Ideas

Friends come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes a friendship seems unlikely because of different cultures or even species, but despite differences, a bond forms. The following are books, selected by Junior Library Guild editors, will be a hit in storytimes.

Look, up in the cloud!  It’s a directory.  It’s a review portal.  It’s a community. It’s a launchpad. It’s a curation tool.  It’s a playlist creator.  It’s an easy source of icons and QR codes. I’ve been using edshelf for some time now and it’s kinda become one of my superheroes for curating apps and [...]

Each year, the National Book Foundation awards $2500 prizes to individuals and institutions that are making a difference in people's lives through the creation and maintenance of programs that encourage the love of reading. This year's winners of the Innovations in Reading prize include programs for women in prison and literacy support for tribal nations.

Tweetdeck and other third-party applications are fine for everyday Twitter use. But if you'd like to share your stream in a presentation, Joyce Valenza shows you how to display messages and hashtags in four attractive formats.

Virginia middle school librarian Lauren McBride presents some must-have links and resources for librarians looking to hone their social media expertise. An expert in social media, McBride maintains her school's Twitter page, participates in a weekly Twitter chat hosted by the Virginia Association of School Librarians, and next month will lead a professional development "Boot Camp" session for Virginia's Loudoun County Public School librarians on how to use Twitter.

Michelle Luhtala suggests we judge millennials unfairly. Are they really coddled or are they resourceful?  Are they narcissistic or transparent? Unfocused or hyper-focused? Is taking a selfie narcissistic, or is it a way to connect with the world? In her kid-focused TEDx talk, Michelle, head librarian at New Canaan (CT) High School shares the importance [...]

The upcoming SLJ Buzz Award, sponsored by Brain Hive, recognizes K–12 school library programs that are developing innovative new ways to raise awareness of reading by bringing students digital learning activities that increase reading, improve engagement, spark social interaction, and inspire a lifelong love of reading to help kids reach their full potential.

In response to the passionate and engaging conversation around the recent list of culturally diverse books, SLJ's review editors asked readers and experts in the field to select titles for inclusion in this expanded list. Add your own favorite titles in the comments section.

The authors of Storytimes for Everyone: Developing Young Children’s Language and Literacy (ALA, 2013) provide guidance for incorporating science and math concepts into traditional storytimes.