Tag Archives: books

Connecting kids with nonfiction

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P1000109One of the bloggers that I keep up with is Angela Maiers. Angela is a literacy consultant and she has great ideas for working with kids on reading and writing. Her latest series is called Celebrating Nonfiction and there is one post in particular that I thought would be useful to librarians.

Angela describes conversations that she had with students as they selected nonfiction books in the library and what she felt like was missing in their selection process:

Over and over, I would hear comments like:

  • “I need a book on snakes.”
  • “I want to know more about trucks, so I am looking for truck books.”
  • “I have to research the constitution, do you have a book on that?”

So what’s missing? Not one reader mentioned their purpose for reading. Even when I asked:  What is your reason for wanting more information about snakes? What about trucks is most important for you to discover? What aspect of the constitution is the subject of your research?

Readers can only be assured that they have selected the “just- right” text when their purpose aligns with the content.

I know that many of our elementary librarians teach lessons on “author’s purpose” to our students. What a great way of making a connection from lesson to life than to help students relate the author’s purpose to their own purpose for reading a book.

The next time you have kids in the library looking for something to read, don’t just ask them what their interests are or what kinds of TV shows or movies they enjoy. Also talk to them about their purpose for reading. It’s one more piece of information that you can use to help you connect your students to the right books for them!

And if you’re interested in some great ideas for ways to teach your students about nonfiction books, check out Angela’s other posts, starting with this one:

Celebrating Non-Fiction, Part 1

Favorite Christmas books

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An administrator called last week looking for a new picture book to share with all the little ones who will be at her house this Christmas Eve. She was ready for something other than old favorites like The Polar Express and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. These are the titles (in no particular order) that MISD elementary librarians recommended.

The Gift of the Christmas Cookie: Sharing the True Meaning of Jesus Birth by Dandi Daley Mackall

gift of the xmas cookie

That’s Good! That’s Bad! on Santa’s Journey by Margery Cuyler

thats good

A Cup of Christmas Tea by Tom Hegg

cup_of_xmas_tea

Welcome Comfort by Patricia Polacco

welcome comfort

Santa Claustrophobia by Mike Reiss

santa claustrophobia

Mortimer’s Christmas Manger by Karma Wilson

mortimer

Bear’s First Christmas by Robert Kinerk

bear's_1st_xmas

The Little Drummer Mouse by Mercer Mayer

drummer mouse

Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner

What are your new Christmas favorites?

Kindle or Nook? Neither!

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If you’re thinking of putting an e-reader like the Amazon Kindle or the Barnes & Noble Nook on your Christmas list, you might want to wait. Google is about to enter the e-book game, possibly rendering both of those devices obsolete.

kindle2

Live Science reports:

On Oct. 15 Google announced plans to open an electronic book store. Unlike Amazon’s strategy with the Kindle-only format, Google plans to deliver eBooks to any device with a web browser. Google has not announced a format, but it is likely Google book downloads will only require a browser plug-in to read books on any device with a screen.

If Google is successful, hardware will be moot, any screen will do, and the largest collection of reading material in the world will be available to anyone and any institution with a screen.

Read the full article here.

A library without books?

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Back in September, Cushing Academy in Massachusetts made the news by announcing that they were removing all of the books from the library in order to make room for digital information sources. This move prompted librarians and education bloggers around the country to write and wonder about the place that print resources have in a 21st century library. A great response came from Brian Kenney, editor of School Library Journal, in his editorial from the October issue.

In this month’s issue of Teacher Librarian though, David Loertscher puts it all in perspective with this list:

Ten Things Worse Than a Library Without Books:

1. A library without a credentialed teacher-librarian.

2. A library without information in the format users prefer.

3. A library that restricts access to information in any format.

4. A library that most teachers ignore.

5. A library that most students Google around.

6. A teacher-librarian who is afraid of, or ignores the impact of technology.

7. A library that only deals in print materials.

8. A library of antiquated computers and computer networks.

9. A library where tech directors have a big sign behind their desks reading: Just say NO!

10. An empty library.

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He makes a great point – what’s the point of having a library (with or without books) at all, if students and teachers aren’t using it?

In a time when information is plentiful and easy to get, users have to believe that coming to the library adds value to their information experience or they will get what they need elsewhere. What are you doing to add value to your students’ and teachers’ experiences in the library?

State book awards – TASLA Day 2

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Jane Claes and Janet Hilbun have been doing research about state book awards and shared their findings with us.

Did you know that 49 states have a state book award? Mississippi is the only one that doesn’t and they are considering it.

Why are state book awards so important? They get kids to read and think critically about literature in order to make their selection. The book lists of nominees are also great collection development tools.

The Pacific Northwest Young Reader’s award is the oldest of the state book awards, first given in 1940. Only 11 of the awards were chosen exclusively (nominated and selected) by children. In most cases, the books are nominated by adults and children, then voted on by children.

Nomination criteria vary, but in most cases there is a publication date, whether or not the book is still in print, and the author is living. Some states say that books that have won a Newbery or Caldecott are not eligible.

Generally, students must read a certain number of books to vote and librarians handle the voting in school and public libraries.

The major difference between state and national book awards is that children participate in the selection of the winner.

Big recent winners are:

Eragon by Christopher Paolini – 21 awards

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer – 16 awards

Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo – 15 awards

In the past four years, the top 5 winners have all been considered fantasy or science fiction or magical realism and all of these winners have had movies in production.

It is interesting to note that the top authors who have won state book awards have never won a national book award, such as the Newbery or Caldecott. Some of these authors are Peg Kehret, Andrew Clements, and Dan Gutman.

There are 27 books about dogs that won 47 awards. Five books with the word “ghost” in the title won 11 awards and 16 series books won 21 awards. Ten sequels won 70 awards.

What does this mean for collection development? Taken as a whole, state book awards show clearly what students like and want to read. These books have already been through a rigorous selection process. Looking at these lists also help you keep up with trends in student reading. It is an existing tool that many librarians are not using.

Janet and Jane have a book on this topic coming out this fall: Coast to Coast: Exploring State Book Awards from Libraries Unlimited. Another resource is H.W. Wilson’s Core Collection of state book awards.

A really great and untapped resource for collection development!

New portal for book related media

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Have you ever wondered why there isn’t a “go to” place for educator-created media that promotes books, reading and literacy? Well, some of the great thinkers in our profession have. Not only have they been thinking about it, someone (Joyce Valenza) has done something about it.

Bookvideoning.com is a new portal where teachers, librarians and students can share media (in any digital format) to promote books, reading, and literacy K-12.

In my travels around the web, I have seen lots of great video book trailers, Voicethreads, Animotos, and other digital storytelling efforts. What a fabulous idea to have them all collected in one online space.

I encourage you to participate and upload your creations. Here is my contribution.

Nearest Book Meme

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No, she wasn’t much of a drinker.

The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb

Rules:
* Get the book nearest to you. Right now.
* Go to page 56.
* Find the 5th sentence.
* Write this sentence – either here or on your blog.
* Copy these instructions as commentary of your sentence.
* Don’t look for your favorite book or your coolest but really the nearest.

I just finished this book over the weekend and it was still here on the end table by the couch. It was a great read that I’m still thinking about.

What book is closest to you right now? Follow the rules above and share!

Richardson ISD Literary Festival

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Richardson ISD will be hosting their 8th annual Literary Festival on January 29, 2009 from 4:30-6:30.

This year’s festival features Sarah Weeks, author of more than 30 children’s & YA books, including So B. It, Regular Guy and Mrs. McNosh Hangs Up Her Wash.

Events include a keynote by Sarah Weeks, booktalks of the current 2×2, Bluebonnet, Lone Star and Tayshas lists, author signing, and a book fair where books by Sarah Weeks and others will be available for purchase.

For more information, download the event flyer.