September 19, 2013

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Childproofed: When Your School Has Inflexible Filters | Scales on Censorship

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Pat Scales, chair of the American Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Committee, answers readers’ questions about censorship. This month, Scales addresses what to do when your school has inflexible or strict Internet filters, including strategies for aiding students in completing research assignments and advice on instituting new policies for challenged materials.

Visual and Vibrant: Douglas Florian’s Favorite Poetry Collections

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In honor of National Poetry Month, acclaimed poet and artist Douglas Florian shares his favorite poetry books for children.

Book Reviews from Young Adults: ‘Light’, ‘Openly Straight’, ‘Confessions of a Hater’

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Michael Grant wraps up his Gone series superbly with the sixth book, Light. In Openly Straight, Bill Konigsberg depicts a gay teenager who wants to shed his “gay boy” label and just be one of the guys. And, Caprice Crane takes a crack at finding something new to say about mean girls in high school it with her novel Confessions of a Hater.

2013 ALSC & YALSA Audio Picks: The year’s best notable recordings and amazing audiobooks for children and teens.

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It’s time to update your audiobook collection, so don’t miss ALSC’s Notable Recordings and YALSA”s Amazing Audiobooks lists for 2013.

Molly Idle’s ‘Flora and the Flamingo’ Is a Wordless Wonder | Under Cover

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Artist and author Molly Idle talks about her latest book, her life, and her obsession with Prismacolor pencils.

‘Lovingly-Used’ Poetry: Naomi Shihab Nye’s Favorite Collections for Kids

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In honor of National Poetry Month, acclaimed poet Naomi Shihab Nye—whose anthology This Same Sky (Simon & Schuster, 1993) continues to be used in both college and fifth grade classrooms—offers us five of her “very favorite lovingly-used poetry collections.”

Fact and Fiction: Pairing Stories and Informational Audiobooks | Listen In

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When stories and informational audiobooks are paired together, they create a winning combination that can help students establish a foundation of knowledge about certain topics.

Great Books for Earth Day

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Celebrate Earth Day with a selection of fiction and nonfiction titles that highlight environmental issues, introduce conservationists and their important work, and demonstrate that children can take an active role in caring for our planet.

The Best Poems for Kids…and Grown-ups, Too

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In honor of National Poetry Month, children’s poet laureate J. Patrick Lewis picks his favorite collections for kids.

The Holocaust: Rescue and Resistance | Focus On

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Stories of resistance, rescue, courage, ingenuity, and survival are beacons of light amid the dark horrors of the Holocaust. These titles document the events, help to promote understanding, and inspire a new generation of readers.

On the Radar Teen: Mystery and Adventure for Teen Readers

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For readers seeking a thrill of adventure from the safety of the nearest comfortable chair, the following new books are just the ticket. From historical intrigue to high stakes suspense, eager and reluctant readers alike will be drawn into these stories.

Book Reviews from Young Adults: The Moon and More, Love in the Time of Global Warming, A Corner of White

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Teens from the Patrick F. Taylor Science and Technology Academy review new entries from YA author standbys Sarah Dessen and Frances Lia Block, and Aussie writer Jaclyn Moriarty’s quirky new novel.

Tom Cruise in Oblivion and a Round-Up of Spine-Tingling Reads for Teens | Media Mania

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This sci-fi thriller from Universal Pictures opens in theaters on April 19, 2013. Based on a yet-to-be-published graphic novel (Radical Publishing) by movie director/writer Joseph Kosinki, Oblivion (PG-13) is set 60 years after Earth is attacked by alien invaders. The entire human population has been relocated, and Jack Harper (Tom Cruise), a drone repairmen and part of a large-scale venture to extract vital resources, is one of the few remaining individuals stationed on a planet left in ruins. Update your collections with a selection of novels that prophesize an often earth-shattering (sometimes literally), tantalizingly thought-provoking, and always page-turning future for our planet and humankind.

Confrontations & Queries | Nonfiction Notes, April 2013

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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.

JLG’s On the Radar: Take Me Out to the Ball Game (But Bring a Book)

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Baseball season is on its way. The following baseball-themed selections are more than entertainment; they inspire students to hit their own home runs and to make the best of the strikes life throws their way.

Same But Different | Children Around the World

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Introduce children to the day-to-day lives of kids around the globe with a group of handsome photo essays and picture books that celebrate our differences and commonalities. These titles will encourage students to explore a tapestry of world cultures as they foster understanding and steer children toward becoming responsible and informed citizens of a global community.

Poetry: It’s in the Details

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From haiku to animal poems to riffs on classic tales, this season’s new poetry titles open readers to the world around them—and some exquisite wordplay.

Birds of a Feather | New Titles to Welcome Those Harbingers of Spring

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The arrival of migrant birds is a welcome harbinger of spring. Share these new titles with your patrons as we celebrate the homecoming of our feathered friends.

On Common Core | Nonfiction as Mentor Text

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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.

Great Books for Poetry Month: Haiku for Young Readers

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In honor of National Poetry Month, School Library Journal shares a variety of books on haiku, a distinctive form of poetry that originated in Japan centuries ago.