School Library Journal Breaking News en-us http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information. Subject to its Terms of Use (http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/info/CA260304.html) Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:53:47 PDT http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6708293.html?rssid=190 Director Chris Weitz’s film adaptation of Stephenie Meyer’s New Moon (Little, Brown, 2006) is an improvement over last year’s franchise launching Twilight, directed by Catherine Hardwicke, and will no doubt leave fans of the series eager for the next installment, while leaving others perplexed by the hoopla surrounding the critic-proof film series. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6708215.html?rssid=190 For qualified media specialists, the state of Oklahoma is a boomtown—there are more positions available than librarians to fill them. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6707739.html?rssid=190 School board members in Miami have won their fight to keep Vamos a Cuba (Heineman, 2001) off school library shelves because the book paints too rosy a picture of life in the communist nation. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:05:00 PDT http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6707740.html?rssid=190 Texting and driving are a dangerous mix, yet one in four American teens of driving age say they’ve texted while driving, and half of all teens ages 12 to 17 say they’ve been a passenger in a car while the driver has texted behind the wheel, say a new report. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:00:00 PDT http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6707896.html?rssid=190 Author and historian Phillip Hoose’s true story about a brave African-American teen who defied Jim Crow laws in March 1955 by refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white woman in Montgomery, AL, is the recipient of the 2009 National Book Award in the category for Young People’s Literature. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6707738.html?rssid=190 Students from New York City area schools were treated to a surprise guest at this year’s National Book Award’s Teen Press conference with award finalists—Claudette Colvin, the little known civil rights activist and subject of a book by Phillip Hoose showed up at the event. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6699633.html?rssid=190 Award-winning author and illustrator Mo Willems talks about his third and final Knuffle Bunny book, a musical based on the lovable stuffed animal, and what to expect in 2010. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6707250.html?rssid=190 Effie Lee Morris, a leading advocate of library services for children, minorities, and the visual impaired, and the first African-American president of the Public Library Association (PLA), died of cancer on November 10 at her home in San Francisco, CA. She was 88. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6707200.html?rssid=190 The phrase “the check is in the mail” took on a whole new meaning for Phoenix, AZ, high school librarian Georgette Bordine, who recently received a surprise package in the mail containing two books belonging to the Camelback High School library—which were 51 years overdue. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:05:00 PDT http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6707282.html?rssid=190 School and public librarians are getting ready for the November 20 release of New Moon (Little, Brown, 2006), the second movie installment based on the popular Stephenie Meyer "Twilight" series about Bella and her vampire boyfriend, Edward. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:00:00 PDT http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6707283.html?rssid=190 The Princess and the Frog, an animated musical comedy from Walt Disney Animation Studios, opens in theaters nationwide on December 11, 2009. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:40:00 PDT http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6707197.html?rssid=190 Libraries were buzzing this weekend over National Gaming Day (NGD), the annual event sponsored by the American Library Association, which took place Saturday, November 14. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6707199.html?rssid=190 Only juniors and seniors at Virginia’s Roanoke County Public Schools can check out Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower (MTV, 1999), but freshman and sophomores will need parental permission to take out the often-challenged book, ruled a review committee comprised of three librarians. Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6706979.html?rssid=190 Winona Jones, former president of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) from 1990 to 1991, died November 6 of an immune deficiency. She was 81. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6706716.html?rssid=190 Rabbits, penguins, an astronaut, and a witch are some of the characters depicted in the 10 books listed by the  New York Times' Best Illustrated Books of 2009. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6706680.html?rssid=190 Director/cowriter Wes Anderson adds existential heft to Fantastic Mr. Fox, his nimble-footed adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic showdown between nature and man (Knopf, 1970). Anderson asks how a fox can attain happiness without killing and devouring its prey, toning down the book’s central question: Why wouldn’t a father steal a few chickens to save his starving children? Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:20:00 PDT http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6705959.html?rssid=190 The Calgary Board of Education (CBE) in Canada is revamping the role school libraries play in the lives of students by unveiling a learning commons, where books and other resources are combined with the latest technology and highly trained staff to create a virtual and physical space for teaching and learning. Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:05:00 PDT http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6706642.html?rssid=190 The Illinois Family Institute (IFI), a conservative organization dedicated to upholding and reaffirming marriage and family life, has called for a boycott of Scholastic. Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:00:00 PDT http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6706529.html?rssid=190 Just how well is your district or school integrating 21st century skills into current and future policies and practices? The Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21) has a new tool designed to help answer that question. Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6705675.html?rssid=190 Eloise has found another home—the New York Public Library (NYPL). Hilary Knight, the artist best-known for creating the classic character Eloise with Kay Thompson, has donated to the NYPL the papers documenting his more than 50-year career as an illustrator and author. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PDT