Back-to-School Books!

Get ready for the start of a new school year with these reading recommendations for students of all ages!

• Everyone is Welcome at School: Books about making connections at school for ages 0-8 years (2025)
• First Day of School: Stories about the first day of school for ages 0-8 years (2025)
• School Sleuths: School mysteries for ages 9-12 years (2025)

Other Booklists

• ALSC Reading Lists: Recommended books from the Association for Library Service to Children
• Animal stars (PDF): books with animals as characters
• Asian and Latinx Authors (PDF): Books by Asian or Latinx authors
• Black Authors (PDF): Books by black authors
• Books about Upstanders (PDF): people who stand up for a cause! These titles will give you inspiration to join in supporting a cause, and looking out for others!
• Books featuring struggling readers: Here are some suggestions from our Children’s Room collection featuring characters who struggle to read.
• The Brown Bookshelf Blog: Find booklists and interviews with current black and brown authors for children and teens.
• Celebrate Friendship (PDF): Books about friends and friendship.
• Choose your own reading lists: Visit our Book Recommendation Newsletter page to subscribe to many booklists that will be sent to your email monthly.
• Colorful (PDF): books with “colors” in the title
• Diverse BookFinder: A great resource for finding children’s books for and about diverse cultures.
• GNCRT Reading Lists: Recommended books from the Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table
• How to raise a reader: The New York Times recently published a series of guides for raising a reader. There are good suggestions for every stage of development as well as some booklists to try.
• Kindness matters! (PDF): Books about being kind
• Massachusetts Children’s Book Awards: Find your next read on the list of nominees for the Massachusetts Children’s Book Awards!
• MHL’s Pinned Children’s Booklists: Children’s booklists pinned by our Librarians!
• Musical Books for Preschoolers (PDF): Musical Booklist to help “Catch the Beat!”
• Phonics and Decodables: Here are some phonics and decodables from our Children’s Room collection to help when learning to read.
• Reading Rockets Children’s Books and Authors: Booklists, articles about reading, and tips for choosing books are all part of this great resource for parents and children.
• Summer 2025 Recommendations for Grades K-1: MHL’s suggestions for kids in grades K-1.
• Summer 2025 Recommendations for Grades 2-3: MHL’s suggestions for kids in grades 2-3.
• Youth Media Awards 2025 (PDF): Booklist of 2022 winners