As NASA’s Artemis program works to return humans to the moon within the next few years, a timely account offers insight into the challenges of international cooperation as it relates to space exploration.
It’s All or Nothing, Vale
Puerto Rican American middle schooler Vale’s identity is largely tied to being an ultra-competitive, nationally ranked junior fencer. But an accident has left her with the lasting effects of a serious leg injury. Vale has not only lost valuable time away from fencing, but she may be facing a lifetime of chronic pain.
Megan Schliesman to Retire After 32 Years at the CCBC
At the end of the UW-Madison spring semester, Megan Schliesman will retire from her role as Assistant Director/Librarian at the Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC). Megan began her career at the CCBC in July of …
Under the Same Stars
Three interconnected stories follow teenagers navigating the ordinary and the extraordinary as their lives are impacted by political and global events.
All By Myself (But Sometimes I Need a Little Help!)
In a cheery yet matter-of-fact narrative, a child recites a host of things they can do by themself. For each, they also note a related activity with which they require help. “I can put on my shoes, but I need a little help to tie the laces. … I can decorate a kite, but I need a little help to fly it in the wind.”
A Few Thoughts on Books Published in 2024
As books came into the library, and as we read throughout the year, we made note of several big-picture observations that struck us.
CCBC Receives Honor from Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
The CCBC received a major honor from the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, which on Wednesday unveiled its 2025 Carle Honors. Read the announcement from the UW-Madison School of Education here.
Make a Pretty Sound: A Story of Ella Jenkins—The First Lady of Children’s Music
“Ella is a South Side girl, a Bronzeville bird, skipping in streets that smell of sweets and black-eyed peas.” A narrative that pulses with rhythm and sings with lyrical language describes the life of Ella Jenkins, who was attuned to the sounds of the world around her, including music, from the time she was a child growing up in Chicago.
Amil and the After
The storytelling shines in this stand-alone sequel to The Night Diary set in India following Partition. Amil, 12; his twin Nisha; and their father, grandmother Dadi, and longtime employee and friend Kazi, who is Muslim, live in a small apartment in Bombay.
CCBC Choices 2025 Is Now Available!
CCBC Choices 2025, the annual best-of-the-year list of the Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC), is now available. The list, created by the CCBC professional staff, recommends 251 books published for children and teens from birth …