The author knows firsthand that most kids seem to like poetry, however, something amiss happens along the road to adulthood, and many of those same students end up actively disliking poetry or not relating to it. Who can blame them? Poetry is often presented as a rarefied thing that exists only to be analyzed by professorial types or as…

Climate change, which is evident in the Arctic more than anywhere else, is an issue that affects all generations. Choices made by today's adults, according to a broad and deep body of research, are likely to influence the nature of nature for today's young people and their successors for a very long time to come. The author contends that…

This paper discusses the LaGuardia Community College Library's launch of a fully-online one-credit research class. The authors discuss the process for creating the class, from the technical specifications to the pedagogical approach to the course content and delivery. The authors also discuss the challenges of providing a fully online class to…

In this article, American author, children's librarian, and storyteller Laura Amy Schlitz is profiled. Schlitz is the winner of this year's Newbery Medal for her tall tale about the Mongols called "Gulnara the Tartar Warrior." Like her award-winning book, "Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!" (Candlewick, 2007), the tale takes place in the Middle Ages.…

This article describes the highlights of this year's BookExpo America (BEA) held at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The attendees at BEA had not minded that the air was recycled, the lighting was fluorescent, and the food was bad. The first hot book sighting came courtesy of Anne Rice. Michelle Moran, author of newly published novel, "The…

Have you ever considered writing or reviewing for the library community? Are you interested in publishing a book on your favorite author or hobby? Do you need to write and publish for tenure? If so, "Writing and Publishing" is for you. Practical how-to guidance covering fiction, poetry, children's books/magazines, self-publishing, literary agents,…

Hearing some fun facts about books and authors can bring books to life and help ignite students' interest in books and reading. Because most elementary school media centers and public libraries have many of the Newbery Medal books, students will have a better chance of finding books they decide they want to read once they hear about them. Reading…

Librarians are effective in sharing their best practices with each other. Learning from each other is crucial, but not sharing their stories with other members of the school learning community keeps them wondering exactly what it is that librarians do. In this article, the author offers steps that can guide librarians to write for publications…

This article is a discussion of authors and controversial novels that should be on the top of library media specialists' reading list if they work with high-school-age teens. "Controversial" is not a dirty word, it is an enticement! The goal of library media specialists is to get teens who may be burned out with reading due to incentive programs…

Examines a group of young adult novels written by American Jewish authors to support claim that they have helped establish the irreverent, lively tone characteristic of contemporary literature for young adults. Also discusses definitions of Jewish humor; the use of Jewish places, names, and words; discussion and wordplay; and stereotypes. (EM)

This sourcebook provides brief biographies of 65 popular children's nonfiction authors. Each profile focuses on how authors go about writing information books by giving a firsthand account of the challenges and rewards of nonfiction writing. Each biography provides a selected bibliography of the author's work, a photo, and a message to the student…

First presented in 1970, the Coretta Scott King Award has become one of the most prestigious honors bestowed on authors and illustrators of children's literature. This book provides information on the award and award winners, and ideas for using selected award-winning titles in the classroom. The first part of the book "The Award,"…

For 30 years, the Coretta Scott King Awards have honored notable African American authors and illustrators. This volume provides up-to-date information about the Coretta Scott King award books. Celebrating 30 years of African American contributions to children's literature, it serves as a selection tool and teaching resource, in both schools and…

After a brief description of some historical and cultural interchanges between Ireland and Austria, the paper examines Irish fiction that has been translated into German and Irish plays that have been performed in Vienna over the past 25 years. The paper also describes German translations of Irish children's fiction, including classics like…

Stories speak to people in different ways. Yet it is the person behind the story who pushes the literature into a malleable body of imaginative possibilities. Author visits transform quiet written words from a private exchange between reader and author into a lively community discussion. North Country School, in northern New York, sits in the…