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Young students are facing a national mental health crisis, and to help combat these struggles, social and emotional learning (SEL) standards are being implemented in schools. Helping students develop these lifelong skills is a momentous task, but don’t fear—JLG is here to support you and your library! In this blog post, we’ll explore how libraries can cultivate SEL skills by encouraging readers’ self-discovery, creating a safe space for communication, and stocking your collection with titles that have positive messages and spark thoughtful discussions around topics like ethics, kindness, and relationships. 

Celebrate National Women’s History Month with a few recommendations from our esteemed editorial team!

Take ten minutes out of your day to learn more about how Boston Weatherford and her artistically talented son, Jeffery Boston Weatherford, collaborate and co-author projects, the advice she has for Black students experiencing erasure in their histories, and how critical fabulation can help strengthen librarian’s curation efforts. Ultimately, you’ll learn of Boston Weatherford’s dedication to the African American experience and her anti-racist writing that explores a balance of empathy and activism: 

“I don’t think there needs to be that dichotomy or tension between writing about Black trauma or joy—they are both very real and we don’t have to choose one or the other. The tension is real; we carry it within us. We have a right to joy, but we also need justice, which means being true to our pasts and exposing injustices.” 

Middle school can be tough, especially when you’re living out of a car, fighting to keep your Native American Heritage alive, and dealing with your mean brother, Emjay. James Bird, author of the JLG selection No Place Like Home, takes readers on a bumpy road trip through the ups and downs of experiencing homelessness at a young age. Told through the lens of an optimistic, twelve-year-old protagonist—perhaps based on a young James? —this middle school novel will encourage readers to practice resiliency, form their own identities, and preserve their heritage and culture— even in the most destitute of times.

Learn more about how our Editorial Team selects the best books for our Spanish categories, why representation in literature is so important for young readers, and the titles you can read to make Hispanic literature a part of your everyday life! 

Aprende más sobre como nuestro equipo editorial selecciona los mejores libros para nuestras categorías en español, porque la representación en la literatura juvenil es tan importante para los lectores y los títulos que puedes leer para hacer la literatura hispana parte de tu vida diaria.