en-us http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/community/K%2D8/47191.html?nid=3361 2009 Reed Business Information. Subject to its http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/info/260304.html Terms of Use. Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:13:44 MST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6703692.html?nid=3361 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... Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6703695.html?nid=3361 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’... Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6703707.html?nid=3361 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, ... Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6685542.html?nid=3361 Digital textbooks, once the playthings of a few Arizona high schools, are suddenly looking like they might become commonplace. And that could end up being a great thing for school librarians and, more importantly, students. Back in May, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the Free Digital Textbook Initiative, which would make open-source textbooks—for now just in science a... Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6685544.html?nid=3361 Just a couple of years ago, it was tough to find good graphic novels for the K–4 crowd. Sure, there were some standout selections, such as Andy Runton's Owly, Jimmy Gownley's Amelia Rules!, and Jennifer and Matt Holm'sBabymouse, but they were lonely exceptions in a barren landscape. Things quickly changed when publishers realized that the same set that reads (and buys) picture books might... Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6673572.html?nid=3361 At 7:25 am on the last day of school, five avid fifth-grade readers hustle into the library of Chamberlin School in South Burlington, VT. They shrug off backpacks and pull out advance copies of The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z, my middle-grade novel about a Vermont girl who’s convinced her school leaf collection project is ruining her life. Sat, 01 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6673583.html?nid=3361 Your latest novel is about a 14-year-old punk who steals cars, does drugs, and gets into fights. When Bobby’s family moves from Dublin to the country to start over, they soon discover that their lives may be in peril. What inspired you to write such a gritty story? I had this idea kicking around in my mind for about five or more years. Sat, 01 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6666670.html?nid=3361 Dear Publishers: I'm a school librarian. During the past 30 years, I've worked with children and young adults from ages 3 to 18 (not to mention teachers, families, administrators, lecturers, and visiting authors), and I've read a lot of books. Because there are so many kids' books being published these days, I'm not expecting total perfection. Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6660885.html?nid=3361 When the Whistle Blows follows the adventures of Jimmy Cannon, a boy growing up in a rural West Virginia railroading town. Jimmy’s family has worked on the railroad for generations, and that’s what he dreams of doing. But the times are changing, and the town’s old way of life is in danger of disappearing. Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6647710.html?nid=3361 The words “starving” and “artist” are a too-familiar pair. Some creators are willing to suffer whatever it takes. But the grit and sweat that challenge artists also make them fascinating, compelling, and unforgettable. Children in grades 2–5 will be charmed and intrigued by a trio of stunning author biographies. Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6647723.html?nid=3361 You excel at creating teen troublemakers—Troy Billings in Fat Kid Rules the World, Iggy Corso in Saint Iggy, and now Liam Geller, a kindhearted, drop-dead gorgeous guy who’s a first-class screwup. Growing up, you were a straight-A student and thought seriously about joining the Peace Corps. Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6640441.html?nid=3361 Neil Gaiman has been a busy boy. I caught up with him by phone at his Wisconsin home, to which he had returned the night before from the film premiere of Coraline in Portland, OR. The movie hoopla, of course, was but a footnote to his Really Big News, winning the 2009 Newbery Medal for The Graveyard Book (HarperCollins, 2008). Sun, 01 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6640445.html?nid=3361 For children’s book lovers, the world was infinitely glorious on Monday, January 26, 2009, as the winners of the American Library Association’s (ALA) awards were announced at the midwinter meeting in Denver. But two days later, a drunk driver slammed into a taxicab, killing two children’s librarians as they were on their way to the Denver International Airport, and suddenly ou... Sun, 01 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6640454.html?nid=3361 Marcelo is a bright 17-year-old who works with therapy horses, is wild about religion, and stumbles humorously into his first romantic relationship. You once lived at a home that was part of L’Arche, a faith-based community in which so-called normal adults live alongside those with developmental disabilities. Sun, 01 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6632972.html?nid=3361 In my other life, you know, the fantasy one, I’m a school librarian by day, complete with tortoise-shell glasses and a hot factor of 10. By night, I transform into something akin to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, at which point I spend time saving the world, of course. With February 14 quickly approaching, I’m worried about the strange but interesting suitors lining up to be my valentine... Sun, 01 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6624866.html?nid=3361 Anita Silvey's cover story in the October issue of School Library Journal about the recent winners of the top prize for children's literature has drawn plenty of discussion. Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6624886.html?nid=3361 If you haven’t heard of Judy Blundell until recently, join the club. For nearly 20 years, Blundell has toiled in anonymity, turning out more than 100 mysteries, romances, and media tie-ins under various pen names, such as Jude Watson. But in mid-November, the writer-for-hire was suddenly shoved into the spotlight. Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6624897.html?nid=3361 Charles and Emma isn't your typical love story. Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6617202.html?nid=3361 It was a banner literary year and so SLJ's Adult Books for High School Students Committee decided on 30 titles, published between September 2007 and November 2008 (with reviews published in 2008), to recognize as the best for high school readers. The list includes realistic and historical novels as well as some genre-blending titles. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6617203.html?nid=3361 Of the more than 5000 books reviewed in SLJ’s pages in 2008, the 67 books listed below stood out as having distinctive voices, singular vision, and/or innovative approaches. They include books for toddlers and preschoolers, terrific picture books and easy readers, and some highly original novels. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST