Reviews of Professional Reading

A thorough guide for librarians, early childhood educators, or college students preparing for a career in infant-care professions. Extensive preliminary chapters cover such things as identifying the audience, considering the developmental needs of the babies, and selecting and teaching the rhymes and books. The remainder of the book contains thoughtful suggestions of specific rhymes and songs, as well as comments to use with parents between the songs, rhymes, and books during the program. Several half-hour programs are included as examples. A musical CD provides samples of songs that would be more difficult to find elsewhere. This book is a must-have for those embarking upon "Baby and Me" or "Mother Goose"-type programs.—Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA

This resource provides a wealth of songs, fingerplays, and chants to share with toddlers through kindergarteners. Dailey presents original tunes, with written music notation in the text and recorded tracks on the CD, on a variety of subjects. She includes suggestions for presentation, patterns for visual aids (also included on the CD), and recommendations for "Picture Book Pairings." The author also recycles classic children's tunes and puts new words to them. She presents new ideas for traditional songs (visual aids for "BINGO") and new songs based on classic stories ("Little Red Hen"). Program planners will find the hello/welcome, "name tag," and "quiet-down" songs especially useful. Dailey's ditties are not particularly memorable and the CD is a must if one is to learn them. However, such tunes as "Roll the Snow" and "Stand Up" are clever and fun, and many of the prop suggestions will delight children. The patterns for magnetic or felt-board props are difficult to use from the book, but they are clearly presented on the CD. While this is not a core resource for storytime planning like Jane Cobb's I'm a Little Teapot! (Black Sheep, 1996), it does provide many unique ideas for libraries able to purchase widely in this area.—Rachel G. Payne, Brooklyn Public Library, NY

Hubert suggests 100 recently published YA titles and arranges them by themes such as "Boy Meets Book," "Righteous Riot Grrl Reads," "The Closet Club: Fiction for GLBTQ Teens and Their Friends," "The Terrible Tweens," "Graphic Fantastic," and "Dystopian Dreams: Teen Sci-Fi." Each chapter has at least one or two award-winning authors, some of whom may be more familiar than others, but all of whom should be in YA collections. Each novel includes the following information: the story (yes, Hubert gives some endings away); the message (prominent themes); the most likely audience (guidelines only); why it rocks; likely titles to "hook it up with," and citations for reviews. Any library wishing to expand its YA collection or booktalking catalog will want this valuable book. It will also be helpful for setting up displays.—Lori E. Donovan, Thomas Dale High School, Chester, VA

Simpson and Duwel are committed to the benefits of collaboration among public librarians, media specialists, and teachers. They have practiced this collaboration and offer a comprehensive how-to-do-it manual for promoting school visits to the public library. The book begins with detailed suggestions concerning staff needs, schedules, and cost estimates. Procedures and materials for elementary and secondary school visits are followed by an invaluable chapter detailing common challenges and possible solutions. A chapter on the benefits of class visits for students, educators, public librarians, and the community includes impacts and outcomes invaluable for preparing proposals for school and library administrators. The appendixes include comprehensive outlines and tips for class visits and assignment planning along with numerous sample forms that can be adapted for individual library use.—Rebecca Sheridan, Easttown Library & Information Center, Berwyn, PA

Walter addresses the issue of war-and peace-by examining the information needs of children and how we as professionals can meet them. The first section paraphrases Ranganathan's famous recommendation, "The right book for the right child and the right time," as its title and discusses what children need to know, what they have the right to know, and why we need to share these books with them. The bulk of the book is the annotated listing of resources that is divided topically: "War as History," "Hope and Glory," "The Consequences of War," "The Horrors of War," "The American Home Front," and "Peace and Alternatives to War." This well-annotated bibliography includes books, DVDs, Web sites, and CDs, as well as suggestions for using the materials. Each entry is given a rating according to recommendation. Reading levels, curriculum connections, developmental issues, sensitivity, and general tips are addressed in preparation for sharing books with children, and this information should be required reading for anyone addressing this topic in the classroom. The book concludes with case studies based on the Trojan War and 9/11 where larger themes are explored in the context of the two events. An extensive section of references for adults and numerous appendixes and indexes are included. This book should be a "must purchase" not only for use as a collection development tool, but more importantly as a guide to introducing children to a difficult subject.—Janet Hilbun, Texas Woman's University, Denton

In his approach to creating theme-based activities using writing, art, drama, music, and other techniques with children, Zingher advocates clustering picture books, fiction, poetry, and films around nontraditional topics to spark student-directed creative journeys. In lively prose, he describes the evolution of this approach and suggests ideas for launching imaginative exploration. In one of his unique units, after exploring the theme of labyrinths, tunnels, and mazes through such eclectic books and topics as The House of Dies Drear, the Minotaur myth, Slake's Limbo, and urban subways via research, drama, writing, and mapmaking, a fifth-grade class constructed a labyrinth featuring interactive experiences and displays. For each entry, Zingher includes an exhaustive list of books, films, and other works. While the author's awe-inspiringly experimental approach may prove overwhelming to novices since he offers limited guidance on implementation and relies on older works, it may inspire veteran school or public librarians to explore these themes and classic works in new and broader dimensions.—Rachel G. Payne, Brooklyn Public Library, NY