Melrose Public Library

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.

Picture Books

Chapter Books

Graphic Novels

Nonfiction

Biographies

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.

Leaders in Sports, Arts, and Science

Leaders in Social Change

Telling Stories

Sense of Belonging

Celebrations

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.

This year’s winner!

2023 MCBA Books (winner: Alone by Megan Freeman)

2024 MCBA Books (winner: Frizzy by Claribel Ortega)

2025 MCBA Books (winner: Hoops by Matt Tavares)

Check out the nominees below for 2026! Click on a book cover for more information.

National Library Week is April 19-25, 2026. Celebrate with great books from the Children’s Room that highlight the valuable role libraries, librarians, and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening our communities. This year’s theme, “Find Your Joy!” is an invitation for people of all backgrounds to explore and discover what sparks joy in them at the library. 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.

We Love Books!

Librarians We Love

Libraries in History

It happened in a library…

April is Autism Acceptance Month. This year’s theme is “Celebrating Differences,” which encourages everyone to see that each person is unique and their differences are a normal part of life (Transitionabilities). Celebrate this month by showing support and inclusion for those diagnosed with autism, as well as enjoying some wonderful books from the Children’s Room with autistic characters, about famous autistic people, and about Autism Spectrum Disorder. 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.

Picture Books

Shorter Chapter Books

Longer Chapter Books

Nonfiction

Celebrate Women’s History Month and the 2026 theme, “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Suture,” with great books from the Children’s Room celebrating the diverse contributions of women who are leading sustainability efforts across environmental, economic, educational, and social justice movements (NWHA). Through their efforts, women empower individuals and institutions on how to take action in their own spheres of influence. 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.

Leaders

Movements

Inspiring the Next Generation

Anthologies