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Children's and Young Adult Literature: TDRL Book Lists

This guide is a starting place for exploring children's and young adult literature

Staff Book Lists

The booklists on this page were compiled by library staff at the TDRL and can be used as a starting place to explore various juvenile and young adult titles related to specific themes. 

Displays at the TDRL

Disabilities both visible and invisible shape the lives of everybody in our campus community.  We hope the spotlighted books on our November-December display allow us to better see ourselves, our families (including pets), our friends, and our fellow classmates, and the richness of our lives and campus contributions.

All aboard for Teen'Tober! Celebrate the joy of curling up with a good book at the TDRL, with this diverse selection of books that has something to spark the interest of the young (or the young at heart).  Reap the emotional, social, and educational rewards of taking a little mid-semester mini-vacation between the pages of your next cracking good read!

Join the TDRL this September in our extended celebration of the First Amendment through a look at our right to read, our right to create, our right to be!  The books spotlighted deal with bold words, bold creations, and bold people living their best and truest lives, and are but a fraction of our rich collection of materials that highlight both the necessity and the power of our freedoms.

This August, as a lead in to our September celebration of Freedom to Read, the TDRL is taking a look at the other great freedom guaranteed by the First Amendment: the right to freedom of religious and spiritual practice because our government is prohibited from decreeing one, or favoring one over another.  The books in this list showcase a wide variety of faiths and practices from around the world and are but a fraction of the contemporary fiction and non-fiction books we have relating to this topic. We invite you to discover.

This July, join the TDRL for a look at disasters.  From wildfires to the zombie apocalypse, every disaster has lessons to teach about resilience in the face of adversity, and recovery and regrowth in the aftermath.

We hope this display inspires you to make (or update) your plans for disaster preparedness.

Come Read the Rainbow during Pride Month at the TDRL!  Once again we take a wide-ranging look at the LBGTQ+ experience with fiction and non-fiction, and books for young readers at all levels.  The books on this display represent only a fraction of our nationally known collection. And remember, we're always happy to help you find that perfect book!

The TDRL has something for every camper this May:  from romance, new friends, messy break-ups, leveling up on skills, snarfing down all the s'mores, rites of passage, or surviving "Camp Ta'Kill'Ya" -- join us for adventures at summer camp!

This April, step into a world of magic, adventure, and enchantment! Our Fantasy & Fairytales display features timeless classics and fresh retellings that will whisk you away to kingdoms, forests, and realms beyond imagination.Whether you're battling dragons, befriending talking animals, or exploring enchanted lands, there's a story waiting for you. Come discover your next fairytale adventure!

(This display was curated by TDRL Student Worker, Rayvin Townsel.)

Celebrate Women’s History Month with our Women in STEM curated book display! Discover inspiring stories of trailblazing women who have revolutionized science, technology, engineering, and math. From graphic novels to juvenile non-fiction books, this collection highlights innovators like Dr. Patricia Bath, who changed the world with her medical breakthroughs. Perfect for readers of all ages, these books showcase the determination, brilliance, and creativity of women who paved the way in STEM fields

(This display is curated by TDRL student worker Marilyn Nortey.)

Our February 2025 celebration of Black History month takes a look at the broad (and rich!) tapestry of Black History, from out of Africa, to the Crimean War, to the Civil Rights Movement, to Radio City Music Hall.  It showcases the contributions of Black artists, singers, writers, medical professionals, scientists, soldiers, political leaders, and educators to the world.  There is no History of any human endeavor without a part of it being Black History.

We start 2025 by celebrating the books we most loved reading in 2024.  The books on this display represent our wide-ranging interests and the diversity of the TDRL's collections.  We invite you to enjoy!

As the days grow shorter and we head towards Finals Week, our November-December Curated Book Display focuses on Holidays both sacred and secular. We invite you to experience the joy of celebrating old favorites and discovering new ones (ex: World Toilet Day, World Philosophy Day).  May your days be merry and bright!

For October 2024, we are spotlighting selections from the Native Ways of Knowing booklist, a collaboration between the San Diego County Office of Education, California Indian Eductation, and Native American scholars, designed to help parents and educators find high quality books about Native American peoples and cultures.  

TDRL Student Curated Displays

What Can Freedom Be? -- Curated by Rayvin Townsel

Freedom means different things to different people, like expression, safety, movement, identity, or the power to imagine a better world. This month’s display explores how artists, activists, and authors use their voices to protest, create, and redefine freedom.

Let these books spark conversation, curiosity, and courage. 

 

The Art of Storytelling -- Curated by Joanieve Cooper

Inspired by Scott McCloud's  Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art, this display showcases the many ways stories can be told and celebrates the diverse forms of storytelling.  Including comics, picture books, visual narratives, and more.  The display also highlights the different types of media through which stories can be shared.

Dinosaurs! -- Curated by Edward Ponce

These prehistoric creatures continue to amaze and inspire the minds of readers.  New discoveries and an ever-expanding knowledge of dinosaurs warrant further exploration.  Dinosaurs can be an engaging topic for not just early readers but readers of all ages.

Mom's Day, Every Day!  -- Curated by Ariel Magana

May is the month to celebrate our mothers!  Whether they are your traditional mom or not!  Here are some quick picks about appreciating that special motherly figure in your life.
 

Jumping Into Spring -- Curated by Olumide Dairo

This month we are highlighting the season of Spring!  Here are a few books to get you started!

Brilliant and Bold: Educating and Empowering Black Minds -- Curated by Sahara Chatterpaul-Taylor

This display highlights empowering titles that focus on supporting young Black girls and educators, offering resources for self empowerment, cultural identity, and educational strategies for fostering growth, confidence, and resilience.

Trailblazing Women in STEM -- Curated by Marilyn Nortey

Celebrate Women’s History Month with our Women in STEM curated book display! Discover inspiring stories of trailblazing women who have revolutionized science, technology, engineering, and math. From graphic novels to juvenile non-fiction books, this collection highlights innovators like Dr. Patricia Bath, who changed the world with her medical breakthroughs. Perfect for readers of all ages, these books showcase the determination, brilliance, and creativity of women who paved the way in STEM fields

Heroes Who Defied the Odds in Medicine -- Curated by Kevin Juarez

These medical professionals defied the odds and reshaped the very fabric of healthcare.  Their journeys inspire us to push boundaries and pursue solutions, no matter the obstacles.

Food and Families -- Curated by Samia Hufane

This Winter we are highlighting the important role that food plays in families.  These titles (with included recipies) all share how bood has brought loved ones together, preserved culture, and fostered new connections.

Home -- Curated by Ariel Magana

Everyone has their own version of home. Come and join the TDRL in learning what these homes may look like!

Falling Into Place -- Curated by Olumide Dairo

This month we are highlighting the design work that goes into creating unique and engaging book covers!  Each of these books has a cover that showcases fundamental principles of design.

August Artistry -- Curated by Rayvin Townsel.

We invite you to discover masterpieces and immerse yourself in a world full of color in our August Artistry display.

 

Dog Days of Summer -- Curated by Samia Hufane

Come beat the heat this August with a fun summer read from the TDRL!  This month we are highlighting 6 books about everything “summer!”

 

Pride Month:  Graphic Novels -- Curated by Samia Hufane

This Pride Month we are highlighting LGBTQ+ Graphic Novels.  By seamlessly blending art and literature, graphic novels build an entrancing world that allows reades to empathize with the characters in a unique way.

Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month -- Curated by Samia Hufane.

Join us for a celebration of the diversity of Asian-American and Pacific Islander cultures and stories, and their contributions to the world we live in.

Mental Health Awareness Month -- curated by Samia Hufane

Our goal with this display is to shine a light on the different experiences of people living with mental illness, promote awareness and education, end stigma, and show support for people impacted by mental illness.

Empowering Girls in STEM -- curated by Samia Hufane

Women have been at the forefront for many STEM discoveries, but their contributions have often been overlooked in favor of men.  We hope this display will encourage young girls to persue STEM, and remember the women who have paved the way.

Shaper of Lives and Cultures:  Mythology -- Curated by Laura Solsona Plazola

Inspired by Anthropology 420: Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion, this display highlights the ways in which mythologies past and present provide a powerful force that shapes us on a personal and cultural level.

National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month -- Curated by Laura Solsona Plazola

Racism and stigma pose significant barriers to minorities when it comes to mental health care.  We aim to help all students and visitors feel like they have a voice and are not alone.  The following books were chosen to represent what mental illness and mental health can look like in minority communities.

Empowering Womens' Health and Sex Education -- Curated by Laura Solsona Plazola

With this display we aim to spread awareness of the lack of knowledge among young people in regards to sex education, as well as empowering women to take ownership of their bodies.

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