Welcome to Check Your Shelf. As I write this on my laptop, Gilbert is determinedly trying to crawl into my lap, even though I have my legs crossed and the laptop hoisted up higher than normal. He’s splooted right over my wrist, thinking that this will get me to stop typing and start snuggling him. Anyway, the point of this is to let you know that I will keep my eyes out for typos, but if you do see one, just know that it was Gilbert’s fault.
Collection Development Corner
Publishing News
The general director of Eksmo asks the world to rethink its boycott of Russian publishing.
New & Upcoming Titles
Whether you’ll be at PLA or not (I won’t, sadly…), here’s Library Journal’s 2022 galley guide to get an idea of what books are going to be promoted.
Publishers Weekly takes a look at the nuanced true crime being published in 2022.
Comedian George Lopez is coming out with a “fantastical” middle grade book series.
Here’s a first look at Kevin Wilson’s upcoming book Now is Not the Time to Panic.
Weekly picks from Bustle, Crime Reads, Lit Hub, The Millions, New York Times, and USA Today.
20 must-read books for Spring.
The best books of 2022 (so far) from Bustle, Vogue, and Washington Post (SFF).
What Your Patrons Are Hearing About
Body Work: The Radical Power of Personal Narrative – Melissa Febos (Electric Lit, LA Times, Vulture)
In the Margins: On the Pleasures of Reading and Writing – Elena Ferrante (Guardian, New York Times, Washington Post)
A Ballad of Love and Glory – Reyna Grande (LA Times, USA Today)
Secret Identity – Alex Segura (Entertainment Weekly, LA Times)
Lessons From the Edge: A Memoir – Marie Yovanovitch (New York Times, NPR)
Manhunt – Gretchen Felker-Martin (NPR)
RA/Genre Resources
On the Riot
The best new dark academia YA novels hitting shelves in 2022.
8 highly anticipated diverse YA reads for late Spring 2022.
The best new weekly releases to TBR.
Are mysteries and thrillers less enjoyable the more you read in the genre?
Why this reader loves reading memoirs by poets.
An introduction to the social horror genre.
How is literary fiction redefining romance?
Why we drink in medieval fantasy.
All Things Comics
DC Comics is releasing a new Poison Ivy series in conjunction with Pride Month.
10 indie comics that deserve a sequel.
On the Riot
Take a peek at the first trailer for Ms. Marvel!
Exactly who is Moon Knight?
Read the novel? You should read the graphic novel.
10 slice-of-life romance manga to make you smile.
Audiophilia
2022 Odyssey and Newbery Winners
Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!
On the Riot
7 of the best middle grade audiobooks.
Book Lists, Book Lists, Book Lists
Children/Teens
5 children’s books to spark conversation about mental health.
30 of the best pop-up books for kids of all ages.
YA books every K-Pop fan should read.
27 YA feminist retellings.
90 (!!) YA books with a strong female main character.
12 YA books featuring powerful BIPOC characters.
Adults
Reading lists to understand the war in Ukraine from The Atlantic and USA Today.
7 books about the complex relationship between Africa and China.
20 fantasy romance suggestions.
Doctor, doctor, give me the news…11 romances featuring irresistible doctors.
And here’s a list of billionaire romances, if that’s your jam.
5 vampire novels with a classic bite.
21 classic and contemporary Gothic novels.
6 crime novels set in public school classrooms.
On the Riot
8 heartfelt and powerful children’s books about negative emotions.
15 delightful bird books for kids.
Wholesomely horny: 6 romance authors like Talia Hibbert.
8 epic romances set in New York City.
Reading to understand the maternal mental health crisis.
Books with a Greek chorus.
9 thrilling stories about first contact with aliens.
10 horror novels set underground.
14 books that take you behind the scenes of your favorite TV shows.
13 of the best steamy historical romances.
10 fantastic books with anonymous narrators.
14 Brazilian books available in English translations.
Level Up (Library Reads)
Do you take part in Library Reads, the monthly list of best books selected by librarians only? We’ve made it easy for you to find eligible diverse titles to nominate. Kelly Jensen has a guide to discovering upcoming diverse books, and Nora Rawlins of Early Word has created a database of upcoming diverse titles to nominate, as well as including information about series, vendors, and publisher buzz.
If it looks like Dini is chewing on a banana, that’s because he is. My mom found these banana-shaped cat toys made of some type of material that’s supposed to be good for their teeth, so she got a single banana for Dini and Gilbert to share. As you can tell from the photos, Dini’s not great with sharing. We put the banana between the two of them, they both sniffed it, and then Dini smacked his paw down and went to town on the banana.
I’ve been exercising my reading muscles a lot over the last few days, and it really feels good, so I’m going to try and keep the momentum going! Let’s all try to read something good this week, shall we?
Catch you on Friday!
—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter. Currently gushing about Her Name is Knight by Yasmin Angoe.