Inquiry and nonfiction are closely related and books that explore the work of scientists can be ideal mentor texts as students develop skills that are essential for learning.
‘The Prom Book’ Giveaway: Help When You Need It
By on March 3, 2013 Leave a Comment
For many teens, prom night is the biggest night of their high school lives. There are so many things to think about—what to wear, who to ask, and how it’s all going to fit on a budget. Some things (like who’ll make their entrance in a pink Hummer limo or who’ll be elected prom queen andThe Prom Book king) can’t be planned for, but for everything else, there’s The Prom Book: The Only Guide You’ll Ever Need (Zest Books, distributed by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $16.99 paperback; 9781936976287).
JLG’s On the Radar: Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails?
By on February 26, 2013 Leave a Comment
For those seeking informational books for reluctant independent readers (boys or girls), the editors at Junior Library Guild have a variety of picks, from sports and pirates, to body parts and dangerous creatures.
Pick of the Day: Etched in Clay: The Life of Dave, Enslaved Potter and Poet
By on February 20, 2013 Leave a Comment
A powerful and uplifting biography of a 19th-century slave who was also a talented artist.
SLJ Talks to Author Andrea Cheng: Her latest book, ‘Etched in Clay,’ charts the courageous life of Dave the potter | Under Cover
By on February 13, 2013 2 Comments
Author Andrea Cheng’s latest book, ‘Etched in Clay,’ charts the courageous life of Dave the potter, a 19th-century slave who became an accomplished artist.
Old-time Gals with Gumption | The Picture Books of Shana Corey
By on February 5, 2013 Leave a Comment
Shana Corey’s picture-book biographies feature little-known women with buckets of gumption.
On Common Core | Talking about Nonfiction
By on February 4, 2013 Leave a Comment
“Talking takes time” note the authors, but allowing students time for conversations about the texts they are reading is essential.
On the Radar: Top Picks from the Editors at Junior Library Guild: New Releases for Your Nonfiction Shelves
By on January 28, 2013 1 Comment
Good nonfiction titles rise to the top as librarians focus their content needs to meet the Common Core State Standards. New releases by our favorite authors and illustrators include an environmental bilingual poem, a picture-book biography, a fact-filled science title, and a narrative account of a bird’s 7,200 mile migration.
Pick of the Day: The Price of Freedom
By on January 28, 2013 1 Comment
FRADIN, Judith Bloom & Dennis Brindell Fradin. The Price of Freedom: How One Town Stood Up to Slavery. illus. by Eric Velasquez. 48p. bibliog. further reading. photos. websites. Walker. Jan. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8027-2166-2; PLB $17.89. ISBN 978-0-8027-2167-9. LC 2012015781.
Gr 3-6–In 1856, John Price escaped from slavery in Kentucky by crossing the frozen Ohio River. Two years later, slave hunters arrived in Oberlin, Ohio, and attempted to take him back at gunpoint. Shopkeepers, farmers, teachers, and college students formed [...]
Pick of the Day: Emancipation Proclamation: Lincoln and the Dawn of Liberty
By on January 23, 2013 Leave a Comment
BOLDEN, Tonya. Emancipation Proclamation: Lincoln and the Dawn of Liberty. 120p. bibliog. chron. glossary. illus. index. notes. photos. reprods. Abrams. Jan. 2013. RTE $24.95. ISBN 978-1-4197-0390-4. LC 2012000845.
Gr 5-9–After a dramatic opening description of abolitionists waiting for word that the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed, this title reviews the events that led up to the Civil War, examines Lincoln’s reasons for writing it, and details the role of abolitionists. Bolden makes excellent use of primary sources; the pages are filled [...]
A Virtual Tour of the Giza Plateau | Touch and Go
By on January 17, 2013 Leave a Comment
A new app takes viewers on a virtual tour deep inside the tombs and pyramids of Egypt’s Giza Plateau.
Pick of the Day: Courage Has No Color: The True Story of the Triple Nickles: America’s First Black Paratroopers
By on January 14, 2013 Leave a Comment
STONE, Tanya Lee. Courage Has No Color: The True Story of the Triple Nickles: America’s First Black Paratroopers. 160p. appendix. bibliog. chron. notes. photos. reprods. Candlewick. Jan. 2013. Tr $24.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5117-6; ebook $24.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6405-3.
Gr 5 Up–A moving, thoughtful history of the United States military’s first black paratrooper unit. During World War II, African American soldiers were mostly relegated to service and security jobs, generally denied the same training and active-combat positions that were available to their white counterparts. [...]
‘Can*TEEN’ Engages Girls with STEM
By on January 10, 2013 1 Comment
AASL (American Association of School Librarians) has announced a partnership with the Carnegie Science Center: Girls Math & Science Partnership (GMSP) to support and inspire girls to see themselves in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers via gaming and online activities through the Can*Teen Career Exploration initiative.
Deconstructing Nonfiction | On Common Core
By on January 8, 2013 6 Comments
If students are not familiar with nonfiction texts, they may assume that every nonfiction book serves the same function.
Amazing But True | Nonfiction for Reluctant Readers
By on December 4, 2012 Leave a Comment
Beyond those tried-and-true series entries there are many stand-alone titles with engaging texts and high-quality art to lure reluctant readers into informational texts.
Clustering and the Common Core
By on December 2, 2012 1 Comment
Achieving the level of complex thinking in the classroom required by the Common Core standards can feel overwhelming, particularly when students will be reading, writing, listening, speaking, and viewing in this capacity throughout the day.
Pick of the Day: Colorful Dreamer
By on November 26, 2012 Leave a Comment
PARKER, Marjorie Blain. Colorful Dreamer: The Story of Artist Henri Matisse. illus. by Holly Berry. 32p. further reading. CIP. Dial. Nov. 2012. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8037-3758-7. LC 2011035446.
Gr 2-5–This picture-book biography covers Matisse’s entire life but focuses on his career aspirations and achievements. The straightforward text takes a lighthearted approach by including details such as young Henri’s dream of becoming a magician and his skill with a peashooter. Berry’s illustrations are the star of the show; dignified black-and-white drawings [...]
Pick of the Day: Flesh & Blood So Cheap: The Triangle Fire and Its Legacy (CD)
By on November 15, 2012 Leave a Comment
Flesh & Blood So Cheap: The Triangle Fire and Its Legacy. By Albert Marrin. 4 CDs. 4:21 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2012. ISBN 978-0-449-01476-9. $30.
Gr 5 Up–Albert Marrin takes the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 1911 and uses it as a jumping-off point to discuss immigration and working conditions in the early 20th century in his powerful National Book Award nominee (Knopf, 2011). The fire, which was the most devastating disaster in New [...]
Forensic Scientists at Work | Noteworthy Nonfiction (For Older Readers)
By on November 5, 2012 Leave a Comment
New titles point to the tantalizing clues left by ancient remains, and the painstaking work of geologists, archeologists, and physical and cultural anthropologists, as they search for and consider evidence, draw conclusions, and re-examine theories in light of new information and technologies.
Interview: Gary Golio Talks About ‘Spirit Seeker’
By on October 28, 2012 2 Comments
Gary Golio speaks to SLJ about his latest picture book, Spirit Seeker: John Coltrane’s Musical Journey (Clarion, 2012), which deals with the tumultuous life of the legendary jazz musician.
