Geared for grades six to twelve, the song teaches students about the role of media specialists, and it exceeds volumes of fiction and nonfiction. To “search better than Google, declare the lyrics, “come and find me.” The production also addresses “a few misconceptions about our profession….” “We don’t read all day, our hair’s not in a bun. We don’t all wear glasses, don’t always say “shush.”

To enter the “We Heart Librarians” Contest, record a video of yourself—solo or with a group—singing or lip-syncing along to the song for a chance to be featured in an “Ode to Librarians” remix video. You don’t have to be a librarian to submit and students are encouraged to participate (with the necessary permissions secured). Lyrics and a downloadable MP3 of the song, along with complete rules, are available via the contest page.

Submissions are due by November 30, 2013, and winners will be announced December 15.

Simply put, “The pictures tell the story,” says David Wiesner. The three-time Caldecott Medal winner Wiesner shared his thoughts on visual storytelling,—along with fellow panelists, Lizi Boyd, Oliver Jeffers,  Matt Phelan, and Chris Raschka—at School Library Journal’s 2013 Day of Dialog held May 29 at Columbia University.

Starting with early sketches of his books, notably Flotsam, Wiesner demonstrated his method and how every inch of the book can be used, from endpapers to the spine. It’s “all a part of the storytelling process,” he says.

In this 12-minute clip, Wiesner gives us a peek at his upcoming picture book Mr. Wuffles, whose title character is an inscrutable feline—who encounters the world’s greatest cat toy.

See also:

SLJ 2012 Day of Dialog: Keeping Middle Schoolers Engaged