Books & Media

As you read this I am winging my way to Chicago, IL.  Land of Great Lakes, windy winds, and hot dogs that carry unconscionable stigmas for logical edible combinations (ketchup ONLY works on hot dogs, people).  Blogging, if my schedule is to be believed, is due to be a bit spotty for the next few [...]

Batman/Superman #1 Written by Greg Pak, drawn by Jae Lee and Ben Oliver DC Comics, $3.99 Rated T, for readers 12 and up It’s been nearly two years since DC Comics canceled their Superman/Batman team-up title (along with the rest of their line, in order to introduce the new “New 52″ universe), but this week [...]

The Nightlok are a race of monsters from the Netherworld. Led by Lord Xandred, they are determined to take over the world, using the sorrows of humanity. The only ones standing in their way are five teenagers. Jayden, Kevin, Emily, Mike, Mia and Antonio have been called upon to take up the mantle of the [...]

The heat of summer may be upon us but children’s book publishers are now looking toward the glorious days of fall, and the Penguin Young Readers Group is no exception. Forty titles from Penguin’s varied kid imprints were highlighted recently at the publisher’s recent school and library preview, which included surprise guest appearances from authors John Bemelmans Marciano and Julie Berry.

Longtime School Library Journal blogger Elizabeth Bird, the New York Public Library’s youth materials collections specialist, can add published author to her name this year. Her festive debut picture book, Giant Dance Party, is about a girl who overcomes her stage fright by teaching blue fuzzy giants how to dance. SLJ caught up with Bird recently to discuss her unique path to publication, how her work as a children’s librarian informed her experience as a first-time author, and whether Lexy and the giants will be making a repeat performance.

ARiOL Vol. 1: Just a Donkey Like You and Me and ARiOL Vol. 2: Thunder Horse Written by Emmanuel Guibert and drawn by Marc Boutavant Papercutz, $12.99 each   The back cover copy on the first translated and re-published volume of ARiOL, a kid-centric comedy comic from the writer of Sardine in Outer Space and [...]

Nino Wrestles the World By Yuyi Morales Neal Porter Books – Roaring Brook Press (an imprint of Macmillan) $16.99 ISBN: 978-1-59643-604-6 Ages 3-7 On shelves now If there is any topic on the lips and minds of librarians, teachers, and other gatekeepers it is the state of multicultural literature for kids today. Seems a week [...]

Media literacy discussion points covering novel-to-film adaptations, marketing, genre, screen violence, and more.

More than just a craze, the interest in zombies points the way towards a new kind of literacy engagement.