Abshire, Sheryl & others. The Savvy Edtech Leader: Innovative Strategies to Boost Influence and Elevate Your Career. 216p. ISTE. Oct. 2024. pap. $39.99. ISBN 9798888370445.
This book centers on succeeding in the field of educational technology leadership through integrity and staying true to one’s values. Four authors present a thorough analysis of excellence in leadership, in conjunction with the value of teamwork, using the lens of edtech espoused by the Consortium for School Networking and the ISTE’s Education Leaders Standards section. The Education Leaders section of the ISTE Standards supports the implementation of the Students, Coaches, and Educators sections by targeting the knowledge and behaviors required for leaders to empower teachers and coaches and to boost student learning. The authors provide strategies that acknowledge these leaders’ dual roles of being adept managers of systems and exemplary leaders of individuals. This book is divided into 12 chapters. The first six clearly define what makes an outstanding leader, with examples and practical steps provided for each characteristic, from transparency to authenticity to resilience. Chapters seven through 12 expand on the impact exceptional leadership can make on edtech within schools and divisions, focusing on the significance of leadership on team effort. Each chapter opens by highlighting which standard is being addressed and continues with key strategies to achieve meaningful edtech leadership growth. An expansive bibliography and index are included for further reading. VERDICT A recommended purchase for school libraries with dynamic professional collections, especially where titles such as Vickie F. Echols’s AI for School Leaders: 62 Ways to Lighten Your Workload and Focus on What Matters and Dave Durand’s Leading Giants: A Leader’s Guide to Maximum Influence are popular.–Susan Catlett

Becnel, Kim & Robin A. Moeller, eds. Using Literature to Support Children’s Mental Health. 152p. ALA Eds. Jan. 2025. pap. $49.99. ISBN 9798892555760.
This book is an excellent source of information for helping others in a post-pandemic world. It offers a superb explanation of bibliotherapy and best practice methods for application. The chapters are arranged by content relating to specific needs, including anxiety, grief, obsessive-compulsive disorder, autism, and general mental health, as well as resources for the unique needs of Muslim children, Black girls, and Latin American migrants. Suggested titles include picture books, chapter books, novels, and graphic novels; this range of genres will assist caregivers in selecting the right material for their readers. The many book recommendations will enable children to feel less alone in difficult situations. LGBTQIA+ populations and their unique needs are not addressed, nor are there resources for persons experiencing antisemitism. This title will be helpful for those who work in the mental health field, though parents and caregivers could also benefit from the resources provided. It is easy to use and features a thoroughly researched index. VERDICT An excellent resource for librarians, educators, and parents, this is recommended for school, public, and academic libraries.–April Crowder

Burkins, Lynsey & Franki Sibberson. In Community with Readers: Transforming Reading Instruction with Read-Alouds and Minilessons. 262p. Routledge. Aug. 2024. pap. $38.99. ISBN 9781625316509.
With recent emphasis on small-group instruction, the value of whole-class lessons can sometimes be overlooked. This title highlights the benefits and camaraderie that emerge when students read and analyze together. The authors emphasize strengthening classroom community by incorporating freedom, choice, agency, and love into whole-group instruction. Drawing on years of teaching experience with colleagues, Burkins and Sibberson focus on the power of read-alouds and mini-lessons to engage students intellectually and to foster joy, while sparking meaningful conversations that build genuine connections. The book features practical tools, including charts outlining key skills, recommended mentor texts, tips for creating personalized mentor text lists, and a sample schedule integrating mini-lessons and read-alouds. Packed with photos of students and real-life classroom stories, the book is more anecdotal than academic, making its strategies relatable and achievable. This approach seamlessly blends classroom experience with standards to shine a light on the value of whole-group instruction. VERDICT A recommended purchase for educators seeking to enhance community building through purposeful and engaging discussions.–Rachel Joiner

Fernandez, Michael & Amauri Serrano. Streaming Video Collection Development and Management. 264p. Bloomsbury. Feb. 2025. pap. $74.95. ISBN 9781440880858.
Many public libraries, some school libraries, and 96.7 percent of academic libraries offer patrons access to video content, and many users request or expect streaming options. Distance learning, educator and student preferences, materials that are not available as physical DVDs, and lack of easy access to a DVD player are a few drivers that make on-demand streaming video access an expanding and specialized part of the library collection landscape. Fernandez and Serrano walk collection development and acquisitions library staff at all levels of experience through the theoretical and the practical aspects, concluding with thoughts on future directions and challenges. Most examples are drawn from academic libraries, but public libraries, and to a lesser extent, school libraries, will benefit from the thoughtful discussions, arranged in chapters roughly by flow of activity, from evaluating purchasing sources, to accessibility considerations, licensing, hosting options, value/drawbacks of adding video records to a library catalog, usage statistics, and deaccessioning. Along with thoughtful big picture strategy and practical considerations, the authors provide workflow strategies and samples of usage statistic formats. Real world “streaming vignettes” of library experiences appear between chapters. Furthering utility are appendices with model guidelines, a cataloging template, contact information for educational providers and distributors, and additional resources, including articles and professional organizations. VERDICT Readable, supportive, and well-organized, this offers necessary information for making, interacting with, or carrying out video streaming decisions for anyone tasked with developing a library video streaming program.–Maggie Knapp

Fester, James. The National Park Classroom: A Guide to Designing Project-Based Learning Adventures. 192p. ISTE. Mar. 2025. pap. $34.99. ISBN 9798888370384.
With a friendly style and an informative stance, this book shows educators how to make use of the National Park Classroom (NPC) model to engage students at all grade levels in active and meaningful learning in every subject. The NPC model is both flexible and rigorous. Fester, a former classroom teacher, teacher educator, and park ranger, successfully bridges the gap between classroom and park settings in order to provide a model of exciting and active learning. The book provides examples of how to teach a wide range of academic subjects, including science, social studies, mathematics, literacy, and the arts. It also deals with best practices for distance learning and inquiry. A strength of the book is the abundance of links to sources of teaching materials, videos, examples of how to provide active roles for students, and student work samples. This is a book that can be consulted many times as teachers build meaningful curricula for their students. VERDICT The author’s friendly, inviting writing style and the abundance of links to sources, videos, and examples of teaching materials make this an invaluable guide for all teachers.–Myra Zarnowski

Hawkins, Ashley & others. Manga Goes to School: Cultivating Engagement and Inclusion in K–12 Settings. 216p. (AASL Standards-Based Learning Series). ALA Eds. Dec. 2024. pap. $49.99. ISBN 9798892555852.
A multi-author title on bringing manga to school libraries, this book addresses problems of specific concern to school librarians: limited budgets, restrictive collection development policies, spatial constraints, and the need for collections that support colleagues and curricular standards. It is arranged logically, beginning with basics of the format, proceeding into increasingly specific advice regarding collections and readers, and concluding with a number of ready-made lesson plans. The authors provide useful guidelines for selecting and organizing a manga collection that will attract readers and improve circulation. They also offer a variety of reading lists and workable suggestions for confidently providing high-quality readers’ advisory without a massive time investment. The lesson plans support specific AASL standards and should engage and validate learners, advertise the collections, and invite productive collaboration with colleagues. This book presupposes no familiarity with the manga format yet will still be useful even to longtime manga readers. VERDICT This adaptable title addresses the specific concerns of school librarian professionals and is a recommended purchase for those interested in developing a new manga collection or improving and promoting an existing one. –Anne Nelson

Poth, Rachelle Dené. What the Tech?: An Educator’s Guide to AI, AR/VR, the Metaverse and More. 175p. ISTE. Mar. 2025. pap. $34.99. ISBN 9798888370209.
An introductory look at emerging technologies for K–12 educators. Poth examines topics including artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, NFTs in education, the Metaverse, Web 3.0, and cybersecurity, providing research-based insights and practical strategies for classroom integration. Each chapter includes sample lesson plans and sidebars to connect theory to practice. The “Educator Story” sections are a highlight, offering relatable and practical examples of how teachers have integrated these technologies into their classrooms. However, the “Student Story” feature is limited to a single example focused on artificial intelligence. This narrow scope leaves readers without more student perspectives to fully understand the impact of these tools in the classroom. While this book provides a broad overview of emerging technologies, its lesson plans often feel surface-level, without the depth needed for educators seeking robust, actionable strategies. The lack of more detailed exploration of the tools themselves and their specific applications weakens the book’s practical value. However, this book may serve as a useful starting point for educators new to these topics. VERDICT School librarians, technology specialists, and administrators interested in fostering digital literacy and exploring future-ready skills may find value in this book’s insights, though they might need additional resources for deeper implementation.–Corey Hall

Seymour, Gina. Youth Social Action in the Library: Cultivating Change Makers. 248p. Bloomsbury. Mar. 2025. pap. $49.95. ISBN 9781440870378.
This professional handbook features quotess from prominent civic activists, such as Barack and Michelle Obama, while providing guidance, statistics, and resources to support teacher-librarians in modeling empathy, advocacy, and community engagement. A key strength of the book is its wealth of practical resources. To support students in productive and respectful arguments, one chapter offers strategies for redirecting student disagreements, practicing effective communication techniques, and using media literacy resources in both print and digital formats. Other chapters explore topics such as student-led activism, integrating social justice, and building inclusive library spaces where all students are seen and represented. However, while the book provides valuable classroom applications, it lacks substantial research-based support for its strategies and techniques. The content is presented in an informal, engaging tone, directly addressing readers to foster a sense of shared vision and purpose. The accessible writing style makes the book an easy read for librarians at any stage of their careers, providing inspiration alongside practical advice. VERDICT A useful and encouraging resource for educators seeking to promote advocacy, civic engagement, and social action among students.–Tracey S. Hodges

Shontz, Priscilla K., ed. Careers in Library and Information Services: First-Hand Accounts from Working Professionals. 392p. Bloomsbury. Jan. 2025. Tr $130. ISBN 9798216185864; pap. $59.95. ISBN 9798216185758.
Drawing on personal experience and expertise from library and information sciences professionals in 101 different roles, this edited collection is rich with diverse perspectives and candid details about professional paths in LIS. In five sections, the voices included here speak of work in public libraries, school libraries, academic libraries, special libraries, and a final section that shares the possibilities that exist beyond the library. From part-time work to upper-level leadership roles, the careers presented are at the same time broad and deeply personal: each contributor answered the same six questions based on their unique experiences, and no two entries read the same. The editorial choice to preserve the voices of the contributors is deliberate and incredibly effective. This collection is conversational and friendly, providing a strong sense of authenticity about LIS professions and the people drawn to these roles. Non-library and information sciences professionals will benefit from this candid collection as well; the guiding questions that the contributors responded to in diverse ways are crucial tools for self-reflection for any stage of an individual’s career journey, and this collection emphasizes the importance of shared values as an important factor in making career choices. Outside of library fields, this book may prove especially useful to scholars and academics, especially when considering the evolving nature of knowledge accessibility and community engagement. VERDICT A must-purchase text for recent and aspiring library science grads, career planning collections, and anyone exploring career changes in academic and public spheres.–Jen McConnel

Whitehurst, Roy S. Teaching Media Literacy with Social Media News: Practical Techniques for Middle and High School Classrooms. 328p. (Eye on Education). Routledge. Aug. 2024. pap. $32.99. ISBN 9781032740577.
In this timely title, Whitehurst, a former CIA analyst, provides a wealth of social media examples to employ in media literacy instruction. The foundation of the text is solid; in addition to giving background about his experience and media evaluation tactics, Whitehurst also ties the book’s lessons to Common Core and ISTE standards. Emphasizing critical thinking skills over media literacy tools, the book provides contextual information and relevant examples about bias, social media ecosystems, visual information, fact-checking, bots, artificial intelligence, logical fallacies, and more, guided by the SIFT method. While its content and pool of examples are strong, for a book with “Teaching” in the title, the text lacks pedagogical guidance. Most chapters begin with a detailed background on the issue followed by a brief lesson plan, which usually comprises only a set of social media examples and a list of questions for students to answer. Readers looking for dynamic lesson ideas or innovative ways to present contextual information on these issues will not find that here. Additionally, though the audience is stated to be middle and high school teachers, some of the concepts, procedures, and examples are advanced for middle schoolers, particularly the chapters on evaluating arguments. Though there are shortcomings, the breadth of examples provided do make it a worthwhile purchase. VERDICT Recommended for schools looking to expand or update their professional resources on media literacy instruction; consider using in conjunction with a pedagogically focused text to more effectively teach the included examples.–Mary Kamela