1.

The Science of Sports series

Play [...]]]> We’re going high interest today. Adjectives like “subtle”, “timeless”, or “quiet beauty”? Check them at the door. Plain and simple, here’s a selection of recently purchased books that I don’t think I’ll see back on the shelf until the end of the year.

1.

The Science of Sports series

Play Like the Pros series

Few areas of the collection see more traffic than sports. This also happens to be a section that is difficult to keep current, what with trades and new stars emerging every year. These two series look at professional sports with a wide view that won’t go out of date as quickly as some others.

2.

Wild Outdoors series

I work in a smaller school district in Michigan, and the outdoors is always a topic that kids are into. Due to student demand, I’ve been on the lookout for some decent hunting/fishing/camping books – this series looks like it will do the trick.

3.

Big Air series

Let us not forget the extreme sport aficionados out there. Snowboarding, BMX, books on these topics are in constant circulation. Here are a couple more.

4.

Ultimate Pro Team Guides series

One of the beautiful things about a high interest/low reading level sports book is that it can appeal to a broader age range than fiction or some other nonfiction topics. These Ultimate Guides would work with a fourth grader or a middle schooler – a pretty rare feat.

5.

Learning Musical Instruments series

I’ve talked about this series in the past. These books are for my 5th and 6th grade school and this is an age when kids really start to get into instruments – be it band, orchestra, or picking up the guitar.

6.

The Gun: A Visual History

Like it or not, books about weapons are as high interest as it gets. Can anyone show me a copy of Arms and Armor that doesn’t look like it’s been through a war? This visual history will likely follow the same path.

7.

Show Off by Sarah Hines Stephens

Probably the surest sign that a book is a high interest champ is when it has to be replaced due to nonstop circs. Such is the case here. This step-by-step guide to doing cool stuff gets a lot of love from our students.

8.

Research for the Social Improvement and General Betterment of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang (The Popularity Papers, #1) by Amy Ignatow

No, wait – the surest sign of a high-interest champ is when you have to get multiple copies to keep up with demand. Such is the case here. It’s already on our shelves, but more are needed. This illustrated novel just refuses to not be checked out. The same goes for its sequels.

9.

Trackers (Trackers, #1) by Patrick Carman

The Raven (Skeleton Creek, #4) by Patrick Carman

The Crossbones (Skeleton Creek, #3) by Patrick Carman

Patrick Carman seems to have the spooky-page-turner-meets-web-video market cornered at this point in time, and all of his books are seeing massive checkouts. Since I had to read/watch the first Skeleton Creek book in the middle of the day with all the lights on (you could say I’m “a huge wimp about scary stuff”), I’ll take students on their word that these are more of the same.

10.

Sons of Destiny (Cirque Du Freak, #12) by Darren Shan

When I first heard the name of this series back in 2003, I think my response was “come again?” But lo and behold, nearly a decade later, Darren Shan’s series is still going strong in my school library.

11.

The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall by Mary Downing Hahn

My 5th and 6th grade students love them some Mary Downing Hahn. Spooky and high interest always seem to go hand in hand. This is her most recent book, and I don’t see it getting much shelf time.

12.

Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Not Reading by Tommy Greenwald

This is a second copy. I’ve had interesting discussions with other educators about this book. The perspective of an unapologetic book hater can be hard for teachers and librarians (you know, people who want to cry when they hear a kid say they don’t like reading) to swallow. But you can’t say it isn’t funny. And if it reaches kids that other books can’t, I’m all for it.

13.

Bone: Quest for the Spark #1 by Thomas E. Sniegoski

Every now and then, one falls through the cracks. This novel (I repeat, not graphic novel) never made it to the shelf. And now I see book two is out this month! The Bone series has been checked out more than anything else over the past few years, so this book will be met with eager readers.

14.

Attack of the Fluffy Bunnies by Andrea Beaty

Screwball sells itself, and this bit of odd hilarity is no different. This one was a student request and I think it’s going to make the rounds nicely.

If you look at the numbers, men have won Caldecott far more often than women. A recent post at the blog One Minute Book Reviews asks, “What the?!” With the insanely provocative title “American Library Association to Little Kids: Women are Second Best”, you know there’s going to [...]]]>

WHERE ARE THE LADIES, CALDECOTT?

If you look at the numbers, men have won Caldecott far more often than women. A recent post at the blog One Minute Book Reviews asks, “What the?!” With the insanely provocative title “American Library Association to Little Kids: Women are Second Best”, you know there’s going to be some pot-stirring. Click here to read.

RAIDERS OF THE ARCS

With the growing legions of book bloggers and advance reader copy (ARC) excitement, some less-than-savory behavior has been popping up in the ALA conference exhibits. Chasing Ray discusses the phenomena in a recent post. Plenty to consider here. Click to read.

AN E-READER, ONE DECADE LATER

What with Kindle and Nook dominating the discussion for the last few years, you forget about the early e-readers. Library Wire looks back at the RCA REB 1100. My favorite part is when the phone cord comes out. Click here to read.

(Thanks to LISNews for the link)

2012: YESTERDAY’S NEWS

Have you had enough of all this 2012 stuff? Looking for the books that might be making waves in the 2013 Newbery race? Head over to Heavy Medal for a 2013 Newbery reading list. Click here to read.

THE BATTLE IS BACK

The School Library Journal Battle of the Kids Books is back for another go round, and the contenders were just announced. Click here to check out the roster.

Original Cover:

My Redo:

Side by Side:

Verdict: More like The Bronze Boooo! Can they all be winners? No, they cannot.

Up next week: A Wrinkle in Time [...]]]> Click here for the Covering the Newbery gallery.

1962: The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare

Original Cover:

My Redo:

Side by Side:

Verdict: More like The Bronze Boooo! Can they all be winners? No, they cannot.

Up next week: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

(Source Image: “Archery Practice” http://flic.kr/p/66WL5m)

Looking for something to fill the void left when the Today Show failed to interview the 2012 Newbery and Caldecott winners? This one’s for you.

First, a question or the masses:

Articles I read about the Today Show Newbery/Caldecott snub says the interview has taken place “for many years” or it was [...]]]>

Looking for something to fill the void left when the Today Show failed to interview the 2012 Newbery and Caldecott winners? This one’s for you.

First, a question or the masses:

Articles I read about the Today Show Newbery/Caldecott snub says the interview has taken place “for many years” or it was “traditional” or an “annual” event – does anyone have the inside scoop on how many years it actually occurred? After searching high and low, I was able to come up with four instances.

2010: Rebecca Stead and Jerry Pinkney

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

2009: Neil Gaiman and Beth Krommes

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

2008: Laura Amy Schlitz and Brian Selznick

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

2005: Cynthia Kadohata and Kevin Henkes

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

In case you missed it, check out Part I here.

Last night Stephen Colbert concluded his highly entertaining interview with Maurice Sendak. This time the children’s lit legend gives his one sound review of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and even does a bit of drawing.

Click on [...]]]>

In case you missed it, check out Part I here.

Last night Stephen Colbert concluded his highly entertaining interview with Maurice Sendak. This time the children’s lit legend gives his one sound review of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and even does a bit of drawing.

Click on the image below for the entire episode and skip to the 4:40 mark to watch.

*Note: Some of the interview is more late-night television friendly than workplace friendly – watch at your own risk*

Last night, The Colbert Report ran the first installment of a two part interview with Maurice Sendak. As you might expect, things get funny, especially when Colbert shares his idea for a Where the Wild Things Are sequel.

I didn’t see a way to embed the video, so click the image below [...]]]>

Last night, The Colbert Report ran the first installment of a two part interview with Maurice Sendak. As you might expect, things get funny, especially when Colbert shares his idea for a Where the Wild Things Are sequel.

I didn’t see a way to embed the video, so click the image below and skip to the 3:00 mark to watch.

*Note: Some of the interview is more late-night television friendly than workplace friendly – watch at your own risk*

A Fuse #8 Production’s review of the 2012 Youth Media Awards (a name I really like but feel is destined to be followed by “…you know, the Newbery and Caldecott” when talking to non-children’s lit folks) is like waking up to find you have one last piece of birthday [...]]]>

NOW HERE’S A WRAP-UP

A Fuse #8 Production’s review of the 2012 Youth Media Awards (a name I really like but feel is destined to be followed by “…you know, the Newbery and Caldecott” when talking to non-children’s lit folks) is like waking up to find you have one last piece of birthday cake left in the fridge. Click here to review the YMAs and savor the last slice of 2011.

TODAY SAYS ‘NO-BERY’

For the second year in a row, the NBC morning show said “nah, we’re good” to the Newbery and Caldecott winners. Would it help if I took back everything I said about Ann Curry’s 2008 winners interview? Click here to read about the pass in Publishers Weekly.

CALDECOTT ON NPR

But hey, we can always count on National Public Radio to cover the book stuff. They did a fine interview with Caldecott winner Chris Raschka. Click here to listen.

BEST BOOK TRAILERS

The Trailee awards were also announced at ALA Midwinter. Looking to generate some excitement about books in your library? Look no further. To see the best of the best, check out Watch. Connect. Read.

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

A funny thing happens when you subscribe to Awful Library Books – you begin to get desensitized to crazy. They highlight so many strange books that it takes something really nuts to stand out. Something like a nunchuck wielding 80s pop singer. Click here to see for yourself (and don’t forget to read the flap copy).

WHAT’S YOUR DISTRICT?

Ever wish the Hunger Games were real? Scratch that – that would be terrible. Ever wish you knew what district you’d live in if the Hunger Games were real? Here’s an unofficial map to consult. I’m in 10. Click here to check it out.

(Thanks to Bookshelves of Doom for the link)