NYPL Recommendations

A listing of book lists created just for you by our librarians. Also check out our regular Staff Picks, and subscribe to the Biblio File blog and biweekly podcast.

Books with Autumnal Witchy Vibes

Since we could all probably use a little hocus pocus in our lives, here is a list of books filled with witches, romance, magic, and autumn leaves.

Liberty and Happiness: A Reading List from Open Book Night

Classic self-help books, engaging fiction, 18th-century American history, and Jane Austen were some of the topics we discussed at our last Open Book Night, when the theme was “liberty and happiness.”

New & Noteworthy: Superhero Stories

Here are a few exceptional new superhero stories. May justice prevail!

Books for Kids' Back-to-School Jitters

Six stories that might help ease the minds of kids feeling anxious about their first days of school.

National Book Lovers Day - What is your favorite book?

What happens when an impromptu question is sent to NYPL staff in honor of August 9th “National Book Lovers Day”? It becomes a great conversation starter with amazing recommendations.

New & Noteworthy: Historical Middle Grade Fiction

Until time travel becomes a reality for us all, fiction is the best way we know to and experience historical times. Here are six exceptional new works of middle grade fiction, all set in times before today.

New & Noteworthy: Culturally Diverse Middle Grade

These are exactly the kind of books that will teach our next generation to be accepting and open-minded.

New & Noteworthy: Selected Shorts

Check out some new books we recommend in the form of the Short Story Cycle.

New & Noteworthy: Nonfiction for Kids

For all those young readers out there, some great new science writing on the ocean, and the planets, and the moon, and a couple of noteable biographies.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: A Reading List from Open Book Night

Epic journeys by ship and by train, stories of survival in wartime, and elephants were some of the topics we discussed at last month’s Open Book Night. We asked readers to share a reading journey with us, including books about travel and transportation, favorite armchair adventures, or virtual voyages.

New & Noteworthy Nonfiction

If you are looking for a serious book for the beach this season—we hear that is a thing since Lin Manuel Miranda read the Hamilton biography on vacation—here are a few we recommend.

Oddballs, Screwballs, and Other Eccentrics: A Reading List from Open Book Night

May’s Open Book Night was one filled with tales of truly wacky families, plays and novels that have been adapted into films, and many, many questions.

NYPL Recommends: New & Notable: Little Gems

There is something special about a 200-250 page book. The story has a tight scope, the writing is often spare and concise, and the experience of reading it is discrete and memorable. Here are a few little gems we recommend.

NYPL Recommends: New Picture Books

Picture books are delightful for kids of all ages. Here are a few we think are extra-special.

Books Go to the Movies: A Reading List from Open Book Night

Our discussion in our March Open Book Night: Books Go to the Movies covered a lot of ground. Movies and books strike a chord with everyone and we all had something to say.

NYPL Recommends: New Middle Grade Fiction

I can't stop marveling at the amazing Middle Grade Fiction being published these days. There is something for everyone and here are a few new titles we recommend.

We Are New Yorkers: A Reading List for NYC Immigrant Heritage Week

Here are some vivid representations of the New York immigrant experience in fiction, as well as a few memoirs and biographies of New Yorkers past and present, who arrived here from all over the world and made their mark on our city.

NYPL Recommends: New YA Fiction

There is some great new fiction for teens coming out this Spring! Here are a seven titles at the top of our to-read piles here at NYPL.

14 New Poetry Picks for World Poetry Day

Happy World Poetry Day! There has been a lot of good stuff since Yeats. Get current with these contemporary poetry recommendations.

NYPL Recommends: Middle Grade Fiction

NYPL recommends eight new titles for voracious middle grade readers.

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