SJPL Staff Picks
Monthly Staff Picks
SJPL Picks: Winter Time
Magical stories and picture books to read to children during this special season.
SJPL Picks: 2023 Winter Reading Titles for Children
Great books that take place during the winter for TK-7th-grade readers. Hardcopies and eBooks are available for all titles.
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.
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: Picture Books About Names
Check out some great picture books about importance of name meanings, pronunciations and family and cultural traditions behind them.
SJPL Picks: All You Need is Love!
There are many ways to show how we care for one another, and in this collection of picture books, we can see some of the many ways we love.
SJPL Picks: Great Picture Books About Grandparents
Grandparents are important people in every culture. These picture books celebrate the special bond between grandparents and grandchildren.
SJPL Picks: Body Positivity Picture Books
Let's foster positive body images in our children. These pictures books are excellent starting points. Selected by SJPL Librarians.
SJPL PICKS: Middle Grade Mythological Fiction
In this list, myths of old gain new life, heroes return anew, and gods and goddesses walk the Earth.
SJPL Picks: As Told By Animals (Grades 3-7)
These books all feature stories told from the point of view of animals, and will have special interest for fans of Erin Hunter's Warriors.
SJPL Picks: Adventure & Survival Stories (~Grades 3-6)
Adventure and Survival stories are stories of rising to a challenge, highlighting the unique desires of humankind to be challenged.
SJPL Picks: Science fiction (~Grades 3-6)
If you're tired of down to Earth books and looking for a great read to space out with, look no further than this selection of Sci-fi reads.
SJPL Picks: YA Ability Diverse Representation
For these reads, characters with physical, intellectual, or developmental disabilities take center stage.
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
Novels in verse are perfect for those looking for a more emotional response from their reads, or for a read that requires some reflection.
SJPL Picks: YA Dystopian Fiction
Discover dark futures with these dystopian reads. Journey from sunken worlds to tech-driven societies, all handpicked for thrill-seekers.
SJPL Picks: Horror
This selection of books features some of the latest and spookiest additions to the SJPL adult collection.
SJPL Picks: Memoir
Fascinating stories about fascinating people - told in their own words.
SJPL Picks: Mysteries
Gather 'round book sleuths and let me clue you in to the latest mysteries for adults.
SJPL Picks: Romance
Whether you are looking for a slow burn, instant chemistry, or something in between, check out these contemporary and historical romances.
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 kÃnder 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
