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Happy Right to Read Day! Illinois' Readers Choice programs are student-centered and help create lifelong readers. Caudill Award Monarch Award IL Bluestem Award Lincoln Award #schoollibrarymonth #righttoreadday #AISLEd

Next up on the 2026 list is Sharee Miller's Curlfriends: New in Town! In this graphic novel, Charlie is used to starting at new schools, but is determined to make the best first impression by hiding everything that makes her Charlie. Perfect rec for fans of The Babysitters Club!

LBSS is accepting applications for the 2026 Readers’ Choice Award Grant. Go to lbssfund.org to learn more and to apply. Applications are due on April 30th. Caudill Award Monarch Award IL Bluestem Award Lincoln Award #AISLEd #LBSSEndowment

Next up? It's The Deep! Wild Life at the Ocean's Darkest Depths by lindsey leigh🐌! This nonfiction graphic novel helps readers dive into learning about the different ocean zones as well as the curious creatures that inhabit them! A must-read for fans of the Science Comics books!

Have an animal loving reader in your life? Our next book, Dogtown by Katherine Applegate (kaaauthor.bsky.social) and Gennifer Choldenko, is perfect for them! Readers will enjoy the quick pace, Wallace West's delightful illustrations, and a variety of lovely animal characters! 🐕 #BluestemAward

Seeing double? Nope! You're just seeing the next book on our 2026 list, The Double Life of Danny Day by Mike Thayer - THE TALENT THIEF - Out Feb 7th!!. This Groundhog Day-esque story is perfect for fans of time travel elements, video games, and friendship stories. #BluestemAward

Young fans of true crime don't need to look any further, this next book is just for them! The first entry in the Unsolved Case Files series, Escape at 10,000 Feet by Tom Sullivan tells readers the unbelievable true story of D.B. Cooper's infamous 1971 plane hijacking. 🛬

Next up on our list is an incredible picture book biography! Fighting for Yes! by Maryann CoccaLeffler and illustrated by Vivien Mildenberger tells readers about the life of Judith Heumann, focusing on her work on the 504 Sit-In of 1977. #BluestemAward

Reminder that this coming Wednesday 4/30 is the due date for Readers' Choice Grant Applications! Any Illinois library registered for the Monarch, Bluestem, Caudill, or Lincoln program is eligible to enter to win an unprocessed set of award books. 📚 buff.ly/r57siUE

In honor of Autism Acceptance Month and National Poetry Month, we'd love to recommend the next book on our 2026 list! Good Different by Meg Eden Kuyatt is a moving novel in verse that follows Selah, a neurodivergent tween struggling to understand why she feels so different.

With it's short chapters and engaging world-building, our next nominee is a must read for young readers looking to get into fantasy! The Guardian Test by Christina Soontornvat - Updates only, ill. by Kevin Hong is the first book in the Legends of Lotus Island series. ✨ #BluestemAward #BlueReads

As you might have guessed, we're pretty big library fans here at Bluestem. But that's only part of why we picked our next book, The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and wendy mass. It also features a delightful cat named Mortimer, ghosts, and a mystery! 📖 #BluestemAward #BlueReads

Join up with a rag tag team to fight crime and solve a mystery in our next book! The Misfits by Lisa Yee, illustrated by Dan Santat features exciting adventure and just the right amount of humor. Perfect for fans of Spy School or City Spies looking for their next read!

Could you spend $5,000,000 in a month? Our next book is Stacy McAnulty's Millionaires for the Month! Felix and Benji find a wallet belonging to a billionaire and are challenged to spend $5,000,000 in 30 days. Perfect for fans of The Great Greene Heist or No Purchase Necessary.💲

Need a new magical adventure graphic novel? Look no further than our next title, Nell of Gumbling by Emma Steinkellner! Nell and friends are dealing with regular drama when assigned to their apprenticeships in magical Gumbling, but strange new visitors create panic around town.

Our last nonfiction title, A Plate of Hope by Erin Frankel, illustrated by Paola Escobar tells the true story of José Andrés and World Central Kitchen. A great read for fans of picture book biographies or those looking to discuss ongoing humanitarian efforts around the world. 🍽️

Perfect for fans of Never After or The Princess Protection Program, our next book is Rumaysa: A Fairytale by Radiya, illustrated by Rhaida Touny. Creating a long hijab to escape her tower, Rumaysa goes on adventures, encountering other fairytale retellings along the way.🐉

For readers who loved Allergic on the 2024 list will be thrilled to see Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter's next graphic novel, Squished, on this year's list! Perfect for anyone who has ever struggled with having a big family, a big move, or just change in general. 📦

Our last intro for this year's list is Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas! When Bree is forced to take Swim 101 after moving to a new school in Florida, she's forced to face her fears and learns important history about racism and swimming. Perfect for fans of New Kid or We Are Big Time. 🌊