Clik here to view.
The Shadow Knows | Fact and Fiction About the Groundhog’s Claim To Fame
He goes by the name of Punxsutawney Phil in Punxsutawney, PA; Chuck in Marion, OH, Staten Island, NY, and Los Angeles; Pierre C. Shadeaux in New Iberia, LA, and Wiarton Willie in Ontario, Canada. He’s...
View ArticleClik here to view.
May the Facts Be with You | Mind-Boggling Stats, Marvels, and Daredevil Feats
Some of the most desirable titles in any library collection serving children or teens are the colorful record books, gaming almanacs, and browsable titles filled with “believe-it-or-not” facts. While...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Celebrating African Americans: The Arts
Handsomely illustrated and eloquently told, these recent picture book biographies provide insightful introductions to noteworthy African Americans who have defined their place in the world by following...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Beyond the Stars: Sci-Fi YA Read-Alikes for “The 5th Wave” Fans
Science fiction has become the go-to genre for YA big screen adaptations, and the trend continues with The 5th Wave (PG-13), a motion picture based on Rick Yancey’s alien-invasion thriller (Putnam,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Nonfiction Notes: Spotlight on Space
Poor Pluto. Reclassified 10 years ago, no longer a planet. At least that’s the way one of my former students viewed it. While he had difficulty accepting what he considered to be Pluto’s demotion to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Celebrating African American History
Arranged chronologically, these informational picture books highlight trailblazing African Americans and significant moments throughout history. In addition to relating historical facts, these titles...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Great Books: A Bullish Market for Bears
Ranging from factual to fantastical, reassuring to rambunctious, bedtime-worthy to sidesplitting read-aloud, this selection of picture books starring ursine protagonists is sure to captivate young...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Something Beautiful | Spring 2016 Titles for and About Latinos
ALA Midwinter, Boston: what a wonderful time and place to explore publishers’ upcoming titles. I set out to find new books that had a Hispanic character, theme, or backdrop. With one in four children...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Disrupters, Daredevils, and Artists: Women Who Changed the World
Celebrate Women’s History Month by sharing a picture book biography about a boundary-breaking, world-transforming, awe-inspiring individual. Pairing eye-grabbing artwork with elucidating texts, the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
American Girls | Historical Fiction Featuring Feisty Females
Looking for strong female characters in tales steeped in period detail to recommend for Women’s History Month? Share these exciting new young adult novels and short stories with your patrons. Two...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Browsers’ Delights | Animal Compendiums
It’s a sight educators love to see: a group of children hunched over a book, their heads together, fingers pointing, and a lively conversation emanating from the huddle. In my library, it’s often a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Great Books To Welcome Spring
Eye-dazzling and delightful for sharing aloud, this selection of picture books, some old and some new, highlight the sights and sounds of the season, celebrate the reawakening of nature, and accentuate...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Magic, Dastardly Villains, and Less-Than-Perfect Heroes: New YA Fantasy
Know any teens who can’t wait for HBO’s Game of Thrones to resume airing on April 24? The spring TV season features a fresh crop of book-inspired, fantasy-themed shows. MTV’s The Shannara Chronicles,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Disco Inferno | Watch- and Listen-Alikes for Meg Medina’s “Burn Baby Burn”
Set in Queens during the summer of 1977, when serial killer David Berkowitz (known then as the Son of Sam) terrorized the city of New York, Meg Medina’s Burn Baby Burn (Candlewick, Mar. 2016; Gr 9 Up)...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Magic in Our World | Spring 2016 Middle Grade Fantasy
Be they mysteries, character dramas, or tales of adventure, lighthearted or serious in tone, fantasy stories are linked by their magical happenings, and often, their fairy-tale qualities. Whether...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Painting Pictures with Words | Books for National Poetry Month
These recently published poetry offerings will captivate elementary age students with their enchanting blend of eloquent words and eye-grabbing images. Shared in the classroom, these books can be used...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Earth Day | It’s a Green Thing
Since the first celebration of Earth Day on April 22, 1970, progress has been made in addressing some global environmental challenges—through both legislation and grassroots movements. Witness: the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Green Thumbs and Bountiful Imaginations | Great Books about Gardens
Whether they are digging, planting, nibbling, nurturing, or dreaming, the characters in these colorful picture books convey the wonder and joy of things that blossom. Dig In! By Cindy Jenson-Elliott....
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Olympics Are Coming! Great Sports Reads for Teens
It’s going to be a championship summer for sports lovers. In less than three months, the Games of the XXXI Olympiad in in Rio de Janeiro (August 5–21) launches, and the Olympic Flame has already...
View ArticleClik here to view.
You Gotta Have Heart: Out-of-the-Park Baseball Novels For Middle Grade Readers
Unforgettable protagonists, narratives peppered with baseball action and atmosphere, and heart-stirring emotions make these recently released novels crackerjack reads. Though the characters struggle to...
View Article