Professional Reading

This second installment of booktalks fulfills its self-proclaimed usefulness as a tool for media specialists. The introduction describes the intended audience for the books suggested and explains the format. One section discusses various booktalking techniques and methods that can be used to present the books. Each entry includes useful information such as subject, genre, and the suggested audience associated with the book. A brief annotation, a script for the booktalk, and page references for an excerpt add to the depth of information. Curriculum connections complete with possible research projects are also included. Finally, each book is complemented by five similar titles with bibliographic information, making this a resource with more than 425 titles. The majority of the 75 entry titles were published after 2003, making this an excellent source for current young adult materials. While the quality of the booktalks varies, all of the entries provide a valuable starting point for discussing any of the selections. Whether booktalking is a goal or an ongoing endeavor, this title will provide a wealth of possibilities for promoting teen reading.—Lynn Rashid, Marriots Ridge High School, Marriotsville, MD

This text addresses how teachers and library media specialists can collaborate to incorporate media literacy into the curricula. Starting with background information about media literacy, De Abreu moves into practical and useful lessons that can be adapted to a K-12 curriculum, and finally to a list of resources to expand on the ideas presented. She offers real-world collaboration ideas and topics for the classroom while giving students skills that remain long after they leave it. The lessons are broken down by media formats, both older (radio and television) and emerging (iPods and other virtual formats); most have been used with grades five through eight but all can be adapted for other grades. Each one contains objectives, lesson handouts, assessments, and evaluation tools. This is a useful resource for teaching students to evaluate, analyze, and even create their own media.—Lori E. Donovan, Thomas Dale High School, Chester, VA

Any librarian involved in the planning and designing of a media center will find this newly updated edition an invaluable guide. The first chapter outlines the overall process, including educating oneself, hiring a consultant, forming committees, visiting other libraries, developing budgets for furniture and technology, etc. Successive chapters include information and tips for communication and careful program planning, preparing for the development of future technology, analyzing current and future space needs, creating an attractive interior, providing easy accessibility, and creating libraries for school and public services. A brief chapter looks at using environmentally friendly products and suggests judicious use of energy. Numerous black-and-white photos, drawings, and diagrams complement the text. Appendixes provide symbols for understanding architectural drawings; suggestions for space allocations, shelving, chair and table heights, and furniture specifications; and a list of sources for furniture and fixtures. The text concludes with an additional reading list and a detailed index.—Susan Shaver, Hemingford Public Schools, NE

This book takes library media specialists step-by-step through revising or writing their own collection-development policies. This second edition includes updates in services, such as technology and the Internet, and provides helpful ideas and philosophies. The focus is on Library 2.0 technology while still incorporating the more traditional means of collection development. Beginning with a mission statement, the book proceeds to digital information, copyright issues, weeding, and acceptable-use policies. Examples of best policies for public, private, and academic school libraries are included in each section, as are references to Information Power, G. Edward Evans and Margaret Zarnosky Saponaro's Developing Library and Information Center Collections (Libraries Unlimited, 2005), and Elizabeth Futas's Collection Development Policies and Procedures (Onyx, 1994). What this book adds to those resources are practical examples from school library systems and policy examples of the newer Library 2.0 technology—such as adding a collection development policy for each school's virtual collection. The appendixes provide links to valuable resources on intellectual freedom, acceptable-use policies, and a sample form for confronting a challenge.—Lori E. Donovan, Thomas Dale High School, Chester, VA

The authors observe that teens in the process of developing their identities often experiment with names, manipulating and creating them as a way of presenting their individuality to others. Here, they examine contemporary authors who use names as a literary technique. They cite as examples M. E. Kerr, Gary Paulsen, and Polly Horvath, who use them to evoke humor, while Robert Cormier treated them as an expression of tone in several works. The Nilsens also look at the naming devices used by Karen Cushman, Gary Soto, Adam Rapp, Nancy Farmer, Orson Scott Card, Ursula K. Le Guin, Sandra Cisneros, Maya Angelou, Cynthia Kadohata, and Sherman Alexie, among others, to show how they establish time periods or settings, or reveal ethnic values. The text is written in a scholarly style for readers interested in teaching and sharing literature with young adults. Although some sources are mentioned in the text, the addition of footnotes citing all of the sources would clarify references. Still, this volume offers an interesting exploration of the use of this literary device for teachers of teen literature and for librarians who share books with teens.—Rebecca Sheridan, Easttown Library & Information Center, Berwyn, PA

Music is a fun and imaginative way to liven up any storytime and this guide offers new ideas for incorporating it into children's programming. The nine lesson plans that kick off the book are fully planned sessions that are perfect for librarians needing to put together a last-minute program. A chapter featuring book/song pairings offers new ways to experience favorite picture books while the chapter entitled "More Musical Ideas" shows how to add movement to and encourage participation in a variety of children's songs. This slim volume is nicely organized, making it easy for busy librarians to find suggested materials that will fit their storytime. A great resource for anyone who wants to spice up toddler, preschool, or kindergarten programs. —Danielle M. Margarida, Sharon Public Library, MA