Some educators abandon teaching the Bard's work, while others update and enhance Shakespeare curricula.
Amid the upheaval this year, there were bright spots: Audiobook sales surged, more kids tuned into podcasts, and children’s book sales continued to grow.
Educators deliver STEM lessons students can engage with from home.
Traditional education largely has not addressed race and racism. That will only change if all teachers adopt antracist teaching methods.
Seven months of learning loss. That’s the impact wrought by the pandemic, and low-income, Black, and Latinx children stand to suffer the most. Some cities are adapting the pod concept, working with community partners to serve at-risk students.
"Now is an especially critical time to inform readers," writes Kathy Ishizuka, SLJ editor in chief. "That means publishing stories centered on the people who power libraries and schools. We are here for it, and we hope you are, too."
Identifying community needs is crucial in a crisis. Participants proposed some recommendations in this next stage of the COVID-19 Reimagining Youth Librarianship project.
Make equity about people, not stuff. Rethink library policy. More than 120 library staff have signed on to advance next steps in the COVID-19 Reimagining Youth Librarianship project, a crowdsourcing effort to create a framework for youth services during times of crisis.
Jason Reynolds and Ibram Kendi, co-authors of Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, kicked off SLJ's Day of Dialog. Here is the entire keynote conversation.
We need more titles to counter the single narrative in picture books: Police help everyone. Police catch bad guys. Police keep everyone safe.
Librarians join forces to serve students better as distance learning stretches on.
With students learning from home, Denver Public Schools' ebook and audio checkouts topped 51,000 in April. Here's how librarians are making that happen.
Focusing on what kids can access without broadband and where they congregate online, school districts strive to engage all students.
A wealth of information is available about the Holocaust, but many students don't know much about it. Educators supplement curricula by exploring patterns of genocide and the power of propaganda.
A curricular guide for Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi, geared for educators and students, ages 12 and up.
More U.S. librarians are using this interactive programming model, in which human "books" speak with patrons about their life experiences.
These fiction and nonfiction titles nourish the body, soul, and imagination.
An accurate count in this year's controversial census is critical to securing library funding and keeping school and health programs going. Use these resources to create teachable moments with students and host a census count at your library.
As part of SLJ’s Tech Trends series of webcasts in cooperation with ISTE, a panel of experts discussed makerspace learning and offered guidance on how to create and design an effective program.
As childhood trauma is recognized as a public health issue, librarians and educators help students who have experienced violence, loss, and other issues.
Summit attendees explored equity and access across different areas of education including technology, community engagement, and advocacy.
Medical doctor and international policymaker Alaa Murabit kicked off the SLJ Leadership Summit on Saturday with a challenge: find a way to translate their work in a way that compels the public and people in power to support libraries.
Every educator can play a role in SEL, which has been shown to boost academic achievement and improve educational outcomes.
A special project to Mend the World, literally and figuratively, helps us sew our way to world harmony.
Damon, library support specialist at Denver Public Schools (DPS), and Torres, teacher librarian at DPS’s Montbello Campus, on Angie Thomas’s blockbuster YA novel and the upcoming film.
Tone policing happens during conversations or debates when one person, typically of greater privilege, thwarts a speaker's thoughts or opinions by reacting to their emotional tone.
The author of So You Want to Talk About Race spoke with SLJ about what educators, and specifically librarians, can do to better serve students of color and change institutional bias and patterns of systemic racism in U.S. education.
Suggestion to shutter local libraries in favor of Amazon stores is shouted down on social media.
Taking advantage of the momentum created when NFL player Colin Kaepernick took a knee, retired NBA player, writer, and activist Thomas explores the work of athlete activists.
Gr 9 Up –Twenty-one YA authors—including such well-known figures as Ellen Hopkins, Maurene Goo, and Printz award-winner Nina LaCour, as well as two unpublished authors selected from a call for submissions—reflect on their early lives and what it means to be a woman in the United States.
Gr 5-9 –The first volume of this clear, measured set on protest examines movements involving animal rights, African American and Hispanic/Latinx civil rights, economics, the environment, free speech, and globalization.
Teen Librarian Toolbox is excited to be partnering with Marie Marquardt for her #ReadForChange project. Hop on over to this post to learn more about the initiative. Today, she and Alan Gratz join us for a conversation about immigrants, refugees, taking action, and his middle grade novel, Refugee. “No one puts their children in a boat unless the water […]
When I’m reviewing books for professional publications, I stay quiet about them on social media. I’m always really excited once a review comes out to be able to talk about the book, finally! Here’s one of my most recent reviews, a starred review, which originally appeared in the June 2018 School Library Journal. ★Super Late Bloomer: […]
Your student activists are going to love WalkWoke.The iPhone app allows for the creative of impactful political posters to print, publish or share with meme-style ease.The app was launched in January by Tangelo, a venture studio and an innovation lab with a diverse team–built and founded by immigrant women. Posters were selected for their powerful and empathetic artwork drawn by real […]
The debut author and creator of the "Mark Does Stuff" universe chats about his road to publication, teen activism, and what he’s working on next.
Some community members in O'Fallon, IL, objected to a public library event centered around the children's book, "Justice Makes a Difference: The Story of Miss Freedom Fighter, Esquire."
Publisher’s description Luke and Toby have always had each other’s backs. But then one choice—or maybe it is a series of choices—sets them down an irrevocable path. We’ll Fly Away weaves together Luke and Toby’s senior year of high school with letters Luke writes to Toby later—from death row. This thought-provoking novel is an exploration of friendship, […]
Teen Librarian Toolbox is excited to be partnering with Marie Marquardt for her #ReadForChange project. Hop on over to this post to learn more about the initiative. Today, she and Jodi Lynn Anderson join us for a conversation about climate change and Anderson’s new novel, Midnight at the Electric. We stand now where two roads diverge. But unlike the […]
When I’m reviewing books for professional publications, I stay quiet about them on social media. I’m always really excited once a review comes out to be able to talk about the book, finally! Here’s one of my most recent reviews, which originally appeared in the April 2018 School Library Journal. The Gender Identity Workbook for […]
It has been thrilling to watch the #NeverAgain movement rise. Adults have a special opportunity to stand up with young people.
A school librarian’s reading initiative highlights social justice.
A range of parenting titles, from cookbooks to guides to child-rearing "in the age of Trump."
Teen Librarian Toolbox is excited to be partnering with Marie Marquardt for her #ReadForChange project. Hop on over to this post to learn more about the initiative. Today, she writes about Ibi Zoboi’s powerful novel, American Street. “I want to look happily forward. I want to be optimistic. I want to have a dream. I want to […]
CBLDF and the NCAC are publishing a free, downloadable comic by Kai Texel, just in time for National School Walkout on March 14 and the March for Our Lives on March 24.
Teen Librarian Toolbox is excited to be partnering with Marie Marquardt for her #ReadForChange project. Hop on over to this post to learn more about the initiative. Today, she and Jennifer Mathieu join us for a conversation about feminism, taking action, and Mathieu’s powerful novel, Moxie. We teach girls to shrink themselves, to make themselves smaller. We say to […]
Publisher’s description Paris, at the dawn of the modern age: Prince Sebastian is looking for a bride—or rather, his parents are looking for one for him. Sebastian is too busy hiding his secret life from everyone. At night he puts on daring dresses and takes Paris by storm as the fabulous Lady Crystallia—the hottest fashion […]
Four bold strategies to elevate your school library.
It's been quite a year. Here's how we covered it in School Library Journal.
Manage the money, amplify student voice, and more tips from SLJ's 2017 Hero of Equitable Access.
Environmental studies and early language arts were the dominant themes this year. However, there were plenty of surprises from an eclectic range of subject matter.
Today, author Danielle Ellison joins us as part of our Social Justice in YALit Discussion. You can find all of the #SJYALit Posts here. As much as I want to write this guest post, I also don’t want to. It’s a familiar feeling, for me, of why I was nervous to write my newest book […]
Publisher’s description Alfonso Jones can’t wait to play the role of Hamlet in his school’s hip-hop rendition of the classic Shakespearean play. He also wants to let his best friend, Danetta, know how he really feels about her. But as he is buying his first suit, an off-duty police officer mistakes a clothes hanger for […]
Today is going to be one of those ALL THE BOOKS posts, loosely linked by being by and about women and featuring humor. Which is a pretty loose thread, but let’s roll with it. As is often the case with these roundups, we don’t think any of these are books that are likely to go […]
Publisher’s description Raw, captivating, and undeniably real, Nic Stone joins industry giants Jason Reynolds and Walter Dean Myers as she boldly tackles American race relations in this stunning debut. Justyce McAllister is top of his class and set for the Ivy League—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in […]
Authors Deborah Hopkinson, Caren B. Stelson, Russell Freedman, and others spoke at the organization's 65th awards celebration in New York City.
Introduce kids and teens to activism with titles from Innosanto Nagara and former Earth Guardian leader Xiuhtezcatl Martinez.
While progress has been made in broadband connectivity in U.S. schools, 6.5 million students don’t have high speed classroom Internet. The digital divide is particularly persistent in rural districts, according to an EducationSuperHighway report.
This “linchpin of the school community” and 2017 School Librarian of the Year Finalist prioritizes families, community, and social justice.
Virginia school librarians prepare for school to open 11 days after the deadly clash between white supremacist groups and counterprotestors.
In a continuing series on nonfiction books that help tweens "build a better world," Nonfiction Notions columnist Jennifer Wharton recommends several titles that support science-based community projects.
Articles, videos, lesson plans, and other resources for educators preparing to talk to kids and teens about Charlottesville, racism, and hatred.
SLJ's sixth annual virtual conference on all things teen took place on August 9, 2017. The archive and Storify for the free, all-day event is now available.
From Minecraft to Tracking Ida, 11 games nominated for the 2017 Games for Change awards offer learning potential.
While some believe that libraries should remain entirely objective, several speakers at an ALA annual conference panel stressed the importance of using exhibits and programs to express political opinions and take a stand.
A lot of the teens I know are more passionate about social justice than the adults in their lives. Which isn’t surprising. Teens are in the process of forming their identities and opinions, and in many cases, they’re learning about social justice issues or deepening their understanding of them for the first time. In the […]
Deepa Iyer discussed the hostility directed at Muslims and advised librarians on ways they could make a difference.
Felix Yz Written by Lisa Butler Published by Viking Press, 2017 ISBN: 978-0-425-28850-4 Grades 5-8 Book Review Being thirteen can be hard even on the good days. Protagonist Felix Yz faces bullies, strives to please his teachers, and tries to get to know his crush Hector a little better. But he has even bigger problems, […]
Inclusive stories, music, snacks, treasure hunts, and a liberal dose of "fabulousness" mark these storytimes trending in libraries.
Today we are honored to present to you a Mental Health in YA Literature guest post that looks at the accessibility to treatment in YA literature. You can read all the #MHYALit posts here or by clicking on the tag below. When I was 12-years-old, I went to therapy for the first time. Seventh grade […]
Websites and other online resources ideal for sparking or supplementing lesson plans and programs on social justice, antibias, and inclusion.
SLJ examines how librarians are working to promote equity in their communities. When you think about who you serve and how, are you looking through a lens focused on equality or equity? What can you do about what you see?
Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with novels and works of nonfiction that highlight the Asian American experience.
In these comics and graphic novels for tweens, LGBTQ characters are no big deal. Any romance stays in the background—and is G-rated.
No matter your budget, the key to a successful program is getting everyone to the table.
The authors of a new book confront pervasive misinformation on transgender and gender-nonconforming people.
Universal Design involves designing spaces, products, programming, and more to make them as usable as possible for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.
Children and teens play an active role at the world's largest library under Carla Hayden. A Q&A with the nation's 14th Librarian of Congress.
Get comfortable with being uncomfortable when discussing #OwnVoices books with kids, advises this school librarian.
A professor of education maintains that #OwnVoices books are the basis of today’s literacy curriculum.
A children's materials specialist provides practical advice for building a relevant #OwnVoices collection for kids.
The individuals who spearheaded these bold library initiatives were driven by a goal to improve service for all users.
1992. My senior year in college. It’s Friday night, and I go with some of my sorority sisters to a local restaurant for burgers and cheese fries before we start our round of fraternity parties. There are a couple of pool tables in the bar area, so we play a game while we wait to […]
Another crop of notable nonfiction featuring often unheard voices, from a title that unpacks myths about the transgender experience to a book on those who have been wrongfully convicted.
Leaping lemurs and the pure blue orchid are among the photogenic stars of three visually arresting documentaries.
Introduction In the introduction to Here We Are: Feminism for the Real World, Kelly Jensen writes, “What unites feminists is the belief that every person–regardless of gender, class, education, race, sexuality, or ability–deserves equality.” This intersection between multiple social justice movements characterizes what we call Third Wave feminism, a term coined in the 1990s, and […]
Today’s post is brought to you by my friend Khadija, one of my very favorite people. Khadija also wrote something for TLT before in a Muslim Voices post. I’ve known her for seven years and had the joy of watching her go from a high school kid who hung around my desk in the library […]
Introduction In the introduction to Here We Are: Feminism for the Real World, Kelly Jensen writes, “What unites feminists is the belief that every person–regardless of gender, class, education, race, sexuality, or ability–deserves equality.” This intersection between multiple social justice movements characterizes what we call Third Wave feminism, a term coined in the 1990s, and […]
Are you students in need of a little global goodwill? Check out these latest series that promote social awareness and responsibility.
The Los Angeles Public Library hosted "Art Without Walls," an art event with the L.A. Hammer Museum where kids honored women in their lives while sending messages about equal rights.
Librarians and teachers, as well as government and school district officials, have spoken out against the revocation and vowed support for all students.
Animals and author biographies for the elementary crowd and a timely focus on social issues for tweens and teens.
Last night we had the pleasure of talking with author A. S. King as part of our #SJYALit Project. We talked feminism, politics and bats. The Twitter conversation is Storified for you below. TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16 My 1st Question for @AS_King is where did the inspiration for GLORY come from? #SJYALit Fri, Feb 24 2017 00:08:25 ReplyRetweetFavorite […]
If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo A new kind of big-hearted novel about being seen for who you really are. Amanda Hardy is the new girl in school. Like anyone else, all she wants is to make friends and fit in. But Amanda is keeping a secret, and she’s determined not to get […]
Publisher’s description Some bodies won’t stay buried. Some stories need to be told. When seventeen-year-old Rowan Chase finds a skeleton on her family’s property, she has no idea that investigating the brutal century-old murder will lead to a summer of painful discoveries about the past… and the present. Nearly one hundred years earlier, a misguided […]
Publisher’s description Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, Angie Thomas’s searing debut about an ordinary girl in extraordinary circumstances addresses issues of racism and police violence with intelligence, heart, and unflinching honesty. Soon to be a major motion picture from Fox 2000/Temple Hill Productions. Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood […]
Publisher’s description Pretty in Pink comes to the South Bronx in this bold and romantic coming-of-age novel about dysfunctional families, good and bad choices, and finding the courage to question everything you ever thought you wanted—from debut author Lilliam Rivera. Things/People Margot Hates: Mami, for destroying her social life Papi, for allowing Junior to become […]
A children's librarian in Ontario used the poster by artist Calef Brown, included in the February issue of SLJ, as the centerpiece of a book display.
Today’s list of resources is brought to you by the members of KidLit Resists! We’re a Facebook group for members of the KidLit community (authors, illustrators, editors, youth librarians, booksellers, and others who create and support picture books, MG books, and YA books) who wish to organize against the current administration’s agenda and support those communities targeted […]
Librarians around the country share how their workday has changed post-election.
Dozens of titles that help promote a deeper understanding and acceptance of our human differences, selected and recommended by the Bank Street College of Education.
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