CHILDREN’S BOOKS

14 LGBTQ board books to diversify your baby’s bookshelves – Book Riot

Beverly Cleary saw kids as they are – The Atlantic

I’m a Black mother and educator. Here’s why I let my kids read racist books. – HuffPost

Macmillan Children’s to add Neon Squid nonfiction imprint – Publishers Weekly

Racial diversity in children’s books grows, but slowly – The Star

What children’s books have had the biggest impact on you? – The New York Times

LIBRARIES

ALA to Biden Administration: Don’t overlook libraries in infrastructure plan – Publishers Weekly

The Complicated Role of the Modern Public Library – National Endowment for the Humanities

Madison Public Library says concerned staff led to further delay in opening – now hoping for late May return – Channel3000

YA LIT

10 great new April YA books to TBR – Book Riot

20 YA books you can finally read in paperback this April – Epic Reads

Sequel to Rep. John Lewis’ ‘March’ graphic novel to debut this summer – ScreenRant

The American Library Association has released their annual list of the most challenged books of the previous year. These are the top titles among the 273 books that were challenged in 2020. It’s fascinating and saddening to see racism and anti-racism books take over more of the list this year.

George by Alex Gino

Challenged, banned, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content, conflicting with a religious viewpoint, and not reflecting “the values of our community”

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds

Banned and challenged because of the author’s public statements, and because of claims that the book contains “selective storytelling incidents” and does not encompass racism against all people

All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely

Banned and challenged for profanity, drug use, and alcoholism, and because it was thought to promote anti-police views, contain divisive topics, and be “too much of a sensitive matter right now”

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Banned, challenged, and restricted because it was thought to contain a political viewpoint, it was claimed to be biased against male students, and for the novel’s inclusion of rape and profanity

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and allegations of sexual misconduct by the author

Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story about Racial Injustice by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard, illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin

Challenged for “divisive language” and because it was thought to promote anti-police views

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Banned and challenged for racial slurs and their negative effect on students, featuring a “white savior” character, and its perception of the Black experience

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Banned and challenged for racial slurs and racist stereotypes, and their negative effect on students

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and depicts child sexual abuse

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Challenged for profanity, and it was thought to promote an anti-police message

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

8 fun facts about The Monster at the End of This Book – Mental Floss

10 extraordinary children’s books that inspire the best in all of us – Booktrib

18 books to help grieving children and teens heal – KQED

Children’s books roundup – the best new picture books and novels – The Guardian

Chris Van Dusen talks about the process illustrating children’s books (video) – News Center Maine

Jason Reynolds, National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, embarks on second virtual tour this spring – CBC

Joan Walsh Anglund obituary: Her children’s books captured the innocence of youth – The Irish Times

Judy Blume shares the advice Beverly Cleary gave her, even though they never met – Today

Remembering the first Indian author who won America’s top children’s literature prize – Scroll.in

Scholastic halts distribution of book by ‘Captain Underpants’ author – The New York Times

LIBRARIES

Build America’s Libraries – Intellectual Freedom Blog

Libraries are key tools for people getting out of prison, even during a pandemic – Maine Public

Readers rejoice: Madison’s public libraries could reopen next month – Wisconsin State Journal

YA BOOKS

5 new YA books to pick up for Trans Day of Visibility – Book Riot

10 of the most notable YA books of 2021 (so far) – Forbes

March 2021’s 12 best YA books, including Leigh Bardugo’s latest – PopSugar

Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses is headed to Hulu – Tor

To All the Boys spinoff series in development at Netflix – ComingSoon.net

VIZ originals take manga mainstream – Publishers Weekly

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

30 AAPI books for kids of all ages – Chicago Parent

Books about consent and bodily autonomy for kids and teens – HuffPost

From awareness to acceptance: 10 children’s books that accurately portray what it is to be autistic – PBS SoCal

Illustrators build a bridge for young readers, says artist James Ransome – NPR

Stop Asian hate book lists and resources – The Children’s Book Council

Thai, Texas roots major influence on award-winning author of children’s books – Fort Worth Star-Telegram

LIBRARIES

Wisconsin public school libraries to receive $39 million – WKOW

YA LIT

Black girl magic comes to life in these 15 mystical YA books – PopSugar

How crying on TikTok sells books – The New York Times

Teen girls of color in YA historical fiction – Book Riot

YA thrillers starring marginalized teens – Book Riot

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

CCBC Choices 2021

Laurence Fishburne, Michelle Yeoh Join ‘The School for Good and Evil’ at Netflix – Deadline

LIBRARIES

Libraries are getting $200 million in stimulus funds – CNN

YA LIT

‘I couldn’t escape. I wasn’t entire sure I wanted to’: confusing messages about consent in young adult fantasy fiction – The Conversation

The YA market is fickle as hell. Is it about to dump its latest crush – diversity? – The Spinoff (Article by author Chloe Gong)

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Librarians hesitate on We Are Water Protectors – OIF Blog

Move over, Dr. Seuss: 29 children’s books by BIPOC authors to add to your bookshelf – The Mary Sue

The Phantom Tollbooth author Norton Juster has died at the age of 91 – Tor.com

‘The Runaway Bunny’ hops to HBO Max – Publishers Weekly

Saying it louder for the people in the back: Kids need queer books – Book Riot

LIBRARIES

The Internet Archive’s National Emergency Library controversy – Hackernoon

Want to borrow that e-book from the library? Sorry, Amazon won’t let you – The Washington Post

YA LIT

14 books vs movie differences in Netflix’s “Moxie” – BuzzFeed

24 of the best new YA novels of 2021 – PopSugar

All the new young adult SFF books arriving in March – Tor.com

How a new generation of LGBTQ young adult books is reshaping the literary landscape – EdgeMediaNetwork

March 2021 YA book releases – The Nerd Daily

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Add these new children’s books by Black authors to your kids’ shelves – SheKnows

Kid Lit community launches auction to help combat anti-Asian racism – SLJ

Little Simon launches children’s book graphic novel series – Forbes

Opinion: Why schools should rethink Dr. Seuss – Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Prolific children’s author Jane Yolen readies 400th book – Mass Live

LIBRARIES

Brooklyn librarian becomes unlikely star with her bilingual story time – NPR

Libraries are an essential service. Give librarians the vaccine now – Newsweek

‘We can hardly keep them stocked’: why books by Black authors are flying off the shelves – CBC

YA LIT

Author Patrick Ness on shifting from book to screen for his story ‘Chaos Walking’ – Black Girl Nerds

Disney’s cancelled LGBTQ-themed ‘Nimona’ movie would’ve starred Chloe Grace Moretz, Riz Ahmed – But there’s still hope – Collider

I stopped reading because I couldn’t see myself in books. So I wrote one instead, Gary Lonesborough – The Guardian

In ‘Girlhood,’ teens across the globe write about their everyday lives – NPR

March 2021’s 12 best YA books, including Leigh Bardugo’s latest – Pop Sugar

Netflix series in the works for debut novel ‘Firekeeper’s Daughter’ – WXYZ

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

25 must-read 2021 picture books for your child’s bookshelves – Book Riot

37 years ago she started making braille children’s books to cut the cost by 90% and donate them worldwide – Good News Network

2021 books by Newbery winners – 100 Scope Notes

Children’s books that feature LGBTQ characters – HuffPost

Children’s books with characters of diverse body types – HuffPost

When Black kids — shut out world of children’s literature — took matters into their own hands – Salon

YOUNG ADULT

7 YA novels featuring strong, vulnerable unique Black girls coming in 2021 – NBC

11 books featuring South Asian characters to read in 2021 – Teen Vogue

20 must-read 2021 young adult fantasy releases – Book Riot

50 Black young adult novelists you should read, from Angie Thomas to Walter Dean Myers – AZCentral

After to All the Boys I’ve Loved Before: 8 young adult books Netflix should adapt next – Cinema Blend

Black History Month Book List 2021 – YA Pride

The Booklist Printz Interview: Daniel Nayeri – Booklist

Graphic novels and comics to enjoy for Black History Month – or anytime! – The Hub

In ‘Nubia: Real One,’ trying to be a hero when society thinks you’re a threat – CapRadio

Ojibwe author Angeline Boulley on the “Indigenous Nancy Drew” story in her debut YA thriller – Michigan Radio

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Children’s book author Matt de la Pena tells it like it is – The San Diego Union-Tribune

Diverse children’s books that aren’t about diversity – HuffPost

The most anticipated children’s and YA books of Spring 2021 – Publishers Weekly

Netflix to adapt Lupita Nyong’o children’s book ‘Sulwe’ into an animated musical – Deadline

PageTurners: children’s books guaranteed to make everyone smile – The Root

Utah parents complained after kids were read a story about a transgender boy. Now other diverse books are on hold. – The Salt Lake Tribune

YA READS

9 young adult novels we’re excited about – Essence

18 epic fantasy books starring magical black leads – BuzzFeed

February 2021 YA book releases – The Nerd Daily