July is known as Disability Pride Month because it marks the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This law is meant to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities and discourage discrimination, however, people are still marginalized for their abilities or limitations. To help combat ableism and injustice, librarians across the nation strive to make a safe space where all people and communities can see themselves embodied in literature.

In recently released data from NAEP, students who read for fun daily are at an all-time low; only 14% of students reported reading for fun almost every day. This statistic is alarming, especially when there are so many great summer reads to go around! If your students are having a difficult time picking up a book, and they need a little convincing that reading for pleasure is important for their overall growth and success, this is the blog post for YOU!

Sacha Lamb, an archivist, librarian, and author of When the Angels Left the Old Country, writes a queer, Jewish fantasy that transcends the concepts of identity, gender, and explores how both good and evil are necessary in our lives. When writing this story, they intended to combine all the literary elements that they love into one—and this ingenuity is what won the book a Stonewall, Sydney Taylor, and Printz Book Award!

Stay True by Hua Hsu was the first JLG selection to win a Pulitzer Prize, and we couldn’t pass up an opportunity to learn more about how our editorial staff deemed it a JLG Gold Standard Selection. So, what exactly goes into picking a Pulitzer Prize? Dan, a member of our editorial staff, shares his journey… 

We spoke with Martin Lemelman, certified Florida Master Gardener, and—importantly—the author of the The Miracle Seed, for Jewish American Heritage Month. 

Do not miss this special blog where we learn more about Martin’s graphic novel, his thoughts on miracles, and how his parents taught him resilience by surviving the Holocaust.  

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and here at JLG, we know that reading is a great technique to practice mindfulness, relaxation, and empathy—AND it’s even been scientifically proven to improve our mental health! The next time you need an excuse to stock your shelves with a new title, just remember, that book could help positively impact a reader’s thoughts, mood, or behavior—we love the power of books!