43 Stars for 2025 (so far)
Here's a look at LQ children's and YA books that have garnered starred reviews so far this year.
Picture Books ages 4-8
★ “Vivid portrait of a migrant family’s travails blends motifs and imagery from Mesoamerican mythology, with dazzling, affecting results. Grounded in compassion, this is a richly layered tale that will linger with readers. A gripping, thought-provoking migration saga. – Kirkus (starred)
★ “Together, word and image work richly together to describe a suspenseful journey of 'many things, terrible and magnificent.’“ – Publishers Weekly (starred)
★ “Unique in its cadence, representation, and execution, this book deserves careful attention and contemplation.” – Booklist (starred)
★ “Mansour’s evocative, image-rich language is expertly translated in the English edition, and echoes the cadence of a timeless folk story. The illustrations, created in the style of Mesoamerican codices, are colorful and ripe with symbolism and iconography. Readers of varying ages will find countless opportunities for engagement with these thematically multilayered and stunning works. Highly recommended for picture book collections.” – SLJ (starred)
For fans of Duncan Tonatiuh and Yuyi Morales' Dreamers, a one-of-a-kind picture book about one immigrant family's journey north, illustrated in the vein of an ancient codex and drawing upon Mesoamerican mythology.
We, the Vargas Ramírez family, come from a faraway place north of Tenochtitlan called Iztapalapa, Land of Clay Upon Water. A land surrounded by cars and dry grass; a place where the pieces of our small world were scattered. For some time we lived there, but then one day my father heard a beautiful birdsong that rose up and appeared to say tihui, tihui, tihui: let’s go, let’s go, let’s go. And so we gathered up our friends who made up that small world and decided to head north, for the other side, and a better life.
Together the Boy and his family will journey from the Land of the Frogs to The Place Where Feet Cry to the River Where the Waters Tangle, fleeing Gunmen and braving Coyotes and plunging darknesses as black as an obsidian forest. Originally published in Mexico, Pilgrim Codex (Códice peregrino) captures through the eyes of a child one family's part in the ever-changing and fleeting story of the brave migrant warriors who search for a better place to live.
Discover the Magic of Aztec Culture Through Words, Art, and Poetry!
From Chocolatl and Axolotl to Guacamole and Quetzalcoatl—open up this spectacular treasury of Aztec words from A to Z!
Award-winning artist Emmanuel Valtierra brings young readers an enchanting bilingual journey through twenty-six words, concepts, and gods central to Aztec and Mexican culture. Each page features a letter of the alphabet paired with captivating poetry in both English and Spanish, kaleidoscopic illustrations inspired by ancient Aztec codices, and pronunciation guides to help families explore these beautiful words together.
What Makes This Book Special:
Bilingual Learning: Every entry includes poetry in both English and Spanish, making it perfect for bilingual families and language learners (Ages 4-8)
Rich Cultural Content: Explore gods like Quetzalcoatl, animals like the axolotl, delicious foods, important historical figures like Zapata, and vibrant traditions
Museum-Quality Artwork: Stunning illustrations echo ancient codex styles while radiating with contemporary energy and color
Educational Extras: Includes a comprehensive pronunciation and etymology guide, information on Aztec glyphs, and a QR code linking to additional resources
Lyrical & Engaging: Upbeat poetry verses range from reverential to playfully humorous, maintaining perfect rhythm throughout
Whether you are looking to teach children about diverse cultures, or support their bilingual education, or simply looking for a gorgeous book to treasure, A-Ztec offers an immersive experience that will inspire young readers to explore language, history, and art.
Every detail—from the background colors to the placement of poems—has been thoughtfully crafted to celebrate Mexican and Aztec heritage.
Perfect for ages 4-8: Ideal for homeschooling, classroom libraries, and family reading time
P R A I S E
★ “From the color of the backgrounds to the styles of the text used for each word and to the way each poem is placed on the pages, this book radiates with a lyrical representation of culture. A must-have for children’s book collections.” — School Library Journal (starred)
“Merrily edifying. Explore the ABCs from axolotl to zapata. Employing an Aztec codex style, the artist injects an anarchic spirit into his colorful artwork.”—Kirkus
★ “From the informative bilingual poems to the incredible artwork, this title is a great choice to learn more about these important peoples. A must-have for children’s book collections.” – SLJ (starred)
★ "Delves into themes of creating a future of balance and community with the natural world, while a slow, rhythmic tone and loose-lined illustrations emphasize saving what’s most important." – Publishers Weekly (starred)
★ “Saunders’s understated prose alludes to traditional ecological knowledge passed down by women elders… Blackwood’s illustrations combine warm, earthy tones with deep verdigris teals and sea-glass greens, saturated details with soft-edged blending. Luminous...magical.” – Horn Book (starred)
A powerful picture book story for our time of climate crisis interwoven with Indigenous wisdom.
From multi-award-winning Gunai author Kirli Saunders and Kate Greenaway Medal-winner Freya Blackwood comes Afloat. Against a backdrop of a changed environment, an Elder leads a child along the waterways, sharing her People’s knowledge and gathering community along the way. This uplifting and inspiring picture book uses the practice of weaving as a powerful metaphor for the honoring and teaching of First Nations wisdom, and the coming together of all people to survive, thrive, and create a more hopeful future.
How does an enormous yellow sunflower grow from a tiny striped seed? The kids in Ms. B’s class find out through this exciting spring project.
Come see the process from one eager child’s point of view as dusty seeds planted in cups by the windowsill face the challenges of kindergarten, a rainstorm, and deer at dusk.
Watch from up close as the seedlings sprout, spiky green buds develop, and flowers bloom. Then, at the end of the summer, find out how many new seeds grew from just one giant sunflower!
Let this glowing introduction to the life cycle of a plant—and broadly, to all growth cycles in our lives—inspire you to start a new project with family, friends, or your own classroom.
★ “Startling… cannot help recalling van Gogh, though these blooms are never confined to a vase. Gorgeous.” – Kirkus (starred)
★ "A class project turns into a longform exercise in mindfulness and appreciation for the natural world in this gentle slice-of-life tale.” — SLJ (starred)
★ “Thomas’ cogent text and her focus on emotional intelligence will resonate with caregivers, while Fong’s quietly comic pictures will tickle everyone. A winning blend of crisp design, child-appealing illustrations, and positive messaging about self-expression.” – Kirkus (starred)
★ “Thomas’ emotive language elevates this picture book’s simple story, complementing Fong’s signature minimalistic illustrations... though Shibu lacks a mouth, nose, and whiskers, his numerous emotions are effortlessly conveyed through his slitted pupils and, of course, animated tail… This book serves as a thoughtful resource to help readers build emotional awareness and understand that their feelings are worth sharing with others.” – Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred)
★ “A standout story about big feels.”—Publishers Weekly (starred)
★ In the charming Shibu’s Tail, Kamwei Fong and Tess Thomas have conjured up an adorable, emotionally intelligent cat who will entertain and embolden readers (and cats!) of all ages to happily be themselves.”— BookPage (starred)
A tale about a tail, and a cat with some VERY big feelings.
Shibu the cat has a lot of feelings and thankfully his fluffy tail helps him express them all! But one day, Shibu realizes that all the other cats are keeping their feelings (and their tails) tucked away. Maybe it would be better to try and fit in? From two extraordinary debuts comes a delightful story on navigating life's highs, lows, and all the big emotions in between.
Written by the author of the Caldecott and Newbery honor-winning picture book Watercress, and marking the impressive debut of illustrator Youa Vang, here is the true story of a man of indomitable spirit. In the mid-nineteenth century, an impoverished father from Canton, China, sold his young son to an American sea captain, Amos Peck. The boy, dubbed “Joe,” worked on the ship for months, not knowing if his fate was to do so forever. Or would he be sold again? When the ship returned to America, Captain Peck brought the young boy to his family, who raised him with the other children. Joe Pierce grew, gave distinguished service in the Union Army, married, had children and ultimately became an American citizen--all at a time when anti-Chinese prejudice was rampant.
★ “Wang’s well- researched writing, including a timeline and supporting resources, and Vang’s evocative illustrations illuminate Pierce’s life as an inspirational testament to the enduring struggle for human dignity and worth.” – Booklist (starred)
★ ”The author’s exhaustive research is evident on every page, and her use of speculative detail to fill gaps in the historical record makes for a riveting biography.”— SLJ (starred)
middle grade books ages 8-12
★ “Humorous, charming. A brilliant use of anthropomorphic animals, serving up facts and entertainment." – Kirkus (starred)
★ “Irreverent text nails the mood of a classroom discussion in free fall, while mixed-media sketches offer stylish visual contrast to the comedic chaos." – Publishers Weekly (starred)
★ “Riveting...receptive readers will effortlessly absorb practical advice about researching, organizing, and delivering effective oral presentations of their own." – Booklist (starred)
★ “Between the eye-catching art and the chatty, accessible format, this makes a breezy invite for recently-solo readers to engage with a scientific text without being overwhelmed by jargon and overwrought details. Both teachers and parents should have this on hand.” – Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred)
"Hello, I'm the earthworm, and today I'm giving my talk about the anaconda."
Who needs another book by humans? All they do is make us animals super boring. They only look at things through their own eyes. Every, single, time. Human after human. Kid after kid. Class after class. YAWN!
This is a book of oral presentations given by us animals, for us animals, and about us animals. The cleaner fish will talk about his friend the shark and his sharp teeth. The zebra will get to tell you about all the black-and-white animals in the world. The mole knows everything there is to know about the daddy long-legs. The southern cassowa— yes, fox? What is it? Yes, you'll get to talk about geese. Huh? Yes, you'll get to talk about how delicious they are.
Anyway, we're giving you twenty presentations from another twenty of us, but there's a lot more crammed in. And you know what, we did talk, and there's at least one human who's OK by us — Annemarie van Haeringen. She drew some portraits of us for this book and we gotta say, the likenesses are pretty good. Check it all out!
From Norway comes an international horror hit that is shudderingly terrifying and deliciously original.
The world has been overrun by hitherto unknown beasts. Society has collapsed: the power is gone, cars are abandoned across the highways, and anyone left is hiding from the terrifying creatures — and one another. Thirteen-year-old Abdi and his five-year-old sister Alva are on the run, their last hope to escape through the forest and to the sea. As they recall the strange events that led to the beasts' arrival, and how the two of them got to where they were, they must ask themselves who they can trust — and what they will do to survive.
“Bjerkeland’s writing is beautiful. A quick, enjoyable read.” — New York Times
★ “Chilling… short chapters and taut prose set a frantic pace. Beasts combines the timelessness of a fairy tale with the stark immediacy of contemporary dystopian fiction.” — Foreword (starred)
★ “Bjerkeland’s propulsive tale is sleek and elegant. Every sentence is direct and brief, vivid with eventfulness, uncertainty, and Abdi’s deep sense of responsibility for his sister… The story’s brevity and abrupt forcefulness, and the characters’ stalwart courage and love, make this tale unusually compelling." — The Horn Book (starred)
"A fictional story so utterly real the reader feels it must be true. Superb." — The New York Times
★ “Heart-piercing… Babak’s palpable love for his sister emphasizes the novel’s suggestion that there is power in kindness, even in the face of tragedy. Lush details and taut plotting distinguish this immersive, profound offering.” – Publishers Weekly (starred)
★ “The artfully detailed setting and strong values depicted through Babak’s endeavor to teach others will leave readers inspired. A powerful novel about an often-forgotten region and era that highlights the power of education through shared communication to create bonds.” – School Library Journal (starred)
★ “Gripping… a remarkably intimate story of a neutral nation caught between warring powers, seamlessly integrating philosophical questions about God, family, and cross-cultural understanding and suggesting that truly listening to those different from us can be a sacred and transformative act… A compelling testament to the power of education and empathy to light the way in even the most perilous circumstances.” – Kirkus (starred)
★ “Nayeri's gifts for understatement, restraint, and split-second swings between humor and emotional devastation are on full display, and all three make for an affecting read.”—Shelf-Awareness (starred)
★ “Cinematic…Nayeri rolls out a tale in which severe hardship and the ever-present potential for violence are counterbalanced by lighter moments.”—Booklist (starred)
A National Book Award Finalist!
Page-turning WW2 hidden history masterfully told by award winner Daniel Nayeri
1941. The German armies are storming across Europe. Iran is a neutral country occupied by British forces on one side, Soviet forces on another. Soldiers fill the teahouses of Isfahan. Nazi spies roam the alleyways.
Babak and his little sister have just lost their father. Now orphans, fearing they will be separated, the two devise a plan. Babak will take up his father's old job as a teacher to the nomads. With a chalkboard strapped to Babak's back, and a satchel full of textbooks, the siblings set off to find the nomad tribes as they make their yearly trek across the mountains.
On the treacherous journey they meet a Jewish boy, hiding from a Nazi spy. And suddenly, they are all in a race for survival.
Against the backdrop of World War II comes an epic adventure in the faraway places. Through the cacophony of soldiers, tanks, and planes, can young hearts of different creeds and nations learn to find a common language?
Master storyteller Daniel Nayeri keeps you on the edge of your seat, uncertain to the very end.
***preorder now… ships November 2025***
It is said the mighty feathered serpent god, Quetzalcoatl, helped create the earth. He is the hero who stole back the bones of humanity from the evil god of the Underworld. In his quest to bring humans to the earth, Quetzalcoatl's dog-headed twin brother, Xolotl, was present. Not much is known of Xolotl, the god of lightning, death, and misfortune. A monster.
This is what really happened.
From Newbery Medalist Donna Barba Higuera and illustrator Mariana Ruiz Johnson comes a singular reimagining of the Aztec myth of the origin of man—and man's best friend—that is nothing short of a modern masterpiece.
★ “With great success, Higuera explores very human issues such as self-doubt, social isolation, and the nuances of community through these larger-than-life figures; her work rings out with a powerful sense of emotive resonance. A magnificent spin on a well-known Aztec legend.” — Kirkus (starred)
★ “Pulling inspiration from images in the Codex Borgia, as mentioned in an illustrator’s note, Johnson (Run, Little Chaski) utilizes bright, saturated color to depict expressive characters as they navigate a world full of richly textured flora and fauna. Across Xolo’s measured, perceptive first-person narration, Higuera explores themes of self-worth and bravery, culminating in a winning reflection on what it means to be an underdog.” – Publishers Weekly (starred)
★ “Xolo shines as a compelling protagonist in an action-packed narrative that is heightened by Higuera's engrossing prose. This book achieves a perfect blend of the mythological and contemporary, which is only heightened by Mariana Ruiz Johnson's illustrations. Inspired by ancient Aztec art, her boldly colorful and expressive characters and landscapes add irresistible energy to the narrative. Humorous and exciting, Xolo is a true delight.” – BookPage (starred)
★ “Clever, visually arresting. The exceptional artwork, deeply inspired by the Codex Borgia, a sixteenth-century pre-Columbian Aztec manuscript, is impeccable, resplendent with rich, vibrant colors and stylized linework in the evocative visual representations of ritual, sacrifice, ego, weakness, and, finally, redemption. Dog lovers will be particularly pleased, though little surprised, to learn that one very good dog saved the world.” – BCCB (starred)
★ “Emotionally expressive. An impressive, artistic approach to a creation tale as well as the origin of the great loyalty of dogs.” – Booklist (starred)
★ “Delicate and raw...a meditative graphic novel that twines the joys of living and the pain of loss into one indistinguishable braid.” – Publishers Weekly (starred)
★ “Takes on aging and death—topics many authors flinch from—with a rare mix of respect, tenderness, and candor… Themes of familial love and loss will pierce readers’ hearts while also offering them both windows and mirrors into Korean culture. An achingly lovely work laced with profound truths on love, death, and grief.” – Kirkus (starred)
★ “This sweet, poignant tale deserves to be appreciated by all audiences, particularly adults with aging parents. Queue the (cathartic) ugly tears, though, and prepare with plenty of tissues. Heartbreakingly glorious… stupendously affecting.” – Booklist (starred)
★ “Go’s finely detailed illustrations in pencil and watercolor are as sweet as her words, especially when depicting her grandparents’ affection for each other… a beautifully rendered remembrance of grief and loss, and a moving meditation on the bonds of family and the power of everlasting love.” – BookPage (starred)
I still remember that house filled with summer...
Growing up, Jung-soon spent every moment she could at her grandparents' house. Dressing up and watching cartoons. Dyeing each other's fingernails with crushed balsam petals. Getting the whole neighborhood together to sweep their streets. Falling asleep together...just the three of them, happy.
Grandfather was Grandmother's best and only friend. On every Jesa day, during the ancestral ritual, he would gently place the okchundang candy in her mouth, a big smile spreading across her face as it melted on her tongue.
But nothing ever stays the same, and as Jung-soon got older, so did her grandparents. With breathtaking colored pencil and watercolor art, she presents an achingly beautiful graphic novel about the little joys and sharp sorrows that make up a life together as a family.
TEen & YounG Adult 13+
★ “Watching mercurial Vilda figure out who she wants to be and how to get there is a delight that’s bolstered by Broomé’s sparkling translation. From emotional depths to a healing, triumphant resolution, Vilda is an Everygirl for our time. Limns the volatile peaks and valleys and emotional quicksand of adolescence with compassion and wry humor.” – Kirkus (starred)
***preorder now… ships October 2025***
Vilda takes life as it comes, talking for hours about everything and nothing with her best friend, Alma. It’s never been a big deal to Vilda that her mother’s side of the family is Sámi and her father’s is Swedish, but as summer vacation starts, she wants to know more about her indigenous roots—and she’s looking forward to her beloved grandfather, Áddjá, teaching her the Sámi language.
Then Áddjá has a fatal heart attack and, overnight, Vilda loses not only a person she loves most in the world, but a crucial link to her history and identity. It’s disorienting in ways deep and superficial: she doesn’t know what to wear, what to say, or how Alma and her friends should react. And all this comes while her body is changing, and she’s swamped by confusing thoughts and feelings about an older boy she meets at her grandfather’s funeral.
Feeling whole seems impossibly hard to reach.
Butterfly Heart is a tender, heartwarming story about love, grief, and the right to define who you are.
Grace Woodhouse has left a lot behind. She used to have a great friend group, an amazing girlfriend, and a right foot set to earn her a Division I football scholarship—before she came out as trans. As senior year begins, Grace is struggling to find her place in early transition, new social circles, and a life without football. But when her skills as the best kicker in the state prove to be vital, her old teammates beg her to come out of retirement, dragging her back into a sport—into a way of life—she thought had turned its back on her forever. When a chance meeting cracks the door to college football back open, she has to decide how much of herself she's willing to give up for the game she loves.
★ “Zeller artfully exposes the tender underbelly of locker room posturing, presenting a subversive, experience-informed interpretation of toxic masculinity. An intersectionally diverse cast helps the protagonist forge her own path and blaze a trail for others in this necessary debut.” – Publishers Weekly (starred)
★ “Grace’s journey through senior year is portrayed with nuance… Grace grapples with the challenges and transphobia of rural proximity, but this experience is thoughtful and well balanced… Zeller speaks well to her roots as a native Western New Yorker, Bills fan, and trans woman. A standout first work, setting a high bar for the blooming subgenre of queer sports fiction.” – Booklist (starred)
★ “Grace is a wonderfully well-rounded character whose depiction goes beyond challenges she faces as a trans girl. At the same time, Zeller writes Grace with an eye to the discomfort and othering that trans folks endure even in mostly welcoming spaces. One of the Boys is an amazing feel-good read for any teen (or adult!) who loves football. A standout work of YA fiction, as inspiring and illuminating as it is funny and relatable.” – BookPage (starred)
★ “Breathtakingly raw and fresh, just like adolescence itself..” – Kirkus (starred)
★ “A reflective and authentic novel about growing up, art, bugs, and self-identity.” – Foreword Reviews (starred)
★ “A strikingly unique and deeply intimate ruminative journey through a teen’s innermost feelings.” – SLJ (starred)
***preorder now… ships November 2025***
Winner of the Rainbow Book of the Year
“I know of no other book that so tenderly, convincingly, and completely authentically captures the quest of a young, queer character. Beautiful!” – Benny Lindelauf
Jip has an assignment from school for spring break: draw a self-portrait. That should be easy for someone who can draw so well. Yet Jip's thoughts keep wandering. To the new boy in class, to beetles and fireflies, to twilight dreaming, to the party next Friday, and especially to the boy who changed Jip's world once and for all.
Ludwig Volbeda writes as he draws: sensitively, intimately, and with striking observations and metaphors that gradually give the reader insight into Jip’s innermost thoughts. What results is a magnificent self-portrait in words (and line art) and one of the more exquisite queer coming-of-age stories in years.
New ADULT / Romance
★ “Irresistible… Garza Villa makes Gabi’s coming-out/coming-of-age both moving and inspiring as he finds the courage to buck expectations and live life on his own terms. There’s plenty of heartfelt wisdom—and thrilling soccer matches—along the way, but it’s the sweetly sexy romance between Gabi and Vale that really makes this shine. It’s a winner.” – Publishers Weekly (starred)
A classmates-to-friends-to-lovers romance that's equal parts raunchy, heartfelt, queer, and Mexican-American, centered on college futbol (the REAL football)!
Gabriel Piña knows who he is: a college goalkeeper, a future Liga MX or MLS star, and definitely straight. He’s starting his freshman year with a lot of eyes on him and even more potential, but he’s got this. Nothing will have him straying off the path to greatness.
That is, until his philosophy classmate Vale volunteers to tutor him. Vale, the same guy who Gabi, in a moment of history repeating itself, might’ve kissed very briefly—and only once—just to help him out at a party. Vale, the smart, supportive, compassionate new friend with beautiful brown eyes and a smile that keeps Gabi, for completely inexplicable reasons, constantly in a daydream.
As a friendship blooms and the two spend more and more time together, Gabi finally begins to recognize something about himself: maybe he’s not as straight as he thought he was. But a larger and darker realization lingers. Someone like Gabi—a brown, Mexican futbolista with dreams of playing for El Tri—can’t also be bisexual. He’s seen the way his teammates and community react to queerness in their sport. It would be the exact type of straying off path that destroys his future.
Or, maybe Gabi could be brave enough to embrace all those parts of himself and forge his own path, one that includes a boyfriend and the beautiful game.
A sports romance for those who keep rewatching Bend It Like Beckham and rereading Red, White & Royal Blue and the incredible collection of queer soc—football romances out there, Futbolista follows the first semester of one guy's freshman year of college, navigating who he is, who he’s allowed to be, and who he wants to be.