People

National Screen-Free Week has finally arrived—and, if you’re reading this, you probably haven’t yet taken the pledge to dramatically reduce the time you spend using a computer for the next few days. But many educators (and a kid lit publisher or two) are doing just that, encouraging kids to explore a range of non-screen activities this week, including reading books, going outside, and having fun the old-fashioned way.

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.

Kathleen Reif, director of St. Mary’s County Library, Leonardtown, MD, is the 2013 recipient of Peggy Sullivan Award for Public Library Administrators Supporting Services to Children. The Sullivan Award, administered by the American Library Association (ALA), is presented annually to an individual in a library administrator role who has shown exceptional understanding and support of public library service to children. The award will be presented at the ALA President's Program, Sunday, June 30, at the Annual Conference in Chicago.

From San Antonio to Fort Worth, literacy educators and librarians converged on Texas last week to celebrate books and reading.

Kathy Ishizuka has been named executive editor of School Library Journal. Previously assistant editor of book review, Shelley Diaz has been promoted to SLJ associate editor.

A captivating tale about small people capable of great feats

Utah’s Ogden school district is eliminating 20 of its library media specialists due to a $2.7 million budget deficit for the 2012–2013 school year. Includes links to the latest local news updates and video dispatches.

Minnesota author David LaRochelle signs copies of his It's a Tiger! which has been nominated for the first-ever Star of the North Picture Book Award.

2013 Mover & Shaker Susan Anderson-Newham, early learning supervising librarian at the Pierce County Library System in Tacoma, WA, talks about the importance of collaboration and a good sense of humor to her work, why hands-on play is key to kids’ learning, and her top early learning picture books of all time.