Give the Gift of Reading

Last week, I did a presentation for my mom's women's group on great books to buy for kids this holiday season! I did brief booktalks for over 30 books that I love for kids of various ages. A lot of them are new this year, though some of them are favorites published within the last 10 years. I had a great audience of women who love and value reading, so it was a really fun program to do. Want to know my gift-giving choices? Here's my list:

(ETA: If the doc below looks like letters are missing, I have no idea why or what to do about it! Apologies!)

Give the Gift of Reading





(The list is embedded using Scridb. If you're viewing this in a blog reader, you may need to click through to see it. If you're not able to view it and would like a copy, shoot me an email and I'm happy to send it.)

A couple of notes about this list:

- I was asked to concentrate on picture books/easy readers and tweens, particularly boys.
- I included the Carl and Fancy Nancy readers to show my audience that some of kids' beloved picture books are also available as readers.
- I tried to include a fairly wide range of price-points, so you'll find some great stocking stuffers, as well as more expensive gift books.


And, of course, if you need more gift-giving ideas this holiday season, check out my Twelve Days of Giving (2009) and Twelve Days of Giving (2008), as well as MotherReader's Ways to Give a Book.

2012-2013 YHBA Picture Book Nominees

As promised, here's the list of 2012-2013 Young Hoosier Book Award Picture Book Nominees. Links go to my reviews & I've provided links to GoodReads, also. Here's a printer friendly list: 2012-2013 YHBA Nominees (please note: the first version on the ILF website and the copies distributed at the ILF Conference were missing three titles from the Middle Grade Category. This is the complete list).

2012-2013 Young Hoosier Book Award Picture Book Nominees

Art and Max by David Wiesner (GoodReads)

Chalk by Bill Thompson (GoodReads)

Chicken Big by Keith Graves (GoodReads)

City Dog, Country Frog by Mo Willems (GoodReads)

Clever Jack Takes the Cake by Candice Fleming (GoodReads)

Even Monsters Need Haircuts by Matthew McElligott (GoodReads)

Flora's Very Windy Day by Jeanne Birdsall (GoodReads)

Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys by Bob Raczka (GoodReads)

Here Comes the Garbage Barge by Jonah Winter (GoodReads)

How to Clean a Hippopotamus: A Look at Unusual Animal Partnerships by Steve Jenkins (GoodReads)

Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein (GoodReads)

LMNO Peas by Keith Baker (GoodReads)

Lots of Spots by Lois Ehlert (GoodReads)

My Garden by Kevin Henkes (GoodReads)

A Pig Parade is a Terrible Idea by Michael Ian Black (GoodReads)

Pop!: The Invention of Bubble Gum by Meghan McCarthy (GoodReads)

Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton (GoodReads)

Stanza by Jill Esbaum (GoodReads)

Thank You, Miss Doover by Robin Pulver (GoodReads)

Wonder Horse: The True Story of the World's Smartest Horse by Emily Arnold McCully (GoodReads)

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What do you think about this list? What titles should be considered for next year's list? Check out the criteria and nominate a title today!

Reminder: AudioSynced!

HEY, don't forget that your AudioSynced Roundup is going to be right here at Abby the Librarian on December 1! If you listened to some audiobooks during your holiday road trips (or any other time during November!), write up a review or post and drop me a link so I can include it in the roundup. You can leave your link in the comments here or email me at abbylibrarian@gmail.com.

Didn't get to listen to any audiobooks this month? Neverfear - Kelly will have another roundup at Stacked next month.

2012-2013 YHBA Intermediate Nominees

As promised, here's the list of 2012-2013 Young Hoosier Book Award Intermediate Nominees. Links go to my reviews & I've provided links to GoodReads, also. Here's a printer friendly list: 2012-2013 YHBA Nominees (please note: the first version on the ILF website and the copies distributed at the ILF Conference were missing three titles from the Middle Grade Category. This is the complete list).

2012-2013 Young Hoosier Book Award Intermediate Nominees

Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea (GoodReads)

The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity by Mac Barnett (GoodReads)

Crunch by Leslie Connor (GoodReads)

Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman (GoodReads)

Eggs Over Evie by Alison Jackson (GoodReads)

The Familiars by Adam Jay Epstein (GoodReads)

The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester by Barbara O'Connor (GoodReads)

The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall by Mary Downing Hahn (GoodReads)

Hard Gold: The Colorado Gold Rush of 1859: A Tale of the Old West by Avi (GoodReads)

Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World's Strangest Parrot by Sy Montgomery (GoodReads)

Kubla Khan: The Emperor of Everything by Kathleen Krull (GoodReads)

Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur (GoodReads)

Nic Bishop Lizards by Nic Bishop (GoodReads)

Night Fairy by Laura Amy Schlitz (GoodReads)

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia (GoodReads)

Seeds of Change: Planting a Path to Peace by Jen Cullerton Johnson (GoodReads)

Sharing the Seasons: A Book of Poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins (GoodReads)

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger (GoodReads)

Touch Blue by Cynthia Lord (GoodReads)

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm (GoodReads)

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What do you think about this list? What titles should be considered for next year's list? Check out the criteria and nominate a title today!

Thanks

Today is Thanksgiving in America, a day when we take a look at our lives and give thanks for the things we have. So, here are a few things I am thankful for:

- I'm thankful for my wonderful family and I'm thankful that I live close to them. After several years of traveling for the holidays, it's so nice not to have to travel to be with them!

- I'm thankful for a wonderful job and wonderful coworkers and employees who make each day a joy. I'm supremely lucky to have found a profession I love, a professional filled with people so passionate about what they do.

- I'm thankful for the support and friendship of the blog community. My life's been so enriched by this blog, I can't even tell you. I wouldn't do it if I didn't love it, so again, I'm thankful to have found a hobby/calling that is rewarding and has lead to some great friendships.

- I'm thankful for my choir. Again, this is something that has enriched my life greatly. I'd forgotten how much I love to make music until some coworkers badgered me into joining this group (so glad they did!).

And there are millions of other things I'm thankful for (like this book and this book and this book and this book and this book). But that's enough blogging: it's time to start cooking!

Love,
Abby

On Your Radar: December

December's comin' right up, bringing with it the following books! (This list was culled from PW's On-Sale Calendar and my Baker & Taylor Carts.) And hey, for a glimpse at some great titles coming out this winter, check out Travis's post at 100 Scope Notes: 10 to Note: Winter Preview.


Children's

The King's Ransom (39 Clues Cahills vs. Vespers, Book 2) by Jude Watson (December 6).

Beauty and the Beast by Jan Brett (December 8) - This is a rerelease of a 1989 title.

A Giant Crush by Gennifer Choldenko (December 22) - A new picture book by the author of Al Capone Does My Shirts.

Abe Lincoln at Last! (Magic Tree House #47) by Mary Pope Osborne (December 27).

Abraham Lincoln: A Nonfiction Companion to Abe Lincoln at Last! by Mary Pope Osborne (December 27).

 

Plant a Kiss by Amy Kraus Rosenthal (December 27).

Teen

Witch and Wizard: The Fire by James Patterson (December 5).

The Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare (December 6).

Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler (December 27).

What other December releases are you looking forward to?

Audiobook Review: Like the Willow Tree

Dear America: Like the Willow Tree: Portland, Maine, 1918 by Lois Lowry, read by Sara Barnett. Grades 3-6. Scholastic Audiobooks, 2011. 4 hours 17 minutes. Review copy provided by my local library.

In 1918, the influenza epidemic took both of Lydia's parents, leaving her and her brother with no place to go except for the nearby Shaker community of Sabbathday Lake. Grieving her family and struggling to adjust to the Shakers' different way of life, Lydia wonders if she'll ever fit in.

Dear America. Honestly, I've avoided reading the books for a long time, even though they're super popular and I'm always recommending them to kids who have to read historical fiction. It wasn't until an adult patron exclaimed to me how fabulous the books were that I felt like I should give them a real chance. And now I'm kicking myself, wondering why it took me so long!

It's important to stress to kids that these books are fiction because, frankly, Like the Willow Tree could just as easily have been a real diary. Facts about the time period and events are woven seamlessly into the narrative and bring the place and time to life. At the end, I had to remind myself that Lydia wasn't a real girl. The plot was well-crafted, as starting life at the Shaker village gave Lydia a solid reason for writing about Shaker customs and beliefs as she learned them. The one thing missing is an author's note, an especially painful omission since the book is so realistic and it will be easy for kids to assume that this is an actual historic diary.

ETA: A helpful commenter pointed out that the printed version does have a historical note! Now I'm wondering if I might have stopped the audiobook too soon and missed it. -- 11/23/11

Narrator Sara Barnett was well-chosen for this role. She reads with a girlish inflection that is totally appropriate for an 11-year-old's diary and it adds to the authenticity of the audiobook. The book is read straight, not voiced at all, but again, that makes perfect sense for a diary. The pacing is nice and even and it's read clearly. I have respect for any narrator who sings snippets of songs in her book and Ms. Barnett is up to the challenge, singing the included Shaker songs in a high, clear voice. The music helps bring Shaker culture to life and choral music at the beginning and end of the audiobook help set the tone. I am definitely hoping that Ms. Barnett will continue creating children's audiobooks.

So, if you've been avoiding the Dear America books for some reason, I urge you to stop it right now and give this book a try. Recommend the series to your young readers looking for historical fiction (but be sure and emphasize that they are FICTION, not real diaries).

Like the Willow Tree is on shelves now.

Hey, I'm an Audible affiliate, so if you purchase things after clicking on the links here, I may get a small commission. 

2012-2013 Young Hoosier Book Award Nominees!!

This year, I had the privilege of joining a really awesome committee of librarians to work on the 2012-2013 Young Hoosier Book Award nominee list. And now, I'm proud to present to you the YHBA nominee lists! There are three lists put out every year: picture book, intermediate, and middle grades. Participating schools encourage kids to read books on the list and vote for their favorites. I'm going to do a separate post for each list and since I am serving on the Middle Grade Committee, I'm gonna start with that one!

Links go to my reviews & I've provided links to GoodReads, also. Here's a printer friendly list: 2012-2013 YHBA Nominees (please note: the first version on the ILF website and the copies distributed at the ILF Conference were missing three titles from the Middle Grade Category. This is the complete list).

2012-2013 Young Hoosier Book Award Middle Grade Nominees

A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz (GoodReads)

After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick (GoodReads)

Bamboo People by Mitali Perkins (GoodReads)

Borrowed Names: Poems About Laura Ingalls Wilder, Madam C.J. Walker, Marie Curie and Their Daughters by Jeannine Atkins (GoodReads)

The Crossing: How George Washington Saved the American Revolution by Jim Murphy (GoodReads)

Crunch by Leslie Connor (GoodReads)

The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan (GoodReads)

Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith (GoodReads)

Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson (GoodReads)

Ghostopolis by Doug TenNapel (GoodReads)

Happenstance Found by P.W. Cantanese (GoodReads)

The Hive Detectives: Chronicle of a Honey Bee Catastrophe by Loree Griffin Burns (GoodReads)

A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Parker (GoodReads)

The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by W. Rodman Philbrick (GoodReads)

Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper (GoodReads)

The Search for WondLa by Tony Diterlizzi (GoodReads)

Slob by Ellen Potter (GoodReads)

Sources of Light by Margaret McMullan (GoodReads)

Surviving the Angel of Death: The Story of a Mengele Twin in Auschwitz by Eva Moses Kor and Lisa Buccieri (GoodReads)

Virals by Kathy Reichs (GoodReads)

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So, what do you think of our list? Have any titles that you think should be considered for next year's list? Check out the criteria and nominate a title today!

Around the Interwebs

It's been a crazy week with the ILF Annual Conference on Tuesday & Wednesday, but it's about time I do another roundup of awesome stuff from around the web:

What happens when a school library goes digital and gets rid of most of their books? For Cushing Academy in Massachusetts, it was a positive change. Thanks to Eli for the link.

Summer's posting about Muslim teens in YA Lit over at The Hub and more are suggested in the comments. Got any more to add to her list?

Circulating iPads to young children... Yep, the Darien Library is doing it and Kiera has all the info over at the ALSC Blog.

Over at the YALSA Blog, Gretchen's got the scoop on doing NaNoWriMo programming for teens and adults at your library.

The Labnsdowne Public Library's going over the moon with Oreos - a great moon program to remember for next summer!

And if you're starting to think about next summer, don't miss the California Library Association's program ideas for Summer 2012, which were recently presented at the CLA Conference. Thanks to Eva for the link.

Flannel Friday's got a Winter/Holiday Extravaganza planned for December 2, so start thinking about your favorite winter/holiday flannels to share!

And speaking of flannelboards, haven't you always wanted to be a Puffy Paint Master?

Hunger Games Jeopardy? YES, PLEASE. Alicia's got great posts about her Hunger Games programs over at The LibrariYAn. File this away for when the movie comes out!

SPEAKING OF HUNGER GAMES (if you're viewing this in a blog reader, you may need to click through):



What do you think about the Hunger Games trailer? Me, I know some things are going to be different than I pictured but I'm trying really hard to let all that go and just enjoy.

A Look Back at Fall Storytime

And Fall Storytime has come to an end... Let's take a look back at what we did!

Usually our storytime series lasts 6-8 weeks, but this fall we only held storytime for 4 weeks because I had a full-timer out on maternity leave earlier in the fall and this was all we could handle. It ended up being absolutely fine. I'm sure there were some patrons who would have liked it to go on longer, but I had at least one patron tell me she liked the shorter series because it was less of a commitment. I also feel like our attendance week to week was up, though our total registration wasn't quite as high as it has reached by the end of the series in the past. So, we didn't have quite as many signed up, but the people who signed up actually showed up. 

Due to the aforementioned short-staffed-ness, we also only offered four class times: 

• Mondays at 11:00am
• Tuesdays at 7:00pm
• Wednesdays at 1:00pm
• Thursdays at 11:00am

This time around, our evening class was actually pretty well attended, but our afternoon class was very small. I'd still like to try out a 4:00 afternoon session, but we'll see about that in the spring. We've also been talking about adding a new weekly drop-in program for ages 3-5, possibly a music & movement class. We're still very much in the planning stages of that right now. 

Our storytime logistics were basically the same as our spring storytime series. I started and ended with the same songs each week. I did the Memory Box each week. The take-home crafts continue to be awesome and loved by patrons and staff alike. This time around, we used the following themes: 

• Horses
• Colors
• Fruit
• Pizza

Something else I'd like to try next time is to designate one week as "Librarian's Favorites" and ask each of my storytime presenters to put together a storytime with some of their favorite readalouds. We're always doing themes because it's what our patrons expect and what we're used to, but I'd like to stretch my staff to think outside the theme. 

We'll offer preschool storytime in the spring, although I'm really thinking now about doing three 4-week storytime series instead of two longer (6-8 week) series. I can't add a winter series this year, though, because I have promised my staff that we're taking January completely off from programming.