The lastest scoop on books and publishing for children and teens from School Library Journal
Scieszka Bumps ‘Graveyard Book’ from SLJ's Battle of the (Kids') Books SLJ Staff - 04/13/2009
Say what? Sid Fleischman’s The Trouble Begins at 8: A Life of Mark Twain in the Wild, Wild West(Greenwillow) bumped Neil Gaiman’s Newbery-winning The Graveyard Book (HarperCollins) out of the running in SLJ’s Battle of the (Kids') Books contest. More
Teen Book Buzz Webcast 2009 Introduces 60 New YA Titles By SLJ Staff - 11/02/2009
More than 60 new YA titles were introduced in 60 minutes during Teen Book Buzz Webcast 2009, sponsored by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's BookGroup, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Follett Library Resources, and School Library Journal.More
Ordinary Heroes: Barbara O'Connor's latest book, 'The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis,' is a big treat By Rick Margolis - 11/01/2009
Popeye lives with his grandmother, Velma, who recites the names of the kings and queens of England in chronological order so she won’t go crazy. What else should we know about Popeye’s life? Popeye lives in a small Southern town with nothing to do in the summer, and he’s bored. And then, lo and behold, a shiny silver motor home gets stuck in the mud in front of his house and, ...
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Yes, They Can: Google Lit Trips and games give kids a new perspective on social justice By Lauren Barack - 11/01/2009
Children, especially girls, are finding supporters across the globe—some their own age—who are engaging with virtual education programs, an online game, and books that promote social justice and a better world. “Education seems like a simple thing,” says Greg Mortenson, coauthor of Three Cups of Tea (Viking, 2006) and founder of the nonprofit Pennies for Peace.
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When Weeding Is Wrong: A principal asks for banned books to be removed from the collection By Pat Scales - 11/01/2009
A parent of one of our eighth graders came into the library and began pulling books off our shelves. She ended up stacking 15 books on the circulation desk—including The Giver, The Chocolate War, Monster, and Looking for Alaska—and demanded that we permanently remove them from our collection.
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A Touch of Grace By Madeleine Blais - 11/01/2009
From Grace Lin’s blog: June 19, 2007 Relief Even though I have been quiet about it, the last two weeks have been really brutal. Robert has suffered viciously, yet still soldiered on. I felt the least I could do was try to do the same. But the last few days have brought improvement and relief, and as it rains upon us, my creative seeds begin to sprout again… and it looks like I’...
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This Blog's for You: Ten of the best blogs for folks who take kids' lit seriously (but not too seriously) By Elizabeth Bird - 11/01/2009
A magazine article changed my life. Admittedly, that sounds like a bit of hyperbole, but it's true. There I was in New York City, with my shiny new MLIS degree, working at my very first children's librarian post. I was still experiencing that first flush of excitement people have when they start a new job in an occupation they love, and I was reading every article in every children's literature...
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Junie B. Jones Tour Bus Promotes Latest Book By Rocco Staino - 10/14/2009
Junie B. Jones, star of Barbara Park’s popular series about a precocious six-year-old, has hit the road again with a 16-city bus tour to celebrate the release of Junie B’s Essential Survival Guide to School (Random House 2009).
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Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog Jonathan Hunt, Librarian and teacher, Modesto City Schools November 3, 2009 The Plot Thickens
Laurie wrote--
I am very surprised that The Hunger Games was third on your perso... More
SLJ Covers 2009 A bigger and better view of SLJ's covers from 2009
BookExpo America 2009: SLJ's Day of Dialog School Library Journal held a Day of Dialog in conjunction with the annual BookExpo America on May 28, 2009 at the Brooklyn Public Library. Full story: bit.ly/1a0G7o
2008 National Book Awards Nominees in the young people's literature category graced the red carpet on Awards night Nov. 20, 2008.
The Alvin Ho Collection, Books 1 & 2 (unabr). 4 CDs. 4 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape (library.booksontape.com). 2009. ISBN 978-0-7393-7997-4. $38. Gr 2-4–Alvin Ho, a quirky Asian-American second grader, is articulate at home but so afraid of school that he is unable to speak while he is there.
Clowning around at the second annual Atlantic City Free Public Library Family Fun Festival last weekend. About 2,500 people came out to enjoy the beautiful day and the many festivities, including an array of performances, face painting, poetry readings by local teens, games, and music.
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The Alvin Ho Collection, Books 1 & 2 (unabr). 4 CDs. 4 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape (library.booksontape.com). 2009. ISBN 978-0-7393-7997-4. $38. 
