Volume 4, Issue 2
February 2005
Search Tip of the Month
This Month's Features
Spreading the News
Love at first sight seldom happens with books. Oh, sure….a cover might draw your attention. It might beckon to you. "Come inside and begin the journey," it might say. The way it is written and what it is about are key factors in whether or not you continue to read it. As we reflect over our favorite books of the last year, we need to keep in mind the range of interests and reading levels of the children and young adults we serve. The Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD) is the perfect tool for helping you to bring together readers, nonreaders and books. Reading levels, interest levels, and books on every topic - the information is all at your fingertips in the CLCD. This month, help your students fall in love with reading by connecting them with the right book at the right time.
The CLCD Company is pleased to remind all newsletter subscribers that our library and education advisor, Sharon Salluzzo, is a nominee for the 2006 Newbery Committee ballot. Members of ALA's Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) will vote for the committee members in March 2005.
Not only does Sharon review for Children's Literature, she also has written articles about the database, given demonstrations to librarians and teachers, and she will be speaking at the upcoming Michigan Reading Association Conference (March 12-15) in two sessions. A panel entitled Teaching a Positive Worldview in Troubled Times will feature Jane Kurtz, Uma Krisnaswami and Sharon Salluzzo on Saturday afternoon March 12th from 1pm to 2:50pm in Room GGO-C of the Devos Place Convention Center. In addition, there will be a session on Sunday March 13 entitled Three Ways to Peace: A Literary Experience from 1pm to 1:50pm in the Thornapple Room at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. CLCD is proud to sponsor such a knowledgeable and articulate children's literature specialist at this event.
If you are an ALSC member, we urge you to VOTE for Sharon.
Once again you asked and we at CLCD have responded.
The sort feature has been modified and now when you click on Year of Publication, the default is to sort descending so that you get the most current books first. For title and author sorts, the default is ascending to enable the list to appear in an A to Z format.
When you go through your list of search results and check the items you are interested in, you can safely move to a new page without losing track of those items. The system will automatically save them for you.
Originally when there were multiple pages in a search result, the page count feature at the top and bottom of the screen only appeared for a larger number of pages-now it appears consistently all the time even if there are only two pages in the search result.
As always we appreciate all comments, and we do evaluate and determine what features can be added to the benefit of our subscribers.
February may be short on days but it certainly is not short on celebrations. Cuddles, hugs and friendships are celebrated in poetry and prose for Valentine's Day. Groundhog Day is February 2nd and we have a short feature about that famous rodent and whether or not he will see his shadow. We certainly couldn't forget Chinese New Year's on Feburary 9th and wish everyone good health and happiness in this Year of the Rooster.
Make sure you are current on titles for Black History Month. During the month we will be updating the African American sections, so be sure to check frequently. Here you will find books such as Harlem Stomp! A Cultural History of the Harlem Renaissance by Laban Carrick Hill and Ellington Was Not a Street by Ntozake Shange. We have also posted reviews of the books that won this year's Coretta Scott King Awards.
President's Day and the birthdays of two of our most esteemed presidents occur this month. Books such as George vs. George: The American Revolution as Seen from Both Sides by Rosalyn Schanzer and George Washington, Spy Master by Thomas B. Allen present new perspectives on our first president. Reviews of these wonderful books can be found in the CLCD database. Our featured President for this month is John F. Kennedy in a new book entitled John F. Kennedy: His Life and Legacy by Shelly Sommer. We have posted a conversation with the author that was produced by the publisher, an interesting fact sheet and then added our review of this fascinating book.
Our featured authors and illustrators this month are Roxie Munro, who captivates readers with her interesting architectural perspectives, and Gail Carson Levine, who draws upon the fairy tale world to bring universal truths and imaginative journeys to her readers.
Our monthly newsletter is now available to everyone within an organization, not just the primary contact. A feature at www.childrenslit.com will provide you with a form allowing you to sign up for just the electronic newsletter. Discover for yourself what Karla Schmit, Professor, Library Department, Librarian Laboratory School, Shippensburg University says about the CLCD, -"Every author, every title, every time."
About the Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database
The Children's Literature Comprehensive Database is your most complete source of information about children's books, audio recordings, and films. Indeed, it is the next best thing to having the item in hand, and the best tool for leading you to the best materials. All at a most affordable price. To subscribe to the CLCD, go to www.childrenslit.com.