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This month marks the retirement of Trevelyn Jones, as she steps down from her role as head of SLJ’s Book Review. We will miss Trev’s direct leadership and her steady presence, but we are comforted to know she’s available for us to lean on in an editor-at-large capacity as we transition to a new era. Her life's work and contribution to the world of children's literature has made the world a better place.

School Library Journal's October issue features a whopping 14 starred DVD and audio reviews ranging from the DVD version of John Rocco's Caldecott Honor picture book, Blackout, to Rita Williams-Garcia's audiobook, P.S. Be Eleven, to the music CD, Bunny on the Moon. Be sure to check out all the starred reviews as well as all the DVD and audio reviews via Book Verdict.

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock, Matthew Quick Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, August 2013 Reviewed from ARC True confession: I had never heard of Matthew Quick until Silver Linings Playbook became an Oscar contender last fall, but then Sophie reviewed Boy 21 for the blog, and then in true Baader-Meinhof fashion, the ARC for Forgive [...]

Navigating the transition from high school to college can be really tough, and debut YA author/illustrator Ramsey Beyer has turned her experience into Little Fish. It is an honest look at making those first step into an exciting world, with new friends and discoveries around every corner. Five lucky SLJTeen readers will win a copy of Little Fish from Zest Books.

From Victorian England to modern day America, orphaned children often face struggles that kids with parents rarely confront. However, most middle-grade students will relate to the issues explored in these new fiction titles―from poverty to self-confidence―selected by the editors at Junior Library Guild. In fact, these works may give young readers hope about their own issues, while giving them stories that help them step back from their own realities.

Innovative school librarians invaded Austin, Texas en masse from September 28-29 for School Library Journal’s ninth annual Leadership Summit. With invigorating presentations by journalist Annie Murphy Paul, author of the forthcoming Brilliant: The New Science of Smart (Crown, 2014) and Colorado State associate professor Antero Garcia, library leaders gathered together to discuss and plan for the future of education and the profession. Take a sneak peek at some of the scenes from the weekend with a slideshow from the Summit.

She’s not a teacher or a librarian but, during the more than 25 years that Sesame Street’s Sonia Manzano has spent talking about kindness with Big Bird, letting the Count number her toes, and singing about trash to Oscar the Grouch, she has observed quite a bit about how kids learn. The actress, education advocate, and children’s book author was presented with the Américas Award in Washington, D.C., on September 23, given annually by the Consortium for Latin American Studies Programs (CLASP).

STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) is part of a new trend that integrates hands-on learning with STEM. It taps into children’s natural interests while also facilitating informal learning. Show Me Librarian Amy Koester shares how school and public librarians can incorporate STEAM into their programs.

Children's librarian Amy Koester shares some of her go-to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math) programs, for all ages.