Reviews in this column first appeared in SLJ’s column Touch and Go. After each review, you’ll find the date it appeared online. Online, there are links to related resources, a trailer (if one exists), and a link to purchase information.
Public and Private Lives: Social Science | Series Made Simple Fall 2012
By on November 1, 2012 Leave a Comment
All of us have a private self with thoughts, ideas, and beliefs that influence our public behavior in many ways–including our religious and political affiliations, the ways we see the world, and our interactions with both those close to us and communities. One of the purposes of education is to encourage students to develop values and attitudes that will help them be happy, productive citizens. Covering everything from bullying to holidays and the future of communication, the books in [...]
Common Core and Common Sense: Editorial | Series Made Simple Fall 2012
By on November 1, 2012 Leave a Comment
Series Made Simple Fall 2012Cover and illustration by Daniel Pelavin
When I get interested in a topic, I become obsessed. I don’t really have hobbies; I have infatuations. I don’t have favorite movies or novels; I have look-but-don’t-touch collections. And when it comes to learning about a new subject, I can’t just read one book on it—I have to read everything I can get my hands on.
And that is why so much of the Common Core State Standards [...]
Now You’re Talking!: Your collection won’t be complete without these must-have new audiobooks for tweens and teens
By on November 1, 2012 4 Comments
Just how popular are audiobooks? Well, just check with your students. Along with the usual notebooks and textbooks in their backpacks, there’s bound to be tablets, ereaders, iPods, MP3 players, and, yes, audiobooks.
If the number of awards given to audiobooks—including the Audio Publishers Association’s Audie Award, the American Library Association’s (ALA) Odyssey Award, School Library Journal’s Best Audiobooks for Teens and Tweens, ALA’s Notable Audiobooks and Amazing Audiobooks, and a Grammy for the best spoken word album—is any [...]
Programs with Pizzazz | Libro por libro
By on November 1, 2012 Leave a Comment
THIS MONTH WE’LL BE TAKING A LOOK AT materials that can be used in a number of ways, but primarily in toddler and preschool storytimes: collections of rhymes, counting books, jokes and riddles, poetry, stories for infants and toddlers, and a couple of classic picture books. Planning storytimes requires a constant search for material, not just for books to share, but for bits and pieces to use between the stories. Librarians need to be armed with poems, fingerplays, songs, [...]
Middle–Grade Fantasy: Believe It! | Focus On
By on November 1, 2012 Leave a Comment
In this Article
On the Web
A visit to the children’s section of any large bookstore might leave the impression that current fantasy consists almost entirely of lengthy Harry Potter or Percy Jackson clones, entries in a trilogy or longer series. Happily, some deeper digging uncovers a wonderful variety of middle grade, stand-alone fantasy novels which exemplify some of the best qualities and possibilities of the genre. While all fiction faces the challenge of making the reader believe in [...]
A Note from LJ/SLJ to Those Affected by Hurricane Sandy
By on November 1, 2012 Leave a Comment
A message from the entire team at Library Journal and School Library Journal and an update on our situation in New York City.
Sandy & Libraries: Photos of Libraries in the Storm’s Aftermath
By on October 31, 2012 1 Comment
Sandy blasted through the East Coast from October 28-29 leaving its record-breaking mark. Despite major damage, libraries have risen to the challenge of serving their communities, offering internet access, electrical power, and even storytime.
Penguin, Random House Merger Is On
By on October 29, 2012
Just days after word broke that a Penguin/Random House merger was a possibly, it’s nearly a done deal. The companies announced they’re creating a joint venture, pending regulatory approval.
SLJ Summit 2012: Scenes from the Conference
By on October 27, 2012 Leave a Comment
Image capture from day one of SLJ’s annual leadership summit held in Philadelphia, October 26-27. Highlights include an “unkeynote” by Pam Moran and Ira Socol.
Jane Addams Children’s Book Awards Honor Interned Japanese Americans
By on October 24, 2012 Leave a Comment
Two books with historical ties to the Japanese American internment during World War II won the 59th Jane Addams Children’s Book Award, recognizing books promoting peace, social justice, world community, and equality of the sexes and races. The winners gathered at the Jane Addams Peace Association’s headquarters in New York City for the October 19 ceremony.
News Bites: Win Big with Verizon’s App Challenge
By on October 24, 2012 Leave a Comment
Verizon’s App Challenge is designed to increase student interest in STEM while offering a project-based experience that develops teamwork among students. Groups of 5-10 students are encouraged to develop an app that addresses a need or problem in their school or community.
Sargent’s Intergalactic Classic ‘Earthseed’ Optioned for Screen, Spurring Reprints
By on October 23, 2012 Leave a Comment
Move over, vampires, and make way for genetically engineered teens. Earthseed, the first novel in Pamela Sargent’s classic sci-fi YA “Seed” trilogy, has been optioned for the screen by Melissa Rosenberg, who also brought the “Twilight” trilogy to Hollywood.
News Bites: Involve Your Students in the Election Process with ePals World Election Center
By on October 16, 2012 Leave a Comment
Get your students interested in the electoral process in the United States and globally with ePals World Election Center. The site includes projects and activities to reinforce K–12 students’ critical thinking skills and cultural awareness by having them learn about candidates, government, and more. Kids have the opportunity to voice their opinions about issues affecting them at home and learn about the elections abroad.
DC Parents Demand School Librarians Be Restored
By on October 15, 2012 1 Comment
Parents in Washington, DC, are taking to the streets, advocating for more funding for their school libraries and librarians. The Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization (CHPSPO) has spent the past seven months pushing for Washington, DC, to open its coffers to school libraries to replenish shelves, upgrade library spaces and hire more librarians for K–12 students.
We’re Hiring a News Editor
By on October 14, 2012 Leave a Comment
School Library Journal is looking for a reporter/editor to write, assign, and edit news for our website, e-newsletters and award-winning magazine. If you have serious journalist chops, with an interest in covering libraries, education, and publishing, we’d be interested in hearing from you.
News Bites: Get Your Students Involved in the Presidential Election with OneVote 2012
By on October 10, 2012 1 Comment
OneVote 2012 is a student mock election held before the national presidential election. Launched by Channel One News, the program gives young people the opportunity to learn about the electoral process and the issues via interactive content as well as the chance to cast their vote for the next president of the United States from October 22–26. Prior to the election, Channel One News will offer news and other special segments to help teens make an informed decisions.
News Bites: Support Common Core with a New Nonfiction Program from Scholastic
By on October 3, 2012 1 Comment
XBOOKS is a nonfiction language arts program from Scholastic for middle school students that offers informational texts in both print and digital formats that cover science and social studies topics. XBOOKS is an interactive program that features print and online components to build student proficiency in reading, writing, and thinking critically about informational texts. The program, developed and written by master teachers Dr. Jeffrey Wilhelm and Laura Robb, aligns with Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.
Crazy About Comics? Visit Kids’ Comics Revolution!
By on October 3, 2012 Leave a Comment
Cartoonists Dave Roman and Jerzy Drozd always seem to have something fun going on at Kids’ Comics Revolution! blog—which features podcasts, tips on creating sound balloons, and visual storytelling. Now is an especially good time to drop in for a visit. Drozd has just launched an online book club that’s devoted to Ben Hatke’s Zita the Spacegirl (First Second, 2011), the tale of a young explorer whose best friend has been abducted by a space alien.
Lubuto Library Project Wins Major Grant
By on October 2, 2012 Leave a Comment
Remember reading about the Lubuto Library Project in SLJTeen’s July 11 issue? Now congratulations are in order— the project is among 32 winners of an All Children Reading: A Grand Challenge for Development grant, a joint initiative of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), World Vision, and the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID).
