigates her new life, and imagines her future. Simultaneously published in Spanish and EnglishYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD550LATOS Book Level 3.1View book details
Beak & Ally #1: Unlikely FriendsNorm FeutiDespite Beak the bird's bubbly attempts to befriend Ally, the alligator is content to be alone, until a party invitation and a chance encounter with a Long-Billed Party Pooper remind her of what's important. (A 2022 Geisel Honor Book)Younger ReadersATOS Book Level 2.0AR Points 0.5View book details
The Big Bath HouseKyo MaclearBased on childhood memories, this story chronicles a young girl’s intergenerational family trip to a traditional Japanese bath houseYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD540LATOS Book Level 3.6View book details
Bodies Are CoolTyler FederThis inclusive body-positivity book celebrates bodies of all shapes, colors, and abilitiesYounger ReadersView book details
Boogie Boogie, Y’allC. G. EsperanzaThe adults may not notice the amazing world around them, but the children do—and they are determined to get the rest of their city to see the wonder around them, too. (A 2022 Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor Book)Younger ReadersView book details
Bright StarYuyi MoralesAn allegorical look at the migrant experience as told through the story of a young fawn looking for safety after being separated from her mother. Simultaneously published in Spanish and English. (A 2022 Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor Book)Younger ReadersView book details
Coffee, Rabbit, Snowdrop, LostBetina BirkjærThis gentle, intergenerational story of a beloved grandfather sliding into dementia delivers an honest, affirming portrayal of love, dementia, depression, frustration, and hope. (A 2022 Batchelder Honor Book)Younger ReadersView book details
The Cot in the Living RoomHilda Eunice BurgosA young girl develops empathy for the children who need to use the living-room cot while their parents work the nightshiftYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD490LATOS Book Level 2.7View book details
A Day for Rememberin': Inspired by the True Events of the First Memorial DayLeah HendersonUnfolding through the eyes of young Eli, a Black community marches, sings, and fills the streets with flowers and wreaths in celebration of the first Memorial DayYounger ReadersATOS Book Level 4.8AR Interest Level Middle Grades (MG 4-8)View book details
De aquí como el coquíNomar PerezWhen Miguel moves to the U.S., he is sad to leave behind his pet coquí (frog), but soon he finds exciting similarities between life in San Juan and New York City. Available in Spanish and English. (A 2022 Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor Book and a 2022 Pura Belpré Children's Author Honor Book)Younger ReadersView book details
Don’t Hug Doug: (He Doesn’t Like It)Carrie FinisonDoug doesn’t like hugs, but he’ll tell you what he does like–just ask!Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD370LATOS Book Level 1.7View book details
Dream StreetTricia Elam WalkerTour the colorful neighborhood of Dream Street and its thriving inhabitants in this ode to the creators’ childhoods in Roxbury, MassachusettsYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD940LATOS Book Level 6.2View book details
Except AntarcticaTodd SturgellAnimals defy the narrator's declaration that they can't go to Antarctica, triggering a silly sequence of eventsYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD540LATOS Book Level 4View book details
Eyes that Kiss in the CornersJoanna HoAs an Asian girl appreciates the beauty of her eyes, she reflects upon the legacies of the women in her lifeYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD610LATOS Book Level 4View book details
The First Blade of Sweetgrass: A Native American StorySuzanne Greenlaw, Gabriel FreyIn the tradition of her native ancestors, a young girl learns to identify and gather sweetgrassYounger ReadersView book details
Fox at NightCorey R. TaborEquipped with a pair of binoculars, Fox encounters nocturnal forest creatures who offer to help Fox realize the night is full of friends, not monsters—but are they correct? (The 2022 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award winner)Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure 92LATOS Book Level 1.2View book details
From the Tops of the TreesKao Kalia YangAfter young Kalia wonders what is outside the fences of her refugee camp, her father gives her a new perspective from the top of a treeYounger ReadersView book details
The Great Stink: How Joseph Bazalgette Solved London's Poop Pollution ProblemColleen PaeffAfter multiple cholera outbreaks and an exceptionally smelly summer in Victorian London, engineer Joseph Bazalgette designs a sewage system for the city. (A 2022 Sibert Honor Book)Younger ReadersView book details
Have You Ever Seen a Flower?Shawn HarrisA young child leaves the drab city for a multi-sensory experience among effervescent flowers in this electric celebration of our connection to, and place within, the natural world. (A 2022 Caldecott Honor Book)Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD490LATOS Book Level 3.3View book details
I Am SmokeHenry HerzSmoke itself narrates an account of its religious, cultural, and practical uses by humans in this unique, STEAM-focused picture bookYounger ReadersView book details
I Dream of PopoLivia BlackburneThe strong connection between a young girl and her grandmother is tested when the girl moves from Taiwan to San DiegoYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD510LATOS Book Level 2.9View book details
I Hop: An I Like to Read ® BookJoe CepedaA young boy plans a picnic for his grandmother and sets his plan in motion using a rather unique mode of transportation—a pogo stick. (A 2022 Geisel Honor Book)Younger ReadersFountas & Pinnell Text Level CView book details
I Sang You Down from the StarsTasha Spillett-SumnerAn Inniwak expectant mother engages in mindful cultural traditions as she collects sacred items for her child's medicine bundleYounger ReadersWord Count 421View book details
In the Meadow of FantasiesHadi MohammadiIn this imaginative parable, a girl and seven horses embark on a fantastical journey in which the horses gather to share their visions and dreams. (A 2022 Batchelder Honor Book)Younger ReadersView book details
In My MosqueM. O. YukselChildren welcome the reader to their mosque in this inviting study of similarities and differences in religious and cultural traditionsYounger ReadersView book details
King of Ragtime: The Story of Scott JoplinStephen CostanzaThis picture-book biography follows the life of Scott Joplin, an African American musician and composer who popularized the style known as ragtimeYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD930LATOS Book Level 6.1View book details
Laxmi’s MoochShelly AnandIn this celebration of all bodies’ natural hair, young Laxmi is offered loving reassurance after a friend notices her facial hairYounger ReadersView book details
Let Me Fix You a Plate: A Tale of Two KitchensElizabeth LillyA young family finds connection and commonality through the meals they share while visiting the Appalachian and Cuban sides of their familyYounger ReadersView book details
The Little Wooden Robot and the Log PrincessTom GauldStranded far from home due to a mishap, a wooden robot prince and his log-princess sister rescue one another during their journey back to the castleYounger ReadersWord Count 1245View book details
The Longest StormDan YaccarinoA single-parent family learns to appreciate spending time together when they’re stuck indoors during a seemingly interminable stormYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD490LATOS Book Level 3.3View book details
The Lost Package: A Lot Can Happen Between the Post Office and the DestinationRichard HoEver wonder what happens to mailed packages that are lost en route? This is the happy story of one such boxYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD330LATOS Book Level 2.4View book details
May Your Life Be DeliciosaMichael GenhartRosie’s Abuela doesn’t need a recipe because she truly cooks “by heart.” Rosie compares the steps of making tamales to the wishes she has for her family. (A 2022 Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor Book)Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD590LATOS Book Level 3.3View book details
Mel FellCorey R. TaborAs Mel the kingfisher plunges from a treetop on her first flight, readers are invited to turn the book sideways and upside-down as they follow her journey. (A 2022 Caldecott Honor Book)Younger ReadersWord Count 281View book details
Milo Imagines the WorldMatt de la PeñaMilo sketches what he imagines to be the lives of his fellow subway passengers, only to reassess his drawings after he discovers one boy shares Milo’s destination: visiting day at a correctional facilityYounger ReadersView book details
Mornings with MonetBarb RosenstockAs the morning sun moves, Monet shifts from painting to painting, capturing what will become a famous series of images of the SeineYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD790LATOS Book Level 5View book details
The Most Beautiful StoryBrynjulf Jung TjønnIn an intricate tale of tragic loss and fervent hope, a loving sister seeks help from a compassionate, magical entity who uses the wonder of story to revive memories of a lost sibling. (A 2022 Batchelder Honor Book)Younger ReadersView book details
My First DayPhùng Nguyên Quang, Huỳnh Kim LiênA young boy, who lives on Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, sets out alone in a little wooden boat and journeys to reach a familiar placeYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD680LATOS Book Level 3.1View book details
My Two Border TownsDavid BowlesCrossing the U.S.-Mexico border, a boy and his father buy gifts and necessities for refugee friends who temporarily live between the two countries. Simultaneously published in Spanish and EnglishYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD680LATOS Book Level 3.5View book details
Nina: A Story of Nina SimoneTraci N. ToddA well-rounded biography of Nina Simone, whose music was influenced by her civil rights activismYounger ReadersView book details
Not LittleMaya MyersDot proves that even though she may be small in stature, she will stand up for herself and othersYounger ReadersView book details
Nothing Fits a DinosaurJonathan FenskeWhen “Mommasaurus” says it's time to settle in for the night after his bath, a young boy must find some pajamas, sparking dino drama and the question: how do you dress a dinosaur? (A 2022 Geisel Honor Book)Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD440LATOS Book Level 1.6View book details
Odd Beasts: Meet Nature’s Weirdest AnimalsLaura GehlSimple rhyming sentences and bold art introduce readers to a variety of fascinating and unusual animals in this nonfiction board bookYounger ReadersView book details
Osnat and Her Dove: The True Story of the World's First Female RabbiSigal SamuelLore surrounding the life of Osnat Barzani enhances this picture-book biography of the first female rabbi, who lived in seventeenth-century IraqYounger ReadersView book details
Our Skin: A First Conversation about RaceMegan Madison, Jessica RalliAn accessible conversation starter about race for children and families. Simultaneously published in board and picture book formatYounger ReadersView book details
Outside, InsideLeUyen PhamA girl and a cat observe how the world changed during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemicYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD470LATOS Book Level 3.2View book details
Over the ShopJonArno LawsonEvocative ink-and-watercolor illustrations speak volumes in this wordless picture book about intergenerational love and communityYounger ReadersView book details
The People RememberIbi ZoboiThe principles of Kwanzaa, lyrical free verse, and dynamic illustrations powerfully come together in this illuminating look at Black historyYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure 899LATOS Book Level 5.8View book details
The People’s Painter: How Ben Shahn Fought for Justice with ArtCynthia LevinsonJewish immigrant Ben Shahn used his art to portray the lives of working-class people and others who had been mistreated to bring to light injustices in the United States. (The 2022 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award winner)Younger ReadersView book details
Room for EveryoneNaaz KhanMusa learns there is always room for everyone on the dala dala bus in this rollicking, rhyming, come-along adventureYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD620LATOS Book Level 4View book details
Sato the RabbitYuki AinoyaSato the Rabbit's imagination transforms the details of ordinary life into fanciful adventures that embrace and enhance the natural world. (A 2022 Batchelder Honor Book)Younger ReadersView book details
Someone Builds the DreamLisa WheelerAn ode to the skilled laborers who build the creations envisioned by architects, engineers, and artistsYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD610LATOS Book Level 4View book details
A Song of FrutasMargarita EngleWhile visiting her abuelo, a little girl loves accompanying him as he sings and sells fruit on the streets of Cuba. Simultaneously published in Spanish and EnglishYounger ReadersView book details
Soul Food SundayWinsome BinghamOn Soul Food Sunday, a young Black boy helps his granny grate the cheese, prep the greens, and skin and slice the meats for the meal before making the sweet tea all by himselfYounger ReadersView book details
Summertime Sleepers: Animals That EstivateMelissa StewartUsing comparisons and contrasts, this engaging nonfiction title introduces young readers to estivation, the summertime equivalent of hibernation. (A 2022 Sibert Honor Book)Younger ReadersView book details
Sunrise SummerMatthew SwansonA girl is excited to join the fishing crew when her family travels to Alaska to harvest salmon for the summerYounger ReadersView book details
Ten Beautiful ThingsMolly Beth GriffinLily begins to see beauty in unexpected places as she and her grandmother search for 10 beautiful things on their drive to their new home in IowaYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure 640LATOS Book Level 4.1View book details
Too Small TolaAtinukeEasy-to-read, episodic chapters with simple illustrations introduce readers to Tola, a bright young girl living in Nigeria with her familyYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure 610LATOS Book Level 3.6View book details
¡Vamos! Let’s Cross the BridgeRaúl the ThirdPals Little Lobo, Bernabé, La Oink Oink, and El Toro get stuck on a bridge between sister cities in two different countries and make a party out of a difficult situation. (The 2022 Pura Belpré Illustrator Award winner)Younger ReadersView book details
WatercressAndrea WangA Chinese American girl, too embarrassed to eat the watercress her family picked from the roadside, learns of her mother's childhood experience with famine in China. (The 2022 Caldecott Medal winner and a 2022 Newbery Honor Book)Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD610LATOS Book Level 4View book details
The Water Lady: How Darlene Arviso Helps a Thirsty Navajo NationAlice B. McGintyThe true story of Darlene Arviso’s quest to provide water to the Navajo NationYounger ReadersView book details
What I AmDivya SrinivasanIn short, declarative sentences, a young girl states the many (and sometimes contradictory) identities, feelings, and traits that make her the unique human being she isYounger ReadersView book details
When Lola VisitsMichelle SterlingA Filipino girl describes the smells, tastes, and sensations that accompany her beloved grandmother’s visits each summerYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure 750LATOS Book Level 4.8View book details
WishesMượn Thị VănA dramatic and lyrical story of one family's refugee journey from Vietnam to a new homeYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD130LATOS Book Level 1.3View book details
Wonder WalkersMicha ArcherTwo children explore and contemplate nature through a series of imaginative questions. (A 2022 Caldecott Honor Book)Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD310LATOS Book Level 2.3View book detailsMiddle Readers
32 selections
The 1619 Project: Born on the WaterNikole Hannah-Jones, Renée WatsonA young girl’s school project on ancestry prompts her grandmother to share the history of their people, spanning their roots in Africa, through enslavement, and into the presentMiddle ReadersLexile Text Measure 860LATOS Book Level 5.5View book details
Amari and the Night BrothersB. B. AlstonAmari investigates her brother’s disappearance while navigating a magic-filled summer internship at the secret Bureau of Supernatural AffairsMiddle ReadersView book details
Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for KidsCynthia Leitich SmithAn enlightening collection of short stories about Indigenous young people attending an intertribal powwow in Ann Arbor, MichiganMiddle ReadersView book details
Bad SisterCharise Mericle HarperIn this honest and moving graphic memoir, Charise and her younger brother, Daniel, don't always get along, sometimes getting physically and emotionally hurt as a resultMiddle ReadersWord Count 7572View book details
Barefoot Dreams of Petra LunaAlda P. DobbsPetra dreams of going to school and learning how to read. Instead, she must lead her grandmother and younger siblings to safety across the US border during the Mexican Revolution. (A 2022 Pura Belpré Children's Author Honor Book)Middle ReadersLexile Text Measure 730LATOS Book Level 4.8View book details
The Beatryce ProphecyKate DiCamilloA prophecy sets a medieval adventure in motion that involves a mysterious girl, a feisty goat, a boy with a tragic sword, a missing king, and an empathetic monkMiddle ReadersLexile Text Measure 580LATOS Book Level 4.4View book details
BordersThomas KingThis graphic novel tells the story of a mother and son trapped between Canada and America because their Blackfoot citizenship is not recognized by border securityMiddle ReadersView book details
Cece Rios and the Desert of SoulsKaela RiveraRivera draws upon Mexican American legends in her account of Cece, a girl confronting dark forces and social expectations while on a quest to rescue her sisterMiddle ReadersView book details
Child of the Flower-Song People: Luz Jiménez, Daughter of the NahuaGloria AmescuaThis picture-book biography of Luz Jiménez explores her life and efforts to preserve the Nahua language and culture. (A 2022 Pura Belpré Children's Author Honor Book)Middle ReadersView book details
Healer of the Water MonsterBrian YoungWhile visiting his grandmother, a Navajo boy enlists help from Holy Beings and tribal members as he tries to help heal an ailing Water Monster and his own uncleMiddle ReadersLexile Text Measure 731LATOS Book Level 4.7View book details
How to Become a PlanetNicole MellebyPluto is a happy child until a black hole of depression opens inside of her, leading her to find a way forward through self-acceptance, professional help, and new relationshipsMiddle ReadersLexile Text Measure 769LATOS Book Level 4.9View book details
How to Find What You’re Not Looking ForVeera HiranandaniSet after the Loving v.Virginia ruling, a family struggles with shifting beliefs around interracial marriage, prejudice, and traditional Jewish valuesMiddle ReadersLexile Text Measure 690LATOS Book Level 4.6View book details
The LeakKate Reed PettyRuth Keller begins investigating sludge at a local lake when she suspects ties between the water supply and her plethora of cavities in this eco-driven graphic novelMiddle ReadersView book details
The One Thing You’d SaveLinda Sue ParkUsing traditional and modified sijo poetic structure, Park explores what children would save if they were ever in a housefireMiddle ReadersView book details
Playing the Cards You’re DealtVarian JohnsonTen-year-old Ant questions his relationships with his best friend and alcoholic father while learning to work with a new Spades partner for an upcoming tournamentMiddle ReadersView book details
Red, White, and WholeRajani LaRoccaIn this novel in verse set during the 1980s, Reha struggles with her cultural identity as an Indian American girl while coping with the realities of her mother’s leukemia. (A 2022 Newbery Honor Book)Middle ReadersView book details
Root MagicEden RoyceWhen her Gullah Geechee family is threatened by racist policemen and supernatural entities, Jezebel embraces her cultural heritage to protect her family and herselfMiddle ReadersView book details
Runaway: The Daring Escape of Ona JudgeRay Anthony ShepardWritten in conversational free verse, this narrative explores how Ona Judge, enslaved by George and Martha Washington, emancipates herselfMiddle ReadersView book details
Saving American Beach: The Biography of African American Environmentalist MaVynee BetschHeidi Tyline KingRich collage artwork brings depth and detail to the story of MaVynee Betsch and how she used her voice to save formerly segregated American Beach from developersMiddle ReadersView book details
The Sea in WinterChristine DayStruggling to recover from a ballet injury, Maisie overcomes hopelessness by finding solace in her blended family, her culture, and the natural surroundings of the Pacific NorthwestMiddle ReadersLexile Text Measure 769LATOS Book Level 4.9View book details
Sharice’s Big Voice: A Native Kid Becomes a CongresswomanSharice Davids, Nancy K. MaysU.S. Representative Sharice Davids describes her path to becoming one of the first Native American and openly gay members of Congress and encourages readers to use their own voicesMiddle ReadersView book details
Sona Sharma, Very Best Big Sister?Chitra SoundarSona helps choose a name in preparation for the baby's Hindu naming ceremony, ultimately embracing her new role as a big sisterMiddle ReadersLexile Text Measure 590LATOS Book Level 3.8View book details
Stamped (For Kids): Racism, Antiracism, and YouSonja Cherry-Paul, Jason Reynolds, Ibram X. KendiThis young reader’s adaptation of Stamped explores the origin of racist ideas, their impact today, and how readers can work to practice antiracismMiddle ReadersView book details
StarfishLisa FippsEllie’s struggles to find her voice and self-worth unfold in verse as she stands up to those who bully and fat-shame herMiddle ReadersLexile Text Measure HL630LATOS Book Level 4.1View book details
Survivor TreeMarcie ColleenA resilient tree, badly damaged in the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, is replanted near the memorial in this moving picture bookMiddle ReadersLexile Text Measure 420LATOS Book Level 2.9View book details
Temple Alley SummerSachiko KashiwabaUpon seeing a ghostly figure slip out of his home, Kazu grows convinced it’s connected to an ancient temple and the sudden appearance of a mysterious new classmate. (The 2022 Mildred L. Batchelder Award winner)Middle ReadersLexile Text Measure 620LATOS Book Level 4.5View book details
Ten Thousand TriesAmy MakechnieGolden, a natural leader on the soccer field, struggles to accept his Dad’s incurable ALS and finds support in his family and communityMiddle ReadersView book details
This Very Tree: A Story of 9/11, Resilience, and RegrowthSean RubinStriking illustrations channel the strength and hope present in this account of September 11, as told from the point of view of a tree that survived the tragedyMiddle ReadersLexile Text Measure AD520LATOS Book Level 3.4View book details
Too Bright to SeeKyle LukoffIn rural Vermont, Bug spends the summer preparing for middle school, grieving Uncle Roderick's death, and grappling with a ghost and gender identity. (A 2022 Newbery Honor Book)Middle ReadersLexile Text Measure 790LATOS Book Level 5.1View book details
Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown SoldierJeff GottesfeldA picture-book tribute to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the sentinels who guard itMiddle ReadersView book details
Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race MassacreCarole Boston WeatherfordA powerful look into the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921, one of the worst racial attacks in American history. (A 2022 Caldecott Honor Book and a 2022 Sibert Honor Book)Middle ReadersView book details
We Are Still Here! Native American Truths Everyone Should KnowTraci SorellFor Indigenous People's Day, 12 students present on historical and contemporary issues related to Native Americans. (A 2022 Sibert Honor Book)Middle ReadersLexile Text Measure 1410LATOS Book Level 11.7View book detailsOlder Readers
18 selections
Amber and ClayLaura Amy SchlitzSet in Ancient Greece, this epic novel in verse traces the converging journeys of two children, a slave and an aristocratOlder ReadersLexile Text Measure 781LATOS Book Level 5View book details
Boy, EverywhereA. M. DassuThe Syrian civil war uproots a boy and his family, forcing them to leave the comforts of home and journey toward safety in EnglandOlder ReadersWord Count 70601View book details
Call and Response: The Story of Black Lives MatterVeronica ChambersThis reference book about the Black Lives Matter movement and its historical context includes helpful lists, timelines, and photographsOlder ReadersView book details
Dawn RaidPauline Vaeluaga SmithSofia’s life and values change when she is affected by the injustices of 1970s New Zealand and learns about the Polynesian Panthers' fight for civil rightsOlder ReadersView book details
Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War ShowdownSteve SheinkinThis thrilling history of the Cold War breaks down the events preceding, and key players involved in, the Cuban Missile Crisis. (A 2022 Sibert Honor Book)Older ReadersView book details
The Genius under the Table: Growing up behind the Iron CurtainEugene YelchinYevgeny, a Jewish boy growing up in the Soviet Union, hopes to identify a talent that will allow him to rise above his circumstances in this comical memoirOlder ReadersView book details
The In-BetweenRebecca K. S. AnsariCooper and his little sister, Jess, stumble upon a dark mystery when they become curious about their new neighbor across the alleyOlder ReadersLexile Text Measure 860LATOS Book Level 5.5View book details
The Last CuentistaDonna Barba HigueraCenturies after Earth is destroyed, Petra arrives on a new planet, where she uses traditional stories and cunning to outwit enemies and rescue other survivors. (The 2022 Newbery Medal winner and the 2022 Pura Belpré Children’s Author Award winner)Older ReadersWord Count 71822View book details
The Legend of Auntie PoShing Yin KhorThis graphic novel interweaves historical fiction and surreal adventure as Mei reimagines the tale of Paul Bunyan with a Chinese heroine to cope with ramifications of the Chinese Exclusion ActOlder ReadersView book details
A Place to Hang the MoonKate AlbusRecently orphaned and evacuated from war-torn London, siblings William, Edmund, and Anna work with a librarian to find a family who will adopt themOlder ReadersWord Count 62475View book details
Race Against Time: The Untold Story of Scipio Jones and the Battle to Save Twelve Innocent MenSandra Neil Wallace, Rich WallaceThis account details the successful efforts of African American attorney Scipio Jones to free 12 wrongly convicted Black men in 1924Older ReadersView book details
Recognize!: An Anthology Honoring and Amplifying Black LifeWade Hudson, Cheryl Willis HudsonEmploying a variety of formats and subjects, this powerful collection proclaims the importance of Black lives past, present, and futureOlder ReadersView book details
Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party's Promise to the PeopleKekla MagoonProviding historical and contemporary context, this thorough account of the Black Panther Party details its history, evolution, and impactOlder ReadersView book details
Salt MagicHope LarsonIn a twisty graphic novel set after WWI, a mysterious lady in white turns the local water supply salty, leading Vonceil to try to undo the curseOlder ReadersView book details
Six Crimson CranesElizabeth LimLim draws upon Andersen’s “The Wild Swans” and Asian folklore in her story of Princess Shiori’s efforts to escape her stepmother’s dark magic and save her brothersOlder ReadersView book details
A Snake Falls to EarthDarcie Little BadgerApplying conventions of traditional Lipan Apache storytelling, this lyrical novel follows the entwining stories of Native teen Nina and Oli, a snake boy from the spirit world. (A 2022 Newbery Honor Book)Older ReadersLexile Text Measure 829LATOS Book Level 5.3View book details
Thanks a Lot, UniverseChad LucasBrian and Ezra navigate their changing relationship while also dealing with challenges related to foster care, sexual identity, and anxietyOlder ReadersLexile Text Measure 580LATOS Book Level 3.8View book details
While I Was AwayWaka T. BrownThis novel, based on the author’s childhood, chronicles 12-year-old Waka’s culture shock as she spends a summer in Japan with her grandmother to improve her Japanese language skillsOlder ReadersLexile Text Measure 800LATOS Book Level 5.1View book detailsAll Ages
8 selections
Hear My Voice / Escucha mi voz: The Testimonies of Children Detained at the Southern Border of the United StatesWarren Binford for Project AmplifyStriking illustrations by Latinx artists complement the bilingual testimonies of children detained in inhumane conditions at the U.S.-Mexico borderAll AgesView book details
I Am an American: The Wong Kim Ark StoryMartha Brockenbrough, Grace LinIn a defining court case, Wong Kim Ark’s victory guaranteed birthright citizenship for all AmericansAll AgesView book details
Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem RenaissanceNikki GrimesThis collection of oft-overlooked works by women poets of the Harlem Renaissance is interwoven with Grimes’ own golden shovel poetryAll AgesView book details
Make Meatballs Sing: The Life and Art of Corita KentMatthew BurgessThis biography explores the life of artist and Catholic nun Corita Kent, who used her art as a form of activism and inspired people to see the sacred in the everydayAll AgesView book details
¡Mambo Mucho Mambo! The Dance that Crossed Color LinesDean RobbinsBy exploring the history of mambo and Latin Jazz, this book demonstrates the power of music and dance to transcend racial and cultural barriers. Simultaneously published in Spanish and EnglishAll AgesView book details
Nano: The Spectacular Science of the Very (Very) SmallJess WadeVivid illustrations and helpful diagrams complement this engaging and kid-friendly exploration of nanoscienceAll AgesView book details
Niños: Poems for the Lost Children of ChileMaría José FerradaThis book is an ode to the 34 Chilean children who lost their lives during the years of Pinochet’s regimeAll AgesView book details
The Sea-Ringed World: Sacred Stories of the AmericasMaría García EsperónPoetry, prose, and artwork combine in this collection of traditional tales from 18 Indigenous cultures that span from Argentina to Alaska. (A 2022 Batchelder Honor Book)All AgesView book details