CHILDREN’S BOOKS
A complete list of the best children’s books of 2020 – Moms
Indigenous Peoples Booklist – CBC
Kids’ graphic novels that turn the superhero genre on its head – The New York Times
Winner announced for inaugural youth book prize for social justice – CBC
LIBRARIES
Missed the SLJ Summit? You can access the full program on demand. – SLJ
Vandalization at major libraries aims at voter intimidation – Book Riot
YA LIT
10 new YA books to get lost in this November – PopSugar
CHILDREN’S LIT
14 children’s books about race and racial diversity – Book Riot
52 incredible picture book biographies of Black people creating and leading – Book Riot
A new picture book reminds Black sons: you are ‘Every Good Thing’ – NPR
Scary stories and horror reading for kids and teens – Wisconsin Public Radio
Your Fall Newbery/Caldecott 2021 ‘Hey, Keep an Eye Out’ lists – 100 Scope Notes
LIBRARIES
Why lockdown was the plot twist that libraries needed – The Guardian
Why this Brooklyn library is betting on a future that’s bigger than books – Fast Company
YA LIT
The recognition of YA authors of colour has come far too late – The Boar
CHILDREN’S BOOKS
Authors hope 2020 turns the page in push for diverse children’s books – Greater Milwaukee Today
Cynthia Leitich Smith named winner of the 2021 NSK Neustadt Prize for Children’s Literature – Cision
The ‘I Survived’ books are perfect reads for an anxious age – NPR
Jill Paton Walsh Dies at 83 – BBC News
LIBRARIES
A reset for library e-books – Publishers Weekly
CHILDREN’S BOOKS
11 inspiring children’s books to teach kids about gender equality – Mashable
14 wonderful children’s books that celebrate Latinx heritage – Little Things
25 years of His Dark Materials: Philip Pullman on the journey of a lifetime – The Guardian
Colby Rodowsky, children’s book author, dies – Baltimore Sun
Kwame Alexander to receive second Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Oct. 22 – Penn State
YA LIT
9 YA books to read during Hispanic Heritage Month – The Nerd Daily
All the new young adult SFF books arriving in October – Tor
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with these 8 books – Book Riot
Obituary: Bette Greene, author of Summer of My German Soldier – Publishers Weekly
CHILDREN’S BOOKS
52 Canadian picture books coming out in fall 2020 – CBC
Adorable ‘Frog and Toad’ kitting pattern inspired by beloved children’s books – My Modern Met
Alvin Irby: How can we inspire children to be lifelong readers? – NPR
Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret is 50 (and still fabulous) – EW
Barack & Michelle Obama bringing ‘Ada Twist, Scientist’ series to Netflix – The Grio
Diversity in children’s literature – CAI
Too many pictures hinder young kids’ reading – Futurity
LIBRARIES
Libraries are helping communities cope in big and small ways during pandemic – Detroit Free Press
Rural libraries in America: an infographic overview – IMLS
YA LIT
16 YA books guaranteed to make you ugly cry – Epic Reads
David and Nicola Yoon launch YA imprint for people of color – AP
‘Melanin in YA’ database promotes black voices – Publishers Weekly
New fall 2020 YA books to add to your TBR – Book Riot
Race in America: Jason Reynolds & Jacqueline Woodson – Library of Congress
CHILDREN’S BOOKS
22 Latinx middle grade titles filled with magic, found family, and more – SLJ
2020 Halloween reads for kids and teens – Publishers Weekly
Cynthia Kadohata and the redemptive power of change – SLJ
Middle grade nonfiction meets a big moment – Publishers Weekly
Misty Copeland says movies like Black Swan get ballerinas all wrong – Oprah Magazine
New groups aim to get more Latinx stories to young readers – NPR
The wild reason Netflix is being sued over Enola Holmes – Fansided
LIBRARIES
Budgeting for the new normal: libraries respond to COVID-19 funding constraints – Library Journal
It took COVID closures to reveal just how much libraries do beyond lending books – Observer
Libraries and social services go hand and hand, especially in the pandemic – MarketPlace
Public libraries are giving away an insane amount of free food – Shareable
YA LIT
5 K-Pop YA books to tide you over until Next Comeback – Teen Vogue
12 new YA books that will wow you this October – PopSugar
2020 LGBTQIA+ graphic novels for young readers – Publishers Weekly
Number of young adult writers of color doubles to almost 20% (in UK) – The Guardian
Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies will finally be a movie – Tor.com
Tomi Adeyemi is one of TIME’s Most Influential People – Tor.com
Compiled from lists of the most banned and challenged books from 2010-2019, these are the books that were reported as being challenged. ALA reminds us that the vast majority, 82-97%, of challenges remain unreported to ALA and therefore are not part of the list. There are 100 titles on the list. If you haven’t read some of these, they are almost all worth your time. Here are the top ten:
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Captain Underpants (series) by Dav Pilkey
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Looking for Alaska by John Green
George by Alex Gino
And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Drama by Raina Telgemeier
Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James
Internet Girls (series) by Lauren Myracle
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
CHILDREN’S BOOKS
15 children’s books that celebrate the beauty of black hair – PopSugar
Announcing the 2020 CBC Diversity Outstanding Achievement Award winners – The Children’s Book Council
Authors hope 2020 turns the page in push for diverse children’s books – Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The best books featuring Black children in the outdoors – Outside
Sam McBratney, author of popular children’s book ‘Guess How Much I Love You,’ dies at 77 – USA Today
LIBRARIES
The fog of implicit bias – Library Journal
How libraries are writing a new chapter during the pandemic – National Geographic
YA LIT
10 atmospheric YA novels to curl up with this fall – Book Riot
20 young-adult books that are perfect for fans of romantic comedies – Insider
Identity policing in YA: Becky Albertalli’s heartfelt coming out essay opens up an important conversation – The Mary Sue
NYPL’s new reading list “125 Books We Love for Teens” is a YA dream – Time Out
Young adult books round-up – The Guardian
CHILDREN’S BOOKS
Children’s books round-up: A great fantasy story to distract from Covid – The Irish Times
LIBRARIES
Banned Books Week through an alternate lens: Amnesty International – ALA OIF Intellectual Freedom Blog
Online storytimes: an interview about technology and connecting – ALSC Blog
A pandemic side effect: low morale in public libraries – Public Libraries Online
Sharjah World Book Capital leads Beirut Library restoration aid – Publishing Perspectives
Why GoodReads is bad for books – NewStatesman
TEEN LIT
8 transgender YA books written by trans and nonbinary authors – Book Riot
2020 pandemic novels for young readers – Publishers Weekly
Laurie Halse Anderson and Tiffany Jackson discuss YA and the Me Too movement – EW
Portable and tote-able: 60 fall 2020 YA paperbacks – Book Riot
Waking Brain Cells 