• Lists

    It's That Time of Year…

    The “best of the best” lists are coming out in droves (as usual).  These lists usually have many of the same suspects on them with a little variation and that is what I like.  Making sure I get my hands on all the heavy hitters of the year.  Especially this…

  • Reviews

    Kid’s Review: Odd Duck

    I’m going to try starting a new aspect of my blog with some of the kids I know at the library reviewing books they love (or don’t!).  My first reviewer is “S”, a coworker’s daughter who I’ve known for a number of years.  She’s in middle school now and is…

  • Lists

    National Book Award Shortlist 2016

    The National Book Foundation has released the shortlist for this year’s National Book Award.  So, if you’re looking for something new to read, check out this list and pick up a book you might not have if you passed it on the shelf of your local library or independent bookstore.…

  • Lifestyle

    CYBILS Nominations Open

    I was given the distinct pleasure of being a CYBILS judge last fall and although I spent a lot of time reading a lot of nonfiction titles – it was an amazing experience to be a part of!  I would have loved to be a judge again this year, but…

  • Lists

    Building a Home Library

    Check out the Children’s Book Council’s 2016 Building a Home Library booklist created by the  ALSC’s Quicklists Consulting Committee and the  ALA-Children’s Book Council (CBC) Joint Committee, of which I am a part of.  These booklists are created every other year and include not only classic stories, but newly published material…

  • Lifestyle

    When School Administrators Think They Know Best

    Many authors enjoy being placed on the banned book list, not because their book is challenged, but often because it means their book gets into more hands when people become curious as to why it was banned.  But, I also think that it must hurt when adults don’t understand or…

  • Lifestyle

    Multicultural Children’s Book Day

    Unfortunately, I missed posting this yesterday, but I wanted to let everyone know of this amazing resource for multicultural children’s books! “Children’s reading and play advocates Valarie Budayr from Jump Into a Book and Mia Wenjen from Pragmatic Mom have teamed up to create an ambitious (and much needed) national event.”…

  • Lists

    NPR's Book Concierge

    I was excited to see that NPR published their 2015 Book Concierge, but on taking a closer look there were some genres, themes, and concepts that were glaringly missing, in my opinion. Now, I can’t talk for the entire list, I merely focused on the kids books and of the…