| December
2007
Dear Fellow Book
Lovers:
READING
ROUND-UP
This is the time
of year when review journals are making their lists of the
best children’s books in the previous year. School Library
Journal just posted their list, and Random House has
the following titles: Into
the Woods by Lyn Gardner; illustrated by Mini
Grey (Ages 8-12), How
it Happened in Peach Hill by Marthe Jocelyn (Ages
12 up), Velma
Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly by Alan Madison;
illustrated by Kevin Hawkes ( Ages 4-8), What
They Found by Walter Dean Myers (Ages 14 up),
and Red
Glass by Laura Resau (Ages 10 up). These decisions
are made by adults, often with little attention to the reading
interests of children. Collection development librarians eagerly
await the expert opinions of reviewers, and use allocated
funds to purchase these books. But it is extremely important
that we recognize children’s views as well. The end of the
calendar year is a perfect time to get children and young
adults involved with selecting “the best” books they have
read in the past year. It doesn’t have to be new books. It
simply needs to include books that children and young adults
have read since January 1, 2007. The wonderful thing about
children’s books is that there are always children “growing
into” books in the library’s collection. Here are a few ideas
for a Reading Round-Up:
- Sponsor a Reading Round-Up Day on which
children and young adults can talk about the books they’ve
read in the previous year. Teach them the art of booktalking—how
to summarize without giving away the ending, how to be brief,
and finally, how to state an opinion. Do not accept “I liked
this book just because.”
- Assign an older reader as a facilitator
to a group of preschoolers. Have each child bring his/her
favorite book to the group. The facilitator should read
aloud each child’s choice. Then have the group vote on a
favorite book to include on a list of the library’s favorite
books for 2007. Assure every child that his/her favorite
book will be displayed in the library during the month of
December.
- Book discussion groups of older readers
may vote on the books they enjoyed the most in the previous
year.
- Make a display of children’s book choices
in the adult section of the library. In this way, adults
will see the books and be encouraged to get their children
involved in the library’s programs.
- Encourage staff members in the children’s
room to post their favorite books of the year on the library’s
website. If the library doesn’t have a space on the website,
then the titles of these books and a brief annotation may
be displayed in the library so that children and their parents
see them.
- Cut white construction paper the size
of a placemat. Have children draw a picture that best represents
their favorite book of the year. Ask them to include the
title and author in their picture. Laminate the placemats
and ask a civic group like a Rotary Club or a local group
of language arts teachers to use the placemats at their
next dinner meeting.
In
addition to the books already named, here are some 2007 Random
House books that I believe children and young adults are likely
to put on their favorites list:
PICTURE
BOOKS
The
Jewel Box Ballerinas by Monique de Varennes;
illustrated by Ana Juan (Ages 4-8)
Mary
and the Mouse, The Mouse and Mary by Beverly
Donofrio; illustrated by Barbara McClintock (Ages 3-7)
Nothing
but Trouble: The Story of Althea Gibson by
Sue Stauffacher; illustrated by Greg Couch
(Ages 5-8)
The
Poky Little Puppy Special Anniversary Edition Little Golden
Book by Janette Sebring Lowrey; illustrated
by Gustaf Tenggren (Ages 2-5)
The
Adventures of Max and Pinky: Superheroes
by Maxwell Eaton (Ages 5-8)
The
Wicked Big Toddlah by Kevin
Hawkes (Ages 4-8)
Together
by Jane Simmons (Ages 4-8)
Waking
Up Wendell by April Stevens; illustrated by
Tad Hills (Ages 4-8)
Whale
by David Lucas (Ages 5-8)
EARLY
READERS
Babymouse
#5: Heartbreaker by Jennifer L.Holm and Matt
Holm (Ages 7-10)
Moxy
Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little
by Peggy Gifford; photographed by Valorie Fisher
(Ages 7-11)
Soupy
Saturdays with the Pain and the Great One by
Judy Blume; illustrated by James Stevenson (Ages 5-9)
MIDDLE
GRADE
At
the Firefly Gate by Linda Newbery (Ages 10
up)
Butterfingers
by J. M. Trewellard; illustrated by Ian Beck (Ages 8-12)
The
Fabled Fourth Graders of Aesop Elementary School
by Candace Fleming (Ages 7-11)
The
Friskative Dog by Susan Straight (Ages 8-12)
Night
of the Howling Dogs by Graham Salisbury (Ages
8-12)
No
Castles Here by A.C.E. Bauer (Ages 9-13)
Raleigh's
Page by Alan Armstrong; illustrated by Tim
Jessell (Ages 10-12)
Tomorrow's
Magic by Pamela F. Service (Ages 8-12)
Vasco,
Leader of the Tribe by Anne-Laure Bondoux;
translated by Y. Maudet (Ages 8-12)
YOUNG
ADULT
Diamonds
in the Shadow by Caroline B. Cooney (Ages 12
up)
Evolution,
Me & Other Freaks of Nature by Robin Brande
(Ages 12 up)
Feels
Like Home by e.E. Charlton-Trujillo (Ages 12
up)
How
to Get Suspended and Influence People by Adam
Selzer (Ages 12 up)
The
Other Half of Me by Emily Franklin (Ages 14
up)
The
Quantum July by Ron King (Ages 10 up)
Spanking
Shakespeare by Jake Wizner; illustrated by
Richard Ewing (Ages 14 up)
Your
Own, Sylvia: A Verse Portrait of Sylvia Plath
by Stephanie Hemphill (Ages 12 up)
You
may email me at pscales@bellsouth.net.
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