Melrose Public Library

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)

Check out the nominees below for 2025! Click on a book cover for more information.

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 2025 theme, “A Legacy of Leadership & Resilience,” with great books from the Children’s Room honoring the hard work of AANHPI leaders who have established and are building a foundation for future generations to thrive and adapt to change and adversity (FAPAC). Their efforts have resulted in lasting change with immense positive impacts on the world. 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.

Historical Fiction

Folklore/Traditions

Leaders in Sports

Leaders in the Arts

Leaders in Social Change

May is Asian American, Native Hawai’ian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Celebrate this month with great books from the Children’s Department about the history, traditions, and diversity that make up the rich cultural tapestry of the AANHPI community and its influential figures. 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.

Celebrations

Picture Books

Graphic Novels

Chapter Books

National Library Week is celebrated every April. Celebrate with great books from the Children’s Room that honor our nation’s libraries and library workers. This year’s theme, “Drawn to the Library” celebrates the millions of people across the country who visit their libraries every week. What’s the draw? Everything. Whatever draws you in, the library has something for everyone. 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