New voices, new talent: Debut authors coming from JLG this fall

At JLG, our editors keep their ears to the ground and listen for the whispers gradually building about new authors. These debut selections coming this fall earned the JLG Gold Standard seal of approval.

JLG Selections Take Home 63 ALA Awards & Honors

We are thrilled to announce that 63 of the 112 winners/honorees were JLG selections. We are so proud of our amazing authors and illustrators, as well as our talented editorial team and their history of picking winners.

JLG Selections Shine in the New York Times Best Children's Books of 2019!

JLG selects Caldecott & Newbery winners for 20 years

Our renowned Editorial team has long been on the forefront of selecting books that go on to earn starred reviews, industry awards, honors and prestigious acclaim. Case in point: They've selected the Newbery and Caldecott Medal winners nearly every year for the last 20 years (before they were even published!). 

JLG Back-to-School Book Bundle Giveaway!

Check out the five back-to-school author-autographed book bundles that were part of our giveaway. It's too late to enter—but find out how you can catch the next one!

Teen spirit: How to get teens back to the library

What can libraries do to make sure their young-adult readers stop by for a visit—and then keep coming back? Get tips from School Library Journal’s Karen Jensen.

Ohio author launches book drive for town hit by tornadoes

In Celina, Ohio, more than 50 homes were destroyed by tornado and everything was lost: furniture, clothing, photographs, mementos and, central to this story, books. So a local children's author started a book drive.

ALA 2019: The week I became a library

I asked myself, “If you had to sum up your ALA experience in three words, what would they be?” Easy, I thought: Inspiration, innovation and interaction.

JLG Titles Dominate Excellence in Graphic Literature Awards

The 2019 Excellence in Graphic Literature (EGL) Award winners were recently announced at the Denver Pop Culture Con, and the competition was stiff.JLG's Graphic Novel categories are among our most popular—and we are thrilled to see so many JLG selections honored in this year's EGL Awards!

JLG selections shine in 2019 Boston Globe-Horn Book awards

The 52nd-annual Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards (BGHB) were announced at the end of May, showcasing nine outstanding books—seven of which are JLG Gold Standard Selections!

Webcast Recap:
Books We Love June 2017

On our webcast today, Kiera and I talked about some of our favorite upcoming books you might want to check out this summer. Kiera Parrott is the Reviews Director for School Library Journal and Library Journal and a former children's librarian. Whether your to-be-read pile grew or it became prioritized, we are sure your readers will get also enjoy getting to know these new stories and their wonderful characters. Read More

Tooting The Horn Book's Horn (and JLG's too)

Yesterday marked the beginning of the award season for 2017 titles. The Boston Globe-Horn Book Award winners were announced at School Library Journal's Day of Dialog in NYC. This award was first presented in 1967. A winner and two honor books were selected for each of the three categories: Nonfiction, Picture Book, and Fiction and Poetry. And the winners are... Read More

Webcast Recap: 12 New Books to Read This Summer

In our webcast today, Kayleigh and I talked about some of our favorite upcoming books you might want to check out this summer. Whether your to-be-read pile grew or it became prioritized, we are sure your readers will get a kick out of future-telling noodleheads and blue librarians. Read More

Egg-Cellent Books for Young Readers

Spring. Flowers and bunnies. Baseball and hotdogs. National Library Week. National Poetry Month. Earth Day. Tax Day. And book--spring releases are here! From stories about eggs that don't hatch to those that do, you won't want to miss what's coming for young readers. Read More

Webcast Recap: Stars So Far, K-12

In our webcast today, my guest Shelley Diaz, Reviews Manager and YA Editor at School Library Journal, and I talked about some of our favorite starred books from the spring of 2017. From favorite authors Nikki Grimes and Kevin Henkes to a heart-warming story about foster kids, the stars are shining this season. Read More

Webcast Recap: Get to Know Spring's Hottest Debut Authors and Illustrators Spring 2017, K-12

In our webcast today, my guest Carl A. Harvey II and I talked about some of our favorite upcoming books written by debut authors and illustrators. From a National Geographic explorer to A. S. King's debut as a middle grade writer, these authors are sure to find their way into the hearts and minds of the young and older reader. Read More

Webcast Recap: Women Who Rock: Celebrating the Past and Present

Astronomer. Pinkerton detective. Automobile driver. Computer programmer. Women continue to rock our world through their talents, leadership, and wisdom. In our webcast today, I talked about some of our favorite upcoming books by and about women. From hot new biographies to strong female characters, writers, and illustrators, these quick booktalks will lengthen your shopping cart list. Read More

Webcast Recap: The Buzz about New Teen Books

In our webcast today, Kayleigh and talked about some of our favorite upcoming books for teens. From angry bananas to stories of teens behind bars and witchcraft, these new books for grades 6-12 are sure to circulate! Read More

Webcast Recap: 4 Ways to Strengthen Diversity in Your Library Program

In our webcast today, I shared four ways to strengthen diversity in your library program. As I said, every effort you make towards inclusion and diversity matters to someone. By being aware, keeping up with the literature, shaking up your programming and bringing in outside resources, the impact you can make is so valuable. Read More

You've Got the Winners, Now What?

The Youth Media Awards for 2017 have been announced. Your favorites won. Your favorites lost. There were surprises. Is there anything out there to help sell the books to the winners? And if I already have the books, how can I get those shiny stickers to add to their marketing charisma? What about programming should that be part of what I do with these winners?

Webcast Recap: A New Year's Celebration of New Books

In our webcast today, Susan Marston, JLG's Editorial Director, joined me in a chat about 2017 titles for elementary readers. From animals you never heard of to a cow in a tutu, the books also varied from prekindergarten to grade 6, fiction and nonfiction. Feel free to pass on the archive when it is posted later this week. Read More

Webcast Recap: Silly and Somber: Books for Spring 2017 From the JLG Webinar Series

While the rest of the world is wagering guesses on ALA Awards, the JLG Team is busy working on 2017. Today Susan Marston and I talked about some of the titles on deck for spring 2017. With an early trend of silly and somber, we chatted about a modern day Lord of the Flies, a graphic novel memoir, and a wordless book with words. Read More

What Makes a Good Picture Book?

Do you remember when The Invention of Hugo Cabret (Scholastic, 2007) won the medal? I recall being both delighted and shocked that a 500-plus-page novel could win a picture book award. After a little investigation, I learned that the Caldecott (like the Newbery) considers books for readers through age fourteen. Length of book is not a factor. Instead, a "picture book for children" is defined by the committee as something distinct from other books that have illustrations—it's one that "essentially provides the child with a visual experience." Read More

Webcast Recap: Fall Debut Class of 2016

On today's webcast Leslie Bermel and I talked about some of the fall debut titles for readers of all ages. From a house that needs help, an at-risk boy on a polo pony and a compelling memoir of the childhood of a North Korean boy, your readers will hope that these debut stories are just the beginning of the work we will see in the future from the fall debut class of 2016. Read More

Webcast Recap: New Books by Favorite Authors From the JLG Webinar Series

On today's webcast I chatted with Sara Pennypacker, Barbara O'Connor, and Candace Fleming. From a giant squid, to a girl who makes the same silent wish every day, and new characters for independent readers, these new books from authors you know and love will fly off the shelves. Read More

Webcast Recap: Falling for New Teen Books 2016

On today's webcast Leslie Bermel and I talked about the some of the fall forthcoming books for teen readers. From three magical children and their holy dog to a laugh out loud retelling of the story of Jane Grey, you'll find the new releases to be worth the wait. Read More

Zombies, Ghosts and Other Creepy Tales with Jeff Strand

On Monday, October 3 Leslie Bermel and author, Jeff Strand chatted about his creepy works. His latest title, The Greatest Zombie Movie Ever is a JLG selection from this summer in the PBH category. JLG has also selected two of his prior works: A Bad Day for Voodoo and I Have a Bad Feeling About This. Like Leslie, I was also told not to read Voodoo in a public place. Read More

New Highly Starred Books for 2016

Now that we approaching the end of the 2016 season, you may be like me and starting to make your Best Lists. I know the journals are putting in the hours and whittling down their lists. Our own Jeanette is constantly adding new stars, lists, and awards of our own titles. You can keep track of JLG title selections at Awards & Lists/Lists & Reviews. If you've been keeping tabs, the following are the most highly starred titles of 2016--so far. Read More

Reading, Writing and 'Rithmetic? What Makes a Good School Story?

Between back-to-school sales and the calendar itself, it's not terribly difficult to see that the end of summer is almost here. It's time for school to return to session. I remember when school ended at Memorial Day and restarted after Labor Day. Today's schools often go into July and resume in August. What happened to June, July and August? Read More

Webcast Recap: A Hat, a Pig and Panda Pants August 2016: From the JLG Webinar Series

On today's webcast Leslie Bermel and I talked about the some of the fall forthcoming books for elementary readers. From two turtles that discover a hat in the desert to a much-anticipated biography of E.B. White, you’ll find the new releases to be worth the wait. With the addition of new categories, Character Building Elementary, Fantasy/Science Fiction Elementary and Multicultural Elementary, you'll have even more wonderful books for your young readers. And remember to add some Plus categories to get even more books in the fall—just when you need them most! Read More

PPP- Lies, Spies, and All that Jazz Webcast

On today's webcast Roger Sutton and I talked about the Boston Globe Horn Book award winners. Celebrating its fiftieth year, winners of the award will be celebrated at a ceremony at Simmons College in Boston on September 30. The following day, a colloquium will be held. This event allows you to be "up close and personal" with the amazing authors and illustrators of these multi-award winning books. Here are the titles from today's webcast. Read More

There IS No Good Stopping Place: What Makes a Good Page Turner?

"If your teacher has to die, August isn't a bad time of year for it." (The Teacher's Funeral: A Comedy in Three Parts by Richard Peck; Dial, 2004) What kid isn't going to keep reading with an opener like that? You can read Richard Peck's Horn Book Magazine article "In the Beginning: What Makes a Good Beginning?" from the 2006 summer issue. And who wouldn’t keep reading if a chapter ended like this: “It wasn’t about saving us. And it wasn’t about enslaving us or herding us into reservations. It was about killing us. All of us.” (The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey; Putnam, 2013) Read More

PPP- Books We Love National Webcast

On today's webcast Leslie Bermel and I talked about 20 of the JLG selections that are we just love. These were books we haven't talked about in past webcasts, with many of the titles shipping out this summer. From a YA author-turned picture book author to what some are calling his best book yet, your readers will love these hot-off-the-press titles! Read More

And the Winners Are...Boston Globe Horn Book 2016

And you thought you'd have to wait for 7 months to pass before you heard a book win A Big Prize! Remember: The 2016 Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards will be announced on Thursday-- via video for the first time! --by Horn Book editor in chief Roger Sutton and Linda Pizzuti Henry, managing director of the Boston Globe. Check back at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 2. Read More

Stars So Far: JLG Webinar Series PPP

On today's webcast Leslie Bermel and I talked about 20 of the JLG selections that are getting the star buzz. With well more than 150 books to choose from, we had a tough time selecting our featured authors and illustrators. (So stay tuned to the summer webcast schedule.) Remember that in addition to providing you with great selections, we are building resources to help you use these titles. Check out the NEW JLG Spring 2016 Booktalks to Go LiveBinder for resources for these and other great JLG titles. JLG BTG titles are added to our Pinterest board and tweeted out by following Deborah B. Ford. Look for book trailers and archived webcasts on our JLG YouTube Playlist. This webcast will be archived and posted on the JLG website at a later date. Your certificate of attendance can be reprinted by watching the archived video for at least ten minutes. Read More

PPP-Webcast Debut Authors and Illustrators of 2016

On today's webcast Roger Sutton, Editor-in-Chief of The Horn Book, and I talked about some of the rising stars for the Class of 2016 for the spring season. With almost forty books to choose from, we had a tough time selecting our featured authors and illustrators. (Thanks again for joining us, Roger) If you haven't purchased your Horn Book subscription already, remember that JLG members get a discount on the journal. (It's a celebration of wonderful-must-be-purchased books!) Read More

PPP: Leap into Spring with New Books for Teens

On today's webcast Leslie and I talked about some of our favorite upcoming middle and high school titles for the spring season. From fascinating nonfiction to hard-to-put-down novels, there are plenty of amazing titles to add to your collection. Remember that in addition to providing you with great selections, we are building resources to help you use these titles. Check out the NEW JLG Spring 2016 Booktalks to Go LiveBinder for resources for these and other great JLG titles. JLG BTG titles are added to our Pinterest board and tweeted out by following Deborah B. Ford. Look for book trailers and archived webcasts on our JLG YouTube Playlist. This webcast will be archived and posted on the JLG website at a later date. Your certificate of attendance can be reprinted by watching the archived video for at least ten minutes. Keep reading to find links to the titles. Read More

The Dangers of Reading Near a Computer

As Leslie and I get ready for our next webcast--you have signed up for it?-- I'm trying to read her choices and research all 30 books for the Spring LiveBinder. Today's book of choice is The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle by Janet Fox. First of all, it has a creepy cover that screams the answer to "Where are the scary books?" Dozens of rooks swarm the castle's towers while a tiny beam of light streams from the narrow doorway far below. There's nothing except that small glow that remotely indicates that the children are welcome there. Glad the light is on in my office, I plunge into the book where I first encounter a drawing of what appears to be a charm holder. Read More

Get to Know Spring's Hottest Debut Authors and Illustrators!

From a picture book about reading and surfing (What?!) to a middle grade novel about Manzanar, readers will love the new stories from the Debut Class of 2016. Can you guess which new writer or illustrator used to be in publishing? Which one had an award-winning novel? Which author has a collection of deerstalker caps? Which illustrator is an assistant professor of illustration in Detroit? Which author/illustrator works for The New Yorker? Which illustrator was born in India and now teaches second grade? Who is director of biodiversity and wildlife solutions at RESOLVE? Which author is fourteen-years-old? How can you find the answer to these and other burning questions? Read More