Juneteenth (June 19) celebrates and commemorates the final emancipation of enslaved African Americans on June 19, 1865 in Texas. This holiday is a celebration of freedom and the joyful recognition of the perseverance and spirit of Black people in this nation. Celebrate and learn more with these books from the Children’s Room!
Click on a book cover for more information or to see it in our catalog. See a librarian for more suggestions.
June is LGBTQIA Pride Month. Celebrate this month with great books from the Children’s Department that commemorate and educate about the rich diversity, culture, and intersectionality of the LGBTQ+ community and all the figures in it. These are wonderful books to read this month and all year!
Click on a book cover for more information or to see it in our catalog. See a librarian for more suggestions.
June is LGBTQIA Pride Month. Celebrate this month with great books from the Children’s Department that empower and celebrate the rich diversity, culture, and intersectionality of the LGBTQ+ community. These are wonderful books to read this month and all year!
Click on a book cover for more information or to see it in our catalog. See a librarian for more suggestions.
The Massachusetts Children’s Book Award was established as a program to encourage children to read great books. 25 books are nominated each year as excellent titles for 9-12 year olds in fiction, nonfiction, and graphic novels. The nominees must be available in paperback and must have been published within the last five years. In the spring, kids who have read at least 5 of the nominees can vote for their favorite. The winner, and the next slate of nominees, are announced in May. The award is sponsored by Salem State College in Salem, Massachusetts.
2023 MCBA Books (winner: Alone by Megan Freeman)
2024 MCBA Books (winner: Frizzy by Claribel Ortega)
2025 MCBA Books (winner: Hoops by Matt Tavares)
2026 MCBA Books (winner: Willodeen by Katherine Applegate)
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Celebrate this month with great books from the Children’s Room that champion the importance of destigmatizing mental health. These books highlight ways to normalize the practice of taking moments to recognize and prioritize mental health care without guilt or shame. These are wonderful books to read this month and all year!
Click on a book cover for more information or to see it in our catalog. See a librarian for more suggestions.
Celebrate Asian American, Native Hawai’ian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and the 2026 theme, “Power in Unity: Strengthening Communities Together,” with great books from the Children’s Room honoring the hard work of AANHPI leaders who inspire us to work collaboratively and embolden the next generation to build on their legacies (FAPAC). This year’s theme highlights the importance of leveraging collective power, telling stories, and being bridge builders in our communities. These are wonderful books to read this month and all year!
Click on a book cover for more information or to see it in our catalog. See a librarian for more suggestions.