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.
Mo Willems Exhibit; Kidlit Book Awards; Gaming in the Classroom | News Bites
By on May 9, 2013 1 Comment
Celebrate 10 years of Mo Willems’s Pigeon with a visit to the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, MA, which will be hosting an exhibit on the award-winning author/illustrator. Winners for the Jane Addams, Golden Kite, and IRA awards have been announced. Attend a one-day workshop focused on integrating games into the K–12 classroom. These stories and more, in this week’s News Bites.
Page to Screen: Summer Reading Blockbusters, Dystopian Teen Lit, and Childhood Classics
By on May 8, 2013 Leave a Comment
As reviews for Baz Lurhmann’s whirlwind adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby come roaring in, take a look at the latest installment of SLJ’s Page to Screen, where you’ll find updates on already much-touted future movies, and news of recent options on film rights. This roundup of releases will have your students and patrons heading to the theater—and, hopefully, to bookshelves as well.
RE: Reading | Consider the Source
By on May 2, 2013 2 Comments
The close reading of fiction and literary works is a standard requirement in our schools. Can we say the same of nonfiction?
Free Math Kits; National Geographic and CCSS; S.E. Hinton Ebooks | New Bites
By on May 1, 2013 Leave a Comment
In this week’s News Bites: As an incentive to get children in the library during the summer, Bedtime Math is offering two free math-focused program kits. National Geographic Kids content is being added to Cengage Learning’s National Geographic Virtual Library product line. Four S. E. Hinton novels are now available in ebook format for the first time. Capstone partners with Save the Children.
Wit and Delight: Jack Prelutsky’s Favorite Poetry Collections
By on April 29, 2013 Leave a Comment
In the fifth and final installment of our series celebrating National Poetry Month, Jack Prelutsky, America’s first children’s poet laureate, offers us five of his top poetry collections for kids.
Jackie Robinson: Remembering an American Hero | Watch and Read
By on April 29, 2013 Leave a Comment
Jackie Robinson’s story is a captivating, inspiring, and important one, and young moviegoers who have seen the new biopic 42 will want to know more about his groundbreaking accomplishments as well as his life and times. Here are some great books to recommend.
Texas Two-Step, or Conference Hopping in the Lone Star State | IRA, TLA 2013
By on April 29, 2013 Leave a Comment
From San Antonio to Fort Worth, literacy educators and librarians converged on Texas last week to celebrate books and reading.
JLG’s On the Radar: Intermediate Fiction for Independent Readers
By on April 29, 2013 1 Comment
Junior Library Guild editors offer a variety of stories for independent readers: a classic orphan story, a fantasy about nightmares, a Hollywood drama, a laugh-out-loud detective tale, and a mystery surrounding a missing camera. Also perfect for reading aloud, the following fiction titles will keep readers engaged with the characters, old and new.
Things That Vroom | Touch and Go
By on April 25, 2013 1 Comment
From dump trucks to fire trucks, young children can’t seem to get their fill of vehicles that have jobs to perform. In this week’s column, we present apps from a variety of developers, featuring vibrant illustrations, song, videos, and loads of interactivity that will keep kids engaged for hours.
Free MOOC on Digital Tools; YALSA, ABA Name Top Books | News Bites
By on April 24, 2013 Leave a Comment
American College of Education is hosting a free massive online open course (MOOC) on digital tools for the K–12 classroom from May 6 to June 9, 2013 for educators and other professionals who want to integrate web-based tools like Animoto, Glogster, Prezi in the classroom. YALSA announced the 2013 Teens’ Top Ten nominees, and American Booksellers Association has selected the 2013 Indies Choice and E. B. White Read-Aloud Award winners.
Building Bridges: Up Close with Librarian Assistant Rebecca Zarazan Dunn
By on April 18, 2013 2 Comments
“If you can bring the community into the library, those children will ultimately flourish. And if a library can go outside of its walls, you’re only expanding the area in which young people can be affected,” says Rebecca Zarazan Dunn, 2013 Mover and Shaker, lifelong bookworm, blogger, advocate, youth services librarian assistant for the Lawrence Public Library (KS), and soon-to-be MLIS candidate. In this interview, Dunn shares her top kids’ book picks of all time, her inspirations and passions, and why it’s critical for public librarians to collaborate with school librarians and teachers.
Apps for Earth Day | Touch and Go
By on April 18, 2013 1 Comment
If your resolve to reduce your use of plastic ever wavers, even slightly, consider the Eastern Garbage Patch, an area of the Pacific Ocean where currents converge to create a floating landfill the size of Alaska. We’re ‘Tracking Trash’—and more—in our column devoted to Earth Day.
We Are Not Alone: National Curricular Reform Around the Globe | Consider the Source
By on April 18, 2013 Leave a Comment
In adopting the Common Core State Standards, U. S. educators are part of a larger educational reform movement. From England to Japan countries around the world are debating a national curricula. Why are so many nations considering one? And where does the impetus to do so come from? Marc Aronson ponders these questions in his latest Consider the Source column.
Hans Christian Andersen Award Nominees Announced | News Bites
By on April 17, 2013 Leave a Comment
The Hans Christian Andersen Award shortlist has been revealed; the Christopher Awards names six winners in the Books for Young People category; and Shmoop, a publisher of digital curriculum and test prep, is offering a new SAT math practice tool—Math Shack. All of this and more in this week’s News Bites column.
Computers in Libraries Conference Supports Student Learning
By on April 16, 2013
This year’s Computers in Libraries conference included sessions particularly useful to school librarians, with topics ranging from ebook creation to the flipped classroom.
JLG’s On the Radar: Poetry Picks for Elementary Readers
By on April 15, 2013 1 Comment
Whether it’s a class assignment or a novel in verse, poetry expresses our deepest desires and fondest memories. It’s National Poetry Month, and the editors at the Junior Library Guild have selected the following new titles to motivate students to voice their own poetic thoughts.
An Endearing Creature, A Forbidding Environ | Touch and Go
By on April 11, 2013 Leave a Comment
Spring may have finally arrived, but penguins are never out of season with kids. The latest entry in Nosy Crow’s “Rounds” series offers a blend of fact and fiction on the life cycle of these aquatic creatures, while ‘Antarctica’ by Kids Discover delivers photos and text on one of the places these birds can be found.
Apply for the Gale/LMC TEAMS Award for Teacher/Librarian Collaboration | News Bites
By on April 10, 2013 Leave a Comment
Media specialists, teachers, and principals in public and private K–12 schools are invited to submit their collaboration success stories for an opportunity to win the 2013 Gale/LMC TEAMS Award which recognizes the critical collaboration of teachers and librarians to “promote learning and achievement.”
