This week’s column takes a look at productions that incorporate music: an iPad app featuring a new setting for a classic counting tune, and iBooks that take children around the world as they drift off to asleep.
About Daryl Grabarek
Daryl Grabarek dgrabarek@mediasourceinc.com is the editor of School Library Journal's monthly enewsletter, Curriculum Connections, and its online column Touch and Go. Before coming to SLJ, she held librarian positions in private, school, public, and college libraries. Her dream is to manage a collection on a remote island in South Pacific.
Mysteries and a Mission | iPad Apps for Older Students
By on May 9, 2013 Leave a Comment
Will Agostino Steffani the Baroque composer, Catholic priest, diplomat, and spy be able to “prevent an assassination and help a princess escape an undesirable marriage?” And what is the astute Sherlock Holmes up to? Teens can help gather the clues in two interactive iPad apps .
From Mud Huts to An American Icon | Nonfiction Notes, May 2013
By on May 7, 2013 3 Comments
Combining excellent texts and outstanding visuals, this month’s group of new titles are must-have purchases for libraries and classrooms looking to expand their nonfiction collections.
The “Radioactive Energy” of Bullies | An Interview with Meg Medina
By on May 7, 2013 Leave a Comment
Meg Medina knows firsthand about bullying—the topic of her young adult novel. In ‘Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass,’ the author explores its consequences when 15-year-old Piddy Sanchez becomes victimized at her new school.
Texas Two-Step, or Conference Hopping in the Lone Star State | IRA, TLA 2013
By on April 29, 2013 Leave a Comment
From San Antonio to Fort Worth, literacy educators and librarians converged on Texas last week to celebrate books and reading.
Things That Vroom | Touch and Go
By on April 25, 2013 1 Comment
From dump trucks to fire trucks, young children can’t seem to get their fill of vehicles that have jobs to perform. In this week’s column, we present apps from a variety of developers, featuring vibrant illustrations, song, videos, and loads of interactivity that will keep kids engaged for hours.
Apps for Earth Day | Touch and Go
By on April 18, 2013 1 Comment
If your resolve to reduce your use of plastic ever wavers, even slightly, consider the Eastern Garbage Patch, an area of the Pacific Ocean where currents converge to create a floating landfill the size of Alaska. We’re ‘Tracking Trash’—and more—in our column devoted to Earth Day.
SLJ’s Best of Apps and Enhanced Books | April 2013
By on April 15, 2013
High-res 3-D images of black holes and nebulae that you can tweet or post to Facebook are among the features of a companion app to a popular BBC series, which is reviewed this month in School Library Journal.
An Endearing Creature, A Forbidding Environ | Touch and Go
By on April 11, 2013 Leave a Comment
Spring may have finally arrived, but penguins are never out of season with kids. The latest entry in Nosy Crow’s “Rounds” series offers a blend of fact and fiction on the life cycle of these aquatic creatures, while ‘Antarctica’ by Kids Discover delivers photos and text on one of the places these birds can be found.
Confrontations & Queries | Nonfiction Notes, April 2013
By on April 2, 2013 Leave a Comment
From a teen eyewitness account of the Battle of Gettysburg to an investigation of those pointy-nose Darwin frogs (with some very unusual brooding habits) to an examination of science myths, we’ve selected a few nonfiction books publishing this month that you’ll want to display, booktalk, and put in the hands of your patrons.
Best of Apps & Enhanced Books | April 2013
By on April 1, 2013 Leave a Comment
From stardust to remote galaxies, this month’s app standouts look toward the heavens.
On Common Core | Nonfiction as Mentor Text
By on March 30, 2013 Leave a Comment
Many people hold on to the belief that nonfiction writing is “just the facts,” often synonymous with formulaic, dull writing. Nothing could be further from the truth. Writers for young people model both substance and style, and can serve as mentors to their readers.
Stardust and a ‘Ship of Dreams’ | Touch and Go
By on March 28, 2013 Leave a Comment
What do the digital versions of Dean Morrissey’s ‘Ship of Dreams’ and Elin Kelsey’s ‘You Are Stardust’ have in common? A soothing cadence, subtle animations, exquisite artwork, and both offer us an opportunity to let our imaginations soar.
The World of Barbara Kerley | Interview
By on March 27, 2013 Leave a Comment
When asked for quality nonfiction titles, Barbara Kerley’s name comes immediately to mind. Recently the author updated her website with references to the Common Core State Standards. We had a chance to talk about those changes and her work.
The Return of Don Freeman | Touch and Go
By on March 20, 2013 Leave a Comment
Don Freeman is the author of many titles beloved by children, now out of print. Lucky for this generation of picture book fans, Auryn is bringing back the author’s works in digital format.
A Universe of Stellar Apps | Touch and Go
By on March 14, 2013 Leave a Comment
On a mission to discover astronomy apps, we uncovered a whole universe of terrific productions.
From Civil War Nurses to Young Filmmakers | Nonfiction Notes, March 2013
By on March 5, 2013 Leave a Comment
What’s publishing this month? Biographies, poetry, and more!
Best of Apps & Enhanced Books | March 2013
By on March 4, 2013 Leave a Comment
What do Dav Pilkey’s ‘Captain Underpants” and the London’s Philharmonia Orchestra have in common? They’re both featured in this month’s column.
The “Very Serious Nonsense” of Dr. Seuss | Touch and Go
By on February 28, 2013 1 Comment
After 75 years, Dr. Seuss’s stories still resonate with kids— in both print and digital formats.
Deluxe and Digital | Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men’
By on February 21, 2013 Leave a Comment
A deluxe edition of John Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men’ offers educators a variety of multimedia resources to share with students.
