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Kids' books author Mac Barnett is the new National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Chris Black/Library of Congress hide caption

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Chris Black/Library of Congress

Are picture books undervalued? This new ambassador of children's literature thinks so

February 6, 2025 • The Library of Congress has given Mac Barnett the job of promoting books and reading to kids across the country. His plan is to focus on picture books.

What Mac Barnett has planned as the new LOC ambassador for young people's literature

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Chooch Helped by Andrea L. Rogers and The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly

NPR

'The First State of Being' and 'Chooch Helped' win top children's book awards

January 27, 2025 • This year's Caldecott medal went to a book about an older sister frustrated when her baby brother "helps." The Newbery went to a middle-grade tale about a time traveler at the turn of the century.

'The First State of Being' and 'Chooch Helped' win top children’s book awards

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In a 'Still Life' painting nothing moves — but, wait! Was that a dragon?

November 23, 2024 • An authoritative artist has many rules for his still life painting. Too bad! Because the mouse, the dragon, the knight, and the princess are here to break them in this raucous new picture book.

PICTURE THIS: STILL LIFE

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Abrams Books

Granny is going on 'The Walk' to the polls — and the whole town is invited

October 26, 2024 • "Leaders are not born," Granny says. "They're made through molding and modeling." That's why she and her granddaughter and putting on their hats and coats and walking to the polls.

PICTURE THIS: THE WALK

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Penguin Young Readers/Viking Books for Young Readers

A little mouse sets sail on a big adventure in 'The Ship in the Window'

October 13, 2024 • Author Travis Jonker and illustrator Matthew Cordell talk about the real model ship that inspired their picture book about a man, his son, a mouse, and the voyage that brings them together.

PICTURE THIS: The Ship In The Window

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Some babysitters are forever — just ask 'Señora Mimí'

September 8, 2024 • Ana is so excited that her abuela is coming to live with her — until it means saying goodbye to her babysitter. No More Señora Mimí is an ode to caregivers from Meg Medina and Brittany Cicchese.

PICTURE THIS: No More Señora Mimí

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'The Dictionary Story' is a kids' book that defies definition

August 31, 2024 • Dictionary wants to bring her pages to life but then a hungry alligator chasing a donut crashes into a queen who slips on some soap and chaos ensues. Can Dictionary put herself back together again?

'The Dictionary Story' is a kids' book that defies definition

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Hanna Cha / Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

To learn 'The Truth About Dragons,' go on a quest through this kids' book

July 27, 2024 • A little boy must go on a hero's quest — through woods full of oak trees and a bamboo forest — to discover "The Truth About Dragons" in Julie Leung and Hanna Cha's Caldecott Honor children's book.

PICTURE THIS: THE TRUTH ABOUT DRAGONS

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'Emergency Quarters' are for pay phones (remember those?) in a new book by '90s kids

June 30, 2024 • Ernesto's mom gives him a quarter every morning. "For emergencies," she says. "If you need me, look for a pay phone." Hey, it was the '90s! But how will Ernesto spend his Emergency Quarters?

'Emergency Quarters' are for pay phones (remember those?) in a new book by ‘90s kids

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When Baby Sloth tumbles out of a tree, Mama Sloth comes for him — s l o w l y

May 25, 2024 • Did you know on average a sloth will fall out of a tree once a week for its entire life? It's true — and the inspiration for Brian Cronin and Doreen Cronin's new children's book, Mama in the Moon.

PICTURE THIS: MAMA IN THE MOON

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Hold on to your wishes — there's a 'Spider in the Well'

May 19, 2024 • There's trouble in the town of Bad Göodsburg! A wishing well has stopped working! NPR's Tamara Keith talks with Jess Hannigan about her new children's book, "Spider in the Well."

Hold on to your wishes — there's a 'Spider in the Well'

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Crown Books for Young Readers

George Takei 'Lost Freedom' some 80 years ago – now he's written that story for kids

April 20, 2024 • When actor George Takei was 4 years old, he was labeled an "enemy" by the U.S. government and sent to a string of incarceration camps. His new children's book about that time is My Lost Freedom.

George Takei 'Lost Freedom' some 80 years ago – now he's written that story for kids

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An immersive museum in Kansas City allows kids to explore their favorite books

Lindsey Anderson sits down to read Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina to her children Orion, 6, Arthur, 4, and Thora Hoke, 1, inside the exhibit inspired by the book inside The Rabbit hOle, an immersive museum dedicated to children's literature, in North Kansas City, Mo. Katie Currid for NPR hide caption

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Katie Currid for NPR

The Picture Show

An immersive museum in Kansas City allows kids to explore their favorite books

April 17, 2024 • A new museum in Kansas City is designed for kids to be immersed in their favorite books, including classics like Goodnight Moon.

Growing up, he struggled to read. Then a young teacher saw his potential

An illustration from his book Rohan Bullkin and the Shadows, by illustrator Rachel Moss. It depicts Juleus Ghunta and his teacher described in his Unsung Hero story. Juleus Ghunta hide caption

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Juleus Ghunta

My Unsung Hero

Growing up, he struggled to read. Then a young teacher saw his potential

April 15, 2024 • Juleus Ghunta is a published children's author and award-winning poet. But growing up, he could barely read. That was until a teacher saw his potential.

Maurice Sendak delights children with new book, 12 years after his death

HarperCollins Publishers

Book News & Features

Maurice Sendak delights children with new book, 12 years after his death

February 6, 2024 • The late author-illustrator, creator of Pierre and Where the Wild Things Are, loved whistling, Mozart, and Mickey Mouse curios. His trademark whimsy can be found in the new book Ten Little Rabbits.

Maurice Sendak delights children with new book, 12 years after his death

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Picture This

'Buffalo Fluffalo' has had enuffalo in this kids' bookalo

January 28, 2024 • 'Buffalo Fluffalo' may seem big and intimidating, but it's all puffery. He really just needs some snuggalos from his friends in this rhyming book from author Bess Kalb and illustrator Erin Kraan.

'Buffalo Fluffalo' has had enuffalo in this kids' bookalo

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Dave Eggers wins Newbery, Vashti Harrison wins Caldecott in 2024 kids' lit prizes

Vashti Harrison's Big and Dave Eggers' The Eyes and the Impossible took top honors from the American Library Assocation. Alfred A. Knopf/McSweeney's and Little, Brown and Co. hide caption

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Alfred A. Knopf/McSweeney's and Little, Brown and Co.

Culture

Dave Eggers wins Newbery, Vashti Harrison wins Caldecott in 2024 kids' lit prizes

January 22, 2024 • The top honors in this year's children's book awards from the American Library Association lauded Dave Egger's The Eyes and the Impossible and Vashti Harrison's picture book Big.

Dave Eggers wins Newbery, Vashti Harrison wins Caldecott in 2024 kids' lit prizes

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Picture This

Mop-mop-swoosh-plop it's rug-washing day in 'Bábo'

January 13, 2024 • Little Tato sneaks a few cherry plums before grabbing a mop and a hose to help Bábo — her grandmother — with a favorite chore.

Mop-mop-swoosh-plop it's rug-washing day in 'Bábo'

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Picture This

Inquiring minds want to know: 'How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney?'

December 3, 2023 • "How does he do it?" Author Mac Barnett and illustrator Jon Klassen squeeze, squash and generally put Santa through the wringer while trying to answer an age-old Christmas mystery.

Inquiring minds want to know: 'How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney?'

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Picture This

Beware! 'The Baddies' are here to scare your kids — and make them laugh

November 25, 2023 • From the author and illustrator of The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom now comes The Baddies: a witch, a troll and a ghost like being bad so much they compete to see who can be the very worst.

Beware! 'The Baddies' are here to scare your kids — and make them laugh

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'This Book Is Banned' introduces little kids to a big topic

Raj Haldar wants his "silly" new picture book to help kids "understand...the dangers of censorship but...also have fun." Sourcebooks hide caption

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Sourcebooks

Book News & Features

'This Book Is Banned' introduces little kids to a big topic

October 6, 2023 • In Raj Haldar's new picture book, a lot of random stuff gets banned: giraffes, avocados, old roller skates. Haldar hopes kids have fun with This Book Is Banned but also learn about censorship.

'This Book Is Banned' introduces little kids to a big topic

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Adults have a lot to say about book bans — but what about kids?

Books seen in an elementary school library in suburban Atlanta on Aug. 18. There have been a growing number of books pulled from school libraries in the past few years. Harkim Wright Sr./AP hide caption

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Harkim Wright Sr./AP

Books

Adults have a lot to say about book bans — but what about kids?

October 4, 2023 • We've heard from parents, authors, activists and other adults about banned books. But we haven't heard much from kids. We asked four young readers to share their thoughts about book bans.

Adults have a lot to say about book bans — but what about kids?

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In The Enchanted Symphony, a young boy named Piccolino harnesses the power of art, nature and community.

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Picture This

A concert audience of houseplants? A new kids' book tells the surprisingly true tale

September 23, 2023 • The latest children's book from Julie Andrews, Emma Walton Hamilton and illustrator Elly McKay is about the power of nature and music. They discussed their creative process in an interview with NPR.

A concert audience of houseplants? A new kids' book tells the surprisingly true tale

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From snow to Dr. Seuss: What Newbery Medalist authors discussed with Kenyan kids

Kwame Alexander (left) and Jerry Craft have each won a Newbery Medal for their children's books. Alexander invited Craft on a trip to Kenya this summer to speak to schoolkids about reading. The kids were impressed. So were the authors. Brian Otieno for NPR hide caption

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Brian Otieno for NPR

Goats and Soda

From snow to Dr. Seuss: What Newbery Medalist authors discussed with Kenyan kids

September 17, 2023 • Kwame Alexander, a poet, and Jerry Craft, an author and illustrator, went to Kenya to encourage reading — and learned a lot in the process.