Here are some of the ways that contributors have mentioned they find books to read or where they have posted book boosts! Please note: I realize there are MANY other ways to discover books, but I lack the time to compile a comprehensive list. This list is compiled solely from contributor guest posts, as well as my own experience. Also do check out the KidLit/YA Book Booster feed on Bluesky, which consists of people's authentic book recommendations - no self-promo, only books they've actually read (if you'd like to participate, please see the pinned post on that feed).
In-person:
Word-of-mouth and in-person recommendations from librarians, booksellers, friends, and family.
Browsing in-person at the library.
Browsing online library catalog via Libby (ebooks, audiobooks).
Book-boosting contributor blogs, video channels:
NOTE: Contributor sources are only listed here if they have a venue (blog, account, etc) that is ONLY for boosting books by other people. Also do check the KidLit/YA Book Booster feed on Bluesky for authentic book recommendations that have no self-promo.
CanLit For Little Canadians -
Ms. Yingling Readers: Books For the Middle Grades -
Stacks & Facts - YouTube channel by about Library and Information Science, aims to "make understanding libraries and information science more easy for folks around the world."
Misc book discovery sources:
Multiple mentions of a book combined with a creator's non-promo interesting posts. Not just cover images and "buy my book."
Once a book creator is discovered through one book, readers start following them on social media, where they then find out about other books.
Online sources:
Book Riot - Books, reading, publishing, and literary culture.
Canadian Children's Book Centre
Fuse8 - by
Kibooka - Korean-ancestry authors, illustrators, and their books.
Literary Activism (part of Book Riot) - News and tools for engaging in literary activism, from ending book bans to supporting libraries and more.
Ontario Library Association aka
Queer Liberation Library - "...Queer digital library that makes queer literature, information, and resources available to our library members across the United States."
Reading Ahead - Book recommendations for the adults who work with children and young teens, from .
We Need Diverse Books - Nonprofit promoting diverse books and supporting marginalized authors and illustrators.
Awards
Cybil Awards: Children's and Young Adult Book Lovers' Literary Awards - On hiatus right now (as of 2026-08-14)
Forest of Reading - Canada's largest recreational reading program.
Governor General's Literary Awards - aka GGBooks, these awards celebrate literature and inspire people to read books by creators from Canada.
SCBWI Crystal Kite Awards - Peer-given award to recognize excellent books published in the previous year from SCBWI regional divisions around the world. Also see .
Willow Awards aka . Saskatchewan Young Readers’ Choice Awards, voted on by Saskatchewan children and youth.
Organizations and events:
Canada
Forest Of Reading - Canada’s largest recreational reading program. Helen Kubiw recommends browsing the archives of nominated titles and winners.
U.S.
American Library Association annual conference