Marked by surreal worlds and unusual characters, artist Shaun Tan's picture books stand out from the norm in children's literature.

This year's Mildred L. Batchelder Award, given to an outstanding children's book translated into English, is the wonderful Italian middle grades memoir Just a Girl: A True Story of World War II. Sensitive and age appropriate, this standout book is an ideal shared read aloud for older children.

On January 30, the American Library Association (ALA) presented their annual Youth Media Awards, celebrating the best in literature for young people. Check out what NPL Children's staff have to say about this year's winners of the Caldecott, Newberry, and more! 

Through simple premises, picture books can serve as the starting point for nuanced conversations on complex topics. My Uncle is Coming Tomorrow/Mañana viene mi tío is a very simple book that addresses the forced disappearance of citizens by repressive governments.

December is a time of holiday celebrations for many families. For families with a parent currently incarcerated, however, the reality is very different. Picture books about incarceration can help children and parents talk about a complex topic that affects millions of children and families in the United States.