A fledgling finds its voice in this interpretation of the popular song Sing.
Celebrate 15 Years of Harry Potter; Summer Reading for Latino Kids | News Bites
By on June 18, 2013 Leave a Comment
Libraries can win a Harry Potter party pack to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the U.S. publication of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, complete with new paperback editions of the beloved series, illustrated by Kazu Kabushi. Entries are due July 17. Latinas for Latino Literature has launched a Summer Reading Program for summer camps, youth groups, and cultural centers serving Latino students and families, running through August 12.
The Debut: SLJ Talks to Katja Millay About ‘The Sea of Tranquility’
By on June 18, 2013 Leave a Comment
Angela Carstensen, Adult Books for Teens blogger, had a hard time putting The Sea of Tranquility down, even after reading it all the way through. Debut author Katja Millay put the book together by gathering scribbles, random lines, and characters in her head, calling her attempt to create an outline “laughable.”
Weekly Reviews: Debut novels
By on June 18, 2013
Can I really call Jeannette Walls’ The Silver Star a debut novel? After all, everyone knows The Glass Castle. And Half-Broke Horses was a novel, wasn’t it? Well, yes, but it was a fictionalization of her grandmother’s life. The Silver Star is Walls’ first work of pure fiction. It touches on many of the same themes [...]
Masters of Informational Picture Books | SLJ Day of Dialog 2013
By on June 18, 2013 Leave a Comment
Attendees of SLJ’s annual Day of Dialog received an information boost from the pre-BEA event’s first panel of authors and illustrators. Moderated by Kathleen T. Isaacs, author of Picturing the World: Informational Picture Books for Children, the lively discussion offered Jim Arnosky, Jennifer Berne, Elisha Cooper, Thomas Gonzalez, and Jonah Winter the chance to share with librarians more about their creative processes, who they write for, and why they choose to create nonfiction for young readers.
‘Tiger Eyes’ Film Stays True to Blume’s Vision
By on June 18, 2013 1 Comment
More than 30 years after it was published, Judy Blume’s YA novel Tiger Eyes has been adapted for the big screen. Directed by Lawrence Blume, the author’s son, the quiet film stars Willa Holland as Davey and Amy Jo Johnson as her mother, both reeling from the results of a tragic shooting. The gorgeous landscape of northern New Mexico serves as a perfect backdrop to the long-awaited adaptation, also available via video on demand. Kent Turner reviews it for SLJ.
Pick of the Day: The Young Ancestors (DVD)
By on June 18, 2013 Leave a Comment
The Young Ancestors (Cinema Guild) explains how the Tewa Indian tribe of New Mexico is making an effort to retain its Native language and is the perfect choice for multicultural studies classes in high school and above.
21st Century Children’s Nonfiction Conference Talks Books, Apps, and More
By on June 17, 2013 Leave a Comment
Gamificiation, augmented reality, and transmedia were just some of the hot topics at the 21st Century Children’s Nonfiction Conference, held June 14–16 at the State University of New York in New Paltz.
JLG’s On the Radar: New Mystery and Adventure Titles for Elementary Students
By on June 17, 2013 Leave a Comment
Time travel, 200-year-old clues, and a gaggle of atypical princes round out Junior Library Guild’s picks of new mystery and adventure novels for school-aged readers. Perfect for summer reading, check out the latest offerings from Kate Messner, Andrew Clements, and Christopher Healy.
Weekly Reviews: Boarding Schools & Sports
By on June 17, 2013
Today we review two notable debut novels featuring teen protagonists who are talented at the sports they love — riding and rowing. There are a surprising number of similarities between these books. Both take place in elite boarding schools, and feature teens who are new kids among long-time classmates, less wealthy outsiders struggling for the [...]
Pick of the Day: The Thing About Luck
By on June 17, 2013 Leave a Comment
A story of familial bonds in which a 12-year-old girl spends the summer with her grandparents who are harvesting wheat in the Midwest.
Pick of the Day: When Life Gives You OJ (Audiobook)
By on June 14, 2013 Leave a Comment
Erica S. Perl’s When Life Gives You OJ receives stellar treatment in the audiobook version narrated by Abigail Revasch. Read the starred review of this delightful story.
Nonfiction Graphic Novels – A Continuing Discussion
By on June 14, 2013
Back in January, we had a conversation (in reference to Derf Backderf’s Alex Award-winning My Friend Dahmer) about what makes a graphic novel “nonfiction” and the rigidity of categories like “fiction” and “nonfiction.” A couple of new comments have been added to that thread, so please head over to the above link to read the whole chain, but [...]
Nosy Crow’s ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ | Touch and Go
By on June 13, 2013 Leave a Comment
Little Red Riding Hood receives a thoroughly charming update in Nosy Crow’s latest production.
Pick of the Day: And Then It’s Spring (DVD)
By on June 13, 2013 Leave a Comment
Enrich elementary school units on spring and gardening with And Then It’s Spring, a DVD from Weston Woods based on the book written by Julie Fogliano and illustrated by Erin Stead.
A Classic Summer: Pair Audiobooks and Films to Spark Discussion and Writing | Listen In
By on June 13, 2013 Leave a Comment
These audiobook versions of time-honored classics shine a spotlight on language, lyrical expression, and character development. Try pairing them with their film adaptations for excellent compare and contrast opportunities.
‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’ Restored to IL Classrooms
By on June 12, 2013 Leave a Comment
Steven Chbosky’s epistolary coming-of-age tale The Perks of Being a Wallflower is being restored to eighth-grade classrooms in Glen Ellyn District 41, a suburb of Chicago, following a recent challenge over concerns about the book’s sexual content and explicit language.
Weekly Reviews: Science & Knots
By on June 12, 2013
In both of today’s nonfiction titles, the authors speak directly to their readers. Both have the potential to become favorites with the right teen reader. First up, Edward O. Wilson’s passionate and inspiring Letters to a Young Scientist. Maybe it’s the time of year, but I can’t help thinking that this would make a terrific graduation [...]
Pick of the Day: Kindness for Weakness
By on June 12, 2013 Leave a Comment
A gut-wrenching narrative set in a juvenile detention facility
Random House Fall Kids | Preview Peek
By on June 11, 2013 Leave a Comment
Early on the morning of May 23 in the Louis L’Amour Room of the Random House building on Broadway in New York City, there was a magical gathering of librarians, reviewers, and publishers. Attendees consumed a delicious breakfast as editors from each imprint shared upcoming titles. Here are some of the highlights.
