The author argues that nonfiction remains marginal–so marginal that neither ALSC nor YALSA seems to notice their bias. The question is, why?
JLG’s On the Radar: Summer Reading for Middle School Students
By on June 24, 2013 Leave a Comment
From solving the mystery of a sister’s untimely death to stepping into the shoes of a female journalist from the Roaring Twenties, young teens will want to dive into these new fiction titles selected by Junior Library Guild editors.
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.
Syria, Spain, and the Eternal Present | Consider the Source
By on June 13, 2013 1 Comment
A teen asks, “Why should we care about history, anyway? It’s over.” Marc Aronson replies.
JLG’s On the Radar: New Nonfiction for Elementary Students
By on June 10, 2013 Leave a Comment
From toads to bats and the Beatles to doctors, Junior Library Guild editors select new informational picture books for young readers that complement Common Core State Standards and do more than just fill a hole in the lesson plan.
Help Rebuild Oklahoma Libraries; Lammys, Ezra Jack Keats Minigrants Presented | News Bites
By on June 6, 2013 1 Comment
Capstone Publishing has created different ways that the library community can help the children and school libraries affected by the recent tornado in Moore, OK. The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation’s Minigrant Program has awarded 59 grants to teachers and librarians in 29 states. The World Almanac for Kids Online has been relaunched by Infobase Learning to include a new streamlined interface and new content. Benjamin Alire Sáenz won a Lambda Award for his acclaimed Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe in the LGBT Children’s/Young Adult category.
Int’l Latino Book Awards Recognize Top Children’s Titles
By on June 5, 2013 Leave a Comment
Nearly 200 authors were recognized on May 30, 2013, at the 15th International Latino Book Awards ceremony, which was held at the Instituto Cervantes in New York City during BookExpo America. The largest awards in the US celebrating achievements in Latino literature, the event is presented by Latino Literacy Now in partnership with Las Comadres para las Americas and the Instituto Cervantes. See which titles were honored in the Children, Youth, and Young Adult categories.
Masters of Real-World Horror | SLJ Day of Dialog 2013
By on June 5, 2013 Leave a Comment
A panel of YA authors shared with nearly 250 children’s librarians what inspired them to write about “tough stuff” at SLJ’s annual pre-BEA Day of Dialog event. Moderated by Karyn Silverman—SLJ blogger and librarian and educational technology department chair of the Little Red School House & Elisabeth Irwin High School—the panel’s discussion flowed from dark to light, touching on topics such as school shootings and Nazi Germany.
JLG’s On the Radar: Biographies for Upper Elementary Students
By on June 3, 2013 Leave a Comment
Junior Library Guild editors select illustrated picture book biographies on remarkable Americans that are perfect for inspiring children in Grades 2 to 6. These include a new take on Albert Einstein and a brief look at how libraries became more accessible to young readers.
McCall Smith, Green Win Audie Awards
By on June 3, 2013 Leave a Comment
The winners of the Audie Awards, the audiobook industry’s equivalent of the Oscars, were announced at the 18th Annual Audies Gala held at The New York Historical Society in New York City on May 30, 2013 and hosted by Daniel Handler (author of “A Series of Unfortunate Events” series written under the name Lemony Snicket). The awards, sponsored by the Audio Publishers Association (APA), recognize distinction in audiobooks and spoken word entertainment.
An Intergalactic, Time-Traveling Duo Offer History and Geography Lessons | Touch and Go
By on May 30, 2013 Leave a Comment
Featuring a time-traveling duo, Cognitive Kids’ “Ansel & Clair ” apps have garnered an impressive list of awards for their winning combination of information and game play.
The Road Ahead: Common Core Insights | Consider the Source
By on May 29, 2013 2 Comments
What lies ahead for teachers and librarians just embarking on the Common Core journey? Marc Aronson shares his thoughts and insights.
JLG’s On the Radar: New Fiction for Independent Readers
By on May 27, 2013 Leave a Comment
Junior Library Guild editors select new titles for independent readers that feature characters with some of the same problems that children deal with everyday: bullying, not-so-fun summer camp experiences, and the arrival of a new sibling. Reading about how these protagonists figure out their solutions just might help youngsters approach their own issues. And, these chapter books will remind them that they’re not alone.
Picture Book About Islam Ignites Twitter Battle
By on May 23, 2013 5 Comments
Children’s book author and former teacher Kate Messner has always had a passion for sharing books with kids, so when she recommended Hena Khan’s Golden Domes and Silver Lanternsto her Twitter followers for its portrayal of Islam, she did not expect the backlash she received. A few days after the original message, someone who does not follow her on Twitter replied with the below, continuing an intense multiday exchange with her about what he believes to be “the real Islam.”
Art and Artifice: Museum Adventures on the iPad | Touch and Go
By on May 23, 2013 Leave a Comment
A museum visit can be a great learning experience for students, but when the exhibit you want to take your students to see is halfway around the world, what’s a teacher to do?
Agatha Awards Announced; ABDO Revamps ‘Star Trek’, ‘Jurassic Park’ Library Editions | News Bites
By on May 22, 2013 Leave a Comment
Penny Warner’s The Code Busters 2: The Haunted Lighthouse won the 2012 Agatha Award. Capstone is adding 60 more Presidential titles to the K–3 PebbleGo Biographies module in August 2013. ABDO’s will publish library editions of IDW’s “Jurassic Park” and “Star Trek” graphic novels this fall.
JLG’s On the Radar: Fantasy for Middle School Readers
By on May 21, 2013 Leave a Comment
In the last 12 years, the fantasy genre has dominated the middle grade market. Thanks to “Harry Potter”, children worry less about the number of pages, and authors have been happy to comply with longer imaginative offerings. These lengthy tomes are fast-paced reads, full of magical creatures, daring adventures, and loyal characters that fight for the good of all. In the following titles selected by JLG editors, themes of family and friendship are woven into sets of enchanted lands, and fans can escape to a place where their own problems seem far away.
Navajo Nation’s Poet Laureate; No-Sugar Challenge; South Asia Book Awards | News Bites
By on May 15, 2013 Leave a Comment
Luci Tapahonso has been appointed the Navajo Nation’s first Poet Laureate. Arte Público Press launches a A Day without Sugar initiative to combat child obesity. The winners of the South Asia Book Awards and the Marion Vannett Ridgway Award were announced.
Constellations | Consider the Source
By on May 14, 2013 1 Comment
The focus on the close reading of texts suggests a new idea to SLJ’s columnist—an idea that taps librarians’ expertise and offers an exciting approach to inquiry.
JLG’s On the Radar: New Beginning Chapter Books
By on May 14, 2013 Leave a Comment
Junior Library Guild editors present a selection of some of the latest chapter books that can encourage beginning readers to take steps toward reading longer texts. From new titles by favorite authors like Kevin Henkes to the next installment of the popular “Bink & Gollie” series, these picks will delight youngsters not quite ready for full-length novels.
