Professional Reading

What if instead of viewing the teen years as a period in life that must be survived, we learn to embrace the potentially positive power of these formative years? In 'Brainstorm,' David J. Siegel, a neuropsychiatrist, offers a look at adolescent development and behavior informed by recent findings on how the brain works.

From integrating free ebooks into collections to building successful collaborations with technology departments, February's Professional Reading reviews focus on titles with strong practical applications for school and public librarians.

Amanda Ripley set off on a year-long “field trip to the smart-kid countries” to see if she could account for the success of the high achieving students around the world. What made these kids smarter than their American peers? The writer reports in 'The Smartest Kids in the World: And How They Got that Way' (S&S, 2013).

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the prestigious Caldecott Award, bestowed annually to the “artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.” Here's a look at a few books about past and recent recipients.

As the authors of new title on inquiry and literacy note, "simply reading about science" cannot replace the "actual doing of science." Here are a few new titles that offer guidance and suggestions on incorporating hands-on and project-based learning in science and other classrooms.

Books on YA fashion programs and Pura Belpré’s work

The authors of the Common Core State Standards don't spell out how text should be taught--that's been left up to teachers and curriculum developers. A new book offers a framework for developing a content-rich, standards-based curriculum.

The significant decline in reading skills many students experience over the summer is no secret, but it’s particularly damaging for children in low-income neighborhoods. 'Summer Reading: Closing the Rich/Poor Reading Achievement Gap,' edited by Richard L. Allington and Anne McGill-Franzen, offers an in-depth look at this disparity and offers solutions that go beyond recommended reading lists.