The world's largest reviewer of books, multimedia, and technology for children and teens
Though facts and figures often grab the interests of middle school boys, adventure, fantasy, and reality stories also weigh into their decision-making when it comes to choosing books. The following titles selected by Junior Library Guild editors will not only entertain middle grade readers, but help them see that they are not alone in trying to survive middle school.
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.
Since 1976, every U.S. president has designated February as Black History Month. From slavery to civil rights, and science to music, the following books for young readers honor the accomplishments of African Americans.
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.
Start with a missing object, ask a few questions, throw in some red herrings and what do you have? An unputdownable mystery! This fall’s releases offer openers and new entries in fun whodunit series, and standalones that will keep your patrons sleuthing for clues.
If you’re looking for official justification for the purchase of graphic novels, look no further than the Common Core State Standards. In grades 6 to 12, students will be required to apply the Reading standards to a variety of text types and formats, including graphic novels. Today’s graphic artists and writers provide a plethora of titles for beginning readers to adults. Check out these new titles that will strengthen your collection and thrill your readers.
In October eyes are usually drawn to ghosts, goblins, and things that go bump in the night, but reality can be just as scary. Wasps sting the brain of a cockroach, paralyzing it so that the predator can lay its eggs in the zombified body. Tarantulas liquefy their prey in order to suck up dinner with their stomach muscles. Crocodiles can grow 3000 teeth in their lifetime, but they can’t chew their food. Detection rats use their sense of smell to sniff out explosive land mines. Forest fire beetles can discover a conflagration more than 20 miles away. And there’s nothing more unique than the distinct about the shape of wombat poop.
Amidst all the stories filled with angst, broken hearts, and vampires, books that make you laugh-out-loud are a welcome respite. This fall offers many selections for young readers that will tickle their funny bone. Be sure to read these aloud. We could all use a good laugh from time to time.
During the last ten years, researchers have learned that elementary students are more likely to read and hear fiction in their classrooms more than informational text. However, if you ever visited an elementary school library, you’d see that far more nonfiction is circulated on average than fiction. Kids love to see the photographs and learn more about their world. Consequently, those books have the commonly known disease of the banana-peel spine. They’ve been read so much their spines are literally peeling off the book. With an increase in emphasis on informational text due to adoption of Common Core State Standards, nonfiction circulation is bound to increase. These new nonfiction releases will satisfy the standards while feeding your starved-for-information students and patrons.
Every anniversary of 9/11, we often remember heroes—past and present. Some are elected officials or military personnel. Others are everyday folks who decided to take a stand or try something different. Still, other heroes remain nameless but made an impact, nonetheless. The following books are full of heroes from the American Revolution. Perfect for reading in a history class, most of these are short, informational works with well-researched back matter that shouldn’t be missed.
As summer comes to a close, we think of things we love: walks on the beach, watermelons, and time to read whatever we want. So as you gear up for the fall, take that last walk on the beach, go to your farmer’s market and select fresh fruits and vegetables for dinner, and settle down in your cozy backyard chair with a pile of books from your favorite authors. Take a look at these new titles from some of our literature stars.
For our middle school readers, finding a favorite author can be a difficult task. They are at the age in which one day they’re still children, and the next they think they are adults. Kids are busy with activities, so this is also the time in their lives where we could lose them as readers if their choices are few. Thankfully in the last ten years, popular authors and series have increased for this group of tweens and early teens. For students in grades five to eight and those that teach them, fall releases will be a welcome sight.
For our elementary readers, finding a favorite author is like finding an old friend. They welcome a familiar writing or illustration style. Not having to learn new characters or settings lets struggling students focus on the plot. This fall’s release of new books promises to be a happy reunion for kids in grades two to six.
BISHOP, Nic. Nic Bishop Snakes. Scholastic. Oct. 2012. ISBN 9780545206389. JLG Level: SCE: Science Nonfiction Elementary (Grades 2-6)
Naturalist and Sibert-award winning photographer Nic Bishop is [...]
With the start of a new school year just around the corner, it’s nice to have someone you can trust to take the edge off the newness. The latest titles from our favorite authors for primary readers may just fit the bill. From fiction to nonfiction, these books promise to deliver exactly what you expect—a great story and the comfort of finding an old friend.
Your teens have spent the year slogging through European history, sociology, chemistry, and classic books all year. Before they completely forget what it’s like to read for fun, get a graphic novel in their hands. These titles range from strangely humorous to uncomfortably serious, and there’s a reader out there for every one of them, guaranteed.
What would we do without our best friends? All of the pairs found in these books complement one another, share likes and dislikes, and defend each other. Young readers may unknowingly absorb some good life lessons about friendship and sharing from these characters’ actions.
Help stem brain drain! For every voracious reader you have, there are three or four that won’t even want to touch a book this summer. For this group, you’ll need titles that challenge teens to pick them up, either through intriguing plot lines or evocative covers. Just be ready when they come back to library and say “I want another one just like this!”
