August 31th, 2010

Book Review

• Mockingjay
  Because SLJ couldn't get a copy of Mockingjay until its release date last week, we asked one of our reviewers for a quick turnaround so that we could get the review to you as soon as possible. SLJ thanks Jane Baird for her rapid and thoughtful response.
  
  Trev Jones, Book Review Editor, SLJ    more » » » 

INTERVIEW

• Flipped for Wendelin Van Draanen
  Wendelin Van Draanen's Flipped (Knopf, 2001), a coming-of-age he-said she-said romance, has been adapted to the big screen by director Rob Reiner and opened to wide release on August 27. The week before, Van Draanen—author of the popular "Sammy Keyes" (Random) series—had her very own red carpet screening for friends, family, and about 200 local kids in her hometown of San Luis Obispo, CA. Even a few of the movie's lead actors showed up for the event, which helped raise money for local schools and libraries.
  
  SLJ spoke to the author about her involvement in the movie and what effect it's had on her writing.
  
  When Flipped came out in 2001, it made our Best Books List. Our reviewers thought it was fresh and funny, and called it "another winner." How did it end up becoming a movie?
  
  The moral of this story is, never underestimate the power of state awards! Flipped was assigned reading in Rob Reiner's son's school because it was a California Young Reader Medal winner. From what I understand, Rob and his son were on a flight to Hawaii and wound up reading it together. Rob fell in love with the book and fought through lots of tangled red tape to get it made into a movie. I don't know if he would have gone through everything he did if he'd just been "pitched" the story. I'm really lucky that he read the book and wanted to stay true to it.    more » » » 

NEWS

• Districts Set Guidelines for Teacher-Student Interaction on Facebook
  Bragging about a weekend with pals is perfect for Facebook—unless those friends include students and their parents.
  
  "There are so many other ways to be interacting with kids," says Joe Donzelli, public information officer for Lee County Public Schools in Florida. "We don't think on that level friending students on Facebook is appropriate and professional."
  
  New guidelines from school districts, teachers unions, and principals are flying into email boxes and in written memos this fall to let educators know that connections between teachers and students over social media may not be a good idea.    more » » » 
• Get Teens Hooked With Summer Reading Blogs
  Give kids a summer reading assignment, and you'll hear them whine. But let them blog about it and the task can turn to delight. "They can read anything they want," says Jenn Hosking, a teen services librarian for the Nashua Public Library in New Hampshire, which each summer hands its blog over to Teen Reads, a program that gives young adults the opportunity to have their opinions posted online. "I know the teen advisory group likes the ability to publish their reviews." This summer one teen wrote—and published—24 reviews, a nice chunk of the 283 reviews posted to the site since school let out this spring, says Hosking. While teens can turn each review in for a chance to win movie passes and gift certificates, more importantly, online reviews are a platform where they can share their thoughts with peers on books, including Katherine Patterson's Bread and Roses, Too (Clarion, 2006) and Nicholas Sparks' The Last Song (Grand Central Publishing, 2009), both of which appear on Nashua's site.   more » » » 

Watch and Read

• Sid the Science Kid
  Starring an inquisitive youngster who never runs short on questions, corny jokes, or zeal for learning, this PBS Kids series promotes enthusiasm for science among preschoolers.
  
  The animated show, which debuted in 2008 and is still airing new episodes, is co-produced by the Jim Henson Company and features a cast of appealingly colorful muppetesque characters. Playing off of children's natural curiosity about the workings of their own bodies and the world around them, the series blends music, humor, and true-to-life experiences to encourage exploration, discovery, and familiarity with scientific principles. Each half-hour episode begins with Sid posing a new question ("Why do bananas get mushy?") and then embarking on a busy and fun-filled day of seeking answers by interacting with his family and friends, discussing ideas with his teacher, and engaging in activities in his classroom's Super Fab Lab.    more » » » 

REMARKABLE READS

• Behind the Scenes: Movies and Television
  Many teens think about careers in movies or television, but not everyone can be the next Robert Pattinson or Selena Gomez. There are lots of interesting jobs on the other side of the camera that can be just as rewarding, and some may not even require a college degree. From the creative (set design) to technical (audio engineer), these titles outline the many opportunities for work in the film and movie industry.
  
  APEL, Melanie Ann. Cool Careers Without College for Film and Television Buffs. ISBN 978-1-4042-1429-3 (Cool Careers Without College) Rosen. 2008. Tr. $33.25.
  
  Gr 4-9-This title leaves no Hollywood or Broadway stone unturned. From talent agent to puppeteer, a huge range of careers in the film and TV businesses is covered. Each chapter outlines an occupation, including a full description of the work done, professional associations, related websites, and other resources. My favorite? The Foley Artist—the person who creates sound effects, like sneakers squeaking across a gym floor and raindrops hitting the roof. Includes brief glossary and index.    more » » » 

LIBRARIAN'S INTERNET

• Labor Day: A Great Time to Explore Careers
  www.bls.gov/k12/index.htm
  
  For most kids, Labor Day is the end-of-summer holiday that happens right before school starts. This year, why not make Labor Day the holiday that focuses on the different career/job choices facing kids today?
  
  "What Do You Like?" was created by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (the folks who also create the Occupational Outlook Handbook). It's designed to help kids in grades 4-8, as well as teens, find out about different careers that match what they already like to do.
  
  One of the best things about this site is that the information related to each career comes from the 2010-2011 edition of the Handbook. This means that the information is authoritative and up-to-date.    more » » » 

JOB OF THE WEEK