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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

The Will Eisner Awards are the "Oscars of Comics" and showcase the huge diversity of creatitivity and genres found in the medium.  The nominated books on this display showcase the power of comics and graphic novels and the talents of these creators.  We invite you to discover!

Come celebrate Pride Month with 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!

For May of 2024, TDRL student worker Samia Hufane curated this celebration of the diversity of Asian-American and Pacific Islander cultures and stories, and their contributions to the world we live in.

Our April 2024 display focuses on HiLo Books!  HiLo books feature action-packed stories and are perfect for ELL students, people who have been turned off to reading, and anybody looking for a fast and fun read to recharge themselves.

For our March 2024 celebration of Women's History Month, the TDRL spotlights Latina Excellence!  Enjoy our showcase of books by or about Latinas who have lead the way in science, the arts, in law, and through their activism.  The titles in this list are but a small part of our books by or about Latinas.  We invite you to discover more.

For our February 2024 display, we celebrate the classics of tomorrow, today!  Join us for a spotlight on contemporary contributions to youth literature by Black and African-American creators and illustrators.

Our December '23-Jan '24 display focuses on TDRL Staff Picks! These are the books we most enjoyed reading in 2023.  

For November 2022, the TDRL is focusing on the ways in which Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics have changed the world, but only because, one way or another, so many people made contributions to the body of knowledge.  We hope the books on this display are a doorway into discovery and the realization that STEM is for everybody.

For our October 2023 Curated Book Display we proclaim:  Let Freedom Read!

Join us in supporting the freedom to read diverse voices, ideas, truths, characters, and life experiences.

Our September 2023 Curated Book Display celebrates your #RightToRead.  The TDRL, as a branch of UNLV's Unversity Libraries proclaims your right to read these books because these stories and these voices matter.

Mythology, be it historical, secular, or a living religion, impacts everyone. 

Our August display highlights a variety of traditional stories, celebrates their richness and diversity through a variety of interpretations, and provides a doorway into a powerful force that shapes us on a personal and cultural level.

This display was primarily curated by TDRL Student Worker Laura Solsona Plazola, and was inspired by her personal interest in the subject and her studies in Anthropology 420: Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion.

In July 2023 we are using our shadowbox display area to showcase a display curated by TDRL student assistant, Laura Solsona Plazola.

Mental health and wellbeing are as important as physical health.  Minorities face additional barriers of stigma and racism when dealing with mental health issues.  These books were chosen to represent part of what the mental health experience can look like for minority groups.

In today's diverse and evolving world, it is vital that young people engage with books and media that help them better understand the world around them, so they can make informed choices and learn the fundamentals of being a good citizen. Our July 2023 Curated Book Display focuses on selections from the Notable Social Studies Trade Books, an invaluable resource for educators, mentors, and parents. 

TDRL Student Curated Displays

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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