News & Features

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) Great Websites for Kids (GWS) committee announced the inclusion of 10 additions to its compilation of exemplary websites for children on July 29. These online resources are geared to children from birth to age 14, and range in subjects as diverse as animals and dinosaurs; games and entertainment; history and science; art and music; and resources for teachers and parents.

On July 31, 2013 (Harry Potter and author J. K . Rowling's birthday), Scholastic unveiled a new look for ​Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Author/illustrator Kazu Kibuishi created new covers for each of the titles in the beloved series. The book covers were revamped in time for the 15th anniversary of the U.S. publication of Rowling's series opener.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013, 2:00-3:00 PM ET Kevin Henkes is the creator of nearly 50 books for children. He has written both picture books and novels; his picture books include Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse; Chrysanthemum; and Kitten’s First Full Moon, a winner of the Caldecott Medal. Among his novels are the Newbery Honor Book Olive’s Ocean and the upcoming middle grade novel The Year of Billy Miller. Join us to hear Kevin talk about his work, his inspirations, and The Year of Billy Miller--an acclaimed and irresistible story about friendship, siblings, and the perils of elementary school. And take this chance to ask him your questions live! Archive is now available!

Written and drawn by The Usual Gang of Idiots DC Comics, $4.99 DC uses the occasion of a release of yet another Superman feature film, the franchise’s sixth, to gather-up and repackage a slew of their previous Superman movie parodies into this themed special that’s cover-to-cover Superman jokes, dating as far back as 1966 and [...]

Can creators in essence separate the “super” from the “hero” and still be said to be working with the same character?

Director James Ponsoldt’s sharp take on Tim Tharp’s 2008 novel (Knopf) gives The Spectacular Now a higher level of maturity and complexity than most young adult book-to-movie adaptations. The film, starring Shailene Woodley and Miles Teller, arrives in theaters on August 2.

Looking for quality apps for young children can be hit and miss. We've taken the work out of it for you and the parents who visit your library.

From Walter Dean Myers's latest to a new early reader series by Pam Muñoz Ryan, highlights from Scholastic's Fall preview, which is also available online.

Acclaimed young adult fantasy author Tamora Pierce headlined SLJ’s SummerTeen online event on July 24, and shared her love for libraries and books during the conference’s opening keynote. The 2013 Margaret A. Edwards Award-winner regaled the virtual audience of librarians and teens via webcam with a presentation about her writing process, her inspirations, and other fantasy novels and writers that readers should be adding to their to-be-read piles. The following is a list of the titles that were cited in Pierce’s talk.