SJPL Staff Picks
Monthly Staff Picks
SJPL Picks: Winter Holidays
Children's books about winter holidays, including Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Selected by SJPL Librarians.
SJPL Picks: Foodie Teen Reads
Recommended reading revolving around food, selected by SJPL Librarians.
SJPL Picks: Family Sagas/Multigenerational Stories
Family sagas/multigenerational stories span over generations; this list features a number of literary entry points to the genre.
SJPL Picks: Winter Holidays
Children's books about winter holidays, including Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Selected by SJPL Librarians.
SJPL Picks: Foodie Teen Reads
Recommended reading revolving around food, selected by SJPL Librarians.
SJPL Picks: Family Sagas/Multigenerational Stories
Family sagas/multigenerational stories span over generations; this list features a number of literary entry points to the genre.
Personalized Staff Picks
Looking for your next good read? Fill out our 5forU form, and our experts will email you within 5-10 days with a list of five books, selected just for you!
Picture Books
SJPL Picks: Planes and Flying
To celebrate the Wright Brothers Day (December 17th), let's read some fun and informative books about planes and flying.
SJPL Picks: Potty Training Picture Books
For families hoping their last diaper change will arrive soon, this list is for you! This list was curated by SJPL Librarians.
SJPL Picks: Robots
Did you know that the word "robot" was used for the first time exactly 100 years ago? Titles are suitable for children in grades K-3rd.
SJPL Picks: Picture Books for Cat Lovers
From fluffy to hairless, housecats to strays, these feline picture books are sure to put you in the purr-fect mood for reading!
SJPL Picks: Planes and Flying
To celebrate the Wright Brothers Day (December 17th), let's read some fun and informative books about planes and flying.
SJPL Picks: Potty Training Picture Books
For families hoping their last diaper change will arrive soon, this list is for you! This list was curated by SJPL Librarians.
SJPL Picks: Robots
Did you know that the word "robot" was used for the first time exactly 100 years ago? Titles are suitable for children in grades K-3rd.
SJPL Picks: Picture Books for Cat Lovers
From fluffy to hairless, housecats to strays, these feline picture books are sure to put you in the purr-fect mood for reading!
SJPL Picks: Sports fiction (~Grades 3-7)
These books revolve around sports and all the highs, lows, and goals, that comes with competing, as well as where sport and life intersect.
SJPL Picks: Short Stories (~grades 3-6)
For those that prefer to get through the beginning, middle, and end of a story in one sitting, try out this list to suit your needs.
SJPL Picks: Award Winning Graphic Novels (~Grades 3-7)
This list showcases the diverse, award-winning graphic novels for readers in approximately grades 3-7, selected by SJPL Librarians.
SJPL Picks: Realistic fiction (~Grades 3-7)
From humorous stories on aging to serious stories of real life tragedies, this list features realistic fiction for readers in grades 3-7.
SJPL Picks: Sports fiction (~Grades 3-7)
These books revolve around sports and all the highs, lows, and goals, that comes with competing, as well as where sport and life intersect.
SJPL Picks: Short Stories (~grades 3-6)
For those that prefer to get through the beginning, middle, and end of a story in one sitting, try out this list to suit your needs.
SJPL Picks: Award Winning Graphic Novels (~Grades 3-7)
This list showcases the diverse, award-winning graphic novels for readers in approximately grades 3-7, selected by SJPL Librarians.
SJPL Picks: Realistic fiction (~Grades 3-7)
From humorous stories on aging to serious stories of real life tragedies, this list features realistic fiction for readers in grades 3-7.
SJPL Picks: YA Life With Mental Illness
Novels that give a glimpse at what life can be like with mental illness, showing how it can look and feel both internally and externally.
SJPL Picks: YA Activism and Social Justice in Fiction
See how these fictional characters tackle real issues in their world.
SJPL Picks: Romantic Comedies for Teens
Are you a fan of meet-cute, hating to dating, or fauxmances, with giggles and belly-laughs to boot? Then you'll adore these YA rom-coms.
SJPL Picks: Novels in Verse for Teens
When prose is feeling a little passé, why not take in some poetry instead?
SJPL Picks: YA Life With Mental Illness
Novels that give a glimpse at what life can be like with mental illness, showing how it can look and feel both internally and externally.
SJPL Picks: YA Activism and Social Justice in Fiction
See how these fictional characters tackle real issues in their world.
SJPL Picks: Romantic Comedies for Teens
Are you a fan of meet-cute, hating to dating, or fauxmances, with giggles and belly-laughs to boot? Then you'll adore these YA rom-coms.
SJPL Picks: Novels in Verse for Teens
When prose is feeling a little passé, why not take in some poetry instead?
SJPL Picks: Romantasy
Looking for fantasy with a heavy dose of spice? Selected and curated by SJPL Librarians.
SJPL Picks: Historical Fiction
What better way to spark a passion for history than through stories? Historical Fiction gives voices to those lost to the passage of time.
SJPL Picks: Athletes' Stories (Sports Nonfiction)
Sports history, life stories, memoirs, biographies, and autobiographies from or about notable athletes, selected by SJPL Librarians.
SJPL Picks: Memoir
Fascinating stories about fascinating people - told in their own words.
SJPL Picks: Romantasy
Looking for fantasy with a heavy dose of spice? Selected and curated by SJPL Librarians.
SJPL Picks: Historical Fiction
What better way to spark a passion for history than through stories? Historical Fiction gives voices to those lost to the passage of time.
SJPL Picks: Athletes' Stories (Sports Nonfiction)
Sports history, life stories, memoirs, biographies, and autobiographies from or about notable athletes, selected by SJPL Librarians.
SJPL Picks: Memoir
Fascinating stories about fascinating people - told in their own words.
More Reading Recommendations
Want more ways to discover your next favorite read? Check out these recommendation tools.
Grade Level Lists
- SJPL Picks: Books for Toddlers
- SJPL Picks: Books for Preschoolers
- SJPL Picks: Nonfiction for Toddlers and Preschoolers, opens a new window
- SJPL Picks: Kindergarten
- SJPL Picks: First Grade
- SJPL Picks: Second Grade
- SJPL Picks: Third Grade
- SJPL Picks: Fourth Grade
- SJPL Picks: Fifth Grade
- SJPL Picks: Sixth Grade
- SJPL Picks: Seventh Grade
- SJPL Picks: Advanced Young Reader Selections
Graphic Novels
- SJPL Picks: Graphic Novels for Adults
- SJPL Picks: YA Multicultural Graphic Novels
- SJPL Picks: Multicultural Graphic Novels for Kids
- SJPL Picks: YA Graphic Novel Adaptations
- SJPL Picks: LGBTQIA+ YA Graphic Novels
- Find Yourself: Diverse Comics for Readers
- Find Yourself: Diverse Comics for Pre-Teens
- Find Yourself: Diverse Comics for Teens
- Find Yourself: Diverse Comics for Older Teens & Adults
- Exploring Gender Identity
- Magical Education in Graphic Novels
- Sweet Enough to Make You Swoon
- Moody Mysteries
- Epic Adventures!
- SJPL Picks: Manga for Teens
Español
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) Picture Books for Kids / Libros bilingües e ilustrados para niños
- Libros en español para niños: del kínder y primer grado
- Libros en español para niños: del segundo y tercer grados
- Libros en español para niños: del cuarto y quinto grados
- Libros en español para niños: del sexto y séptimo grados
- Libros ganadores del Premio Newbery traducidos al español
- Libros ganadores del Premio Caldecott traducidos al español
- Libros sobre la inclusión
- Libros ilustrados antirracistas para niños
- Libros antirracistas para personas de diferentes edades
- Literatura Española e Hispanoamericana
- Bilingual Books :Libros sobre la inmigración para niños . Immigration for kids
- Comidas sabrosas para los dias de fiesta
SJPL Recommends
- SJPL Recommends: Racial Equity & Social Justice
- SJPL Recommends: #BlackLivesMatter An Antiracist Reading List
- SJPL Recommends: Facing Racism Through Fiction
- SJPL Recommends: Antiracist Nonfiction for Grades 9-12
- SJPL Recommends: Antiracist Fiction for Grades 9-12
- SJPL Recommends: Antiracist Books for Grades 3-5
- SJPL Recommends: Antiracist Books for Grades 6-8
- SJPL Recommends: Antiracist Books for Grades K-2
- SJPL Recommends: Antiracist Books for Young Children
- SJPL Recommends: Resources for Helping Children in Grades 4-8 Process Community Violence or Personal Tragedy
- SJPL Recommends: Resources for Healing After Traumatic Events
- SJPL Recommends: Resources for Helping Children After Traumatic Events
- SJPL Recommends: Books and Resources for Gender Expansive Kids and their Parents
- SJPL Recommends: Stories to Help Teens Process Gun Violence in their Communities
