SJPL Staff Picks
Monthly Staff Picks
SJPL Picks: Summer is Here!
Read about the food, activities, weather and everything thing else that comes with SUMMERTIME! Books were selected by SJPL Librarian.
SJPL Picks: LGBTQIA+ YA Graphic Novels
Celebrating identities under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella in these beautiful, heartwarming, complex, flawed, fantastical graphic novels.
SJPL Picks: Armchair Exploration
Explore the world from the comfort of your couch with these books, this list includes fiction and non-fiction.
SJPL Picks: YA on the Seven Seas
YA books with a nautical theme which span from thrilling adventures to mythical creatures, selected and curated by SJPL librarians.
Summer Learning: Summer Camp Fun!
Summer camp can be a time to try new things and make new friends! Check out these exciting (and sometimes scary) camping tales.
Summer Learning: Celebrate Pets
Celebrate summer with a furry (or not so furry) friend! This booklist features selections for Pre-Readers (0-5) and Readers (5-10).
Summer Learning: Take a Dip!
This booklist shows that while putting your book in water is a bad idea, water in your story can make for a great read.
Summer Learning: Walk & Roll
Walk and roll this summer with this booklist all about bikes. Selected by SJPL Staff.
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: Green Reads (Pre-K to Early Elementary)
Explore nature and learn how to take care of our beloved planet Earth with these Green Reads for young readers.
SJPL Picks: Stories, books, and Libraries
Picture books about the wonderful world of stories, literary creation, and libraries.
SJPL Picks: Feelings
What are they? How do you control how you feel? Stories about those pesky emotions.
SJPL Picks: Potty Training Picture Books
For families hoping their last diaper change will arrive soon, this list is for you! This list was curated by SJPL Librarians.
SJPL Picks: Award Winning Graphic Novels (~Grades 3-7)
This list showcases the diverse, award-winning graphic novels for readers in approximately grades 3-7, selected by SJPL Librarians.
SJPL Picks: Realistic fiction (~Grades 3-7)
From humorous stories on aging to serious stories of real life tragedies, this list features realistic fiction for readers in grades 3-7.
SJPL Picks: Historical Fiction (~Grades 3-7)
While these novels are works of fiction, they draw heavily from what we do know about certain time periods to guess at some lost tales.
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: YA Lit with Disability 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 kínder 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