The lauded young adult novel—a story about Junior, a Spokane Indian who transfers from his school on the reservation to a rich, white school—received a starred review from School Library Journal, and is recommended for a grade 7–10 audience. In the original review, Chris Shoemaker says, “The teen’s determination to both improve himself and overcome poverty, despite the handicaps of birth, circumstances, and race, delivers a positive message.”

Nevertheless, Queens parent Kelly-Ann McMullan-Preiss stepped forward last week with the support of about eight other parents to request that an alternative assignment be given to their children. McMullan-Preiss cited the repeated discussion of “masturbation” as the main reason for her complaint, according to the Daily News.

Attempts by SLJ to reach administrators and school library staff for comment were unsuccessful,  however the original story has since made the rounds on several news outlets and through social media, and on Twitter, the author has responded personally. Alexie, after a banning of his book unrelated to the Queens controversy, also said recently in an interview on the National Coalition Against Censorship blog that, “I have no objection to a parent not wanting their kid to read my book. But when they try to control a school’s curriculum, that’s when the fight is on. So the second they try to make it a policy, no, I can’t think of when it’s acceptable because whatever the text, you can teach and learn from it.”

Alexie’s publisher echoes those sentiments. Megan Tingley, executive vice president and publisher of Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, tells SLJ that, her company is “proud” to be the publisher of the book, and that the company is “opposed to censorship of any kind.”

She adds, “We are dismayed about the recent decision of a middle school in Queens, NY, to remove the critically acclaimed book from its required reading list.” The book, she says, “is a story about hope and resilience. We applaud Sherman Alexie’s triumphant work of contemporary fiction, which shares a Native American experience that is both poignant and uplifting and has enlightened and engaged countless readers.”

The NCAC has also come out in support of Alexie. Its Kids Right to Read project coordinator Acacia O’Connor notes that, “Studies have shown that students who have some semblance of choice, read more. Alexie’s book is often selected for reluctant readers because it’s so popular and kids really feel that the characters and their experiences speak to them.”

She also says, “The message of this book is entirely positive and uplifting. I’m sure it was selected because highlights a teen character that has confronted adversity. If the parents have some objection to reading a specific title, we always encourage that an alternative is offered instead. If the book was selected by the teachers or school media specialist, it was for a reason.” The NCAC plans to honor Alexie in November 2013 for his work on free speech.

How to counter the “summer slide”? Simple, kids during the out-of-school months should read more books, according to Annie Murphy Paul. And libraries play a critical role, as the journalist and author documents in a recent post, republished below.

Murphy Paul, who writes a weekly column for Time.com and has written several books, including The Cult of Personality (S&S, 2005) and the upcoming Brilliant: The New Science of Smart (Crown, 2014), specializes in how people learn.

This fall, she will deliver the keynote address at SLJ’s Leadership Summit held this year in Austin, TX, September 28-29.

Other articles of interest by Annie Murphy Paul:

Save The Readers! A Defense of “Deep Reading”

The Epidemic of Media Multitasking While Learning

Rules For Thinking In A Digital World

How To Stimulate Curiosity

To learn more about the summit and to register, visit the event page or email sljevents@mediasourceinc.com.

Photo by John Morgan.

CROWDER, Melanie. Parched. Houghton Harcourt. 2013. ISBN 9780547976518. JLG Level: C : Advanced Readers (Grades 6–9).

Sarel is a girl who learned from her mother the secrets of plants―which can heal, nourish, or hold water. Nandi is the dog that saves Sarel from being seen when her family is murdered for the location of their secret well. She can also sense that the boy who has the power to save them all is near. Musa can sense the flow of underground water sources. His gift causes him to be kidnapped by a gang and forced to search for water after being beaten, starved, and handcuffed. These three survivors must find a way to locate water in a brutal desert before they run out of time. In her debut novel, Crowder tells the powerful story of the courage of two kids who use what they do well to work together and survive in a harsh world.

LARSON, Kirby. Hattie Ever After. Delacorte. 2013. ISBN 9780385906685. JLG Level: C : Advanced Readers (Grades 6–9).

After Hattie pays off her IOU for Uncle Chester’s debt, she finds herself wondering if life in Montana and marriage to Charlie is what she really wants. When a traveling theatre troupe offers her a job which will take her to San Francisco, she jumps at the chance. This could be her opportunity to make a real career choice―journalism! The problem is that in 1919, women clean offices; they don’t work in them. Hattie must use her courage and desire to write to conquer stereotypes and win a spot on the front page. The sequel to Hattie Big Sky (Delacorte, 2006) allows Hattie to take her dabbling with a hometown newspaper column to a professional level in the fast and furious big-city life at the cusp of the Roaring Twenties.

MELOY, Maile. The Apprentices. Putnam. 2013. ISBN 9780399162459. JLG Level: C : Advanced Readers (Grades 6–9).

Math and science have always been easy for Janie. When she is falsely accused of cheating on a math test, the young researcher is expelled. Without access to her experiment, Janie won’t be able to finish extracting salt from her saline solution. She hoped to find a way to produce drinkable water from the ocean. Unfortunately, her equipment is stolen. In the meantime, her friends are scattered around the world. Benjamin and his father are in the jungle, trying to survive a war. Pip is on hiatus from making his television show. Jin Lo has returned to her childhood home to face the ghosts of her murdered family. As these teens struggle with their own problems, they unite for the common cause, as apprentices to the great Apothecary. Meloy’s sequel to The Apothecary (Putnam, 2001) smoothly takes four storylines and blends them into one high-powered race to save the team and fight their enemies.

PATTERSON, Valerie O. Operation Oleander. Clarion. 2013. ISBN 9780547244372. JLG Level: C : Advanced Readers (Grades 6–9).

Jess is not an orphan, but as the child of a soldier, her sense of duty and responsibility draws her to create a way to support her father and the orphans in Afghanistan. Though her friends Meriwether and Sam help with Operation Oleander, not every person feels that the Army should be involved in war in Kabul. When a bomb targets the jeep that is taking their supplies to the orphanage, Jess’s dad is severely wounded. Meriwether’s mother is killed. After an investigation ensues, Jess worries that it’s their fault. Sam’s dad is the Commander in Chief of the base; he must decide the future of their project. Conflict strains relationships to unbearable limits. Patterson’s heartfelt novel explores how even good intentions can have unexpected consequences.

TIMBERLAKE, Amy. One Came Home. Knopf. 2013. ISBN 9780375969256. JLG Level:  C : Advanced Readers (Grades 6–9).

Georgie refuses to believe that her sister is dead. Anyone could have taken that dress. Full of courage and anger, the thirteen-year-old girl talks her neighbor Billy into providing her with a horse to find Agatha. She never expects him to trick her into riding on a mule and taking him with her. Together they follow clues that lead them to believe that Georgie’s gut feeling was not unfounded. Unfortunately they stumble into a dangerous ring of counterfeiters in the process. Can they solve Agatha’s mystery without causing another death? With turns of the tale at every bend in the road, Timberlake weaves secrets into a plot that makes you laugh and breaks your heart.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

From the experts

Need a reminder about why Summer Reading Programs are an essential part of the public library’s mission? Carole Fiore and Susan Roman’s extensive study proves that they boost student achievement.

The significant decline in reading skills many students experience over the summer is no secret, but it’s particularly damaging for children in low-income neighborhoods. Curriculum Connections columnist Alicia Eames reviews Richard L. Allington and Anne McGill-Franzen’s The Summer Slide and the Rich/Poor Achievement Gap. In an interview with coauthor Richard L. Allington, Eames delves deeper into this important issue.

A new twist on summer reading

Some kids may not want to run at the sight of a book cover, and audiobooks just might be the thing to keep them interested. Listen In authors Sharon Grover and Lizette Hannegan have just the thing to beat the summer wipeout. For film buffs, librarians can easily pair audiobooks and films to spark discussion and writing.

For more, visit our Summer Reading resources page.

Picture Books

Dozens of Cousins. By Shutta Crum. illus. by David Catrow. Clarion. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-618-15874-4.

PreS-Gr 3–It’s family reunion time, and unruly cousins race willy-nilly through the yard, tramp barefoot through the house, splash and frog-catch in the creek, eat everything in sight, and finally fall into an exhausted and happy-dream-filled sleep. The antics of these “rowdy ogres” gleefully unfurl in vivacious verses and sun-bright paintings packed with comical details.

It’s a Firefly Night. By Dianne Ochiltree. illus. by Betsy Snyder. Blue Apple. 2013. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-160905291-1.

PreS-K–Rhyming text and vibrant collage artwork describe how a nightgown-clad girl and her father venture outdoors on a warm night to capture–and eventually release–a jar full of shimmering insects. The hushed narrative is aglow with wonder, and the lovely illustrations are filled with luminous touches. A sweet choice for bedtime sharing or celebrating special daddy-daughter moments.

Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping. By Mélanie Watt. illus. by author. Kids Can. 2013.Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-894786-86-7.

PreS-Gr 3–Rather than venturing into the rugged wilderness (where mosquitoes, quicksand, and penguins abound), the ever-anxious protagonist opts to remain safely in his tree and watch camping shows on TV. Unfortunately, the nearest electrical outlet is across the park. Equipped with survival gear and a carefully constructed plan, Scaredy Squirrel sets off on an adventure that results in comical mishaps and an eye-opening revelation about the great outdoors. Colorful cartoon artwork, amusing diagrams and charts, and spot-on storytelling keep this fretful–and lovable–character on top of his game.

Spike & Ike Take a Hike. By S. D. Schindler. illus. by author. Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Bks. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-399-24495-7.

PreS-Gr 2–Hungry from their trek, Spike the hedgehog and Ike the coatimundi decide to pay a lunchtime visit to Ike’s cousin. As they amble through various terrains, they encounter an assortment of critters, including a “big buzzy bumblebee,” “soggy froggy,” and “itty-bitty kitty.” Winsome details fill the textured artwork, which depicts dazzling landscapes and charismatic characters. Fueled by clever wordplay, terse rhymes, and tongue-tingling alliteration, this share-aloud romp will also appeal to beginning readers and language lovers.

A Stick Is an Excellent Thing: Poems Celebrating Outdoor Play. By Marilyn Singer. illus. by LeUyen Pham. Clarion. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-547-12493-3.

K-Gr 4–“A stick is an excellent thing./If you find the perfect one,/it’s a scepter for a king….” Eighteen pithy poems and dynamic double-page illustrations pay homage to the simple pleasures of summer, as a flock of high-spirited friends dash through sprinklers (“Big drops flash./Hurry, dash!”), barrel down hills, blow bubbles, soar on swings, and more. Simply worded yet humming with imaginative imagery, the enchanting verses resound with joyful activity and the power of play.

This Monster Cannot Wait! By Bethany Barton. illus. by author. Dial. 2013.Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8037-3779-2.

PreS-Gr 1–Stewart’s first camping trip is only a week away and the irrepressible youngster will try almost anything to make the time pass more quickly, even tearing–literally–through the book’s pages to rush to the story’s end. Taking a friend’s advice, he slows down and savors the “right now,” a philosophy that ultimately pays off. Barton’s loose-lined monsters are a hoot, and the tongue-in-cheek text perfectly pegs the agony of anticipating a grand adventure and the ecstasy of enjoying the much-awaited day.

Chapter Books and Graphic Novels

Bluffton: My Summers with Buster. By Matt Phelan. illus. by author. Candlewick. July 2013. Tr $22.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5079-7.

Gr 5-8–Henry Harrison’s ho-hum life in Muskegon, MI, is best described as “ordinary,” until the summer of 1908 when a troupe of vaudeville performers arrives, complete with baggage, elephants, and a young Buster Keaton (pratfall artist extraordinaire), to vacation by the lake. An extravaganza of gags and high jinks blends with more typical hot-weather pursuits as the boys strike up a friendship and Henry begins to dream of a different sort of life. In this historical graphic novel, watercolor panels and understated text paint a glorious picture of a time gone by and a poignant portrait of a boy’s journey of self-discovery.

Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Summer Vacation. By Tommy Greenwald. illus. by J. P. Coovert. Roaring Brook. 2013. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-757-9.

Gr 4-7–The outspoken book-hater and star of two previous adventures is  heading off to Camp Rituhbukkee (“Pronounced ‘Read-a-Bookie”) for three weeks of academic enrichment at his parents’ behest. Adrift in a sea of kids who love to learn, the self-professed slacker resolves to mold his fellow campers into “normal, non-reading people,” but as events unfold and personal challenges abound, it begins to look like his plan might backfire. The snarky first-person narrative is peppered with wry humor, and the entertaining action is augmented by astutely presented friendship dilemmas. This snicker-inducing page-turner makes an engaging read-aloud and holds strong appeal for Charlie Joe’s reluctant-reader compatriots.

Like Bug Juice on a Burger. By Julie Sternberg. illus. by Matthew Cordell. Amulet/Abrams. 2013. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-1-4197-0190-0.

Gr 2-4–At first, nine-year-old Eleanor is excited about going to her first-ever sleepaway camp, but a few mishaps–a tree-root tumble, a swim test that lands her in the baby group, yucky food, and far too many creepy-crawlies–soon have her longing for home. However, a kind new friend, intriguing new experiences, and small victories add up to positive experience. Told in first-person verse and illustrated with line drawings that reflect each emotional up and down, this charmer provides a candid, believable, and engaging look at growing up.

Lulu and the Dog from the Sea. By Hilary McKay. illus. by Priscilla Lamont. Albert Whitman. 2013. Tr $13.99. ISBN 978-0-8075-4820-2.

K-Gr 3–Seven-year-old Lulu and her family are looking forward to a pleasant seaside vacation, but when they arrive, they discover that the cottage they are renting has been besieged by a food-stealing, sand-scruffy stray. While the adults see a menace, Lulu sees a new friend and sets her sights on taming the pooch. Illustrated with breezy black-and-white sketches, this early chapter book percolates with warmhearted humor, true-to-life happenings, and honest emotion.

To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the U.S. publication of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Scholastic is sponsoring a contest to give public libraries the opportunity to win a Harry Potter party pack. To enter, librarians are asked to describe in up to 500 words how they would host a Harry Potter celebration that would also acquaint a new generation of children with the beloved series. All entries must be submitted by July 17. On July 31st, Harry Potter’s birthday, 15 winners will be announced. Parties will be held on August 27—the date when new paperback editions of the full series will be released with cover art by author/artist Kazu Kibuishi.

The winning libraries will receive 100 copies of the new edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, a paperback boxed set of all seven Harry Potter books signed by Kibuishi, a $100 gift card to fund the library’s Harry Potter celebration, and a Harry Potter kit with stickers, name tags, bookmarks, and more.

“Throughout the past 15 years, librarians have introduced millions of children to Harry Potter, and helped young readers discover the joy of reading,” said Ellie Berger, president of Scholastic Trade Publishing. “Today we celebrate librarians, the magic of Harry Potter, and all the future readers who are getting ready to start their journey to Hogwarts.”

Summer Reading Challenge for Latino Students

During the summer months, students can lose important literacy skills they learned during the school year. Libraries, summer camps, youth groups, and cultural centers planning programs this summer can register their group for the Latino Children’s Summer Reading Program, sponsored by Google and launched by Latinas for Latino Literature (L4LL). The program runs through August 12. Register for free online, and receive reading lists featuring Latino books for all ages, reading logs, bilingual student pledges in which readers agree to read at least eight titles, and certificates of achievement. Once registered, each group will be entered to win a Google Hangout with Latina poet Margarita Engle or author/illustrator Lulu Delacre. Hangouts will take place in July.

To incorporate the program into your class or camp, print the summer reading packets for students. Have them sign the pledge at the beginning of the program, and give them logs to take home to record the number of books they have read. At the end of the program, ask the students to write a book report on one of the books that they have read or one of the books that you’ve read together as a class, or ask them to give an oral presentation. Give all the students certificates of achievement at the conclusion of the program.

Latinas for Latino Literature was created in 2012 by four Latina bloggers in response to the New York Times article, “For Young Latino Readers, an Image Is Missing,” in which the author notes that Hispanic children now make up about a quarter of public school enrollment, but most books for young readers don’t have characters who are non-white Latino children.

hat will be in your tote as you head out to the beach, a nearby lake, or your own front stoop this summer? Our bags are already heavy with Paula Byrne’s The Real Jane Austen: A Life in Small Things (Harper Collins, 2013), and Mark Bittman’s VB6 (Clarkson Potter, 2013), on his adventures as a part-time vegan. Then there’s Robert Caro’s The Passage of Power (Random, 2013), the fourth volume the author has written about Lyndon Johnson, this one weighing in at a hefty 700 pages, and Emile Simpson’s War From the Ground Up: Twenty-First-Century Combat as Politics (Oxford University, 2013), which Marc insists is a must-read, “to understand the long war that is likely to be before us for at least the next two decades.” Sure, all three of us will also be borrowing novels and short stories from our local libraries. But, like so many children and teens in schools across the country, we also enjoy reading nonfiction for pleasure.

How can we use the summer to provide kids with more opportunities to grow confident as nonfiction readers? Let’s start with the summer reading list at your school. What’s on it? Discussions about summer reading often surface the deep-seated beliefs about students’ reading habits that shape the choices teachers and librarians make throughout the year. Some educators require a specific list of books or a range of genres. Others allow children and teens to make their own selections. Each school has to grapple with balancing students’ interests and teachers’ expectations and make the decision that feels right for its community.

Regardless of what approach your school or district takes, we hope that your required or recommended reading lists include nonfiction. Unless you are in a year-round school district, summer is often the time students have the most freedom and flexibility with their schedules and reading. For avid readers, this is the time to follow their interests. For students who have not been exposed to a great deal of self-selected nonfiction, the summer reading list can point them in that direction and help them discover books they may not find on their own.

If you are recommending summer reading lists to your students and patrons, be aware that nonfiction is not represented equally on all of them. The American Library Association’s (ALA) Association for Library Services to Children’s recommendations are on three graded lists, each annotated, and include a mix of fiction and nonfiction. A great list based on children’s suggestions is the International Reading Association-Children’s Book Council Annual Children’s Choices. The Horn Book Magazine’s recommended reading list also includes fiction and nonfiction, while the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge recommends only fiction on its website.

If you are creating your own summer reading list, be sure to share the 2013 Orbis Pictus Award, 2013 ALA Robert F. Sibert Medal, and 2013 YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award winners and honor recipients. These titles, along with the National Council of the Social Studies–Children’s Book Council Notable Trade Books and the 2013 National Science Teachers Association Outstanding Trade Books lists provide marvelous nonfiction offerings of interest to students.

But let’s not forget, for most students it’s the content of the book that will drive their selection, not the shiny award stickers on the cover, or the special display case you so carefully put together. Children choose nonfiction for many reasons. To convince their parents they are ready for a pet, they may select books about taking care of animals. If they’re interested in growing vegetables on their apartment balcony, they may read about container gardening. Some kids spend summers attending sports camps or playing baseball on a local team or in a nearby ballpark, and read up on techniques to improve their skills. Still others collect shells, explore the local pond, or go birding with their families. Some children build go-carts or craft, others are armchair travelers.

During the vacation season, and indeed throughout the school year, students need to see adults reading nonfiction for pleasure. They need to know that their parents and teachers and family friends enjoy nonfiction as a leisure activity, and they should see their own lives reflected in their reading choices whether selecting fiction or nonfiction. Let’s hope that this summer students are encouraged to choose nonfiction both for pleasure and personal enrichment.

SRP is Loudon County Public Library’s (LCPL) biggest event of the year, drawing in thousands of readers, families, and program attendees. In order for the program to progress smoothly, we implement a teen volunteer program. Over 100 teens commit to serving at least one 2-hour shift for every week of the 9-week program (barring vacations and camps, of course). Their duties range from registering patrons of all ages for the event and setting up online accounts (for tracking their progress) to distributing tickets for popular sessions, and preparing popcorn for movie events.

As coordinator for these volunteers, I want to use the best possible methods of registering, scheduling, training, and employing these teens. I chose the methods practiced by a colleague in the Children’s Department who has spent years perfecting the volunteer program. It includes a 90-minute orientation, a blog with weekly updates of time slots in the schedule needing to be filled, a Gmail account for corresponding with volunteers, and an appreciation party. One obstacle I will face is supervising them. The registration and prize table will be downstairs in the open lobby space, but my desk and the Teen Center are located upstairs. At our all-branch staff meeting this month, I invoked the “it takes a village” concept for overseeing teen volunteers: if you are in the vicinity of the registration table, swing by and interact with the volunteers, even if only for a moment, and greet them and ask if everything is going well. This will open the floor for questions or concerns that they may have, and might also make them more comfortable with interacting with adults. I take my role as teen volunteer coordinator seriously, both in terms of ensuring that the library’s goals are met, and in aiding the teens in developing workplace-appropriate skills such as punctuality and time management.

The programs we elected to host came from various sources. “Teen Cuisine” is a nutrition-based program advertised for budding chefs and young athletes. Both “Camp-in with Books” (teens reading to children in a camplike setting, indoors) and “DIY Teen” (a weekly craft program) were successful events at another LCPL branch that we hope will be just as popular at Gum Spring. Though not successful at other branches, we hope that our weekly “Teen Screen” film showings will encourage teens to spend the hottest hours of every Thursday afternoon indoors with friends, bean-bag chairs, and popcorn. When submitting our summer plans to the programming and marketing divisions, we purposefully left out the movie titles. Instead, we have asked the teens for their input via our dry-erase board hanging in the Teen Center. (So far we have only had to nix one.*)

But despite the fun programs we have planned, we are faced with the same concern as every other public librarian: what if no one participates? We are offering a free young adult book to everyone who completes the Teen Summer Reading Program challenge (thanks to our Friends group), as well as an entry into our grand prize drawings of Target gift cards and games. In an attempt to draw them into the library every week, we will set a guessing jar on our desk, filled with items one might find “in your backyard”—think twigs, stones, bottle caps, and more. Prizes will include obnoxiously large candy bars and free coupons for frozen treats.

Gum Spring is not the only library to worry about participation numbers. We all want our patrons to take advantage of everything our libraries have to offer. How do you encourage patrons to get involved with your Summer Reading Program?

*Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle is hilarious, but not quite library-appropriate for teens.

Fresh Paint traces the development of teen services for a new public library in an underserved community.

ASTON, Dianna Hutts. A Rock is Lively. illus. by Sylvia Long. Chronicle. 2012. ISBN 9781452106458. JLG Level: NEK: Nonfiction Early Elementary (Grades K-2)

The team that brought us An Egg is Quiet (Chronicle, 2006) is back this fall with a new nonfiction picture book about a well-loved topic—rocks. In their award-winning style, Hutts and Long tell the multi-faceted story about how rocks are made, how they help us, and how we use them. Gorgeous illustrations (even on the end pages) strengthen the text. You’ll want to add this to your geology collection and perhaps put a few rock samples nearby.

BANG, Molly and Penny Chisholm. Ocean Sunlight: How Tiny Plants Feed the Seas. illus. by Molly Bang. Scholastic/Blue Sky. 2012. ISBN 9780545273220. JLG Level: SCE: Science Nonfiction Elementary (Grades 2-6)

The pair behind Living Sunlight (Scholastic) brings us Ocean Sunlight for the fall. Though it may seem there are so many facts included in the few short pages of the picture book, there are far more phytoplankton in the seas. The earth’s surface is 75% water. From those that eat the phytoplankton to those who eat marine snow (“poop and mucus, carcasses and guts”), the ocean is full of life and food. Back matter includes even more facts to share with our voracious readers.

HALL, Michael. Cat Tale. illus. by author. HarperCollins/Greenwillow. 2012. ISBN  9780061915161. JLG Level: P: Primary (Grades K-1)

It’s math. It’s language. It’s art. It’s lots of fun. Hall is back (My Heart is Like a Zoo) with a new geometrical rhyming adventure for the young and young at heart. Lillian, Tilly, and William J. explore the world as words lead the way. “They pack some books and kitty chews. They choose a spot. They spot some ewes.” Somewhere along the way, things get jumbled up, but they straighten out the tale, and start their adventure again. Bright pictures and a large font add to the ease of sharing this book with a group.

HOOD, Susan. Spike, the Mixed-Up Monster. illus. by Melissa Sweet. S & S/Paula Wiseman. Sept. 2012. ISBN 9781442406018. JLG Level: K: Kindergarten (Grades PreK-K)

Sometimes a picture book does more than entertain at storytime. Such is the case in this title. Spike wants to be a big scary monster, but he’s actually tiny and cute. When a scary Gila monster arrives on the scene, Spike accidentally saves the day and becomes the hero. Readers will love the underdog theme and the surprising Gila monster. In addition to offering a moral to the story, the book includes photos and facts about Spike and his friends. It’s also bilingual and includes a Spanish word glossary. Brilliant!

WILLEMS, Mo. Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs. illus. by author. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray. 2012. ISBN 9780062104182. HE: Humor Elementary (grades 2-6)

Once upon a time, there were three Dinosaurs: Papa Dinosaur, Mama Dinosaur, and “some other dinosaur who happened to be visiting from Norway.” Even without the illustrations, you can’t help but laugh. The story begs to be read aloud–again and again. Willems’ hilarious retelling of Goldilocks is a surefire winner. And it’s Mo Willems. Enough said.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

Seven Title I media centers throughout the district continue to keep their doors open two hours each week, and local kids are welcome to read, check out books, or attend read-alouds. Although it’s not a new concept, it’s the first time Salem-Keizer has kept summer hours—and so far, kids seem to be enjoying it, says Stephen Cox, the district’s library media program specialist.

“This program is for students who are unable to get to the public library to participate in their summer reading program,” says Cox, explaining that the open school libraries are located in buildings that offer the Summer Meal program, where any qualified child age 18 and under can eat lunch, and sometimes breakfast, for free five days a week. “After and before lunch, students are encouraged to go to the school library to check out a book.”

Between 10 and 50 children visit the five elementary and two middle school libraries each week, thanks to $3,500 provided by the district’s Salem-Keizer Education Foundation to keep them open. And, as part of the program—which was widely promoted on the district’s website and at individual schools—students can earn a ticket for each book they read, which can then be entered in weekly drawings for prizes. A grand prize drawing is planned for August.

Although the libraries are run by assistants and parent volunteers rather than certified media specialists, it’s still a step in the right direction for the state’s second largest school district. Back in April 2011, the district lost 90 percent of its librarians when Superintendent Sandy Husk proposed cutting 48 elementary and middle school media specialists in an effort to save $3 million, says Cox. Oregon doesn’t mandate certified school librarians for any grade.

While it’s still too soon to know what impact summer school library hours will have on reading scores, experts know that the “summer slide,” which describes what happens when young minds sit idle for three months, is real. Studies show that kids who read during the summer gain reading skills, while those who don’t often slide backward.

“A conservative estimate of lost instructional time is approximately two months or roughly 22 percent of the school year,” says a report from the National Summer Learning Association. “It’s common for teachers to spend at least a month re-teaching material that students have forgotten over the summer. That month of re-teaching eliminates a month that could have been spent on teaching new information and skills.”

The report notes that family income plays a significant role in determining the extent of the summer slide, with students from low-income families experiencing the cumulative effects of greater learning loss each summer throughout their elementary school years.

Cox says circulation stats at the end of the summer will show just how popular the program was with students-and there are plans to conduct “action research” to find out whether the reading scores of participants went up, down, or stayed the same.